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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

Steering complaints

35 reports
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3 miles · Aug 20, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

SERVICE STABILITRAK SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ABS

NHTSA ODI #11121158

37,000 miles · Feb 10, 2018
Steering

HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO DUE TO IT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS STILL SLOPPY AND CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. WELL COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TIE ROD ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. SO A YEAR LATER I DECIDED TO HAVE THE TIE ROD REPLACED SO IT WOULD DRIVE STRAIGHT AND TRUE. AFT…

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HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO DUE TO IT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS STILL SLOPPY AND CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. WELL COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TIE ROD ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. SO A YEAR LATER I DECIDED TO HAVE THE TIE ROD REPLACED SO IT WOULD DRIVE STRAIGHT AND TRUE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAD A CRACK ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH. I HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING IN THAT VEHICLE TO CAUSE A CRACK IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37000 MILES ON IT. I KNOW THE POLICE EDITION HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL IMPALAS FROM 2011 TO AT LEAST INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO FIND OUT HOW MANY 2011 IMPALAS HAD THIS SAME DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11072115

55,500 miles · Jun 13, 2017
Power TrainSteering

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE HOME FROM A TRIP AND STOPPED AT A STORE. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55,500 MILES ON IT. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS A REPAIR THAT SHOU…

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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE HOME FROM A TRIP AND STOPPED AT A STORE. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55,500 MILES ON IT. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS A REPAIR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY WITH THIS FEW MILES. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS ON THE VEHICLE AND TOOK POSSESSION FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON 2/2/11. I DO HAVE THE REPAIR BILLS. WORK WAS PERFORMED ON 6/9/17.

NHTSA ODI #10994956

85,000 miles · Jun 4, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH MY CAR SUDDENLY ALERTED "SERVICE STABILTRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE CRUISE CONTROL ANYMORE AND IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THEN MY VEHICLE STARTED TO JERKILY MOVE & THEN IT ALERTED "STARTER DISABLED SERVICE T…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH MY CAR SUDDENLY ALERTED "SERVICE STABILTRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE CRUISE CONTROL ANYMORE AND IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THEN MY VEHICLE STARTED TO JERKILY MOVE & THEN IT ALERTED "STARTER DISABLED SERVICE THROTTLE" AND MY CAR SHUT DOWN (STEERING ALTERED & CAR SHUT OFF). I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD & TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR (UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES). DID I MENTION I HAD MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED? THIS WAS TERRIFYING AS MY CAR JUST STOPPED-I HAD MINIMAL WARNING & WHEN TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IT COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE. AFTER READING HOW FREQUENTLY THIS HAPPENS, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED?

NHTSA ODI #10993052

77,000 miles · Aug 13, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

TRAVELING A STATE HIGHWAY AT THE LEGAL SPEED OF 70 MPH, HAD TO BREAK VERY HARD. AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND POWER STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #10895539

85,000 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL THIS ISSUE IS THIS: I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2015 FIRST MY ENGEN LIGHT COMES ON, THAN MY TRACTION CONTROLE LIGHT, THAN MY CAR TELLS ME TO SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLE, ENGEN POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE STABIL TRACK, THE ENGEN CUTS I LOOSE POWER STEERING, AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR 15 MIN WAITING FOR THE CAR TO R…

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TAKATA RECALL THIS ISSUE IS THIS: I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2015 FIRST MY ENGEN LIGHT COMES ON, THAN MY TRACTION CONTROLE LIGHT, THAN MY CAR TELLS ME TO SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLE, ENGEN POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE STABIL TRACK, THE ENGEN CUTS I LOOSE POWER STEERING, AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR 15 MIN WAITING FOR THE CAR TO REBOOT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE GM SHOP EVERY 2500-3000 MILES. THE SHOP REPLACED ALL THE FACTORY COVERED PARTS AND NOW WILL START GUESSING. THE FIRST FIX IS REPLACING SOME WIRES THAT ANOTHER SHOP REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS SAME PROBLEM. NO ONE WILL FIX THIS DEATH TRAP. I WILL NOT DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI #10876914

85,000 miles · May 31, 2016
EngineService BrakesSteering

TODAY OUR 2011 IMPALA DISPLAYED MSGS FOR "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRACK, ENGINE POWER REDUCED". WE STARTED TO PULL OVER AS IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWED. THE ENGINE THEN DIED. WE WERE ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY GOING 45. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE DEALER DID …

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TODAY OUR 2011 IMPALA DISPLAYED MSGS FOR "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRACK, ENGINE POWER REDUCED". WE STARTED TO PULL OVER AS IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWED. THE ENGINE THEN DIED. WE WERE ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY GOING 45. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ERROR.

NHTSA ODI #10871492

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #10780234

73,433 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

I 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

NHTSA ODI #10749086

5,000 miles · Apr 6, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NOSE AND FACE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NOSE AND FACE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD AND SIDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI #10703869

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.