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1971 Chevrolet Impala

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1971 Impala.

The 1971 Chevrolet Impala enters the historical record with a model complaint history that spans 1991 through 2020, peaking at 1,071 complaints for the 2004 model year and bottoming out at a single complaint for 1997. Since the 1971 model year falls outside this documented complaint window, its specific reliability standing within the lineage cannot be directly benchmarked against these later figures. Researchers should note that the available data reflects only the 1991–2020 production era, leaving the 1971 Impala's long-term complaint profile unquantified in this dataset.

Model year2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2013 2012 1971

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	213.4 in
Overall width	78.3 in
Overall height	52.8 in
Wheelbase	119.7 in
Curb weight	2967 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Impala of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.3–12.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 1962 SS409 V8 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1972	Custom Hardtop Coupe 6.6L V8	11.20 sec	20.50 sec	170 hp	RWD
1965	SS V8 Hardtop Coupe 4.6L V8	12.40 sec	19.70 sec	—	RWD
1962	SS409 V8 Coupe 6.7L V8	6.30 sec	14.90 sec	409 hp	RWD
1961	SS409 V8 Hardtop Coupe 6.7L V8	6.70 sec	15.20 sec	360 hp	RWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

73V013000Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody ShieldsReported 24/01/1973

THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT DRIVING ON UNPAVED ROAD SURFACES, PARTICULARLY ROADS WHICH ARE HEAVILY GRAVELED AND WHICH ARE EXTREMELY WAVY OR FILLED WITH CHUCKHOLES, AT SPEEDS WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO PITCH EXCESSIVELY, THE… Remedy: INSPECT AND INSTALL SHIELD ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

70V143000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 03/12/1970

Remedy:

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Impala. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes

Frequently asked

Does the 1971 Impala have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.