These listings span 2000 to 2019 and cover three quite different Impalas, so the year on its own is not enough to order by. The 2000–2005 car is the front-drive W-body with the 3.4 and 3.8 V6s. The 2006–2013 car brings the 3.5, the 3.9 and a V8. The 2014-onward car is a new vehicle altogether. Every transmission listed here is an automatic; the Impala was not sold with a manual in these years.
The years that trip people up are 2014, 2015 and 2016. In those three years Chevrolet sold two different Impalas at the same time — the new model, and the previous-generation car continued for fleet buyers as the Impala Limited. The listings separate them by the fourth character of the VIN, not the eighth: VIN 1 is the new style and VIN W is the Limited.
Chevrolet Impala used transmissions — options by generation
| Years listed |
Engine |
Distinguishing option |
Notes |
| 2000–2005 |
3.4L V6 |
— |
Base engine; 2000 split by ID RDB and RLB |
| 2000–2005 |
3.8L V6 |
Axle ratio 3.05 (opt F83) or 3.29 (opt FR9) |
The axle ratio is part of the match |
| 2004–2005 |
3.8L V6 supercharged |
Supercharged option |
Listed apart from the normal 3.8 |
| 2006–2011 |
3.5L V6 |
— |
The volume engine of this generation |
| 2006–2011 |
3.9L V6 |
Police package opt 9C1 or 9C3, or without |
Three separate listings per year |
| 2006–2009 |
5.3L V8 |
— |
The V8 SS |
| 2012–2013 |
— |
— |
Not divided by engine |
| 2014–2016 |
2.4L, 2.5L and 3.6L |
VIN 1, 4th digit — New Style |
The new car |
| 2014–2016 |
— |
VIN W, 4th digit — Limited |
Previous generation, continued for fleet |
| 2017–2019 |
2.5L and 3.6L |
— |
Final years |
How to pick the right one
Work out which car you have first, and for 2014 to 2016 that means reading the fourth character of the VIN rather than the eighth. A Limited and a New Style of the same model year are different vehicles with different transmissions. On the earlier cars two details do more work than people expect. The 3.8 litre listings are divided by rear axle ratio — 3.05 under option F83 and 3.29 under option FR9 — so the ratio is part of the match, not an afterthought. And from 2006 the 3.9 litre listings split three ways by police package: 9C1 was the patrol car, 9C3 the unmarked version, and the civilian car is listed without either. A police-specification unit is not the same part as the civilian one. Where an identification code is given, such as RDB or LPB, that code is stamped on the transmission and is the most reliable thing to match.
What usually goes wrong on these transmissions
On the 2000–2011 front-drive cars the four-speed automatic is the common failure, and it usually announces itself as a slip into or out of third, a flare between shifts, or a loss of drive when hot. The design's known weak points are the clutch packs and the pump, and a cracked case is not unheard of on the higher-torque applications. Worth ruling out before you buy: low or burnt fluid, a failed pressure control solenoid and a bad wiring connector all produce similar symptoms far more cheaply. On the 2014-onward car the six-speed is a more robust unit and the frequent complaints are harsh or delayed engagement, which is often a valve body or fluid issue rather than a worn transmission. Each listing states its condition and the mileage options.
What ships with every unit
-
Condition as listed — each product page states the condition and the mileage options, which are priced separately.
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VIN matched fitment — send us your VIN and we confirm the transmission application against your vehicle before the order ships.
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Written warranty — 6 months on these units, extendable to 3 years, parts only. Labour is not included unless you buy a separate agreement.
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Free freight anywhere in the lower 48, shipped on a pallet to a commercial address or a terminal.
Related reading: GM 3.6L High Feature V6 guide, GM 5.3L Vortec engine guide, all engine guides.
Chevrolet Impala used transmissions — frequently asked questions
Why are there two different Impalas listed for 2014, 2015 and 2016?
Because Chevrolet sold two at once. The new tenth-generation car ran alongside the previous-generation car, which continued for fleet and rental buyers as the Impala Limited. The listings separate them by the fourth character of the VIN: VIN 1 is the new style, VIN W is the Limited.
Does the rear axle ratio really affect which transmission I need?
On the 3.8 litre cars, yes. Those listings are divided into 3.05 ratio under option F83 and 3.29 ratio under option FR9, and the ratio forms part of the correct match. It is on the option label rather than in the VIN.
What is the difference between the 9C1 and 9C3 police packages?
9C1 is the marked patrol specification and 9C3 the unmarked version. Both were built on the 3.9 litre car and both differ from the civilian specification, so the listings keep all three apart.
Was the Chevrolet Impala available with a manual transmission?
Not in these years. Every transmission listed here, from 2000 to 2019, is an automatic.
What comes with a used Chevrolet Impala transmission?
Each listing states its condition and its mileage options. Fitment is matched to your VIN before the order goes out, every unit carries a written warranty of 6 months, extendable to 3 years, parts only, and freight is free anywhere in the lower 48.
