2016 Chevrolet Impala: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
897 NHTSA owner complaints · 0 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. 2016 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 897 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Impala and Buick LaCrosse: the years to avoid, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 897 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 89.7
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH and turning into a parking lot, the vehicle lost power and there was black smoke coming from the right side of the engine compartment. The contact then parked the vehicle and opened the hood, and there were flames coming from the engine compartment. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. …
Between 25mph and 35mph transmission will " lose " gearing and start revving when I'm stuck in traffic, causing a safety concern/risk. Have to stop the car completely and let her cool down below half operating temp for the transmission to rekick into gear. Happens Everytime after driving through cities, ATF has a slight gray tinge to it but no burning smell
I was driving and entering [XXX] at [XXX] when my power steering went completely out! I was unable to steer my vehicle at all and was on a windy road with my children in the vehicle! I pulled to the side of the road! Shut my car off waited a couple minutes and turned it back on and the problem went away! This has happened twice now. My power steering is due to it being electrical and not a fluid issue. This i…
Recalls: 0 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
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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 · EPA range 298 mi
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.
- Engine304 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System236 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other185 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train178 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Vehicle Speed Control146 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Service Brakes88 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Chevrolet Impala years
Chevrolet Impala years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Impala?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (304 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Impala a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 47/100, computed from 897 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Chevrolet Impala's most common problem?
304 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Chevrolet Impala sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 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 2016 Chevrolet Impala cost to run per year?
About $6,574 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $32,870 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.
Compare with
Other fullsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2016 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 — 897 complaints, 0 recalls on record
- 897 NHTSA complaints on record (89.7/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (18.4/yr)
- 0 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems