10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,316 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #72

May 072016

Impala

  • 79,500 miles
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.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #71

May 262016

Impala

  • 68,800 miles
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.

- Attleboro, MA, USA

problem #70

May 232016

Impala

  • 109,000 miles
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.

- Gulfport, MS, USA

problem #69

May 192016

Impala

  • 49,970 miles
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.

- Fowlerville, MI, USA

problem #68

May 062016

Impala

  • miles
On my way to work, I was making a next turn at a light when my car all of a sudden shut off and then turned back on twice in a matter of 15 seconds. This is very dangerous, if it wasn't for the very attentive drivers, I could've been rammed!!! the second incident was after I got off of work. My car was in a parking garage when this happened. I tried starting my car and it wouldn't start. I tried a second time and it started but the engine was revving really hard, like I was about to speed off or something. I turned the car off again and started it again for the third time and "service stabilitrak, service traction control, and reduced engine power" all come up on the service screen. After reading multiple forums online with hundreds of complaints about this. I was scared to drive home. I drove at about 40 mph all the way home (my job is a 25-30 min commute) and fortunately I didn't get stranded and my car didn't turn off in the middle of driving like some folk have experienced. GM needs to address this problem. Why isnt there a recall yet?!

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #67

May 022016

Impala

  • 98,110 miles
Got a message on my dash a few months ago about "service traction control" while driving. Traction control light lit up also. Parked car and turned car off then on...message gone. Took it into service...showed no error codes. Today (5/2/16), it did it again with the traction control light and the check engine light simultaneously lighting up. "service stabilitrak", service traction control", and "engine power is recuded" are the messages I got today along with the check engine light and the traction control light being on. I had just gotten off the highway so I wasn't going fast when this happened. I was close to work so I parked it at work. Turned the car off then on again and the messages were gone and traction control light was off but check engine light stayed on. Turned car on again at lunch 1.5 hours later and the check engine light is off now so I doubt anyone will be able to diagnose or fix anything today. Taking it to service to see if it threw any error codes a little later today. I've researched this issue and found that this has happened to a lot of people while on the highway. If it happens to me and I'm in an accident because of this, I will sue the S* out of GM. I have two small children and if any of us gets hurt or killed, there will be H* to pay. This issue should absolutely be recalled. It is not due to my key/ignition issue. Already handled that recall. Losing power in the middle of the highway randomly is absolutely dangerous and I'm now very afraid to drive this vehicle. Will never buy another Impala again.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #66

Apr 292016

Impala

  • 83,000 miles
Vehicle slowed on highway, reduced engine power warning message and stabilitrak meassage displayed also engine indicator light is on.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #65

Apr 282016

Impala

  • 130,000 miles
While driving the traction control, stabilizer, engine power warning all come on and the check engine light comes on and sometimes the engine turns off. Pull off road, will not start then minutes later it starts. Check engine light stays on. After multiple starts the check engine light goes out. I have read multiple complaints about this, yet the nothing is being done. To repair this problem. The effects of this is the same as the ignition turning off. Pending on traffic. This could be deadly. This has happened alot.

- Pinconning, MI, USA

problem #64

Mar 202016

Impala

  • 44,400 miles
In the right rear section of car there is a rattle all the time.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #63

Mar 062016

Impala

  • 138,000 miles
I begin noticing issues when taking off from a complete stop where the vehicle would lunge forward like it couldn't shift into first gear. I had that checked and nothing showed as an issue, so the mechanic said it had to be electrical. This weekend I am driving it and after 25 minutes in the car the check engine light comes on, as does the notice that my engine power has been reduced, and to service the stability traction control system. I was coming to a stop light when it came on and I pulled off to turn off the car and restart it as that would work when it failed before to reset the system. It didn't reset and I had to drive it with reduced power the rest of the way to my destination. I had this fixed a couple years ago. I did get a notice from GM about the issue and the ability to be reimbursed or getting it fixed if there was a current issue and I was able to get reimbursed for it. Now it is happening again, but my mileage is too high to get it fixed under this repair notice because the letter says that the mileage coverage is only up to 120,000. If this is a known issue and I have already dealt with it before, why should I have to pay for it to continually fail when it has nothing to do with normal wear and tear, which I would have no issue fixing as a part of maintaining the vehicle?! this should be something that GM would fix every time it goes out because it is clear the issue is a malfunction of the overall system and not linked to anything that the driver does or doesn't do to maintain the vehicle properly. In addition what if it has to be replaced multiple times as is the case with mine. I have always been a devoted GM customer, but honestly I am not sure I will ever buy another GM after this issue. It is unsafe and provides anxiety when driving, because it might fail at the worst time and could need fixed again even if I fix it this time.

- Oxford, IN, USA

problem #62

Mar 022016

Impala

  • 81,000 miles
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

- Maplewood, MN, USA

problem #61

Jan 312016

Impala

  • 80,000 miles
January 31,2016 I was driving at a speed of 55mph all of a sudden my car speed gave three stalled jerks I immediately put on me emergency flashers because two other vehicles were behind me. From that point on I drove at a much slower speed; wasn't sure if my car was going to cut off in the middle of traffic or not. It was scary because this could have been a terrible accident. The traction stability -service light came on. My car was serviced for this very thing April 2015. Why I am having this same problem?

- Coats, NC, USA

problem #60

Sep 042015

Impala

  • 116,000 miles
I turn on the vehicle and then it shut off...like the ignition switch is faulty...then the stabilitrak comes on..I have to turn the key over slowly so it won't hesitate to turn on or shirt off

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #59

Sep 252014

Impala

  • 47,955 miles
July 2015, "service stabitrac, losing power" lights came on. Took to local dealer and spent $600 for repairs. September 2015, same problems, took for repairs - no charge. Less than 2 days later the error code is back. Dealer has no clue on problem remedy. When the lights come on, acceleration is affected.

- Danielsville, GA, USA

problem #58

Aug 012014

Impala

  • 84,566 miles
My son while driving highway speeds 60-70mph, the car display would say "reduced power" followed by "service stabillatrac", "service traction control". shutting car down at highway speeds. Shut car off for 5-10 minutes and would B fine for a week, a month, six months!!! this has been going on intermittently for over a year!! car not under warranty and cannot afford to take to dealer every time it happens, needless to say no one drives it but me. Have not taking to dealer because research online and nothing seems to be a sure fix!! other people are replacing throttlebody, S, gas pedals, gas caps, ABS sensors, various wiring harnesses, batteries, grounds, computers without any of them being a sure fix. Someone will or may have already been killed by this malfunction and unfortunately did not live to say the car did this!!!! I know from reading online forums and the such that this seems to be a very common occurance on multiple years of this model!! all of this on top of a $2 key switch fix that took how many to die before anything was done!!!

- Canonsburg, PA, USA

problem #57

Jun 252015

Impala

  • 73,433 miles
I was driving down the highway going 70mph when my service engine light came on and a message stating the stablitrak is on and the engine is reducing speed! acceleration pedal wouldn't do its job

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #56

Jun 012015

Impala

  • 130,000 miles
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).

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #55

Jun 022015

Impala

  • 72,618 miles
On the morning of Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 just after 10am I was leaving my apartment managers office and when I was going in reverse and then to drive and touched the accelerator the Impala began to shake and on the dashboard it said the engine power reduced to half and there was a problem with the stabilitrak. When I parked in front of my apartment building, I turned the car off then back on and it was still shaking/ idling rough and on the dashboard is continued to read, "engine power reduced by half" and mentioned stabilitrak. The engine light was also on during this time. I left the car and returned 10 minutes later and engine light was still on and while it no longer idled roughly, it still had stibilitrak on the dashboard.

- Port Orange, FL, USA

problem #54

Sep 022013

Impala

  • 40,000 miles
We own both a 2011 and a 2013 Chevy Impala. Both vehicles grind and hesitate. They both act this way while taking off from a light, backing out of the driveway and then putting it in drive and any other time it feels necessary to do so. Except while being checked by the mechanic. We owned a 2007 Impala that did the same thing. Our remedy, push the traction control button to the "off" position. Stopped making the noise and no longer hesitates after putting it in drive. Of course, we have to do this each and every time we get in the car. No more buying Chevy's for us.

- Centerville,, OH, USA

problem #53

May 202015

Impala

  • miles
Driving along and car just accelerated and could not get it to stop or slow down. Traction control light came on, engine reduce power, low engine power, service stability trak, check engine light. I was pushing down on the brake trying to get the car to stop or at least slow down but the car seems as if it was getting fasting then it made a jerk and I bumped my head against the window, and my foot got stuck under the pedal and knee got jammed. My mom got hurt also and being jerked back and forth.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »