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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
80,000 miles · Mar 13, 2013
Electrical SystemEquipment

I OWN A 2011 CHEVY IMPALA AND FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT APPEARS. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM AMONG GM VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR SOLUT…

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I OWN A 2011 CHEVY IMPALA AND FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT APPEARS. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM AMONG GM VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR SOLUTION TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MANY MECHANICS STUMPED AND REPLACING PARTS IN WHICH THE PROBLEM RECURS ONLY A SHORT TIME LATER. I HAVE ALSO FOUND REPLACING WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS OF CODE P2135 SAYS THE PROBLEM STILL MAY NOT BE SOLVED. AS ONE CAN IMAGINE THAT DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WITH A SEMI,HEAVY TRAFFIC,ETC. AND LOSING ENGINE POWER MAY LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE RESULTS. I HAVE NOT INSTALLED ANY PARTS OTHER THAN TIRES AFTER PURCHASING OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502651

39,567 miles · Mar 9, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF THE BLUE THE STABILITY CONTROL AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY. THERE WERE NO WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES TOTAL. ONE TIME IT HAPPENED AS SHE WAS WARMING UP THE CAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED SHAKING AND SHE FELT AS IF IT WA…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF THE BLUE THE STABILITY CONTROL AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY. THERE WERE NO WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES TOTAL. ONE TIME IT HAPPENED AS SHE WAS WARMING UP THE CAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED SHAKING AND SHE FELT AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF INTO SPACE. SHE TURNED IT OFF THREE TIMES - EVEN TRIED TO DRIVE IT AND MOVE TO ANOTHER PARKING PLACE AND TURNED IF OFF AGAIN BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED SHAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502201

67,000 miles · Jan 21, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

MY 2011 IMPALA IS READING "SERVICE THROTTLE. REDUCE ENGINE POWER" AND THEN PROCEEDS TO SHUT DOWN. EVEN AFTER REPLACING ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR, VEHICLE IS STILL READING SAME ERRORS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIMITATIONS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAV…

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MY 2011 IMPALA IS READING "SERVICE THROTTLE. REDUCE ENGINE POWER" AND THEN PROCEEDS TO SHUT DOWN. EVEN AFTER REPLACING ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR, VEHICLE IS STILL READING SAME ERRORS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIMITATIONS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND CHEVROLET HASN'T ATTEMPTED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493682

47,000 miles · Jan 3, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY BELTWAY, I WAS CHANGING LANES AT 50 -55MPH WHEN MY CAR EXPERIENCE SHUDDER AND THE MESSAGES THAT CAME ON SCREEN WAS ENGINE REDUCING POWER, CHECK STABILITY CONTROL, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS FLASH AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE ROUGH IDLING. THE NEXT INCIDENT HAPPEN OFF AND ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE LAST KNOWN …

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WHILE DRIVING ON CITY BELTWAY, I WAS CHANGING LANES AT 50 -55MPH WHEN MY CAR EXPERIENCE SHUDDER AND THE MESSAGES THAT CAME ON SCREEN WAS ENGINE REDUCING POWER, CHECK STABILITY CONTROL, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS FLASH AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE ROUGH IDLING. THE NEXT INCIDENT HAPPEN OFF AND ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE LAST KNOWN WAS 1/3/2013 630AM AND 115PM I WOULD HAVE TO SSHUT DOWN AND RESTART UNTIL THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARS. THE THING THAT REALLY SHOOK ME UP WAS WHEN I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY IN THE MORNING AROUND 6:45AM THERE WAS A SEMI AND OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME SO I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE AT ABOUT 30-50 WHEN THE MESSAGES APPEARED AND THE SEMI WAS PRACTICALLY ON MY TAIL. MY HEART JUMPED OUT MY CHEST BUT I REMAINED CALMED AND LUCKILY THERE WAS A MEDIAN STRIP AHEAD. I ASK MYSELF SITUATION COULD HAVE GONE WRONG AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR GOTTEN KILLED FROM BEING RAMMED FROM BEHIND ALL BECAUSE I COULD'NT ACCELERATE.I HAVE A SMALL VIDEO TO BACK THIS UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL NOTICE AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO GET THE CODE AND CHARGE ME 129.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY WAS KILLED BEHIND THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490916

53,000 miles · Dec 31, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE TRACTION STABILIZER WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE TRACTION STABILIZER WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI #10490561

24,500 miles · Dec 27, 2012
Seats

THE TALL REAR SEAT HEADRESTS SEVERELY OBSCURE VISION TO THE REAR WHEN BACKING UP. THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT HEADREST IS THE WORST OFFENDER, AND COMPLETELY BLOCKS MY REAR VISION TO THE POINT WHERE I CANNOT TELL IF THERE IS A VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT BEHIND ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR BACKING UP. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS …

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THE TALL REAR SEAT HEADRESTS SEVERELY OBSCURE VISION TO THE REAR WHEN BACKING UP. THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT HEADREST IS THE WORST OFFENDER, AND COMPLETELY BLOCKS MY REAR VISION TO THE POINT WHERE I CANNOT TELL IF THERE IS A VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT BEHIND ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR BACKING UP. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY GM AS I HAVE NOTICED THE 2012 IMPALA DOES NOT HAVE THIS CENTER REAR HEADREST! THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED FOR THESE OLDER MODEL IMPALAS SO THESE REAR SEAT HEADRESTS CAN BE REMOVED. I ALREADY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO GM (REFERENCE #[XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490237

900 miles · Nov 8, 2012
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE HEADREST IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT TOO HIGH, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY WHEN UTILIZING THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE HEADREST IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT TOO HIGH, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY WHEN UTILIZING THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10483753

51,000 miles · Oct 17, 2012
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOOSING POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOOSING POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE APP SENSOR AND MODULATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR BOTH COMPONENTS. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN WHILE HE WAS PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AFTER PULLING OVER THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE BUT THE RPM'S WERE RISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10480863

38,000 miles · Oct 15, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING 60-70 MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE ENGINE GOT A SUDDEN BOOST OF POWER. I WAS TOLD IT IS THE SENSOR ON THE GAS PEDAL THAT IS EFFECTING THE ENGINE POWER AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY POWER 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480166

37,562 miles · Oct 9, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE STABILITY TRACK CONTROL LIGHT, THE ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE REDUCE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED WHILE ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE STABILITY TRACK CONTROL LIGHT, THE ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE REDUCE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED WHILE ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,562. UPDATED11/14/12*LJ UPDATED 11/16/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10479335

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.