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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.

About this comparison →

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
124,000 miles · Oct 22, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. ALSO, THE STABILIZER TRACK AND ENGINE SERVICE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED AS IT REGAINED SOME POWER, BUT THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY BE DRIVEN TO ITS DESTINATIO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. ALSO, THE STABILIZER TRACK AND ENGINE SERVICE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED AS IT REGAINED SOME POWER, BUT THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY BE DRIVEN TO ITS DESTINATION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #11141765

10 miles · Oct 16, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

I KEEP GETTING ERRORS OF CHECK STABILITRAK ENGINE POWER REDUCED I HAVE CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY

NHTSA ODI #11140669

97,000 miles · Oct 16, 2018
Electrical System

THIS VEHICLE IS UNDER ACTIVE RECALL. I HAVE SOLD (TRADED-IN,) THE VEHICLE TO A LICENSED CAR DEALER. I INFORMED THE BUYER VERBALLY OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I WISH TO BE CERTAIN GM IS AWARE OF THE SALE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GM WEBSITE RECALL SECTION HAS NO WAY FOR ME TO REGISTER THE SALE, AND THEREFORE THERE MAY BE A RISK TO THE EV…

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THIS VEHICLE IS UNDER ACTIVE RECALL. I HAVE SOLD (TRADED-IN,) THE VEHICLE TO A LICENSED CAR DEALER. I INFORMED THE BUYER VERBALLY OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I WISH TO BE CERTAIN GM IS AWARE OF THE SALE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GM WEBSITE RECALL SECTION HAS NO WAY FOR ME TO REGISTER THE SALE, AND THEREFORE THERE MAY BE A RISK TO THE EVENTUAL BUYER OF THE CAR, SHOULD THE SELLER FAIL TO MENTION TO THE BUYER/END-USER THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL. GM IS DERELICT IN NOT HAVING A WAY FOR RECALLED VEHICLE SELLERS TO SIMPLY REGISTER THE SALE WITH THE NEW OWNER'S INFORMATION. THE GM RECALL SITE ALSO DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY EMAILS OR ANY OTHER ONLINE CONTACT. CALLING GM VIA TELEPHONE RESULTS IN TRANSFERS, DELAYS, AND RECORDINGS.

NHTSA ODI #11140654

120,000 miles · Oct 14, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

UPON STARTING STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE. REDUSED ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND CAR RAN ROUGH. REATART AND CAR RUNS BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SATYS ON.

NHTSA ODI #11140240

50,000 miles · Oct 10, 2018
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11139414

3,000 miles · Sep 17, 2018
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY A POLICE TROOPER THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, IT CONTINUED TO FAIL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY A POLICE TROOPER THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, IT CONTINUED TO FAIL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI #11129962

201,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK? OK...HERE'S WHAT I THINK. I THINK THAT IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION AND PERSONALLY I THINK IT'S ILLEGAL THAT GM CAN GET AWAY WITH NOT HAVING TO PUT OUT A RECALL FOR THE "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" ISSUE THAT JUST ABOUT EVERY MAKE AND MODEL OF GM VEHICLES HAVE. IT'S NOT ONLY TIME CONSUMING TO TRY A…

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YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK? OK...HERE'S WHAT I THINK. I THINK THAT IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION AND PERSONALLY I THINK IT'S ILLEGAL THAT GM CAN GET AWAY WITH NOT HAVING TO PUT OUT A RECALL FOR THE "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" ISSUE THAT JUST ABOUT EVERY MAKE AND MODEL OF GM VEHICLES HAVE. IT'S NOT ONLY TIME CONSUMING TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FIX WOULD BE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME THING WRONG ON EACH VEHICLE (AND WHEN YOU DO HAVE IT FIXED IT DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG UNTIL THE "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" WARNING COMES BACK), IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE POWER IS REDUCED AND ACTUALLY TURNS THE CAR ENGINE OFF NO MATTER IF YOU'RE DRIVING OR NOT. IT SHUT MY 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA ENGINE OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THANK GOD THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM THIS WAS UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM. IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL THAT YOU PAY YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY FOR A VEHICLE AND IT NOT ONLY ISN'T WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE PAYING FOR BUT IT CAN ACTUALLY TAKE YOUR LIFE AND RUIN YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE GM'S BOTTOM LINE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR CUSTOMERS LIVES. I'VE FILLED A COMPLAINT ON THIS PROBLEM ALREADY AND IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE AND IT'S THE CAUSE OF GRIEF FOR MY FAMILY I WILL MAKE IT MY MISSION TO MAKE SURE GM NOT ONLY FIXES THEIR CRAPPY WORKMANSHIP BUT THAT THEY ALSO DIG INTO THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THE HEARTACHE AND GRIEF THEY HAVE CAUSED. IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE FIX FOR THEM AND THAT WOULD BE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND JUST FIX IT, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THEY CARE ENOUGH TO DO THAT. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY GUY, BUT AFTER THIS IMPALA I WILL NEVER OWN OR DRIVE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT FOR AS LONG AS I AM AROUND. THAT'S WHAT I THINK. SIGNED, CHEVY GUY FORCED TO NOT BE A CHEVY GUY

NHTSA ODI #11121777

201,000 miles · Aug 21, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND A MESSAGE CAME UP SAYING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". IT WAS DURING RUSH HOUR AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

NHTSA ODI #11121315

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

SERVICE STABILITRAK SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ABS

NHTSA ODI #11121158

91,000 miles · Aug 18, 2018
Electrical SystemPower Train

ANYTIME I GO TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT, OR ETC THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN JERKS FORWARD. THE CAR HESITATES AND LOSES POWER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY ROAD THE CAR TURNED OFF. I HAD TO TRY AND STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BARELY TURN.

NHTSA ODI #11120834

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.