1996 Chevrolet Impala Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I BOUGHT MY 1996 IMPALA SS BRAND NEW, AND EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN IN THE WINTER TIME I LOOSE THE HEAT. THE DEALER, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, WOULD FLUSH THE HEATER CORE AND SOMETIMES REPLACE IT YEARLY. THE PROBLEM STILL IS NOT FIXED, AND I HAVE LOST THE HEAT IN THE CAR AGAIN AND THE DEALER WILL NO LONGER FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING THE HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO THE OWNER, AND I HAVE TALKED TO MANY CAPRICE/IMPALA SS OWNERS OF THIS YEAR WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING TO CORRECT IT, AND NOW THE OWNERS ARE LEFT WITH THE BILL AND IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIX IT YOU DRIVE IN A COLD CAR. IF THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, THEN CHEVY/DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FLUSHING OR REPLACING MY HEATER CORE(WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO RESTORE THE HEAT) FOR AS LONG AS I OWN THE CAR. I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS, I AM ONLY A SMALL GUY FIGHTING A GIANT. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS KJB. TS
MANUFACTURER USED A PLASTIC TANK ON TOP OF RADIATOR INSTEAD OF METAL. PLASTIC TANK BECAME SPLIT, AND ANTIFREEZE POURED OUT, COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
COOLENT DEX COOL FAILED AT HALF ITS WARRANTY AND CAR DAMAGINGLY OVERHEATED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP. IT ALSO REQUIRED DAYS OF FLUSHING OUT THE HEATER CORE AND THE COOLING SYSTEM. IT MAY HAVE PERMANENTLY DAMAGED AN EXPENSIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE.
CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND COOLANT LEAKAGE, CONSEQUENTLY CREATING A POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRE. PRIOR ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WATER PUMP, POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY, AND POSSIBLY THE CURRENT HEAD GASKET DEFECT. PRIOR COOLANT LEAKAGE ONTO THE POWER STEERING BELT CAUSED POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING BELT AND ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT. POWER STEERING BELT AND ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT WERE REPLACED SEPT. 1999. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED NOV. 2000.
VEHICLE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY AND DOES NOT RESTART CAUSING SAFETY CONCERN TO THE DRIVER. YH
COVER GASKET DOES NOT HAVE PROPER HOLES TO LUBRICATE THE OUTER REAR AXLE.
OIL COOLER HOSE FAILURE. *AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1996 Chevrolet Impala has 7 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.