2013 Chevrolet Impala: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
271 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Chevrolet Impala has one year to avoid, 2016, which carries 897 complaints, a score of 47 and no recall campaigns at all; the next highest count is 505 on the 2011 car. The years to buy are 2017 to 2020, which score 92, 91, 92 and 96 on 116, 59, 28 and 15 complaints, and the 2012 and 2013 cars, at 78 each. Read the full note on the model page. 2013 specifically: a year the record favours — 271 complaints, score 79/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Impala and Buick LaCrosse: the years to avoid, including 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 271 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 20.85
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I have 2 monitors frozen that won't reset . The drive cycle is very dangerious it includes takeing up to 55 and deceleration down to 20 multiple times for many miles I myself have driven this cycle taking my life in my hands in nyc for 300 miles with no success
I have driving on highway [XXX] heading back home to yucca valley from oceanside driving in the left lane my steering wheel locked up my vehicle swerved let into a street sign and thr vehicle proceeded to turn right swerving on the road losing control of the vehicle my airbag never deployed and my riverside tire as well the drives haft fell off the vehicle and now my car is completely totaled luckily there were no o…
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that for the past nine years, the blower fan had been replaced several times. The contact stated that prior to the failures, the blower fan was making abnormal tapping and clicking sounds. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle …
Recalls: 1 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 14V355000 | Electrical System:Ignition | This 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 22 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,800
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc)108 complaints · typical job: Yaw sensor or ESC module replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$660–$1,560
- Service Brakes53 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Electrical System52 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Steering34 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Power Train33 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine30 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
Other Chevrolet Impala years
Chevrolet Impala years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Impala?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electronic Stability Control (Esc) (108 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Impala a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 79/100, computed from 271 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Chevrolet Impala's most common problem?
108 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Chevrolet Impala sit in the Electronic Stability Control (Esc) group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is yaw sensor or esc module replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $660–$1,560 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Chevrolet Impala cost to run per year?
About $5,546 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $27,730 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Impala have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Chevrolet Impala, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 23/06/2014. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Chevrolet Impala really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 271 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 271 NHTSA complaints on record (20.8/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (18.4/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems