IllustrationService stabilitrak warning, followed by reduced engine power, then car starts jerking.
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
Steering complaints
35 reportsGrinding from turning. Numerous Radiators, Transmission problems over and over. Jerking not pulling. Stalling in the road.Control Arm needed again. Brakes and Rotors grinding.
Brake assist, traction control, stablitrack, and ABS lights continually coming on. When breaking while making a turn the breaks slip or give and then suddenly grab hold causing a grinding sound. Car wobbles while these lights are on causing a noticeable change in stability and control.
ON MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME AND THE CONTROL ARM ITSELF HAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY OFF ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT THE WELD THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HOLDING IT ONTO THE FRAME ITSELF WAS A WEAK POINT IN THE WHOLE CROSS MEMBER FRONT K FRAME AND I FOUND IT VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE N…
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ON MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME AND THE CONTROL ARM ITSELF HAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY OFF ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT THE WELD THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HOLDING IT ONTO THE FRAME ITSELF WAS A WEAK POINT IN THE WHOLE CROSS MEMBER FRONT K FRAME AND I FOUND IT VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE NO CLUE ON HOW TO FIX THIS AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU GUYS HAD A RECALL ON IT AND ARE WILLING TO FIX IT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS I KNOW THAT I CANNOT HAVE IT REWELDED ON I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND ALMOST KILLED ME AS I WAS DRIVING.
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
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SUDDENLY IT FLASHED ACROSS THE SCREEN SERVICE STABILITRAK, THEN SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, THEN REDUCED ENGINE SPEED. THIS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO SLOW WAY DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE FROM 70 TO LESS THAN 30, AND MADE STEERING NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE MY TWO CHILDREN I DROVE AROUND AND I'M AFRAID TO EVEN DRIV…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SUDDENLY IT FLASHED ACROSS THE SCREEN SERVICE STABILITRAK, THEN SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, THEN REDUCED ENGINE SPEED. THIS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO SLOW WAY DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE FROM 70 TO LESS THAN 30, AND MADE STEERING NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE MY TWO CHILDREN I DROVE AROUND AND I'M AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE BECAUSE IF THERE'S AN ACCIDENT WITH THEM IN THE CAR BECAUSE MY CARS SLOWING UNEXPECTEDLY SOMEONE WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND I SEE ALL OVER IT IS AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED!
TAKATA RECALL I KEEP HAVING THE ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURN ON EVERY OTHER DAY AND IN MORNINGS IT DISAPPEARS AS I DRIVE. CAR HAS 60129 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE READ ON IMPALA FORUMS IT IS COMMON BUT NO RECALLS ISSUED YET.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT STARTUP, BECOMES INTERMITTENT AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN SERVICE STABILITRACK NOTIFICATION COMES ON SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE STABILITRACK NOTIFICATION WILL COME ON WHILE MAKING A TURN, DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN.
'TAKATA RECALL' WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER, WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. ON THE DASHBOARD, SERVICE AIRBAG APPEARS AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT AND LOCK MODE COMES ON. THE VEHICLE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO OFF MODE UNTIL A FEW SECONDS. THEN ONCE THE VEHICLE ALLOWS THE KEY TO TURN TO OFF MODE, U HAVE …
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'TAKATA RECALL' WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER, WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. ON THE DASHBOARD, SERVICE AIRBAG APPEARS AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT AND LOCK MODE COMES ON. THE VEHICLE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO OFF MODE UNTIL A FEW SECONDS. THEN ONCE THE VEHICLE ALLOWS THE KEY TO TURN TO OFF MODE, U HAVE TO WAIT A FEW SECONDS THEN THE CAR WILL START WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE ABS AND LOCK SIGNAL ON DASHBOARD GOES OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO GET STIFF AND THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON THE DASHBOARD AS WELL. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? SHOULD I TAKE MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP? THE LAST TIME THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME WAS MARCH 14, 2019
WHEN BRAKING THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND IS VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN TURNING
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.