Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1971 Impala.
The 1971 Chevrolet Impala represents an early chapter in the nameplate's lineage, arriving well before the formally tracked complaint era of 1991 to 2020 that would later define the model's reliability record. During that documented span, the Impala experienced dramatic extremes in owner satisfaction, ranging from a standout low of a single complaint in 1997 to a problematic peak of 1,071 complaints in 2004. Because this specific model year falls entirely outside those tracked metrics, its position in the model's reliability history means researchers must evaluate its long-term dependability without the context of the nameplate's later, highly variable data.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 213.4 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in |
| Overall height | 52.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 119.7 in |
| Curb weight | 2967 lb |
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 |
| 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 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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.
Remedy:
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 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.