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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
145,000 miles · Oct 13, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, STABILITRAC LIGHT, AND ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO START JERKING AND SHIFTING HARD, ALSO ENGINE RUNNING LIKE IT HAS A MISFIRE NOW. BEFORE THIS BEGAN THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND SHIFTING PERFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11033299

114,665 miles · Oct 5, 2017
Air BagsSeats

WELL I HAVE NOT TO MANY COMPLAINTS AS I DO MY OWN MAINTENANCE BUT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED AT 32000 MILES AT 83000 DRIVER SEAT HEATER UNION AND NOW AT 114764 MILES SERVICE AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ON DISPLAY AND LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. IT STARTED WHEN CAR WAS TURNED ON SEPT 30 2017 IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ODI #11031974

73,945 miles · Oct 3, 2017
Air Bags

MU AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. REPLACED SENSORS AND ATILL HAVEN'T FIXED2

NHTSA ODI #11031620

107,000 miles · Aug 30, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

JUNE 8 2013: WHEN DRIVING, NOTICED ON THE FREEWAY, IT WASN'T SMOOTH AT TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION'S SHIFTING WAS PRETTY ROUGH. NO INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES POPPED UP ON DASHBOARD. WHEN ARRIVING AT FREEWAY RAMP, IT FELT LIKE I WAS HYDROPLANING, BUT ON GRAVEL. THEN, NOTICED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT FE…

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JUNE 8 2013: WHEN DRIVING, NOTICED ON THE FREEWAY, IT WASN'T SMOOTH AT TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION'S SHIFTING WAS PRETTY ROUGH. NO INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES POPPED UP ON DASHBOARD. WHEN ARRIVING AT FREEWAY RAMP, IT FELT LIKE I WAS HYDROPLANING, BUT ON GRAVEL. THEN, NOTICED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT FELT LIKE I WAS IN NEUTRAL. WAS ABLE TO PULL IN AND TAKE A LOOK... TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FINE... NOTHING POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. NOTHING! THE INDICATORS FOR TIRES, OIL, ETC WERE SHOWING INFO, BUT NOTHING TO INDICATE IT HAD DIED!! DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP - HAD JUST BOUGHT IT IN JULY 2012. 11 MONTHS LATER, THIS?!?!? THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD, EVEN WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER OLLLLLLDER CARS, THIS WAS THE WORST. THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED IN THE GM PEOPLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.THEIR AUTO TRANS CONCERN: CUSTOMER STATES TOWED IN TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE AT TIME OF WRITE UP REVERSE AND FORWARD WORKING INPUT AND REACTION CARRIER EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE METAL IN TORQUE CONVERTER., VALVE BODY, BURNT CLUTCHES CALL TAC CASE #71-1194752825 PRIVE COMP ADVISED TO REPLACE TRANS DUE TO COST WITH SRTA. ORD SERIAL #619ASBWJR6J PRELACW TIH SRTA FLUSH CODE 693FFEE5 THEY REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY... TOTAL COST WAS $4400 AUG. 29, 2017. THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY, JUST GOT OFF, WHILE IN MOTION, THERE WAS SOME REALLY ROUGH VIBRATION. COULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 25 MPH. NO LIGHT INDICATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT TELLS ME IF FLAT TIRE, BLINKER IS ON, THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE, ETC ETC, BUT NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED, BUT WE SMELLED VINEGAR EVERY TIME WE STARTED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS STRAIGHT. WE NOTICED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING, IT'S OKAY, BUT WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS ON THE FREEWAY, IT "SHUDDERS."

NHTSA ODI #11020489

75,500 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD REVERSED THE VEHICLE AND THEN SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION AND WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD REVERSED THE VEHICLE AND THEN SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION AND WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO CONTACTED HIS LOCAL DEALER ( PLATINUM CHEVROLET: 3001 CORBY AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA, 95407) WHERE HE INQUIRED TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE UNDER CASE NUMBER: 83215496968, AND STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,500.

NHTSA ODI #11020035

120,000 miles · Aug 14, 2017
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL MY STABILA TRACT AND REDUCED POWER TRACTION CONTROL KEEPS COMING UP ON MY DASHBOARD IT STARTS JERKING AND NO POWER. EVERY TIME I START MY CAR THESE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11015143

38,000 miles · Aug 3, 2017
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WILL FREQUENTLY FAIL TO ENGAGE WHEN STARTING FROM A FULL OR PARTIAL STOP. TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE CAR HAD 38000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS OUR THIRD IMPALA THAT HAS H…

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THE TRANSMISSION WILL FREQUENTLY FAIL TO ENGAGE WHEN STARTING FROM A FULL OR PARTIAL STOP. TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE CAR HAD 38000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS OUR THIRD IMPALA THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST IMPALA THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM, THE CHEVROLET DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. THE TRANSMISSION PRESSURE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THAT CAR. WE ALSO HAVE A 2008 IMPALA THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THREE IMPALAS, THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN ALL THREE. THE PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WE HAVE DELAYED HAVING THE PART REPAIRED BECAUSE IT IS QUITE COSTLY AND WE HAD HOPED THAT CHEVROLET WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE PART ON THEIR OWN.

NHTSA ODI #11012658

94,000 miles · Jul 31, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITY, CHECK ENGINE, AND ENGINE POWER INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CONTACT DECELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 10 MPH; HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITY, CHECK ENGINE, AND ENGINE POWER INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CONTACT DECELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 10 MPH; HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11011612

100,400 miles · Jul 17, 2017
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

CHECK DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. DEALER INSPECTION RESULTED IN "BAD SENSOR". WANTED $400. TO REPLACE. CURRENT ISSUE: AWAY FROM HOME. CAR STARTED BUT ENGINE VERY ROUGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, MESSAGE "LOSS OF POWER", CHECK STABIL-TRACK". CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE AFTER REVVING UP TO 3K RPM. MAX SPEED ATTAINABLE 55 MPH. MADE IT HOME…

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CHECK DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. DEALER INSPECTION RESULTED IN "BAD SENSOR". WANTED $400. TO REPLACE. CURRENT ISSUE: AWAY FROM HOME. CAR STARTED BUT ENGINE VERY ROUGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, MESSAGE "LOSS OF POWER", CHECK STABIL-TRACK". CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE AFTER REVVING UP TO 3K RPM. MAX SPEED ATTAINABLE 55 MPH. MADE IT HOME. NOW UNABLE TO START CAR. (NEW BATTERY) OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAD TO REPLACE/CLEAN THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR?? SOME WERE AT HIGHER SPEED WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. NO START IS ANOTHER ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #11005839

81,000 miles · Jun 26, 2017
Unknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11001561

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.