10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 70,180 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I was driving about 25mph in town and my service traction control light came on followed by engine reduce power light.
- Wonewoc, WI, USA
I was driving on I95 merging onto 175 in columbia, md, my speed was 65mph. My "service traction control" light and "reduced engine power" light came on and my car shut completely off. I had no control over the car, could not apply brakes. I put the car in park and turned the ignition switch to off for a few minutes. Luckily there wasn't any traffic behind me cause they would have hit me and killed me. I waited about 5-10 min turned the car on proceeded to my destination. The check engine light stayed on. I called the service department at bob bell Chevrolet on kane street in baltimore. I was several miles from there they couldn't come get the car so I drove it to them. They had my car approximately 2-3 days and could not replicate the incident. Since this time it has happened 8-10 times or more since May 11, 2014 I've called the service department and was to continue to drive it, they can look at it, no codes registered in December when they looked at it so they don't know what's wrong. They want me to bring my car in but don't want to give me a rental. This is too dangerous. I am scared everytime I get behind the wheel of my car.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Service traction control message along with reduced engine power message. Car jerked/hesitated upon stopping and starting at intersection. Reduced speed automatically and couldnt speed up.
- Burnsville, MN, USA
In April 2013, the traction control and ABS warning light began coming on, in my 2009 Impala, when making a left turn. The lights began to come on more frequently and would stay on for longer times. I took the car to the dealer but they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. The problem has been an ongoing problem since I purchased this vehicle.the lights would stay on for a longer period of time. The problem has not been fixing by the dealer. But they keep charging me $100 per visit.
- Quincy, FL, USA
Service traction control comes up and reduce engine power. Never had any prior issues with my vehicle until now. Just got it back from the dealership today and having to take it back tomorrow because the same thing occurred again. I need this issue resolved and am not the only on that has had this issue. I need my vehicle fixed and do not feel that I should have to pay for a manufacturing issue.
- Eufaula, AL, USA
I have a 2009 Chevrolet Impala I purchased in 2010 and the traction control light keeps coming on and the reduced engine power is also coming on during this time. I have read online where people have crashed from this I feel Chevrolet needs to do a recall. I live in atlanta and if my car reduces speed while I'm on 285 this could potentially cause I very bad crash.
- Conyers, GA, USA
What happened is the vehicle traction control triggered and reduced the cars functionality and speed. It cleared itself, but what concerns me is this problem is prevalent in GM Chevrolet vehicles ranging from 2005 to 2011. It is listed many times here in your data base to your organization. Our lives and safety are involved here. Focusing on charging a fee to do an investigation is deplorable. Lives are at stake here. This should not be another american after the fact occurrence or event. What happened to proactive responsibility. These american car makers produce junk cars and the consumer constantly get stiffed with lemons. States lemon laws? nothing but american lemons are rolling off of the production lines. You think, this may be why other countries will not buy our products. There is no reliability in what is produced or manufactured and the customer service is lip service. Non - existent with these car dealers and pure sales rhetoric. Your site reads: The information you provide will be used to identify potential safety-related defects or determine the adequacy of existing safety recalls. I can't afford the repairs, pay for an investigation as well. I am not pleased with how the ball keeps getting passed or dropped. NHTSA these poorly produced weapons weigh tons. Rolling down the poorly maintained highways and streets of this country endangering us all life and limb. My vehicle has the same problem with the traction control that forces my car to brake, pull to the right and slow enough to endanger my well being. I'm truly scared and concerned here and the repairs and code lights aren't reliable. Only the repair shops are winning. The problem keeps repeating after thousands are spent to keep the car running. I need this car for work. If it cant get me there then they will come and take the junk back I am trying to maintain. Thank you
- Tracy, CA, USA
I am having similar issues as everyone else, when driving on the freeway, I was going about 70 mph and than my service traction control light came on followed by engine power reduced with the mil light, the car speed immediately decreased to about 50 mph, no accident occurred, pulled over and let it sit for awhile than restarted it. It is intermittent and occurs randomly. It is safety concern as this can cause an accident. The air bag light also comes off and on, I had taken to Chevy dealer and was advised the air bag sensor needed to be replaced, was about $500 in work, and it was not covered under my extended warranty. I am not able to afford the repair so I am driving in a vehicle where if their is an accident, the air bags will not deploy.
- Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Stability/traction control system activates for no reason. This causes a spontaneous major reduction in engine power. This happened while passing a semi-tractor trailer on an interstate. Fortunately, I was able to get to the side of the road and stop. Shutting the engine off for several minutes apparently allowed the system to reset. This has happened about a dozen times since. Had I been passing on a 2-lane road, it very likely could have caused a head-on collision.
- St. Charles, MO, USA
I was driving down hwy 50 on a clear dry day and the engine lite comes on with the traction control warning, saying engine power reduced. Then the power shut off including the steering causing me to pull the car off into the dirt off the freeway. Due to this my front bumper got cracked. This problem is now a re-occurring problem.
- Fair Oaks, CA, USA
Driving 65 on freeway car slows down to 40 check engine light says service traction control.
- Arlington, TX, USA
I started my car and the check engine light and the service traction control lights both came on. My back tires then began to spin when driving and the car made a scary noise.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
I was at a stop sign and the reduced engine power, check traction control lights came on. The code came up I had it checked it is the accelerator pedal position sensor this can be a very dangerous occurrence.NHTSA please look at these complaints it is a 75 dollar part and labor of 4 hours.im paying for part and doing myself I need some reimbursement or payment of this to shop.
- Millington, TN, USA
This is the 1st time I am filing a complaint, but this complaint has happened multiple times! my wife is afraid to drive this car! my check engine and traction control light comes on. The dash alternates between "service traction control" and "reduced engine power." This is really frightening on the interstate when the engine begins to reduce power and you are surrounded by fast moving vehicles. The fault has been checked multiple times, but the diagnostic check reveals bogus faults unrelated to the traction control fault. I have learned that when this happens, I need to pull off the road, turn off the ignition, open the door and wait for the dome light to go off. Then I can restart and go on my way. This happens about once per month and has done it for 2 years. Can't wait until I can afford to buy a different vehicle. I have talked with other Chevrolet owners and they experience this same fault, but nothing is wrong with the traction control.
- Wytheville, VA, USA
I was driving on city streets and my check engine and traction control light came on. The dash alternated between "service traction control" and "reduced engine power." Yes the engine power was reduced but I was still able to drive in the city.
- Germantown, WI, USA
I was driving through a hilly/ curvy area of road when my reduced engine power, traction control, and throttle body disabled message popped up. Just then I have no power, no brakes and no steering, at all! I almost crashed with my two kids in the car! upon looking up this issue I find that it is a very common issue in Impala. Some people have had this issue while passing cars, or the freeways and more. To me this is quite a safety concern since you have no power to do anything...nothing at all. I don't see how there is still no recall on this issue when there are so many reported problems and a huge safety risk!!
- Fort Gratiot, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while turning, the traction control warning light illuminated as the vehicle independently decelerated. The vehicle was not diagnosed and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
- Buffalo, NY, USA
About 2 weeks ago my service traction control light appeared on the dash. Being the person that I am I was very concerned with this issue and took it to have it checked by the dealership. They told me that this will occasionally come on with the amount of rain we had in our area.they said when it has the opportunity to dry out it will go off. Well to date it has not gone off but stays on the majority of the time. Now it is having fun with the reduce power light which basically slows down the car. Not only are the flip flopping but when I push the brakes it sometimes acts as if it will catch but then let go and catch again. How scary is this when you feel your brakes will not stop the car" this is not a good feeling. Called the dealership to get an appointment and it will cost me $85 to $100 to have this put on a machine to see what the problem is. And get this just like everyone else this is not a covered problem. My question is why" I have tried very hard to stick with Chevrolet products but this is really making me rethink my decision. Everyone seems to be having the same issues with these alerts and sensors. I am not one to sink a whole lot of money into a car with repairs, I will get rid of it immediately. I maintain my car on a regular basis.
- Conway, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while traveling 65 mph, the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel as the vehicle stalled. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The failure and current mileage was 62,000. Updated 06/17/13
- Walton, NY, USA
- Winstonville, MS, USA