REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL. SPENT $300 TO GET THE GAS PEDAL SENSOR REPLACED 4 DAYS AGO AND ITS DOING IT AGAIN. CAR LOSES POWER (I WAS I-65 GOING ABOUT 60 MPH). SHIFTS HARD, TOO.
2011 Chevrolet Impala
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410 reports with mileage · 95 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
132 reportsI WILL BE DRIVING, SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME AND SAY "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" "SERVICE STABILITRACK". THE ENGINE FASTLY REDUCES SPEED AND I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
MY CHEVY SAYS STABILIZE TRACK THEN ENGINE POWER SLOWS IT'S VERY DANGEROUS SHOULD BE A RECALL.
BOUGHT 2011 IMPALA LT 2 WEEKS AGO, FIRST TIME DRIVING TO WORK ON FREEWAY - ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MESSAGE COMES UP - ENGINE POWER LOSS, STABILITAK TRACTION CONTROL. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN!! ALMOST GOT HIT BY SEMI . NO ONE HAS ANY ANSWERS!?
ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, ONCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND AGAIN TODAY, MY 2011 CHEV IMPALA LTZ DISPLAYED A SERIES OF ROTATING ALERT MESSAGES -- 1. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL 2. SERVICE STABILITRAK 3. ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON AN OPEN ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING VERY RO…
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ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, ONCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND AGAIN TODAY, MY 2011 CHEV IMPALA LTZ DISPLAYED A SERIES OF ROTATING ALERT MESSAGES -- 1. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL 2. SERVICE STABILITRAK 3. ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON AN OPEN ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY AND SLOWED DOWN AND THE ABOVE 3 MESSAGES REPEATEDLY DISPLAYED ONE AFTER THE OTHER. ALSO 2 YELLOW LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND THEN REMAINED ON -- THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT (I THINK). WHEN I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE CHEV DEALERSHIP A YEAR AGO, I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. (AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF IT ISN'T BROKEN WHEN I TAKE IT IN, THE SERVICE DEPT WOULD MOST CHALLENGED TO FIX IT.) TODAY, WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, WAITED A MOMENT AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THE SAME 3 MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED WITH THE TWO YELLOW LIGHTS STAYING ON. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR 3 OR 4 HOURS LATER, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS DISPLAYED. THE 3 REFERENCED ALERTS WERE NOT DISPLAYED. I AM GETTING READY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WITH THIS PROBLEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE AS TO HOW TO PROCEED?
WHEN TAKING LEFT TURNS THE CAR MAKES A LOUD GRIND NOISE THEN THE STABILITY CONTROLL WILL TURN ON. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STABILITY CONTROLL LIGHT POPPED ON WHILE DRIVING WHILE ALSO HAVING ENGINE POWER REDUCED WHICH THEN APPLIED MY BRAKES CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GO OFF THE ROAD.
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A REDUCED POWER READING IN MY CAR. IT COMES AND GOES AT WILL ALONG WITH A STABLITRACK WARNING. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS AND THE POSITION SENSOR TO NO AVAIL. THIS CAN HAPPEN DRIVING OR JUST GOING FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS.
IT WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY BACK HOME. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH SAID REDUCING ENGINE POWER BUT THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON SO WHEN I GOT HOME I PARK THE CAR AND LEFT IT ALONE THAT DAY..THE NEXT DAY I TURN THE CAR ON AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROLL LIGHT IS ON…
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IT WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY BACK HOME. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH SAID REDUCING ENGINE POWER BUT THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON SO WHEN I GOT HOME I PARK THE CAR AND LEFT IT ALONE THAT DAY..THE NEXT DAY I TURN THE CAR ON AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROLL LIGHT IS ON I DRIVE THE CAR IT FEELS LIKE IF THE BRAKES ARE ON I HEAR A NOISE OUTSIDE THE CAR SO I TAKE IT TO A NEAR SHOP AND THEY TELL ME ITS A BAD WHEEL ROUTER SO I CHAGE IT FOR 180 AND IT WASNT THAT SO I SEE ALOT OF IMPALAS DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, STABILITRAC LIGHT, AND ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO START JERKING AND SHIFTING HARD, ALSO ENGINE RUNNING LIKE IT HAS A MISFIRE NOW. BEFORE THIS BEGAN THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND SHIFTING PERFECT.
JUNE 8 2013: WHEN DRIVING, NOTICED ON THE FREEWAY, IT WASN'T SMOOTH AT TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION'S SHIFTING WAS PRETTY ROUGH. NO INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES POPPED UP ON DASHBOARD. WHEN ARRIVING AT FREEWAY RAMP, IT FELT LIKE I WAS HYDROPLANING, BUT ON GRAVEL. THEN, NOTICED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT FE…
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JUNE 8 2013: WHEN DRIVING, NOTICED ON THE FREEWAY, IT WASN'T SMOOTH AT TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION'S SHIFTING WAS PRETTY ROUGH. NO INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES POPPED UP ON DASHBOARD. WHEN ARRIVING AT FREEWAY RAMP, IT FELT LIKE I WAS HYDROPLANING, BUT ON GRAVEL. THEN, NOTICED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT FELT LIKE I WAS IN NEUTRAL. WAS ABLE TO PULL IN AND TAKE A LOOK... TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FINE... NOTHING POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. NOTHING! THE INDICATORS FOR TIRES, OIL, ETC WERE SHOWING INFO, BUT NOTHING TO INDICATE IT HAD DIED!! DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP - HAD JUST BOUGHT IT IN JULY 2012. 11 MONTHS LATER, THIS?!?!? THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD, EVEN WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER OLLLLLLDER CARS, THIS WAS THE WORST. THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED IN THE GM PEOPLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.THEIR AUTO TRANS CONCERN: CUSTOMER STATES TOWED IN TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE AT TIME OF WRITE UP REVERSE AND FORWARD WORKING INPUT AND REACTION CARRIER EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE METAL IN TORQUE CONVERTER., VALVE BODY, BURNT CLUTCHES CALL TAC CASE #71-1194752825 PRIVE COMP ADVISED TO REPLACE TRANS DUE TO COST WITH SRTA. ORD SERIAL #619ASBWJR6J PRELACW TIH SRTA FLUSH CODE 693FFEE5 THEY REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY... TOTAL COST WAS $4400 AUG. 29, 2017. THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY, JUST GOT OFF, WHILE IN MOTION, THERE WAS SOME REALLY ROUGH VIBRATION. COULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 25 MPH. NO LIGHT INDICATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT TELLS ME IF FLAT TIRE, BLINKER IS ON, THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE, ETC ETC, BUT NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED, BUT WE SMELLED VINEGAR EVERY TIME WE STARTED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS STRAIGHT. WE NOTICED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING, IT'S OKAY, BUT WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS ON THE FREEWAY, IT "SHUDDERS."
Official recalls
214V355000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jun 23, 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 also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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 September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
12V377000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Aug 3, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 center at 1-866-694-6546.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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