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2011 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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.

22 crash reports5 fire reports19 injury reports

Engine complaints

125 reports
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13,789 miles · Aug 19, 2020
EngineService BrakesWheels

WHEN I GOT THE CAR I NEW IT NEEDED NEW TIRES SO I WENT TO THE TIRE SHOP FRO.M THE DEALERSHIP BUT I ASK THE DEALER IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD FEEL IT SHIMMY HE WAS TRYING TO SALE ME AND 2009 BUT I COULD HERE ITS POWER STEERING PUMP WAS OUT THEY WERE BOTH THE SAME PRICE IT ONLY MADE SINCE TO GET THE …

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WHEN I GOT THE CAR I NEW IT NEEDED NEW TIRES SO I WENT TO THE TIRE SHOP FRO.M THE DEALERSHIP BUT I ASK THE DEALER IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD FEEL IT SHIMMY HE WAS TRYING TO SALE ME AND 2009 BUT I COULD HERE ITS POWER STEERING PUMP WAS OUT THEY WERE BOTH THE SAME PRICE IT ONLY MADE SINCE TO GET THE NEWER CAR. AFTER PUTTING NEW TIRES ON I SEEN IT NEEDED OIL CHANGE THEN AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED SERVICED. WHILE I WAS DOING THAT I CALLED TO ASK THE GUY IF HE WAS GOING TO HELP ME OUT. LOL YEA BRING IT IN ALL CHARGE YOU TWICE AS MUCH AS THE PLACE YOU ARE AT RIGHT NOW SO I LET HIM KNOW I WOULD LET ALL MY FRIENDS KNOW. IT WAS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. ITS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER THEN THE FLAPPER FOR THE VENT STARTED FLAPPING AND MAKES AN AWFUL NOISE ALL THE TIME THERE NO WORKING AIR CONDITIONING SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT NEEDS BRAKES AND ROTTERS AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON SO I WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE 29.9 INTERESTED THE LOAN OFFICE CONTRACT ME BECAUSE IM PAYING IT OFF TO FAST AND SAYS I SIGNED TO WRONG LOAN AGREEMENT AND WANTS MORE MONEY THERE IN CAHOOTS TOGETHER IT WOULDNT LET ME MARK EVERYTHING THATS WRONG

NHTSA ODI #11350221

99,000 miles · Aug 10, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

WORST CAR GM IS HORRIBLE

NHTSA ODI #11348486

127,000 miles · Jun 14, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MESSAGE CAME ACROSS SAYING REDUCING ENGINE POWER. THEN SAID TO SERVICE STABILIZER. IT THEN TURNED OFF TRACTION CONTROL. WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AFTER A BIT DRIVING THE WHOLE CAR SHIFT OFF WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE MESSAGE ON DASH SAID IT DISABLED OUR STA…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MESSAGE CAME ACROSS SAYING REDUCING ENGINE POWER. THEN SAID TO SERVICE STABILIZER. IT THEN TURNED OFF TRACTION CONTROL. WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AFTER A BIT DRIVING THE WHOLE CAR SHIFT OFF WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE MESSAGE ON DASH SAID IT DISABLED OUR STARTER. WE ALMOST DID NOT GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY WE WERE IN THE LEFT LANE AND COULD NOT GET TO THE SHOULDER. MY HUSBAND HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION TO PASS ACROSS INTO ONCOMING BECAUSE THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO ONE COMING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328750

68,000 miles · Feb 4, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE STABILIZER TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #11306923

183,500 miles · Jan 27, 2020
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A HIGH PITCH SOUND, JERK VIOLENTLY AND FINALLY SHIFT INTO THE GEAR. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A HIGH PITCH SOUND, JERK VIOLENTLY AND FINALLY SHIFT INTO THE GEAR. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE REAL SLOW IN ORDER TO GET GOING AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER GOING UP HILLS. THE DEALER H & H AUTO SALES (1007 E STUART DR, GALAX, VA 24333 (276) 236-7300) STATED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN BUT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER HAD ALREADY FIXED THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD LEAKY VALVE COVERS AND HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO THE CONTACT WITH A RECALL THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT THE DEALER JEFF JOHNSON CHEVROLET (2533 CARROLLTON PIKE, WOODLAWN, VA 24381 (276) 779-4620). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,500.

NHTSA ODI #11302163

113,000 miles · Jan 21, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE, SERVICE STABILITRAK - REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THIS HAS COME UP A FEW TIMES. THIS TIME THOUGH WHILE STILL DRIVING MY ENGINE POWER WAS GREATLY REDUCED WITH THE ERROR, "STARTER DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE". THIS LED TO A DRASTIC DECREASE IN SPEED WITH ZERO CONTROL OVE…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE, SERVICE STABILITRAK - REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THIS HAS COME UP A FEW TIMES. THIS TIME THOUGH WHILE STILL DRIVING MY ENGINE POWER WAS GREATLY REDUCED WITH THE ERROR, "STARTER DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE". THIS LED TO A DRASTIC DECREASE IN SPEED WITH ZERO CONTROL OVER THROTTLE AND MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A HALT.

NHTSA ODI #11300986

78,000 miles · May 20, 2019
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

JANUARY 2019 WAS DRIVING ON A VERY CONGESTED INTERSTATE 95 AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65. A WARNING POPPED UP ON MY DASH BOARD.SERVICE STABIL TRAK ENGINE IN REDUCED POWER. IT WAS LIKE I LONGER CONTROLLED MY CAR. THE SPEED SUDDENLY DROPPED. I WENT FROM 65MPH TO MAYBE 30MPH. IT FELT LIKE MY BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED . I BECAME S…

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JANUARY 2019 WAS DRIVING ON A VERY CONGESTED INTERSTATE 95 AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65. A WARNING POPPED UP ON MY DASH BOARD.SERVICE STABIL TRAK ENGINE IN REDUCED POWER. IT WAS LIKE I LONGER CONTROLLED MY CAR. THE SPEED SUDDENLY DROPPED. I WENT FROM 65MPH TO MAYBE 30MPH. IT FELT LIKE MY BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED . I BECAME SCARED AND ALMOST STARTED TO PANIC. BUT BECAUSE I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE. I SAT THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE WITH MY HEART RACING AND MY HANDS LOCKED ON THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THEY CRAMPED UP. I TURNED OFF MY CAR AND REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. I THANKED GOD I WAS ALONE IN THAT CAR. I THANKED GOD THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT TAILGATING ME. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE CAR UP. THE WARNING WAS GONE BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH TO MERGE BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE SO I PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND DROVE ON THE SHOULDER AT 20-30MPH UNTIL I GOT TO THE FIRST EXIT. I MADE IT HOME. I CALLED A CAR REPAIR COMPANY. THEY TOLD ME THE SENSOR MORE THAN LIKELY NEED TO BE RESET. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED MY CAR UP AND ALL WARNING WERE GONE SO I DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL TODAY 52/20/2019. I JUST FILLED MY TANK UP WITH GAS. TURNED IT ON PUT IT IN GEAR AND DROVE 20FEET WHEN THE SAME ERROR CAME ON . I HAD LOOKED UP THIS ERROR ON THE INTERNET. SEEMS LOTS OF AMERICANS HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED BECAUSE A CAR MAKER HAS A MECHANISM BUILT IN TO IT VEHICLE THAT TAKES CONTROL OF THE SPEED TO WHICH THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. PEOPLE ARE SPENDING A LOT MONEY TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO NOT HAVE A FIX. CHEVROLET IS PUTTING THE LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS ON THE ROADS IN JEOPARDY WITH THEIR STABIL TRAK COMPUTER SENSORS.YOUR FAILING AMERICANS

NHTSA ODI #11208636

120,000 miles · Apr 18, 2019
Engine

GET AN ERROR OUT OF NOWHERE STATING SERVICE STABILITRACK, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

NHTSA ODI #11197100

142,469 miles · Apr 7, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

DRIVING AT ABOUT 70MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME WITH WITH THE READING SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, ENGINE REDUCED POWER AN DISABLED STARTED, SERVICE THROTTLE INSTANTLY I LOSS ALL RMPS AN MY STEERING WHEEL ALMOST FULLY LOCKED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL ON MOTION. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO JUS BARLEY VEER OFF THE ROAD INTO SAFETY. WHY W…

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DRIVING AT ABOUT 70MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME WITH WITH THE READING SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, ENGINE REDUCED POWER AN DISABLED STARTED, SERVICE THROTTLE INSTANTLY I LOSS ALL RMPS AN MY STEERING WHEEL ALMOST FULLY LOCKED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL ON MOTION. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO JUS BARLEY VEER OFF THE ROAD INTO SAFETY. WHY WOULD A CAR COMPANY HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THIER VEHICLES. THAT WOULD LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GOING AT ACCELERATED SPEEDS

NHTSA ODI #11194468

70 miles · Apr 2, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA THE PROBLEM THAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR IS THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE IS ALWAYS COME ON AND WHEN I'M ON THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY MY SPEED REDUCE AND MY CAR CAN SHUT OFF AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING AND IT CAN CAUSE A BAD WRECK. THE PROBLEM BEEN HAPPEN FOR A MINUTE NOW

NHTSA ODI #11193505

Official recalls

2

14V355000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.