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2020 Chevrolet Impala

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Impala.

Transmission Automatic (S6)

The 2020 Chevrolet Impala is a full‑size sedan built on General Motors’ long‑standing D‑body platform and powered by a V6 that uses a 6.0‑quart, 5W‑30 oil fill, paired with Chevrolet’s six‑speed automatic (S6) transmission; its EPA ratings of 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and a combined 22 mpg reflect the model’s balanced tuning for comfortable, everyday driving. Across the 2020 model year the vehicle logged only 15 owner‑reported complaints and no recalls, positioning it near the low end of the brand’s reliability spectrum, especially when contrasted with the historical peak of 1,071 complaints in 2004 and the single‑complaint low in 1997 that span the Impala’s 1991‑2020 production run. This modest complaint count suggests that the 2020 Impala sits on the more dependable side of the model’s long‑term record, offering researchers a relatively stable data point within the model’s overall reliability trajectory.

Model year202020192018201720162015201320122011

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque111.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/28/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 615 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. 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 48 · 615 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/50R18 97HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter22753242
Spark plug12681660
Battery88866309 alt 88866271
Front wiper blades84589112 alt 84589113
Serpentine belt12639018
Thermostat12681132
Cabin air filter23393247

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length201.2 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height59.1 in
Wheelbase111.8 in
Curb weight3662 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 28 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume105 cu ft
Cargo volume19 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular 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.

6.0–8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.00 sec — 2014 2LT V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2018Premier V6 3.6L V66.10 sec14.90 sec305 hpFWD
20162LTZ V6 3.6L V66.30 sec14.90 sec305 hpFWD
20142LT V6 3.6L V66.00 sec14.80 sec305 hpFWD
20142LTZ V6 3.6L V66.20 sec14.80 sec305 hpFWD
20142LTZ V6 3.6L V67.10 sec15.60 sec305 hpFWD
20141LT 2.5L I-48.70 sec16.80 sec195 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 111 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON®-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-6.3
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.0 qt
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity0.981
Brake FluidDot 3
Brake Fluid Capacity.98 pt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)89.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)89.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs89.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)43.0 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts only.
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)6.6 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts111.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts111 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug8.8 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug8.83 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.0375–0.0433 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037-.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance615 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-94
RPM43.0-58.0 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50.0-94.0 Measured at the Fuel Rail
RPM43.0-58.0 @ Idle. rpm
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure22-32 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMhot @ 700 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi minimum @ Idle psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20; Rear: 20
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.6; Rear: 6.6
Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque20.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.070; Rear: 0.846
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: 0.00024; Rear: 0.00024

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Front: Step 1: 111.0 ft. lbs.

245°74 ft. lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130°-45°
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., 60°-75°74 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
166.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 75°66 ft. lbs
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Use new retaining nut., Step 2111 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 110°18 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 110°22 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
159.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 125°59 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 45°22 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°22 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 45°22 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°22 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 97,500 mi.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miWindshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 75,000 miHood Hinge (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory 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 2020 Impala recorded just 15 complaints and zero recalls, the lowest complaint count in the entire dataset and a continuation of a steady decline from 110 complaints in 2016 to 28 in 2019. Across the final generation (2014–2020), complaint volumes and TSBs peaked in 2014 (630 complaints, 12 recalls) before trending sharply downward, with the 2020 model year representing the most refined point in this arc. The top complaint areas for 2020 are vague—"Unknown or Other" accounts for 3 of the 15 complaints—so the data does not specify a root cause for the majority of issues, though steering and air bags each drew 2 complaints. With no recalls, no investigations, and only 3 crash-related complaints (and no fires), the 2020 Impala stands out as the most trouble-free year in the generation. This is a strong buy candidate for a used large sedan, as it benefits from the resolution of earlier problems and shows minimal reported defects.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
552
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
15
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 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 15 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other3
Steering2
Air Bags2
Unknown Or Other,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System,Seat Belts,Lane Departure1
Power Train,Unknown Or Other1
Steering,Power Train,Electrical System1
Unknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 552 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT6425D2026-03-02Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…
PIT6425C2026-01-16Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…

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 48 batteryVehicles taking 6.0 qtEngine oil filter 12731742Engine air filter 22753242Spark plug 12681660Battery 88866309

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 Impala take?

6.0 qt of 5W-30 Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Impala have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Impala get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg.