IllustrationTHE WELDS TO THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL ARM BROKE, IF IT BROKE WHILE ON HIGHWAY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.....
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
What owners actually said
505 reportsWHEN DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES, W/ACCOMPANYING MESSAGE: "SERVICE STABILTRAK" FOLLOWED BY 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL". CAR GRINDS WHEN TURNING LEFT. TODAY THE GAS PEDAL FELT LIKE IT WAS PUSHING BACK WHEN PRESSED THEN IT FELT LIKE IT LOCKED UP FOR A SECOND.
AFTER ABOUT 30000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID(S) ARE GOING BAD INTERMITTENTLY. IT'S GOING TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR FOR A PART THAT COSTS AROUND 25 DOLLARS OR SO. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM ON THE 4T65E TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN YOU ARE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND GO TO ACCELERATE YOU GET NO RESP…
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AFTER ABOUT 30000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID(S) ARE GOING BAD INTERMITTENTLY. IT'S GOING TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR FOR A PART THAT COSTS AROUND 25 DOLLARS OR SO. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM ON THE 4T65E TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN YOU ARE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND GO TO ACCELERATE YOU GET NO RESPONSE EXCEPT FOR HIGHER RPM'S AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY ENGAGES AND YOU GET A VIOLENT SURGE FORWARD WITH A LOUD BANG. GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL TO INSTALL NEW AND IMPROVED SOLENOIDS.
- SERVICE STABILITRAK. A REDUCED POWER LIGHT USUALLY INDICATES A FAIRLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. WHEN THIS LIGHT ILLUMINATES THE VEHICLE WILL OFTEN GO INTO A 'SAFE MODE', WHICH WILL SEVERELY LIMIT THE SPEED OF THE CAR AND IN SOME CASES WILL RENDER THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE.
I NOTICED MY REAR DEFROST HAS QUITE WORKING. I FIGURED IT WAS A FUSE SO I WASN'T TO WORRIED ABOUT IT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SNOW RECENTLY AND FIGURED I BETTER CHECK MY FUSES. THE RELAY IS WORKING THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. WE TRACED TO WIRING THROUGH THE FIRE WALL AND DOWN TO WHERE IT COMES INTO THE VEHICLE (DOWN BY YOUR FEET)…
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I NOTICED MY REAR DEFROST HAS QUITE WORKING. I FIGURED IT WAS A FUSE SO I WASN'T TO WORRIED ABOUT IT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SNOW RECENTLY AND FIGURED I BETTER CHECK MY FUSES. THE RELAY IS WORKING THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. WE TRACED TO WIRING THROUGH THE FIRE WALL AND DOWN TO WHERE IT COMES INTO THE VEHICLE (DOWN BY YOUR FEET). THERE IS A WIRING THERE AND ONCE WE DISCONNECTED IT WE NOTICED IT IS BURNT VERY BAD. WHERE THE TWO PIECES CONNECT TOGETHER IS MELTED AND IS BLACK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BAD IF IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CAR SHUTS OFF. IT COMPLETELY LOSES POWER. NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS GOING 60 ON A HIGHWAY AND IT STALLED THANK GOD IT WASN'T RUSH HOUR AND THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS AROUND ME. THIS HAPPENS AT 10MPH 30, 40, 50. NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE GOING THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND LEAVES YOU WITH N…
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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CAR SHUTS OFF. IT COMPLETELY LOSES POWER. NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS GOING 60 ON A HIGHWAY AND IT STALLED THANK GOD IT WASN'T RUSH HOUR AND THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS AROUND ME. THIS HAPPENS AT 10MPH 30, 40, 50. NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE GOING THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND LEAVES YOU WITH NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAY THAT IS WHAT IT IS. NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO GET A NEW IGNITION PUT IN. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 18 MONTHS AND NEW PROBLEMS OCCUR CONSTANTLY WITH IT. CHEVY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR A NEW IGNITION SWITCH TO BE INSTALLED.
CLICKING NOISE IN MY DASH BOARD; ACTUATOR. I HAD IT REPLACED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS STARTED AGAIN. MECHANIC SAID IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS
BACK DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR IS STUCK. WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL, LOCKS DON'T UNLOCK MOST OF THE TIME AND DON'T LOCK AT ALL. ALWAYS HAVE TO LOCK MANUALLY. NEW STARTER REPLACED BUT STILL SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO START. KNOCKING NOISE IN DASH. FRONT PASSENGER HEATED SEAT DOESN'T WORK, WHEN THE HEAT BUTTON IS PUSHED THE LIGHT BLINKS AND TURNS…
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BACK DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR IS STUCK. WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL, LOCKS DON'T UNLOCK MOST OF THE TIME AND DON'T LOCK AT ALL. ALWAYS HAVE TO LOCK MANUALLY. NEW STARTER REPLACED BUT STILL SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO START. KNOCKING NOISE IN DASH. FRONT PASSENGER HEATED SEAT DOESN'T WORK, WHEN THE HEAT BUTTON IS PUSHED THE LIGHT BLINKS AND TURNS BACK OFF. VENTS DON'T WORK WELL. AND VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION... ALSO WHEN VEHICLE SPEEDS UP THE MUSIC GETS LOUDER ..
I WAS DRIVING AND A PART IN MY A/C BEGAN CLICKING LOUDLY, THEN THE AIR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND STARTED SMOKING. A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM WHERE THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR IS AND WITHIN MOMENTS THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
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.
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.