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2012 Chevrolet Impala

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Impala.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2012 Chevrolet Impala is a full-size passenger car equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission and powered by an engine requiring 6 quarts of 5W-30 motor oil, achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. This model year recorded 258 owner complaints, with the electrical system emerging as the primary concern among the three recalls issued for the vehicle. Against the broader complaint history spanning from 1991 to 2020, where complaints ranged from a low of just 1 in 1997 to a peak of 1,071 in 2004, the 2012 Impala falls well below the problematic 2004 peak, suggesting a notable improvement in overall reliability compared to that troubled year—though the electrical system issues remain a documented weakness worth noting for researchers tracking the model's longitudinal performance.

Model year2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2013 2012 2011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy18/29/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 34 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 34 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeLS P225/60R16OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12690386 alt 12731742
Engine air filter	20862288 discontinued
Spark plug	12681660
Front wiper blades	23366232 alt 23367644
Serpentine belt	12636139
Cabin air filter	84557894

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	200.4 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	58.7 in
Wheelbase	110.6 in
Curb weight	3655 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 29 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	105 cu ft
Cargo volume	19 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

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.

5.6–8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.60 sec — 2006 SS V8

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2014	2LT V6 3.6L V6	6.00 sec	14.80 sec	305 hp	FWD
2014	2LTZ V6 3.6L V6	6.20 sec	14.80 sec	305 hp	FWD
2014	2LTZ V6 3.6L V6	7.10 sec	15.60 sec	305 hp	FWD
2014	1LT 2.5L I-4	8.70 sec	16.80 sec	195 hp	FWD
2016	2LTZ V6 3.6L V6	6.30 sec	14.90 sec	305 hp	FWD
2007	LTZ V6 3.9L V6	7.40 sec	15.60 sec	233 hp	FWD
2007	Police 3.9L V6	7.50 sec	15.60 sec	240 hp	FWD
2006	SS V8 5.3L V8	5.60 sec	14.20 sec	303 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2-6.3
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 89021184 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	155 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	34
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	34
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	720 POLICE cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	195 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-94
RPM	43-58 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	133 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	88 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 150

74 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

15-22 ft. lbs., step 2: 34

15–22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Emission Control System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

The 2012 Chevrolet Impala sits at a relative low point in the model's federal complaint history, with 258 complaints and 3 recalls, down sharply from 505 complaints in 2011 and well below the 630 complaints and 12 recalls that followed in 2014. Across this generation, complaints and recalls trended downward from the 2008-2009 peak before the 2012-2013 lull, then spiked dramatically in 2014. Technical Service Bulletins actually continued climbing through 2012 to 1,472, reflecting ongoing service guidance rather than a spike in safety defects. The leading 2012 complaint categories were Electrical System (23), Steering (21), Unknown or Other (17), and Electronic Stability Control (13), with 20 crash-related and 5 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Given the low complaint volume, minimal recalls, and absence of investigations, 2012 looks like one of the more favorable years in this generation to buy used.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1472

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

258

Owner complaints

20 involved a crash · 5 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

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

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 258 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System23

Steering21

Unknown Or Other17

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)13

Engine12

Power Train11

Air Bags8

Fuel/Propulsion System6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V355000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 23/06/2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on…

12V377000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower ArmReported 03/08/2012

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1472 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT6247B	2026-05-04	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates direction to find information at…
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…

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.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 34 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine oil filter 12690386 Engine air filter 20862288 Spark plug 12681660 Front wiper blades 23366232

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Impala take?

6 qt of 5W-30 MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Impala have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Impala get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 29 highway / 22 combined mpg.