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.
What we checked
Reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 111 owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala, and no recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is electrics and electronics at 27%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Earlier LFX engines stretched chains when oil changes were neglected. A rattle at cold start is the tell.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,500-$2,800
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (21).
Frequent restarts wear starters and batteries, and the system is unpleasant in traffic.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$900
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (30).
Sudden heavy steering. GM issued recalls on some full-size cars for EPS faults — check the VIN.
Repair cost: $0 recall to $1,300
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under steering (16).
A very large share of these were fleet cars. Not automatically bad, but it means hard early miles and minimal-standard maintenance.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
The Impala's 6T70/6T75 automatic can shudder or judder — like driving over rumble strips — during light-throttle acceleration around 30–45 mph, caused by the torque converter clutch slipping. GM issued technical service bulletins calling for updated transmission fluid and a reflash; if that doesn't clear it, the torque converter itself needs replacing.
Repair cost (estimate): $150–$1,200
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (16).
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.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
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.
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