The Lemon Index2006 Chevrolet Impala.
The 2006 Chevrolet Impala is better than average by owner complaints: 124 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 62, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 19 to 22 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Impala year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 524 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Chevrolet Impala year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 40K to 114K miles on the car (404 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 33K–96K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 54K–102K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 55K–122K miles
Recalls 2
- electrical 2014
In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may caus.
- steering 2009
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIO…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 804 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Concerns with clunk noise from front of vehicle turning maneuver / steering wheel rotation.*jb…
- Intermittent no crank starter clicks or vehicle starts to crank then stops cranking
- Power steering hose leak
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPower steering fluid leaks - fires2009
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–4200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.9L 6-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
2006 Chevrolet Impala rear tires had a slow leak causing tires to go flat.
2006 Chevrolet Impala owner · NHTSA complaint 10164745
More owner reports
Expressway driving. Power steering failed. No previous indication. Result was a major increase in effort to steer. I felt it created an unsafe condition. I was able to exit the highway and there was no accident.
NHTSA complaint 10216982
2006 Chevrolet Impala had an equipment failure which caused the vehicle to swerve and hit another vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 10209414
Quick answers
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 62; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Impala year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Impala problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (40%), tires (14%) and electrical (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet Impala have?
2 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Chevrolet Impala get?
19 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Impala problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,000 and 114,000 miles. The middle report was at 74,900 miles, from 404 complaints.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Impala have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2006 Chevrolet Impala cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $4200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Chevrolet Impala have?
3.5L 6-cyl, 3.9L 6-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Impala year is better than the 2006?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2010 and 2016.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works