THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS SHAKING WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE JERKS ALL THE TIME OR SOMETHING WHEN TRYING TO STEP ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE WON'T GO
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.
Service Brakes complaints
34 reportsI WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 70MPH WHEN MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE STATING THE STABLITRAK IS ON AND THE ENGINE IS REDUCING SPEED! ACCELERATION PEDAL WOULDN'T DO ITS JOB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND RIGHT HIP INJURIES BUT DID NOT REQUIRE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND RIGHT HIP INJURIES BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANKLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/23/15*CN UPDATED 11/9/2015 *JS
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK GOING 65 DOWN A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE, STABILITY CONTROL OFF, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR BEGIN TO LOOSE SPEED. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT ANYONE HITTING HER. WHEN SHE GOT TO TH…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK GOING 65 DOWN A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE, STABILITY CONTROL OFF, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR BEGIN TO LOOSE SPEED. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT ANYONE HITTING HER. WHEN SHE GOT TO THE SHOULDER THE CAR WAS RUNNING REALLY ROUGH. SHE TURNED IT OFF WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED IT. IT THEN RAN FINE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. SHE MADE IT HOME AND WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO WORK LAST NIGHT AND MADE IT ABOUT HALFWAY TO WORK AND IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING EXCEPT I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO MAINTAIN 45MPH. WHEN I CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO ROUGH THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO STOP. I MADE IT TO WORK. WHEN I CAME OUT TO GO HOME THE FIRST STOP LIGHT I CAME TO IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. FROM THE LIGHT I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET IT TO GO 25MPH. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. EVERYTHING WAS FINE AGAIN. I MADE IT ABOUT 5 MILES AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN 45MPH IN THE 55MPH ZONE I WAS IN. I TOOK IT TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A THROTTLE BODY. THEY ALSO SAID GM HAS HAD ALLOT OF ISSUES WITH THESE. I CALLED MY GM DEALER TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER 5 YEAR 100K MILE WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THAT IT ISN'T. IF THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY ONE OF THESE THROTTLE BODY ISSUES YET I WOULD BE SURPRISED. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN'T GO. *TR
2/17/2015 WAS THE SECOND EVENT. I WAS DRIVING APPROX- 65 MPH UP A MOUNTAIN WHEN MY ELECTRONIC DISPLAY PANEL SHOWED STABILITRACK/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/VEHICLE IN REDUCED POWER. AS THE POWER SUDDENLY REDUCED I LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKE FUNCTION. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AT A UP HILL GRADE, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO JERK THE…
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2/17/2015 WAS THE SECOND EVENT. I WAS DRIVING APPROX- 65 MPH UP A MOUNTAIN WHEN MY ELECTRONIC DISPLAY PANEL SHOWED STABILITRACK/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/VEHICLE IN REDUCED POWER. AS THE POWER SUDDENLY REDUCED I LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKE FUNCTION. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AT A UP HILL GRADE, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO ROLL ACROSS THE LANE OF TRAFFIC BESIDE ME TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WASN'T ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A LOGGING TRUCK. AFTER REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION FOR A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE CAR WITHOUT ANY HESITATION. THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON AT THIS TIME. I DID CONTACT ONSTAR AND HAVE THEM RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH REVEALED A PROBLEM WITH SUPPOSED FUEL SYSTEM. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP YET. AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS SITES THAT I HAVE REVIEWED, LOOKS LIKE GM WOULD DO A RECALL AND INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. *TR
REDUCED ENGINE SIGNAL CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER SERVICE TRACTION, BRAKES, STEERING, CAME ON THEN CAR SHUT OFF NO POWER TO ANYTHING. BRAKES, STEERING NOTHING WORKED. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO TRY A RESTART NOTHING. GOT CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP TOOK THE KEY OUT. THE DASH MADE A WEIRD NOISE ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING RESET. I PUT KEYS BACK IN TUR…
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REDUCED ENGINE SIGNAL CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER SERVICE TRACTION, BRAKES, STEERING, CAME ON THEN CAR SHUT OFF NO POWER TO ANYTHING. BRAKES, STEERING NOTHING WORKED. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO TRY A RESTART NOTHING. GOT CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP TOOK THE KEY OUT. THE DASH MADE A WEIRD NOISE ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING RESET. I PUT KEYS BACK IN TURNED THE KEY CAR STARTED NO PROBLEM ONLY THING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK VEHICLE HOME WENT BACK LATER THAT NIGHT. STARTED IT UP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ONCE AWEEK. 2ND ISSUE HEATER BLOWER GOING DOWN THE ROAD JUST SHUT OFF WEATHER -2 PLUS A WIND CHILL. HAD IT SERVICED THEY REPLACED A MODULE BLOWER RAN FINE FOR 4 DAYS, WEATHER ADVISORY WINDCHILL TEMP IS -10 45 MILES AWAY FROM HOME HEATER BLOWER NOT WORKING AGAIN. *TR
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD THE STABILITRAC LIGHT CAME, ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET VEHICLE HOME AS THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER, BARELY ENOUGH TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD.THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO PANIC AND CRASH MAY OCCUR. MY WIFE AND …
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TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD THE STABILITRAC LIGHT CAME, ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET VEHICLE HOME AS THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER, BARELY ENOUGH TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD.THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO PANIC AND CRASH MAY OCCUR. MY WIFE AND I OWN A COLLISION APPRAISAL BUSINESS AND HAVE PROCESSED APPROX 60,000+ CLAIMS FOR VARIOUS NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANIES. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS SAME CONDITION HAS POSSIBLY BEEN THE CAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE CLAIMS AS I THINK BACK ABOUT INSURED COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE ISSUES, LOSS OF ENG POWER AND NOW I SEE THAT SAME CONDITION AND ISSUE ON MY OWN VEHICLE. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FULLY CHECKED INTO AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT KEEPS COMING ACROSS THE DASH BOARD. IT SEEMS TO RESET ITSELF, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A TIME WHEN TURNING....MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND DIDN'T RESET FOR ABOUT A WEEK. IF THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM, THEN WHAT IS IT? *TR
DEC 2013 VEHICLE HIT POT HOLE WHILE BRAKING AT APPROACHING INTERSECTION, AFTER THAT WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ABS BRAKES/TRACT CONTROL/STAB CONTROL, I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, THEN SHUT DOWN. SINCE THEN TEMP GAUGE WENT BAD N WAS REPLACED. THE 3 ABOVE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, WORSE WHEN IT RAINED. AT TAKE …
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DEC 2013 VEHICLE HIT POT HOLE WHILE BRAKING AT APPROACHING INTERSECTION, AFTER THAT WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ABS BRAKES/TRACT CONTROL/STAB CONTROL, I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, THEN SHUT DOWN. SINCE THEN TEMP GAUGE WENT BAD N WAS REPLACED. THE 3 ABOVE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, WORSE WHEN IT RAINED. AT TAKE OFFS N TURNS CAR WOULD JAR N ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD PULSATE(GRABS). HUB/SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THIS DID NOT HELP. ACCESSORY OUTLETS, WHEN CONTAINED W A CHARGER, DOESN'T MAINTAIN CONTACT W POWER SOURCE (SUCH AS DISCONNECTION/LOOSE CONNECTION), CAUSING POWER SURGE RESULTING IN 2 IPHONES TO HAVE BAD AUX PORTS. MAY 2014 BLOWER MOTOR STARTED INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING FOR SECONDS, THEN MINUTES UNTIL TODAY SEPT 6TH, 2014 WHEN SOMETHING UNDER-DASH (NEAR BLOWER MOTOR) OVERHEATED FILLING CAR WITH SMOKE, THEN CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE MOVING ONCE AGAIN, CAR SMELLS AWFUL FROM THE BURNING! CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON AND NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN! SEEMS LIKE AUXILIARY ELECT FUSE BOX(PASSENGER RT FOOT BOARD), AND HARNESS IS SHOT AS WELL AS WHICHEVER HARNESS IS SENDING POWER TO SPEED SENSOR, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS I COULD NOT MENTION (PROBLEMS/DEFECTS) DUE TO SO MANY OTHER ISSUES W THIS 2011 IMPALA WHICH IS NOW WORTH 7000 AS TRADE AT CHEVY, I PAID 13500 ON OCT14, 2014! I'VE CHECKED SEVERAL GROUND CONNECTS N THEY SEEM OKAY. *TR
COMING OFF OF A FREEWAY, THE EXIT IS A WIDE CURVE. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN (GOING TOWARD THE RIGHT) THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE REST OF THE CURVE AND PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE MUSCLING CAUSED MINOR INJURY TO LEFT SHOULD…
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COMING OFF OF A FREEWAY, THE EXIT IS A WIDE CURVE. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN (GOING TOWARD THE RIGHT) THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE REST OF THE CURVE AND PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE MUSCLING CAUSED MINOR INJURY TO LEFT SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR
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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