WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED HESITATING. THE WHEEL TRACTION AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT HAD THREE MESSAGES COME UP STATING ENGINE LOSING POWER,TRACTION STABILITY NEEDED I CAN'T RECALL THE LAST MESSAGES. IT COMES AND GOES ON AND OFF. *TR
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
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
9 reportsCOMING OFF OF A FREEWAY, THE EXIT IS A WIDE CURVE. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN (GOING TOWARD THE RIGHT) THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE REST OF THE CURVE AND PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE MUSCLING CAUSED MINOR INJURY TO LEFT SHOULD…
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COMING OFF OF A FREEWAY, THE EXIT IS A WIDE CURVE. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN (GOING TOWARD THE RIGHT) THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE REST OF THE CURVE AND PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE MUSCLING CAUSED MINOR INJURY TO LEFT SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR
THE A/C MOTOR BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND I HAVE NOTICED ON A LOT OF GM AND CHEVY VEHICLES THE SAME DEFECT. I THINK THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL CONSIDERING A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON (05-29-2014CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, AND REDUCED POWER LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR TOOK OFF WITH A JERK. HAD CAR SCANNED FOR CODES. CAME BACK AS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. HAD THAT CHANGED TODAY(06-06-2014) AND CODE CLEARED OUT. WAS DOING GREAT UNILL THIS EVENING WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME TONIG…
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FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON (05-29-2014CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, AND REDUCED POWER LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR TOOK OFF WITH A JERK. HAD CAR SCANNED FOR CODES. CAME BACK AS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. HAD THAT CHANGED TODAY(06-06-2014) AND CODE CLEARED OUT. WAS DOING GREAT UNILL THIS EVENING WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME TONIGHT ,(06-06-2014),ON HIGHWAY DOING 56 M.P.H. AND CAR SHUT OFF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I QUICKLY VEERED OFF INTO MEDIAN AND TURNED FLASHERS ON. THERE WERE SEVERAL CARS BEHIND ME. CAR WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES IT STARTED WITH ONLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. MY CHILDREN AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACT AS QUICKLY AS I DID. OBVIOUSLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUES BASED ON THE INVESTIGATIONS ON HERE. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED ON MANY GM FORUM POSTS WITH MANY REPORTING THE SAME ISSUES. GM BASICALLY APOLOGIZES IN THE FORUMS AND TELLS THEM TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MESSAGES REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILTRAK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING QUITE A BIT WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED GOING BACK YEARS…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MESSAGES REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILTRAK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING QUITE A BIT WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED GOING BACK YEARS. GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS HAPPENING WITH NUMEROUS VEHICLES. I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE EVERY DAY AND IF THIS HAPPENS THERE I HOPE IT DOESN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR WILL VIOLENTLY JERK, AND THE DASHBOARD WILL FLASH, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. NOW CAR WON'T MOVE AT ALL. WE HAVE REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL TWICE! CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I AM SEEING IT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *TR
WE WERE ON THE TURNPIKE GOING ABOUT 60MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE LIGHT FOR TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNINGS CAME UP ON THE DASH. IT ALSO SAID REDUCING POWER TO ENGINE. THE CAR SLOWED IN SPEED AND BEGAN SHAKING. SERVICE THROTTLE CAME UP ON DASH ALSO. WE HAD NO WHERE TO PULL OFF. THERE IS NOT M…
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WE WERE ON THE TURNPIKE GOING ABOUT 60MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE LIGHT FOR TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNINGS CAME UP ON THE DASH. IT ALSO SAID REDUCING POWER TO ENGINE. THE CAR SLOWED IN SPEED AND BEGAN SHAKING. SERVICE THROTTLE CAME UP ON DASH ALSO. WE HAD NO WHERE TO PULL OFF. THERE IS NOT MUCH OF A BURM ON THIS INTERSTATE AND BEFORE WE COULD GET TO A PULL OFF AREA THE CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE ROAD. WE HAD TO SET THERE FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD RESTART SO THAT WE COULD GET TO A SAFER PLACE. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS ROAD WITH TRACTOR TRAILERS SWERVING AROUND ME CONSTANTLY. ALL I COULD DO WAS PRAY NO ONE WOULD HIT US. WE EVEN CONTACTED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE. SINCE THIS DAY WE HAVE HAD THE SAME CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. I WILL NOT TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATES WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. THERE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE IS ANY ONE PARTICULAR THING THAT SETS THIS OFF. BUT SEEMS TO BE WORSENING. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY GM. FROM THE CHEVY FORUMS ON THE IMPALA IT SEEMS THIS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR IMPALAS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WITH NO COST TO THE CONSUMER BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
I HAVE 42,000 ON MY 2011 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THEN REDUCE ENGINE POWER AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE. I HAVE READ IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME EXACT THING AND NO RECALL OR ANY KIND OF CA…
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I HAVE 42,000 ON MY 2011 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THEN REDUCE ENGINE POWER AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE. I HAVE READ IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME EXACT THING AND NO RECALL OR ANY KIND OF CARE IS COMING FROM GM.... AND THOSE OF US THAT ARE STILL PAYING FOR OUR CARS ARE GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK... *TR
MY IMPALA WILL NOT HEAT IN IDLE POSITION,NO EARLY MORN DEFROSTS FOR ME! TOOK TO DEALER ( 10/18/11) HE FOUND A LEAK, REPLACED A HOSE. IT WAS GOOD FOR A WHILE, NOW DOING AGAIN, (10/28/11), GOING BACK IN SHOP ON 11/3/11. ALSO CAR WILL NOT HEAT WHEN REMOTE STARTER IS USED,COMES UP TO TEMP EVERYTIME JUST DOESN'T BLOW HOT AIR, THIS …
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MY IMPALA WILL NOT HEAT IN IDLE POSITION,NO EARLY MORN DEFROSTS FOR ME! TOOK TO DEALER ( 10/18/11) HE FOUND A LEAK, REPLACED A HOSE. IT WAS GOOD FOR A WHILE, NOW DOING AGAIN, (10/28/11), GOING BACK IN SHOP ON 11/3/11. ALSO CAR WILL NOT HEAT WHEN REMOTE STARTER IS USED,COMES UP TO TEMP EVERYTIME JUST DOESN'T BLOW HOT AIR, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THEM, THEY TELL ME THAT'S "NORMAL", WHAT??, IM SORRY, BUT ISN'T THE PURPOSE OF REMOTE STARTERS, FOR REGULATING CABIN TEMPERATURE? I WILL SEE HOW THESE TWO ISSUES ARE HANDLED ON THURS, I HAVE THIS FUNNY FEELING I WILL BE BACK HERE ON THIS SITE FOR THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
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.
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