IF IDLE OR RUNNING THE VEHICLE MAKES AN EXTREMELY LOUD TICKING NOSE. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT'S THE BLEND DOOR ACUATOR.
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
31 reportsI LEFT WORK TO GO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AT THE AIRPORT (ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY) BUT HEARD DINGING AND SAW THAT I WAS GETTING THE MESSAGE TO SERVICE STABILITRAK/TRACTION CONTROL AND THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, BUT I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER. I …
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I LEFT WORK TO GO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AT THE AIRPORT (ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY) BUT HEARD DINGING AND SAW THAT I WAS GETTING THE MESSAGE TO SERVICE STABILITRAK/TRACTION CONTROL AND THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, BUT I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME INSTEAD AND MY HUSBAND HAD TO LEAVE WORK TO PICK UP OUR DAUGHTER. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR SERVICE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM.
I WAS DRIVING ON I-695 (IN BALTIMORE) WITH MY 3 DAUGHTERS I RECEIVED "SERVICE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED" MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRACKING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MESSAGES WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I WAS FRIGHTEN AND HOPEFUL THAT WE WOULD NOT ONLY MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION BUT THEN …
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I WAS DRIVING ON I-695 (IN BALTIMORE) WITH MY 3 DAUGHTERS I RECEIVED "SERVICE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED" MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRACKING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MESSAGES WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I WAS FRIGHTEN AND HOPEFUL THAT WE WOULD NOT ONLY MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION BUT THEN BACK HOME AGAIN. FORTUNATELY WE DID BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE A ONGOING ISSUES AND MAYBE COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH ONLY ONE SOURCE OF INCOME.
P0128 CODE. ENGINE HOT A/C OFF LIGHT ON DASH HEAT GUAGE DROPS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND AC DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE REPLACED THERMOSTAT TWICE AND ECT SENSOR ONCE PLEASE ADVISE. THERMOSTAT RELACEMENT GAVE ME APROX 200 MILES EACH TIME, ECT SENSOR REPLACEMENT APROX 50 MILES. ALL DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN TOWN. PLEASE ADVISE!!
WHILE ACCELERATING, AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WERE APPLIES AND ENGINE FOUGHT THE BRAKES UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR STOPPED. ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV HIGH AND I CALLED 911. POLICE DISPATCHER ADVISED TO TURN OFF CAR IN DRIVE. POLICE ARRIVED AND SAW THAT THERE …
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WHILE ACCELERATING, AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WERE APPLIES AND ENGINE FOUGHT THE BRAKES UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR STOPPED. ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV HIGH AND I CALLED 911. POLICE DISPATCHER ADVISED TO TURN OFF CAR IN DRIVE. POLICE ARRIVED AND SAW THAT THERE WAS NO FLOOR MATS OVER THE PEDALS. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, POLICE AND I HEARD A SNAP UNDER THE DASH. AT THAT TIME WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE SOUND WAS. I SUBSEQUENT STARTED THE CAR AND IT IDLED PERFECTLY. I LATER FIGURED THAT THE SNAP SOUND WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE OUTWARD POSITION. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE THAT ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, DURING THE ORDEAL.
PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATOR--MAKES LOUD CLICKING NOISE. DON'T KNOW WHICH ACTUATOR IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IT IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. LASTS FROM A MINUTE TO 3 MINUTES.
AFTER STARTING THE MY CHEVY IMPALA THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING RAPIDLY. IT SHOWED SERVICE STABILTRAK, LOW ENGINE POWER & THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SHUT THE CAR OFF & STARTED IT AGAIN. IT DID THE SAME THING. I CUT IT OFF BUT IT DID THE SAME THING. I CUT IT OFF 1 MORE TIME BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT & WAITED A M…
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AFTER STARTING THE MY CHEVY IMPALA THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING RAPIDLY. IT SHOWED SERVICE STABILTRAK, LOW ENGINE POWER & THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SHUT THE CAR OFF & STARTED IT AGAIN. IT DID THE SAME THING. I CUT IT OFF BUT IT DID THE SAME THING. I CUT IT OFF 1 MORE TIME BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT & WAITED A MINUTE BEFORE TRYING TO START IT AGAIN. SURPRISINGLY THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO STORE WHERE THE CODES SHOWED THROTTLE ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE DID SOME ADDITIONAL TESTS & INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A BAD THROTTLE BODY. I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED WHICH I WAS INFORMED THAT GM HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THROTTLE BODY & COMPONENTS. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. IM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN OR HAPPEN DURING DRIVING.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, VEHICLE CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET DURING RUSH HOUR. PEOPLE COULD NOT PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF STREET. TRANSMISSION /ENGINE LOCKED
CHECK ENGINE - THEN POWER REDUCTION - DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR - JERKING ALL OVER THE PLACE - THEN STABLETECK LIGHT COMES ON... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY - AND THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHATS GOING ON... GM FIX IT PLEASE... I DON'T HAVE 80,000 AND NOW A BUSTED VEHICLE - WON'T BUY AN…
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CHECK ENGINE - THEN POWER REDUCTION - DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR - JERKING ALL OVER THE PLACE - THEN STABLETECK LIGHT COMES ON... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY - AND THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHATS GOING ON... GM FIX IT PLEASE... I DON'T HAVE 80,000 AND NOW A BUSTED VEHICLE - WON'T BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT EVER... OH YEAH - RETIRED FROM GM FAMILY
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I CAME UP TO A RED LIGHT IT STARTED SHAKING THEN A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT SAID SERVICE STABILITRACK AFTER IT TURN OFF AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON I HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE MAIN ST TO AVOID GETTING HIT OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT I ENDED UP GETTING IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE CALLED A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT AND HE SAYS IT…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I CAME UP TO A RED LIGHT IT STARTED SHAKING THEN A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT SAID SERVICE STABILITRACK AFTER IT TURN OFF AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON I HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE MAIN ST TO AVOID GETTING HIT OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT I ENDED UP GETTING IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE CALLED A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT AND HE SAYS IT MIGHT BE MY MOTOR SO I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER IN LAKEWOOD AND THEY TOLD ME MY WARRANTY WAS UP LAST YEAR SO THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT DO NOTHING FOR ME I HAVE TO FIX IT OUT OF MY POCKET THIS CAR HAD ALREADY TOO MUCH PROBLEMS FROM THE START MY TRANSMISSION BROKE ALSO UNDER 60000 MILES LUCKILY IS WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT NOW I GOT NO CAR NO MONEY AND I'M STILL PAYING FOR THE CAR I GOT ABOUT 2 YRS LEFT TO FINISH IT AND IT DIDN'T EVEN GET TO 100000 MILES I GOT PLAYED ON BUYING THIS CAR ALL MY HARD WORK MONEY IS BEING TAKEN FOR THEM SELLING ME A PROBLEMATIC CAR I SPOKE TO GENERAL MOTORS AND ALL THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO TALK TO A SENIOR ADVISOR IT'S BECOME DANGEROUS TO EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS TO IT IT STOPS WERE EVER NOW I HAVE A FAMILY KIDS I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR NO MORE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IF NOT I HAVE TO PROCEED WITH LEGAL MATTERS AND ALSO GET A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT STARTED CAUSE THEIRS MANY PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THE SAME CAR.
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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