Photo: IFCAR / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
2006 Chevrolet Impala: common problems and reliability
An average Impala year.
544 owner complaints, most about steering. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2006 Impala?The 2006 Chevrolet Impala has 544 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are steering and electrical system.
Safety record for the 2006 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2006 Chevrolet Impala vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Impala years only. How we score it
Is 2006 a good year for the Impala?
Across the 23 Impala model years we track, complaint volume runs from 4 (1999) to 1,683 (2016). With 544 complaints, the 2006 Impala sits about the same as the model's median of 609.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2006 Impala
electrical system:ignition
Campaign 14V355000This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
steering
Campaign 09E005000DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
What owners say across generations
Owner sentiment is highly fragmented across generations, with no single dominant consensus. For classic models (1959, 1963, 1994-1996 SS), sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, centered on iconic styling, collectibility, and performance (e.g., 409 V8, LT1 V8).
Owner insights cover all generations of the Impala. See the full Impala owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Impala listings typically run $10,875–$16,744 across 1996 to 2020 model years.
Other Impala model years
Compare every Impala year side by side to see how 2006 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Impala against its rivals
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