Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Impala.
The 1982 Chevrolet Impala enters the reference spotlight with a remarkably clean reliability record, tallying just 2 owner complaints and 3 recalls, with the electrical system noted as the top concern area. This stands in stark contrast to the broader Impala complaint history spanning 1991 to 2020, where the 2004 model year peaked at 1,071 complaints and even the best year, 1997, recorded a single issue. For researchers, the 1982 model year’s minimal reported problems place it among the most trouble-free entries in the nameplate’s long-term reliability narrative.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 212.2 in |
| Overall width | 75.2 in |
| Overall height | 55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.1 in |
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.
| 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 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1982 Chevrolet Impala is not represented in the provided federal record, which begins in 1991—nine model years after the target year—so direct complaints, recalls, investigations, and TSBs for 1982 cannot be assessed from this data. The available record does show a notable trend across the broader Impala generation: complaints remained very low (0–4) through 1999, then surged dramatically to 856 in 2000, peaked at 1,071 in 2004, and gradually declined through 2020; recalls followed a similar arc, spiking to 10 in 2000–2001 before tapering. This suggests the Impala platform experienced a significant quality inflection in the early 2000s, with issues tapering considerably in later model years. The data does not specify root causes for these complaint patterns. Given that the target year predates this documented surge by nearly two decades and that no complaints, recalls, or fire/crash complaints are on record for 1982 specifically, the data provides no negative signals about that model year, though it equally offers no assurance of reliability compared to years actually documented. A prospective buyer should consider that while 1982 falls outside the documented problem period, the complete absence of federal data for that year means any assessment relies on general historical knowledge rather than the trends visible in the record.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE GOVERNOR WEIGHT RETAINER IN THE INJECTION PUMP MAY FAIL. THE THROTTLE VALVE COULD STICK, PREVENTING RETURN TO IDLE AND SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE BY THE DRIVER. Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE GOVERNOR WEIGHT ASSEMBLY IN THE INJECTION PUMP AT NO COST TO OWNER.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.