Buyer Research

2016 Chevrolet Impala — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $9,000–$15,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

A big, quiet, comfortable highway car that almost nobody wants, which is exactly why it's good value. The 3.6L V6 with the six-speed automatic is a known quantity. Buy the V6, avoid the 2.5L four with start-stop, and check whether it came out of a rental fleet.

Known Issues for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

3.6L V6 timing chain wear (earlier builds)Medium

Earlier LFX engines stretched chains when oil changes were neglected. A rattle at cold start is the tell.

Repair cost range: $1,500-$2,800

Start-stop system wear on the 2.5LMedium

Frequent restarts wear starters and batteries, and the system is unpleasant in traffic.

Repair cost range: $300-$900

Electric power steering assist failureMedium

Sudden heavy steering. GM issued recalls on some full-size cars for EPS faults — check the VIN.

Repair cost range: $0 recall to $1,300

Rental and fleet historyMedium

A very large share of these were fleet cars. Not automatically bad, but it means hard early miles and minimal-standard maintenance.

Repair cost range: Reflected in the price

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Cold-start rattle for more than a second
✗Fleet or rental title history with high miles
✗Steering that goes heavy intermittently
✗Oil changes stretched past 7,500 miles

Good Signs

✓3.6L V6 with documented 5,000-mile oil changes
✓Private-party one-owner car
✓Highway-mileage-heavy history — this car is happiest at 70 mph

Found a specific Chevrolet Impala?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2016 Chevrolet Impala in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

Get My Verdict — $7.99

No account required. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.

Other Chevrolet Impala years

1963 Chevrolet Impala

$20,000–$55,000