IllustrationAFTER BEING STOPPED AND THEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION IS STICKING AND THEN WILL KICK IN VERY HARD, LIKE YOU ARE BEING HIT IN THE REAR-END. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME, HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE OFF AND ON, AND IT IS NOW STARTING TO DO THIS MORE OFTEN. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM MANY OTHER IMPALA OWNERS.
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
770–25K
8225–50K
9150–75K
7975–100K
67100–150K
14150K+
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
Power Train complaints
64 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHAN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLANETARY GEAR FAILED. THE MECHANIC REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ON JULY 12, 2019. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,908.
HOT AND COLD THE TRANSAXLE IS SLIPPING AND THEN GRABBING ON ACCERATION WITH HARD SHIFTING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REEDMAN TOLL CHEVROLET OF SPRINGFIELD (840 BALTIMORE PIKE, SPRINGFIELD, PA 19064, 484-472-6290) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REEDMAN TOLL CHEVROLET OF SPRINGFIELD (840 BALTIMORE PIKE, SPRINGFIELD, PA 19064, 484-472-6290) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED TE GAS PEDAL IS NO LONGER WORKING.*JB
AFTER TURNING AND BACKING OUT OF A STORE PARKING LOT, I PUT MY CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. ABOUT FIVE OR TEN FEET LATER MY FINAL DRIVE SHATTERED AND MY VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY IMMOBILE. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR…
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AFTER TURNING AND BACKING OUT OF A STORE PARKING LOT, I PUT MY CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. ABOUT FIVE OR TEN FEET LATER MY FINAL DRIVE SHATTERED AND MY VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY IMMOBILE. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR A CROWDED STREET. FOR MY TRANSMISSION TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT A MEAGER 76,000 MILES IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. TRANSMISSION WAS CARED FOR ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
SERVICE STABILITRAK SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ABS
ANYTIME I GO TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT, OR ETC THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN JERKS FORWARD. THE CAR HESITATES AND LOSES POWER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY ROAD THE CAR TURNED OFF. I HAD TO TRY AND STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BARELY TURN.
MY TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO GEAR FROM STARTING IN DRIVE FROM A STOP . NOT ALL THE TIME BUT STILL HAPPENS .
4T65E TRANSMISSION. I STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND GO TAKE OFF AND MY CAR WON'T MOVE FORWARD. I COULD GET ALMOST HOME IN SECOND GEAR AND THEN NOTHING AT ALL WOULD WORK TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD. I HAD REVERSE AND STILL DO BUT I CANNOT MOVE FORWARD IN ANY GEAR. CODE P1811. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPEN THERE WAS …
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4T65E TRANSMISSION. I STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND GO TAKE OFF AND MY CAR WON'T MOVE FORWARD. I COULD GET ALMOST HOME IN SECOND GEAR AND THEN NOTHING AT ALL WOULD WORK TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD. I HAD REVERSE AND STILL DO BUT I CANNOT MOVE FORWARD IN ANY GEAR. CODE P1811. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPEN THERE WAS A PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS JUST LYING THERE ABOUT AN INCH LONG. HE SAID IT WAS A MISSING APPLY LUG THAT BROKE OFF ONE OF THE APPLY BANDS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR HAVE A COMPLETE REBUILD. I JUST THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 7 YEARS. AND I READ THIS IS COMMON FOR THAT TRANSMISSION BUT IT HAPPENS MORE IN 2000-2002 MODELS.....BUT I GUESS IT HAPPENS WITH THE NEWER ONES ALSO.
WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP THE CAR DOESNT WANT TO GO THEN ALL OF S SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF JERKING MY HEAD BACKWARDS.A TRANSMISSION COMPANY DIAGNOSED IT AS A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TO GO BACK AS FAR AS 2004. IM ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOT WANTING TO LURCH INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF SAID S…
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WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP THE CAR DOESNT WANT TO GO THEN ALL OF S SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF JERKING MY HEAD BACKWARDS.A TRANSMISSION COMPANY DIAGNOSED IT AS A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TO GO BACK AS FAR AS 2004. IM ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOT WANTING TO LURCH INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF SAID SEAL WITH A LARGER ONE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT 95000 MILES
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.