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2018 Chevrolet Impala problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
33%
17 of 51 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 8 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 29%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have transmission problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 17 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Impala concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under power train (11). For comparison, the 2017 scores 37% and the 2019 scores 36%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
17
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
59
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
6 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER16 · 27%
POWER TRAIN11 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 19%
SERVICE BRAKES8 · 14%
STEERING7 · 12%
ENGINE7 · 12%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2018 compares with other Chevrolet Impala years

Of the 10 Chevrolet Impala years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2016 (54%), the best the 2014 (17%). By volume, the 2018 drew 59 complaints (17 drivetrain), against 116 for the 2017 and 28 for the 2019.

Chevrolet Impala years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala

  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN06/26/2026
The transmission failed, shifting is no longer smooth. It hesitates and shakes the entire car, and the car slows down to almost a crawl uphill. I understand this is an issue with Chevrolet Impalas. So now I have an $8200 bill for a problem I was never told about, and that GM knew that it existed. So, yes, the issue …

One of 17 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2018 Chevrolet Impala engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V576000 · Aug 2018
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2018 Chevrolet Impala? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2018 Chevrolet Impala

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have transmission problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 17 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Impala concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Chevrolet Impala is power train: 11 of 59 complaints (19%) name it, followed by electrical system (11) and service brakes (8). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Impala reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Chevrolet Impala years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Chevrolet Impala years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Impala years we track, the 2014 (17%), the 2015 (17%) and the 2013 (24%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-impala

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.