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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

What owners actually said

505 reports
30,000 miles · Dec 2, 2019
Air Bags

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT AND CHIME IS CONSTANTLY GOING OFF. AT FIRST IT WAS RANDOM AND INTERMITTENT BUT NOW IT IS FREQUENT. THIS IS WITH NO ONE IN THG HE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #11286399

182,000 miles · Oct 27, 2019
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE DOOR LOCKS CYCLED SEVERAL TIMES, THE RADIO WENT OFF AND ON, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO STALL AS IF A BAD RELAY OR FAULTY GROUND STRAP. WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND DRY.

NHTSA ODI #11271419

111,994 miles · Oct 26, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

ON 1/29/16 MY CAR DIED AND TOWED TO DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD I NEED A TRANSMISSION. THE CAR ONLY HAD 69000 6MONTHS AGO DASH BOARD LIGHTS LIT TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER SERVICE STABILITRACK ABS.WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE ACCELARETOR PEDAL IT WOULD MAKE A WINDING NOISE GO TO THE FLOOR AND POP BACK UP AGAIN. AS I WAS DRIV…

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ON 1/29/16 MY CAR DIED AND TOWED TO DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD I NEED A TRANSMISSION. THE CAR ONLY HAD 69000 6MONTHS AGO DASH BOARD LIGHTS LIT TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER SERVICE STABILITRACK ABS.WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE ACCELARETOR PEDAL IT WOULD MAKE A WINDING NOISE GO TO THE FLOOR AND POP BACK UP AGAIN. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO ACCELERATION CAR HAD DIED. L PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A FEW MINUTES LATER STARTED UP AGAIN THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES I TOLD MY SON HE COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE. I CALLED THE GM THEY GAVE ME A COUPON TO HAVE THE A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON IT. IN SEPT I WENT TO THE DEALER AND HE SCANNED MY CAR FOR CODES I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A RIGHT FRONT HUB PART NUMBER 13582664, A RIGHT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HARNESS, 10340314, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, 84018392, AND A VENT VALVE 2085252. I CAN'T BELIEVE A CAR DEALERS WOULD LET A PERSON LEAVE NOT INFORMING THE CUSTOMER WHAT A SAFETY ISSUE THIS IS. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A DAY BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND WAS TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY AGAIN THE CAR DIED ON ME AS I WENT TO ACCELERATE NOW THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY YARD DEAD AS A DOORNAIL. I CALLED THE DEALER AND EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO THE DEALER AT LANNAN CHEVROLET IN WOBURN AND I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER AND THE ONLY RESPONSE I GOT WAS WHAT DO YOU WANT THERE'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR I HAVE BEEN DOING LOTS OF RESEARCH ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND I'M APPALLED BETWEEN A 2008 AND A 2011 THERE HAS BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE.THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET KILLED. OUT OF ALL THESE SAFETY ISSUES THERE'S NOT ONE INVESTIGATION THAT HAS BEEN OPENED IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUES. NHTSA OR GM NEEDS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION IMMEDIATELY ON THESE CARS. THERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL IS NECESSARY.VIN NUMBER..(XXXXX) REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11271223

79,000 miles · Sep 20, 2019
Unknown Or OtherCrash

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS OFF AN ON WITH SEVERAL ISSUES I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SENSOR , WIRING, WHEEL, OR OTHER RELATED BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH SERVICE STABIL TRAK, SERVICE AIRBAGS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKING RELATED, ETC. MOST RECENT HAS BEEN WITH SERVICE STABIL TRAK . I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID COMPUTER SHOWE…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS OFF AN ON WITH SEVERAL ISSUES I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SENSOR , WIRING, WHEEL, OR OTHER RELATED BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH SERVICE STABIL TRAK, SERVICE AIRBAGS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKING RELATED, ETC. MOST RECENT HAS BEEN WITH SERVICE STABIL TRAK . I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID COMPUTER SHOWED THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACED AND I'VE DONE THAT THEN A COUPLE WEEKS LATER SAME LIGHTS COMING ON ONLY THIS TIME DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S THE RIGHT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HARNESS BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THAT REPAIRED BECAUSE I AM SEEING IN FORUMS ONLINE OTHERS HAVING SAME ISSUES AND IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE SYSTEM YOU FIX SO I'VE BEEN TURNING OFF TRACTION CONTROL SO I DON'T GET WARNING LIGHTS . VEHICLE ALWAYS IN MOTION WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND AFTER ALL THE ISSUES I'VE HAD AND STILL HAVE I KNOW NOW THAT AN ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO IS DEFINITELY RELATED TO ALL THIS . I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION AND SAW LIGHT WAS YELLOW SO I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I REMEMBER HAVING MY FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND NEXT THING I KNEW MY CAR HAD SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IT HAPPENED SO FAST I WAS STUNNED AND COULDN'T COMPREHEND WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND THE PERSON I HIT WAS A PREGNANT FEMALE WHO WAS VERY UPSET. I TOLD HER I HAD NO IDEA HOW THE INCIDENT COULD'VE HAPPENED WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE WE WERE BOTH ON OUR WAY TO WORK AND SINCE THERE WAS NO REAL PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLES WE JUST EXCHANGED INFO AND HEADED TO WORK. I KNOW NOW IT WAS RELATED TO THIS SOMEHOW AND WISHED I WOULD'VE REPORTED IT. THE CAR HAD ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN!! I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH 41,000 MILES (HIGHWAY MILES ) I WAS TOLD IT NOW HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE DONE ALL THE OIL CHANGES AND REQUIRED MAINTENANCE BUT HAVE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND HOURS AT DEALERSHIP WITH EVERY ISSUE IMAGINABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11256889

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2019
Air BagsPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. SINCE 2015, THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DURING EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND A YELLOW WARNING INDICATOR APPEARED. ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FERM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. SINCE 2015, THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DURING EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND A YELLOW WARNING INDICATOR APPEARED. ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FERMAN CHEVROLET OF TAMPA (9751 E ADAMO DR, TAMPA, FL, 813-623-2411) AND THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. FOR THE OTHER TWO FAILURES, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND SERVICED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11245914

70,000 miles · Jul 31, 2019
Power Train

AFTER 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.

NHTSA ODI #11240831

41,908 miles · Jul 19, 2019
Exterior LightingPower Train

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 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.

NHTSA ODI #11233346

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #11231783

70,600 miles · Jun 15, 2019
Power Train

HOT AND COLD THE TRANSAXLE IS SLIPPING AND THEN GRABBING ON ACCERATION WITH HARD SHIFTING.

NHTSA ODI #11220304

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2019
Electrical System

CONSTANT CLICKING FROM BEHIND DASHBOARD THE BLENDER SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH AIR/HEAT RUNS ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN CAR IS NOT BEING USED. IT KILLS MY BATTERY LIFE AND SINCE THIS IS A MALFUNCTION FROM CHEVY I SHOULDN'T BE BURDENED WITH CONSTANTLY REPLACING BATTERIES. ITS LOUD AND LASTS FROM 30 SECONDS TO 3 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI #11218696

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.