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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.

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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
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…

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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

60,400 miles · Jun 25, 2016
Power Train

PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR THE TRANSMISSION DIED, CAUSING THE CAR TO COME TO A DEAD STOP: THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED NOW, HUSBAND HIT HIS HEAD OFF STEERING WHEEL, IF WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY DOING 60MILES PER HOUR WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE CAR IS NOW AT TOM HESSER DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY WILL…

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PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR THE TRANSMISSION DIED, CAUSING THE CAR TO COME TO A DEAD STOP: THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED NOW, HUSBAND HIT HIS HEAD OFF STEERING WHEEL, IF WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY DOING 60MILES PER HOUR WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE CAR IS NOW AT TOM HESSER DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY WILL PAY HALF OF THE 4K TO FIX IT, THE CAR HAS 60400 SOME MILES ON IT, JUST TURNED 5 YRS OLD. I DO NOT THINK THIS CAR IS SAFE IF THE TRANSMISSION WILL JUST DIE AT ANY MOMENT WITHOUT WARNING.. IT DOES NOT HAVE OVER 100K MILES ON IT NOR DOES IT HAVE 61K MILES. THIS CAR MAKE AND MODEL HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR EVERYTHING BUT THE TRANY AND ENGINE SO FAR, THE CAR IS NOT SAFE PERIOD..THE DEALERSHIP WHO IS DOING REPAIRS IS NOT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM, , BUT IT IS A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. AND THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY HALF FOR REPAIRS, I THINK GMC SHOULD PAY THE ENTIRE COST FOR THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #10876558

77,595 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Service BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE CONTACT'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PROCEEDED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN ITS REAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE CONTACT'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PROCEEDED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN ITS REAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,595.

NHTSA ODI #10875521

85,000 miles · May 31, 2016
EngineService BrakesSteering

TODAY OUR 2011 IMPALA DISPLAYED MSGS FOR "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRACK, ENGINE POWER REDUCED". WE STARTED TO PULL OVER AS IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWED. THE ENGINE THEN DIED. WE WERE ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY GOING 45. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE DEALER DID …

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TODAY OUR 2011 IMPALA DISPLAYED MSGS FOR "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRACK, ENGINE POWER REDUCED". WE STARTED TO PULL OVER AS IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWED. THE ENGINE THEN DIED. WE WERE ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY GOING 45. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ERROR.

NHTSA ODI #10871492

79,500 miles · May 30, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

MY CAR JUST REACHED 79,000 MILES AND I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC! THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME DRIVE. IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED BACK UP BUT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGE. THEN A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. NOW THE CAR'S ENGINE IS MAKI…

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MY CAR JUST REACHED 79,000 MILES AND I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC! THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME DRIVE. IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED BACK UP BUT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGE. THEN A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. NOW THE CAR'S ENGINE IS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE AND IS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING WITHOUT MAKING A LOUD SOUND LIKE AIR TRYING TO BLOW THROUGH A PINHOLE. THE CHEVY SERVICE DEPARTMENT I TOOK IT TO WANTS ALMOST $700 JUST TO TAKE IT APART TO SEE WHAT IT WRONG WITH IT, WHICH DOESN'T INCLUDE THE POSSIBLE AMOUNT FOR REPAIR. AND THEY DID NOT LOOK AT ANY OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS LIKE REQUESTED! NOW THEY ARE SAYING MY CAR IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AT ALL. I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED TO RESEARCH THESE ISSUES AND FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE EXACT ISSUES MOST EVEN THE SAME YEAR. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A CAR WITH 79000 MILES SHOULD HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS. I OWNED A 2003 IMPALA PRIOR TO THIS ONE AND HAD ALMOST 125000 MILES BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS 2011. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR FOR IT NOT TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10871448

82,300 miles · May 30, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other

"TAKATA RECALL" - SERVICE AIR BAGS WARNING JUST RECENTLY CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN DRIVING. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SOUNDS OFF, AND FLASHES TO FASTEN SEAT BELT WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IS IN THE CAR, AND THE AIR BAG PANEL FLICKS ON AND OFF CONSISTENTLY. WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR, THERE A TAPPING LIKE SOUND STARTS AND C…

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"TAKATA RECALL" - SERVICE AIR BAGS WARNING JUST RECENTLY CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN DRIVING. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SOUNDS OFF, AND FLASHES TO FASTEN SEAT BELT WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IS IN THE CAR, AND THE AIR BAG PANEL FLICKS ON AND OFF CONSISTENTLY. WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR, THERE A TAPPING LIKE SOUND STARTS AND CONTINUES FOR FIVE TO SIX SECONDS AND THEN STOPS. WHEN I PUSH THE HEAT AND AIR LEVERS, IT STOPS. WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR OR HEAT, IT WILL MAKE THE TAPPING NOISE AND STOP AFTER A SHORT WHILE. THE NOISE SEEM TO BE GETTING LOUDER. WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE HEAT OR WHEN IN THE CAR JUST SITTING AND THE CAR NOT TURNED ON, THE SAME TAPPING NOISE WILL OCCUR. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A WOOD PECKER SOUND. IT SOUND LIKE IT IS LOCATED IN THE COOLING SYSTEM AREA, CLOSE BY THE DASHBOARD AREA.

NHTSA ODI #10871404

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,…

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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

109,000 miles · May 25, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SHUT DOWN. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND EVERY LIGHT WAS ON STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCING. I HAVE HAD THIS SAME PART REPLACED TWICE IN 1.5 YEARS AND THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUS WRONG WITH THE IMPALA.

NHTSA ODI #10870782

49,970 miles · May 19, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CAR JUST REACHED 50,000 MILES AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGE. THEN A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW! I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED TO RESEARCH THESE ISSUES AND FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THES…

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MY CAR JUST REACHED 50,000 MILES AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGE. THEN A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW! I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED TO RESEARCH THESE ISSUES AND FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE EXACT ISSUES MOST EVEN THE SAME YEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10865892

135,000 miles · May 9, 2016
Air BagsEngineService BrakesCrashInjury

G.M. REPLACED MY INGINTION SWITCH ON A NATIONAL RECALL. I WAS HIT IN LEFT REAR QTR. PANEL. I LOST ALL POWER AND COULD NOT STOP OR STEER THE CAR. I CAREENED ACROSS HIGHWAY AND RAN INTO A HOUSE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EITHER. G.M. SENT A TEAM TO RECOVER COMPUTER INFO AND HAS NOW TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10863980

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.