Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 77/100 (GOOD)

2018 Chevrolet Impala Reliability Report

The 2018 Chevrolet Impala rates good for reliability, but transmission slipping between 65,000 and 98,000 miles is its main weakness.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

10.4per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$568

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,400–$2,750

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity66/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity85/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Still rated good but the weakest of three scored Impala years, with transmission slipping and electrical dropouts leading owner complaints.

Top Issues to Watch

POWER TRAIN (11)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8)
STEERING (7)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2018 is 6 years after the 2012 facelift refresh.

Year 13 in the Ninth generation (2006–2016) (2006–2020).
Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
9th generation Impala (US).

What this means for buyers

Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.

2006: Ninth generation (2006–2016) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2012: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2018: This Model Year

2018 is 6 years after the 2012 facelift refresh.

Should You Buy the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?

Good, with some serious faults to check. Among 2018 sedans, this Impala sits well above average for reliability, and it earns 5 of 5 stars in federal crash tests. It is still the weakest of the three Impala years we score. The 2019 rates about the same and has fewer complaints, though it has also had less time to collect them. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $568, a little under the $590 for its class.

Transmission trouble leads the complaints. Owners describe slipping, shuddering, skipped gears and hard shifts, with failures clustering between about 65,000 and 98,000 miles. Dealers often call for a full replacement, and bills run into the thousands. Steering is the other worry. Power assist can cut out suddenly, even on a car with 26,473 miles. Owners also report power cutting out without warning and a passenger airbag warning light that keeps returning. One federal recall covers the hydraulic service brakes.

Ask for transmission service records and proof that the brake recall work was done. On a test drive, pay attention to bucking in stop-and-go traffic and to any steering or airbag warning message.

Compared to the 2019 Chevrolet Impala, which scored 2 points higher.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+$22 cheaper to maintain than avg fullsize cars
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (13%)

Cons

−POWER TRAIN: Transmissions slip, shudder, skip gears and shift hard, most often around the... (11 complaints)
−UNKNOWN OR OTHER: AC evaporator cores leak refrigerant under the dash (11 complaints)

Compare 2018 Chevrolet Impala With

2018 Nissan Maxima

Reliability: 72/100

Good

2018 Toyota Avalon

Reliability: 77/100

Good

2018 Genesis G80

Reliability: 55/100

Mixed

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

HIGH RISK

POWER TRAIN (11)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (11)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recall on record

The 2018 Chevrolet Impala carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

10.4

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 25.7

LowAvgHigh

Moderate

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2018 Chevrolet Impala Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2018 Chevrolet Impala. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

18V5760002018-08-30

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Consequence

A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2018 Chevrolet Impala? Check its history first

Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Impala, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2018 Chevrolet Impala NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 12.1%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Torso (Rear Seat)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Chevrolet ImpalaRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$568

vs $590 avg for fullsize cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.2

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

13%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Impala

$568

Category Avg

$590

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Chevrolet Impala Resale Value

The Chevrolet Impala is estimated to retain about 47.2% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Chevrolet Impala model overall and is not specific to the 2018 model year.

Value Retained: 47.2%
Depreciation: 52.8%
Listings Analyzed: 118

Listings observed in May 2021. This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Chevrolet Impala depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

22–25 MPG

Running cost: $2,950–$3,300/yr

Fuel + repair

18–22 city / 28–30 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2018 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Impala 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	22	30	25	$2,400
Impala 3.6L 6-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	18	28	22	$2,750
Impala 3.6L 6-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	19	28	22	$2,750

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2018 Chevrolet Impala.

Drive in stop-and-go traffic and at highway speed, feeling for slipping, shudder, bucking, or hard shifts in the low gears.
Ask for service records showing any transmission replacement, shifter repair, or repeat transmission diagnosis.
Run the AC at full cold for the whole test drive and check for warm air, weak airflow, or a chemical smell.
Ask whether the AC evaporator core or compressor has been replaced, and get the receipts.
With the engine running, turn the wheel fully both ways and watch for any power steering warning message.
Sit someone in the front passenger seat and confirm the airbag warning light stays off.
Brake firmly from moderate speed in an empty lot and walk away from long stops or a hard pedal.
Look into both headlight housings for condensation or standing water.

2018 Chevrolet Impala Common Problems by Component

59 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

POWER TRAIN (11)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (11)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8)STEERING (7)AIR BAGS (5)SERVICE BRAKES (4)EXTERIOR LIGHTING (3)ENGINE (2)Other (8)

POWER TRAIN

11 complaints

Transmissions slip, shudder, skip gears and shift hard, most often around the lower gears. Some cars buck in stop-and-go traffic, get stuck in gear, or will not accelerate at speed. That creates a real risk of being hit from behind on the highway. Warning lights often come on only after the failure, or not at all. Dealers often decide the whole transmission needs replacing, and bills run into the thousands. One owner reports hard shifts returning after the replacement. Failures cluster between about 65,000 and 98,000 miles.

11 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

11 complaints

AC evaporator cores leak refrigerant under the dash. The AC quits, defrost stops working, and some drivers smell refrigerant or coolant in the cabin. One evaporator burst suddenly while the AC was running. Others report compressor replacements and AC that keeps cutting in and out. Several owners cite a GM special coverage for evaporator leaks but say they were told their car does not qualify. Smaller groups of reports cover a rearview camera display that stays on, poor camera visibility in rain, weak forward collision alerts, and a start button so close to the hazard button that drivers shut the engine off by mistake.

11 complaints total

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

8 complaints

Power cuts out without warning. In some reports the interior and exterior lights go dark while driving. Other cars only click when you try to start them, or the driver information display goes blank. After a long drive, auto stop can shut the whole car off at a light, and it needs a full restart. One owner was told the battery fuse block was to blame. Battery replacements do not always fix it. Other reports describe tire pressure sensors that stop reporting and a corroded side detection sensor. Drivers who hit the start button at highway speed lose the engine and lights at once.

8 complaints total

STEERING (7 complaints)

STEERING

7 complaints

Power steering assist cuts out suddenly. The wheel goes stiff and the car is hard to keep in its lane. Some drivers see a "Power Steering, Drive With Care" or service power steering message. Others get no warning at all. Failures happen while driving or when backing out of a parking space. Dealers usually trace it to the electric power steering motor or the steering gear and call the repair expensive. Reported mileages run from 26,473 to about 74,000, so even low-mileage cars are affected.

7 complaints total

AIR BAGS (5 complaints)

AIR BAGS

5 complaintsSafety-related

The passenger seat airbag sensor malfunctions. The airbag warning light comes on with chimes and an OnStar alert, and it returns after being dismissed. Dealers diagnose the passenger seat airbag module and sensor, and owners near 62,000 miles were told the repair falls outside warranty. In one crash with a deer, the airbags did not deploy and the driver was injured. In another report, the driver's airbag went off overnight in a parked car after its warning light had been on.

5 complaints total1 crash1 injury

SERVICE BRAKES (4 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

4 complaintsSafety-related

All four reports describe a crash where the brakes did not stop the car. Drivers slide into the car ahead at freeway speed, at low speed, or pulling out of a lot. One car kept rolling in reverse and then forward even with heavy pedal pressure, and it ended up hitting a signpost. Several drivers say stops felt long or weak for months before the crash. One crash caused an injury.

4 complaints total4 crashes1 injury

EXTERIOR LIGHTING (3 complaints)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 complaintsSafety-related

Water and condensation collect inside both headlight housings, sometimes pooling at the bottom, and the headlights get noticeably dimmer at night. One dealer proposed drilling drain holes in each housing instead of replacing them. One owner faces about $200 to replace both lights. The one dated report puts the problem at about 44,000 miles. A separate crash report describes a rear-end collision but does not tie it to a lighting fault.

3 complaints total1 crash

ENGINE (2 complaints)

ENGINE

2 complaints

Power drops suddenly at highway speed and a Reduced Engine Power warning appears, which raises the risk of being rear-ended. Restarting the engine brings power back, but the check engine light stays on and the problem keeps coming back. The other report describes a strange odor in the cabin that a dealer traced to a leaking AC evaporator coil, the same failure many owners file under other categories. That coil was replaced at 39,000 miles.

2 complaints total

FUEL SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaint

2025-04-22

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while the A/C was activated during the summer of 2025, the A/C failed to function as intended. The contact stated that hot air was blowing through the vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with an EVAP leak. The leak was found on a corner near the evaporative canister. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the EVAP leak was confirmed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The vehicle was taken to a specialty shop for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered to pay a nominal part of the repair. The contact declined the assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

TIRES (1 complaints)

TIRES

1 complaint

2024-08-24

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala equipped with Goodyear Tires, Tire Line: Assurance, Tire Size: 235/50/R18, DOT Number: MT1PJBUR2920. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine service, it was discovered that all four tires had severe tread separation and piling. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The tires were not yet replaced. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

When Do 2018 Chevrolet Impala Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

65,000–98,000 milesTransmission slipping and failure

Best & Worst Chevrolet Impala Years

Best Chevrolet Impala Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

2020

0Recalls

15Complaints

Good

2019

1Recalls

28Complaints

Good

2018

(Current Model)

1Recalls

59Complaints

Chevrolet Impala Years to Avoid

No Chevrolet Impala years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 77 and 79 across 3 scored model years.

See full Chevrolet Impala years-to-avoid analysis

Chevrolet Impala Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Chevrolet Impala reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	77/100	Good
2019	79/100	Good
2020	79/100	Good

Chevrolet Impala Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2020	79/100	0	Good	0	15
2019	79/100	+2	Good	1	28
2018(selected)	77/100	—	Good	1	59

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Impala reliable?

Yes, it rates good and well above average against other 2018 sedans. It is the weakest of the three Impala years we score, though. Owner complaints center on the transmission, electrical system, steering and air bags, and independent repair-cost data shows yearly costs slightly below its class.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?

Transmission problems lead, with 11 owner complaints of slipping, shuddering and hard shifts. Electrical faults come next at 8, mostly power cutting out without warning. Steering follows with 7 complaints of sudden loss of power assist. Air bag sensor trouble accounts for 5 more.

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have transmission problems?

Yes. Owners report slipping, shuddering, skipped gears and hard shifts, mostly in the lower gears. Some cars buck in stop-and-go traffic or will not accelerate at speed. Failures cluster between about 65,000 and 98,000 miles, and dealers often recommend replacing the whole transmission at a cost in the thousands.

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have steering problems?

Yes. Owners describe power steering assist cutting out suddenly, leaving the wheel stiff and the car hard to keep in its lane. Some see a power steering warning message and others get none. Reported mileages start at 26,473, so low-mileage cars are affected too. Dealers call the repair expensive.

Was the 2018 Chevrolet Impala recalled?

Federal records show one recall for this model year, covering the hydraulic service brakes. Ask the seller for proof that the recall work was completed. The 2019 Impala also shows one recall in federal records.

Don’t buy a 2018 Chevrolet Impala without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2018 Chevrolet Impala

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2018 Chevrolet Impala does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (66/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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