Is the Chevrolet Impala more reliable than the Genesis G80?

Yes, the Impala has a clear edge. It has 2 recalls across three model years, while the G80 has 28 across nine. Owners also file far fewer complaints per car sold on the Impala. Both rate good, but the G80's record is heavier.

Which has more recalls, the Impala or the G80?

The G80 has far more. Federal recall records list 28 for the Genesis across nine model years and 2 for the Chevrolet across three. Some G80 owners also report waiting months for parts after an electrical system recall notice.

What is the most common Impala problem?

Electrical faults lead the Impala's complaints, mainly warning chimes and driver aids that stop working. Transmission trouble is close behind and more costly. Owners describe slipping, shuddering and hard shifts, with failures around 65,000 to 98,000 miles and replacement bills in the thousands.

Are Genesis G80 tires a known problem?

Owner complaints say yes. Reports describe sidewall bubbles and blowouts on Continental ProContact TX tires, often between 6,000 and 14,000 miles. Some happened at highway speed or after one pothole. Replacement tires of the same line failed too, so check the tire brand before buying.

Which Impala and G80 years should I avoid?

For the G80, skip the 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. For the Impala, the 2020 is the strongest, the 2018 is a weak year, and the 2019 appears on both lists. G80 years from 2024 on look good, but they are newer and have had less time to collect complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Impala vs Genesis G80: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Impala

Good

Genesis G80

Good

On reliability, the Chevrolet Impala beats the Genesis G80 by a clear margin. Federal recall records show far fewer recalls for the Impala, and owners file far fewer complaints per car sold. The G80's oil leaks, sticking steering and tire blowouts weigh against it.

How Do the Chevrolet Impala and Genesis G80 Generations Compare?

All three Impala model years in this comparison, 2018 to 2020, belong to the tenth generation, which ran from 2014 to 2020. Shoppers looking at these cars are buying the last years of the Impala. The G80 has had two US generations. The first, labeled DH, covered 2017 to 2020 and includes the weakest years, 2018 and 2019. The second, labeled RG3, began in 2021 and received a facelift for 2024. Shoppers who want a G80 from the second generation should remember that its newest years have had little time to build a complaint record.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Impala is more reliable than the Genesis G80, scoring 78/100 vs 69/100.

Reliability favors the Impala by a clear margin. Federal recall records show 2 recalls across its three model years, against 28 for the G80 across nine. Owner complaints per car sold run about four times higher for the G80. The Impala's weak spots, transmission failures and electrical faults, are serious but turn up less often. The G80 carries a recall-heavy record, with turbocharger oil leaks, steering that sticks in a turn, and early tire blowouts. Each model rates good, but the Impala's lighter record decides it.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Impala has 30.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Chevrolet Impala has 26 fewer total recalls
3Chevrolet Impala scores 9 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Impala

—

0Genesis G80

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Chevrolet Impala vs Genesis G80: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Impala vs Genesis G80 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Impala	Genesis G80
Reliability Score	78/100	69/100
Years Tracked	3	9
Total Recalls	2	28
Complaints per 10k Sold	9.1	39.6
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2020 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	3	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Impala and Genesis G80?

Transmission trouble defines the Impala: slipping, shuddering and hard shifts, with failures clustered between about 65,000 and 98,000 miles. Its electrical complaints are dead warning chimes and a dead blind spot warning. The G80 problems are more varied: a turbocharger oil feed pipe that leaks onto the hot exhaust, steering that stays turned on long curves, and tire sidewall bubbles that end in blowouts. Only the Impala has crash-linked brake reports, where the car would not stop. Both models have air bag reports from crashes, and the G80's involve the steering-wheel airbag failing to deploy.

Chevrolet Impala vs Genesis G80 common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Impala	Genesis G80
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.5Low	7.7Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.9Low	5.1Average
STEERING	1.2Low	4.1Average
ENGINE	0.2Very Low	2.9Low
POWER TRAIN	1.3Low	1.7Low
AIR BAGS	1.1Low	1.7Low
TIRES	—None	2.2Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	1.7Low
WHEELS	—None	1.9Low
STRUCTURE	—None	1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.7Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.7Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.5Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.3Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.3Very Low	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Chevrolet Impala vs Genesis G80 Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Impala vs Genesis G80 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Impala	Genesis G80	Edge
2020	79/1000R / 15C	70/1002R / 10C	Chevrolet Impala
2019	79/1001R / 28C	66/1003R / 27C	Chevrolet Impala
2018	77/1001R / 59C	55/1006R / 94C	Chevrolet Impala

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Chevrolet Impala scored 79/100 and the 2020 Genesis G80 scored 70/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Impala vs the Genesis G80?

Pick the Impala if you want fewer surprises and a lighter recall history. Target the 2020, its strongest year. The 2019 shows up on both its strongest and weakest lists, so check that one closely, and be wary of the 2018. Whatever year you test drive, ask for transmission service records and feel for slipping or hard shifts in the lower gears. Also check that the warning chimes and blind spot warning work. Pick the G80 if you want the newer, more upscale car and will shop carefully. Avoid the 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Before buying, have a dealer confirm that every open recall has been completed, since some owners reported waiting months for repair parts. Check the tire brand and condition, because owners reported sidewall bubbles on Continental ProContact TX tires. The 2024 and 2026 years rate strongest, but newer cars have had less time to collect complaints, so that lead is partly a matter of age.

Chevrolet Impala vs Genesis G80: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Impala more reliable than the Genesis G80?: Yes, the Impala has a clear edge. It has 2 recalls across three model years, while the G80 has 28 across nine. Owners also file far fewer complaints per car sold on the Impala. Both rate good, but the G80's record is heavier.
Which has more recalls, the Impala or the G80?: The G80 has far more. Federal recall records list 28 for the Genesis across nine model years and 2 for the Chevrolet across three. Some G80 owners also report waiting months for parts after an electrical system recall notice.
What is the most common Impala problem?: Electrical faults lead the Impala's complaints, mainly warning chimes and driver aids that stop working. Transmission trouble is close behind and more costly. Owners describe slipping, shuddering and hard shifts, with failures around 65,000 to 98,000 miles and replacement bills in the thousands.
Are Genesis G80 tires a known problem?: Owner complaints say yes. Reports describe sidewall bubbles and blowouts on Continental ProContact TX tires, often between 6,000 and 14,000 miles. Some happened at highway speed or after one pothole. Replacement tires of the same line failed too, so check the tire brand before buying.
Which Impala and G80 years should I avoid?: For the G80, skip the 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. For the Impala, the 2020 is the strongest, the 2018 is a weak year, and the 2019 appears on both lists. G80 years from 2024 on look good, but they are newer and have had less time to collect complaints.

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More Genesis G80 comparisons

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How we score the Chevrolet Impala and Genesis G80

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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