2011 Chevrolet IMPALA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
505 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
60,425 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 410 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 132 of 505 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 61 | 12.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 52 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 41 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 39 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 35 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 132 |
| Engine | 125 |
| Electrical System | 91 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 67 |
| Power Train | 63 |
| Seats | 61 |
| Steering | 35 |
| Air Bags | 34 |
Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 132; Engine: 125; Electrical System: 91; Vehicle Speed Control: 67; Power Train: 63; Seats: 61; Steering: 35; Air Bags: 34
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 77 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 82 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 91 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 79 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 67 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 77; 25,000 to 49,999: 82; 50,000 to 74,999: 91; 75,000 to 99,999: 79; 100,000 to 149,999: 67; 150,000 and above: 14
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (91). 95 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 48 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2013 | 44 |
| 2014 | 118 |
| 2015 | 58 |
| 2016 | 45 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 21 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2010: 4; 2011: 48; 2012: 39; 2013: 44; 2014: 118; 2015: 58; 2016: 45; 2017: 32; 2018: 44; 2019: 27; 2020: 21; 2021: 12; 2022: 5; 2023: 6; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 61 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 52 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10435431 · 2011-11-13 (November 13, 2011)
DRIVING DOWNHILL A TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER BRAKE SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO BRAKE HARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL SHUDDERED AND FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE BUT I COULDN'T! ADDITIONALLY THE STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERED HORRIBLY SIDE TO SIDE. BRAKING ON THE REMAINDER OF THE HILL AND FOR A WHILE AFTER HAD THE SAME CHATTERING, SHAKING, SHUDDERING, AND SORT OF BRAKE GRINDING FEELING MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I COULD NOT RELY ON THE BRAKES AND MAYBE THE STEERING WAS HAVING PROBLEMS TOO. SCARED ME AND FELT TERRIBLY UNSAFE!!!! THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,223 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450473 · 2012-03-06 (March 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOO NARROW AND WHEN DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT'S FOOT WOULD SLIP OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6, 8000.
Owner-reported narrative. 190 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433656 · 2011-10-31 (October 31, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AFTER IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,185.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480863 · 2012-10-17 (October 17, 2012)
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 WHIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421178 · 2011-08-23 (August 23, 2011)
WHILE DRIVING ON THRUWAY MY 2011 CHEVY IMPALA LOST POWER STEERING WENT DUE TO A BELT BROKE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF CAR. AFTER GETTING OFF THE THRUWAY,WE NOTICED THAT A PULLEY HAD COME APART. WHICH CAUSED THE BELT TO DISINTEGRATE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10421178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592389 · 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SKIDDED DURING A RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE WHEEL WAS SPINNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AND BOTH HUB BEARINGS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10592389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627461 · 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10627461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490561 · 2012-12-31 (December 31, 2012)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553615 · 2013-11-24 (November 24, 2013)
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, WE RECEIVED A SERVICE STABILITRAC/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/ENGINE AT REDUCED POWER MESSAGE AND SPEED DROPPED FROM 40 MPH TO 5 MPH. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND A TRACTION POSITION CONTROL SENSOR WAS REPLACED. TODAY, ON 11/24/13, WE WERE DRIVING 15 MPH IN A PARKING LOT AND RECEIVED THE SAME MESSAGE RESULTING IN THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE ESSENTIALLY STALLS OUT WITH LITTLE TO NO POWER AND NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION AT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577992 · 2014-04-07 (April 7, 2014)
FUEL TANK SHIFTS WHEN TAKING OFF .I BELIEVE THIS COULD CAUSE THE TANK TO LEAK AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PUT ON THE RECALL LIST..IWAS TOLD BY GM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THE COULD DO ABOUT IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577992 at NHTSA ↗