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2011 Chevrolet Impala Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 505 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala, most often about the engine (27% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles). It is 12th of 21 Impala model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2011 Chevrolet Impala problems
Engine
134 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles.
July 2013 had hub bearings replaced in order for car to pass inspection. Issue with "service traction control" had never occurred the prior winters -- car slows down, engine slows down -- this just started happening after the hub bearings were replaced. On march 23, 2014, after paying tolls on the turnpike, the…
The A/C motor behind the glove box is making a clicking noise and I have noticed on a lot of gm and chevy vehicles the same defect. I think this should definitely be a recall considering a lot of people I know have the same problem.
Stability control
132 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles.
While I was driving the service stability pack and traction control light came on and immediately after the reduced engine power came on. The car then jerked, and shut off while I was still driving, and wouldn't start again until approximately 30 minutes later. There were no wet nor road hazard conditions that would…
First time I was slowing down to make left turn when engine light came on then message to check stabiliy trac and then traction control car lost power while making turn and jerked .I got the car back home by driving at low speed had to shut off and start several times before it would clear after it cleared drove fine…
Electrical
95 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 70 MPH, the traction control and reduce engine power warning indicators illuminated as the vehicle decelerated to 10 MPH. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
Traveling a state highway at the legal speed of 70 MPH, had to break very hard. As the car slowed down the engine shut off and power steering failed.
Seats
77 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 2,000 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly, mid/rear assembly.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated the rear seat headrest was obstructing the driver's view of the rear window. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The failure and current mileage was 2,000. Updated 07/08/11 updated 07/18/11
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that she could not see out of the rear view mirror while driving at any speed because the head rests on the rear seats were obstructing her vision. The head rests could not be adjusted or removed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the…
Speed control
69 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to rapidly decelerate. The service traction, check engine and reduced engine power lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician diagnosed that the throttle…
I was driving my car and it began to shake and lose power and would not accelerate. The check engine light came on with messages reduced engine power, service stabiltrak. This has been happening quite a bit with this car. I have been researching online and have noticed that numerous complaints have been filed going…
Transmission
64 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
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…
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…
Brakes
39 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, antilock.
Coming off of a freeway, the exit is a wide curve. About half way through the turn (going toward the right) the engine turned off. Lost all power steering and brakes. Fortunately, I am strong enough to be able to muscle the car through the rest of the curve and pull over to safety. The muscling caused minor injury to…
When taking left turns the car makes a loud grind noise then the stability controll will turn on. Now the check engine light and stability controll light popped on while driving while also having engine power reduced which then applied my brakes causing me to almost go off the road.
Air bags
37 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: sensor, frontal.
"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…
"takata recall?' check airbag light is on continuously. Dealer states it is not a safety issue and will cost over $400. To correct. Not clear if this light could be an actual warning of malfunction causing recall.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Chevrolet Impala recalls
Electrical: ignition
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Suspension: lower arm
Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (134 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles); stability control (132 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles); electrical (95 complaints, typically around 77,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 23, 2014 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Chevrolet Impala?
- It is 12th of 21 Impala model years by number of complaints, with 505 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.