← New search

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

69 reports
Clear category filter
40,104 miles · Feb 23, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

2011 IMPALA 3.5L V6 SFI (LZE)OCTOBER, 2016 (60,104 MI) WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MPH WHILE ENGINE SURGED. DISPLAY READ, " SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL," SERVICE STABILITRACK," "ENGINE POWER REDUCED." BY FEATHERING THE GAS PEDAL, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SPEED UP TO 40-45MPH AND DROVE 1 MILE T…

Read full complaint

2011 IMPALA 3.5L V6 SFI (LZE)OCTOBER, 2016 (60,104 MI) WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MPH WHILE ENGINE SURGED. DISPLAY READ, " SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL," SERVICE STABILITRACK," "ENGINE POWER REDUCED." BY FEATHERING THE GAS PEDAL, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SPEED UP TO 40-45MPH AND DROVE 1 MILE TO GM DEALERSHIP. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE SURGED WHILE STOPPED AND NEEDED VERY FIRM BRAKING TO KEEP IT FROM SURGING AHEAD. THE DEALERSHIP STAFF "GUESSED" THAT IT WOULD BE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WITHOUT DOING DIAGNOSTIC CHECK - I ASSUMED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO LDA AUTO WHERE THE OWNER/EXPERT ON VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INSTALLED AN AFTERMARKET THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY (PART = $254); THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY SO THE ENTIRE PIECE HAD TO BE REPLACED. A "RELEARN PROCEDURE" WAS PERFORMED. ANY NEEDED ADJUSTMENTS MADE. CODE SYSTEM RESET AND TESTED. VEHICLE WAS TEST-DRIVEN. (LABOR = $80). I DROPPED MY VEHICLE OFF AT 7:00AM, GOT A RIDE TO WORK FROM SHOP STAFF, AND RECEIVED MESSAGE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS COMPLETED SAME DAY. OWNER EVEN DEDUCTED THE $20 "SHOP SUPPLIES" FEE FROM MY BILL BECAUSE HE STATED HE DID NOT USE ANY SUPPLIES. KUDOS FOR HIS HONESTY!!! TOTAL BILL CAME TO A LITTLE LESS THAN $350. OWNER SHOWED ME EXACTLY WHAT HE DID, OFFERED TO GIVE ME THE OLD PART, LET ME CHOOSE WHICH MFG TO ORDER FROM ONLINE. CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE! TODAY IS 2/23/2017 AND MY IMPALA HAS NOT HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS SINCE THIS REPAIR; IN FACT, IT SEEMS TO BE A BIT MORE RESPONSIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10956515

85,000 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL THIS ISSUE IS THIS: I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2015 FIRST MY ENGEN LIGHT COMES ON, THAN MY TRACTION CONTROLE LIGHT, THAN MY CAR TELLS ME TO SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLE, ENGEN POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE STABIL TRACK, THE ENGEN CUTS I LOOSE POWER STEERING, AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR 15 MIN WAITING FOR THE CAR TO R…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL THIS ISSUE IS THIS: I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2015 FIRST MY ENGEN LIGHT COMES ON, THAN MY TRACTION CONTROLE LIGHT, THAN MY CAR TELLS ME TO SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLE, ENGEN POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE STABIL TRACK, THE ENGEN CUTS I LOOSE POWER STEERING, AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR 15 MIN WAITING FOR THE CAR TO REBOOT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE GM SHOP EVERY 2500-3000 MILES. THE SHOP REPLACED ALL THE FACTORY COVERED PARTS AND NOW WILL START GUESSING. THE FIRST FIX IS REPLACING SOME WIRES THAT ANOTHER SHOP REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS SAME PROBLEM. NO ONE WILL FIX THIS DEATH TRAP. I WILL NOT DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI #10876914

68,800 miles · May 26, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SHOOK AND JERKED THEN THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE STABILITRACK, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SHOWED UP ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID THE TRACTION LIGHT AND THEY STAYED ON. THE RPM METER IS AVERAGING BETWEEN 3 AND 4 WHEN IT USUALLY AVERAGES BETWEEN 1 AND 2. ALSO,…

Read full complaint

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SHOOK AND JERKED THEN THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE STABILITRACK, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SHOWED UP ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID THE TRACTION LIGHT AND THEY STAYED ON. THE RPM METER IS AVERAGING BETWEEN 3 AND 4 WHEN IT USUALLY AVERAGES BETWEEN 1 AND 2. ALSO, THE SPEED HAS BEEN REDUCED.

NHTSA ODI #10871113

83,000 miles · May 1, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE SLOWED ON HIGHWAY, REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE AND STABILITRAK MEASSAGE DISPLAYED ALSO ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA ODI #10862394

81,000 miles · Mar 2, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

STARTED SEEING ERROR MESSAGE THIS MORNING ON START UP OF THE CAR: ENGINE POWER REDUCED SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE STABILTRAK EXPERIENCED REDUCED ENGINE POWER, TRACTION LIGHT ON, ENGINE LIGHT ON

NHTSA ODI #10839341

110,000 miles · Jan 18, 2016
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITRAK/TRACTION CONTROL ON A 2011 IMPALA WITH 120,000 MILES. I HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ARE ALL UNSURE AS TO WHAT IT IS. I HAVE PUT A NEW THROTTLE BODY IN, NEW SPARK PLUGS, CHANGE MY OIL FAITHFULLY EVE…

Read full complaint

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITRAK/TRACTION CONTROL ON A 2011 IMPALA WITH 120,000 MILES. I HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ARE ALL UNSURE AS TO WHAT IT IS. I HAVE PUT A NEW THROTTLE BODY IN, NEW SPARK PLUGS, CHANGE MY OIL FAITHFULLY EVERY 3,000 MILES. IT CONTINUES TO FLASH THE MESSAGE TO ME, DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ACCELERATION, IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE AS FAR AS REDUCING MY ENGINE POWER AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND EVEN WHEN I JUST START MY CAR. I HAVE TO TURN CAR OFF, LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN IT SEEMS TO RESET BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR A FEW DAYS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS I AM READING ABOUT!

NHTSA ODI #10820781

44,815 miles · Jan 6, 2016
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ENGINE STABILITY POWER REDUCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND RE-LEARNED IDLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ENGINE STABILITY POWER REDUCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND RE-LEARNED IDLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,815. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ *CN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10818376

76,750 miles · Oct 4, 2015
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED THE ENGINE IDLE DECREASED AND THE SYSTEM COULD NOT LOCATE THE NEW THROTTLE POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE ENG POWER REDUCTION AND FAULT WARNINGS ON ENG TCS AND SCS TO LIGHT IN ORDER TO DRIVE I HAD FAULTS CLEARED AND TURNED OFF SYSTEMS. GM SAYS THE CODES HAVE TO BE READ TO FIX.UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #10779558

130,000 miles · Aug 11, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, AS I ATTEMPT TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO DRIVE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR WILL STALL FOR A SECOND, MAKE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WHINE, AND THEN JUMP FORWARD LIKE IT'S HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE DOES THIS EVERY SO OFTEN, BUT NOT ALL THE TIM…

Read full complaint

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, AS I ATTEMPT TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO DRIVE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR WILL STALL FOR A SECOND, MAKE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WHINE, AND THEN JUMP FORWARD LIKE IT'S HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE DOES THIS EVERY SO OFTEN, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. I'VE TAKEN IT INTO CAR X, MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, AND ANOTHER LOCAL GOODYEAR TIRES DEALER, BUT NOBODY HAS ANY IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HOOKED UP TO A COMPUTER AND TECHNICIANS HAVE LOOKED AT IT, BUT JUST SCRATCH THEIR HEADS. THERE IS EVEN A FORUM ONLINE REGARDING THIS HAPPENING WITH OTHER CHEVY IMPALA OWNERS [XXX] AND OWNERS SEEM TO PUT LOTS OF MONEY INTO THE ISSUE BUT WITH NO RESOLVE. ** THE ISSUE SEEMS TO REMEDY ITSELF WHEN I TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL. ** THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS WHERE I'LL BE PULLING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE CAR WILL STALL AND I'LL FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO BE HIT BECAUSE THE CAR "DIES" FOR A SECOND. I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *AN

NHTSA ODI #10747715

40,590 miles · Apr 6, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, "TRACTION CONTROL NEED SERVICE" AND "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" MESSAGES APPEARED BEFORE THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE AND CONTINUING TO DRIVE, THE ERROR MESSAGES CONTINUED TO DISPLAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE S…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, "TRACTION CONTROL NEED SERVICE" AND "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" MESSAGES APPEARED BEFORE THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE AND CONTINUING TO DRIVE, THE ERROR MESSAGES CONTINUED TO DISPLAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PEDAL WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,590. UPDATED 5/15/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN THE MESSAGE "SHUTTING POWER OFF" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE ON POSITION. UPDATED 11/16/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10703909

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.