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Chevrolet Gmc Impala Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Chevrolet Gmc Impala car check

Is the Chevrolet Gmc Impala reliable? We analysed 1,030 real MOT tests across 158 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,030 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.6%
Typical Mileage
55,680mi
Annual Mileage
470mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
58yrs

The Chevrolet Gmc Impala is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Chevrolet Gmc Impala.

Chevrolet Gmc Impala Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Chevrolet Gmc Impala. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Chevrolet Gmc Impala MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Chevrolet Gmc Impala to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

80%
2004
83.9%
2001
90.3%
1989
90%
1968

Chevrolet Gmc Impala Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Chevrolet Gmc Impala fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 24
parking brake recording little or no effort 18
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 18
position lamp(s) not working 16
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 15
Registration plate lamp not working 14
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 13
Headlamp not working on main beam 12
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 10
Brake pipe excessively corroded 10

Chevrolet Gmc Impala Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Chevrolet Gmc Impala owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
153 mi/yr
Typical
470 mi/yr
Average
1,915 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,513 mi/yr

Chevrolet Gmc Impala MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Chevrolet Gmc Impala year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 55 80.0% 65,065 88,733 98,100
2001 56 83.9% 4,783 11,931 59,725
1989 72 90.3% 21,756 37,671 77,846
1968 60 90.0% 7,254 42,687 43,715

How Long Does a Chevrolet Gmc Impala Last?

Based on 158 Chevrolet Gmc Impala vehicles on UK roads.

Average
24.1 years
Median
21.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
58 years

Chevrolet Gmc Impala Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Chevrolet Gmc Impala MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
55,680 mi
75th Percentile
82,490 mi
95th Percentile
142,144 mi
Max Recorded
671,902 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Chevrolet Gmc Impala

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1989

90.3% MOT pass rate from 72 tests

Year to avoid
2004

80.0% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

The best year to buy a used Chevrolet Gmc Impala is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.3% across 72 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Chevrolet Gmc Impala Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Chevrolet Gmc Impala THIS CAR 84.6% 1,030 55,680 mi 58 yrs
Chevrolet Gmc Corvette 84.5% 19,643 54,900 mi 62 yrs
Chevrolet Gmc Camaro 80% 9,912 66,600 mi 59 yrs
Chevrolet Gmc Blazer V6 Auto 69.1% 5,489 78,910 mi 28 yrs
Ford Fusion Zetec Climate 83.9% 1,087 80,641 mi — yrs

Compared to the Chevrolet Gmc Corvette (84.5% pass rate) and the Chevrolet Gmc Camaro (80.0% pass rate), the Chevrolet Gmc Impala outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Chevrolet Gmc Impala?

The Chevrolet Gmc Impala has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.6% across 1,030 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Chevrolet Gmc Impala are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (24 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (18), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (18). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Chevrolet Gmc Impala owner drives around 470 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Chevrolet Gmc Impala models stay on UK roads for around 58 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Chevrolet Gmc Impala — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chevrolet Gmc Impala reliable?
Based on 1,030 MOT tests, the Chevrolet Gmc Impala has a 84.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Chevrolet Gmc Impala?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Chevrolet Gmc Impala do per year?
The typical Chevrolet Gmc Impala does around 470 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Chevrolet Gmc Impala last?
Most Chevrolet Gmc Impala models stay on UK roads for around 58 years based on our analysis of 158 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Chevrolet Gmc Impala?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Chevrolet Gmc Impala?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Chevrolet Gmc Impala is 1989 with a 90.3% pass rate across 72 tests.