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2007 Chevrolet Impala Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 Chevrolet Impala has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Power steering rack-and-pinion failure.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Chevrolet Impala.

Reported to NHTSA

Power steering rack-and-pinion failure

STEERING

23 NHTSA complaints · 2015-03 → 2019-05

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. A WARNING INDICATOR WITH A QUESTION MARK APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11175084
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED RECURRING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11061940
“STEERING GEAR MOUNT BROKE AND CAUSED SUDDEN COMPLETE STEERING LOSE DUE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. WHEN THE MOUNT BROKE THE STEERING HOUSING CONTAINING THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND POWER STEERING FLUID HOSES BROKE RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10911378

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt buckle failure to latch

SEAT BELTS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2025-09

“I DID NOT KNOW WHO TO REPORT THIS TO OR I WOULD HAVE DONE THIS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. EVERY DAY WHEN IT IS THE FIRST TIME TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE DAY, I HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT TO LATCH. IT DOES NOT LATCH FOR MY FIRST ATTEMPT. BUT IT MAY TAKE A FEW TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11229980
“THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT FAILS TO LATCH. ON THE MORNING OF 5/22/2015 I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SEATBELT TO FINALLY LATCH. WHEN I WENT TO LUNCH I COULD NOT GET THE SEATBELT TO LATCH NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED. THE RED BUTTON MOVES UP AND DOWN FREELY JUST LIKE THE OTHER SEATBELT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10721029
“ATTEMPTED TO LATCH SEATBELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. BUCKLE WOULD NOT LATCH. BUCKLE SLIDES IN BUT LATCH DOES NOT LOCK BUCKLE IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD. "WHY WOULD THE WARRANTY COVER THAT?" WITH ALL THE RECENT SEAT BELT ISSUES WITH MANUFACTURERS, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10668182

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission slipping and harsh gear shifts

POWER TRAIN

11 NHTSA complaints · 2014-11 → 2019-10

“TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN YOU STOP AT LIGHT WHEN YOU STEP ON ACCELERATOR TO GO TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THEN SUDDENLY CATCHES AND CAR JERKS QUICKLY FORWARD CAUSING CAR SUDDENLY LUNGE FORWARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10898310
“WHEN DRIVING IT SHIFTS HARD FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR MOSTLY ON A GRADE NOT TO STEEP SHIFTS SO HARD IT CHIRPS TIRES WHEN IT ENGAGES INTO SECOND GEAR FLUID IS ON CORRECT LEVEL .IT HAPPENS AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT NORMAL DRIVING I DO NOT DRIVE FAST OR ACCELERATE QUICKLY. IM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11203015
“WHEN TAKING OF FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE AND STARTS TO JERKS AND JUMPS. AND SHIFTS HARD.FEELS LIKE SOMONE JUST REARENDED YOU.HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHETHER ON A CITY STREET OR MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY AND ALSO WHILE TURNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11151341

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Reduced engine power message with sudden loss of power

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

40 NHTSA complaints · 2015-01 → 2023-09

“CAR RANDOMLY DISPLAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. ON INTERSTATE REDUCED DOWN TO 20MPH COULD HAVE GOTTEN MY FAMILY KILLED. RESEARCHED ONLINE ALOT OF IMAPALA HAVING SAME ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11098728
“WHILE DRIVING MY "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" MESSAGE CAME ON FOLLOWED BY "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". IT SLOWS DOWN MY VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES I CANNOT EVEN ACCELERATE WHEN THESE MESSAGES APPEAR. THEY ALWAYS COME ON TOGETHER AND EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE. SOMETIMES RIGHT AWAY,”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10714041
“SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ENGINE POWER REDUCED DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT DROPPED THE SPEED FROM 75 TO 40 IN MATTER OF MINUTES MY FAMILY ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY A SEMI THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11005881

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition switch stalling and recall part delays

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

27 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2020-01

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR. WITHIN TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10712697
“TAKATA RECALL. IGNITION KEY STAYS STUCK WON'T RELEASE KEY I'VE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND THE GAS CAP MAKES ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WHAT'S GOING ON!!! I'M ON 2ND GAS CAP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11222335
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10660517

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment in frontal and side crashes

AIR BAGS

17 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2025-10

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, LEFT HAND, AND NECK. THE CONTACT'S THREE CHILDREN WHO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11066210
“The driver side airbag did not deploy when I got into a wreck. I feel the airbags could have helped me from hitting the steering wheel and hurting my ribs. I feel that it could have been less painful to have the airbag deploy. I thought the airbags were in working order”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11696020
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10820271

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical fire and burning odor from wiring connectors

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

6 NHTSA complaints · 2014-12 → 2023-09

“There is an electrical connector behind the right side, kick panel that overloads and chars the plastic housing. The connector is for the rear defroster grid, but it cannot handle the amperage that the grid carries. It overloads and is a fire hazard that can could start a”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11542505
“TURNED ON REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, SMELT BURNING PLASTIC NEAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, FOUND WIRE HARNESS ON PASSENGER SIDE KICK PANEL MELTED AT THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CONNECTION DUE TO HIGH HEAT IN THE CONNECTOR AND IT HAD SCORCHED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE INTERIOR CARPET. BURNT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10669160
“AT ABOUT 35 MPH AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AT 70MPH FOR HALF AN HOUR, THE PASSENGER SIDE FUSE BOX BURST INTO FLAMES. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10683648

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

On 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid every 45,000 miles — sooner if towing or off-roading. Use GM Auto-Trak II fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

626 crashes 1990–2024

How the 626 occupant deaths break down

457

driver deaths

169

passenger deaths

626

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2006 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

52

complaints mentioning a crash

10

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Chevrolet Impala reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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