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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,033 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Chevrolet Impala engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 2 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #105

Mar 292019

Impala

  • 88,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While in motion my 2011 Chevy Impala up a highway my vehicle dash will come up and say stabilitrak disabled traction control disabled then engine power reduced then the vehicle will begin to not steer correctly then I will have to pull over and restart the vehicle it then repeats itself after a short period of time

- Wheeling, WV, USA

problem #104

Oct 222018

Impala

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While making a turn, the vehicle completely lost power. Also, the stabilizer track and engine service indicators illuminated. The vehicle coasted as it regained some power, but the contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to slowly be driven to its destination. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 124,000.

- Idabel, OK, USA

problem #103

Oct 152018

Impala

  • 10 miles
I keep getting errors of check stabilitrak engine power reduced I have changed the throttle body

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #102

Aug 222018

Impala

  • 201,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

You really want to know what I think? ok...here's what I think. I think that is beyond comprehension and personally I think it's illegal that GM can get away with not having to put out a recall for the "engine power is reduced" issue that just about every make and model of GM vehicles have. It's not only time consuming to try and figure out what the fix would be because it's not always the same thing wrong on each vehicle (and when you do have it fixed it doesn't last very long until the "engine power is reduced" warning comes back), it's also very expensive but the biggest problem is that it's extremely dangerous. The power is reduced and actually turns the car engine off no matter if you're driving or not. It shut my 2011 Chevrolet Impala engine off as I was driving down the interstate. Thank god there was very little traffic or it could have been catastrophic. I didn't realize how big of a problem this was until I started researching the problem. It's absolutely criminal that you pay your hard earned money for a vehicle and it not only isn't what you thought you were paying for but it can actually take your life and ruin your family because GM's bottom line is more important than their customers lives. I've filled a complaint on this problem already and if something isn't done and it's the cause of grief for my family I will make it my mission to make sure GM not only fixes their crappy workmanship but that they also dig into their bottom line and compensate their customers for the heartache and grief they have caused. It's a pretty simple fix for them and that would be to acknowledge the problem and just fix it, but I just don't think they care enough to do that. I've always been a Chevy guy, but after this Impala I will never own or drive another GM product for as long as I am around. That's what I think. Signed, Chevy guy forced to not be a Chevy guy

- High Hill, MO, USA

problem #101

Aug 182018

Impala

  • 201,000 miles
I was driving on the interstate and a message came up saying "engine power is reduced". it was during rush hour and I almost got rear ended because my vehicle slowed down to about 15 miles per hour.

- High Hill, MO, USA

problem #100

May 202018

Impala

  • 135,000 miles
I was driving on I-695 (in baltimore) with my 3 daughters I received "service stabilitrak, traction control, engine power reduced" message while driving around 65 mph. The engine and tracking light came on and the messages would not go away. I was frighten and hopeful that we would not only make it to our destination but then back home again. Fortunately we did but the very next day I have researched this issue. It seems to be a ongoing issues and maybe cost me hundreds of dollars to repair. That makes me nervous because I am a single mother with only one source of income.

- Damascus, MD, USA

problem #99

Mar 262018

Impala

  • 259,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Why is there not a recall on stability traction control? I see thousands of complaints on the internet for GM vehicles. It seems to me that GM just doesn't care enough after the sale. I just bought 2011 Impala and now the stabalitrack service light keeps coming on while going down the road. It will do this for no apparent reason but happens mostly when accelerating. Using the cruise control on level road and dash warning light comes on and throws car out of cruise, decelerating while gages flip around all over the place. Power loss and lack of acceleration are definitely safety issues. Pulling out of my driveway onto Michigan highway and I get halfway across highway and car stops. This highway is 55 mpg and while I would have had plenty of time to cross the lane, car looses all power. Looking on the internet gives no help for a fix. I turned the stability traction control off, but the problem does not go away. I see on the internet that many people have taken there vehicle to the dealer garage only to get charged exorbitant prices for "possible" that do not seem to help. GM should get this figured out and not let every dealer garage do their own guessing on what will fix this very dangerous problem that is not limited to single model or year but spans many years with many models. My first vehicle was a GM but this may be my last GM. I would like to give a date below but this has been happening since I bought the vehicle about a month ago and getting steadily worse. I have had it checked out but nobody can give me any useful answers

- Greenville, MI, USA

problem #98

Mar 082018

Impala

  • 150,000 miles
The check engine and stabilitrak light has come on and off several times and also causing my vehicle to slow down. I am now at the point of desperation as this morning, while I was on my way to work, the lights came on again, only this time the car turned itself off but proceeded to roll even with me attempting to put on brakes. I have read in several forums that this has happened to others, including someone crashing into a light pole. Please advise what can be done, as I now fear for my life with this car.

- Hampton, GA, USA

problem #97

Mar 142018

Impala

  • 95,000 miles
Reduced engine power, service stabilitrak and traction control. Spent $300 to get the gas pedal sensor replaced 4 days ago and its doing it again. Car loses power (I was I-65 going about 60 mph). Shifts hard, too.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #96

Feb 062018

Impala

  • 18 miles
Bought 2011 Impala lt 2 weeks ago, first time driving to work on freeway - engine light comes on and message comes up - engine power loss, stabilitak traction control. Car completely shut down!! almost got hit by semi. No one has any answers!?

- Eastlake, OH, USA

problem #95

Jan 212018

Impala

  • 127,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On two different occasions, once about a year ago and again today, my 2011 chev Impala ltz displayed a series of rotating alert messages -- 1. service traction control 2. service stabilitrak 3. engine power is reduced. I was driving about 45 miles per hour on an open road when all of a sudden the engine started running very roughly and slowed down and the above 3 messages repeatedly displayed one after the other. Also 2 yellow lights were flashing and then remained on -- the check engine light and the traction control light (I think). When I reported this problem to the chev dealership a year ago, I was told that because the warning lights and messages could not be reproduced in the service department, there was nothing that they could do. (and I understand that if it isn't broken when I take it in, the service dept would most challenged to fix it.) today, when this happened I was able to get the car to a safe place to park. I turned off the ignition, waited a moment and then restarted the car. The same 3 messages were displayed with the two yellow lights staying on. When I restarted the car 3 or 4 hours later, only the check engine light is displayed. The 3 referenced alerts were not displayed. I am getting ready to take the car to the dealership again with this problem. Do you have any advice as to how to proceed?

- Montpelier, VA, USA

problem #94

Dec 252017

Impala

  • 63,000 miles
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.

- Mulvane, KS, USA

problem #93

Oct 082017

Impala

  • 145,000 miles
Traction control light, stabilitrac light, and engine light all came on while driving down highway. This caused the car to start jerking and shifting hard, also engine running like it has a misfire now. Before this began the car was running and shifting perfect.

- Frankton, IN, USA

problem #92

Jul 312017

Impala

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 45 mph, the traction control, service stability, check engine, and engine power indicators illuminated. The vehicle jerked and the contact decelerated the vehicle to 10 mph; however, the speedometer indicated 40 mph. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but there was no answer. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000. The VIN was not available.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #91

Jun 022017

Impala

  • 85,000 miles
While driving on the expressway at about 65mph my car suddenly alerted "service stabiltrak, service traction control, engine power reduced" and I was not able to utilize cruise control anymore and it started to slow down to approximately 40mph. Then my vehicle started to jerkily move & then it alerted "starter disabled service throttle" and my car shut down (steering altered & car shut off). I was able to maneuver to the side of the road & tried to restart my car (unsuccessfully for approximately 10 minutes). Did I mention I had my 2 children in the car with me when this happened" this was terrifying as my car just stopped-I had minimal warning & when traveling on the interstate it could've been a lot worse. After reading how frequently this happens, why hasn't it been recalled"

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #90

Feb 282017

Impala

  • 187,000 miles
Service stability trac and reduced engine power lights came on. Car started jerking and making noises when starting car.

- Jackson, KY, USA

problem #89

Feb 282017

Impala

  • 144,855 miles
Engine shut down on the highway, coasted to stop on shoulder. Engine would not restart. Waited 5 minutes then engine restarted error message displayed before engine stopped running: Shutting down throttle

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #88

Feb 202017

Impala

  • 88,000 miles
My service stabilitrack, reduce engine power light came on while I was exiting the freeway. When this happened I had almost no brake pedal. I couldn't stop at the light at the end of the exit, luckily no other cars were around. If I had been on a main street at 45mpr and had to stop for a red light I would have never stopped on time. I'm very lucky no cars were at the light waiting or coming in a different direction with the green light. I see this problem all over edmunds and on you tube and as far as I can tell it's 100% Chevrolet. How can this not be a recall. There are dozens and dozens of the same complaint on edmunds and you tube. It seems like every you tube video has a different fix for the problem....from pulling out the fuse to the stabilitrack to over a thousand dollars in repairs. Does there have to be a death to get the attention of Chevrolet. The light had come on a few times before but this was the first time it happened while I was driving. Usually it came on and I would turn the car off for a few minutes and it would be fine......so how could this be anything but a malfunction if it goes off and on at any whim. They must know about this problem as it seems to be very prevalent and again from what I have read it's always a Chevrolet.

- Monroe, MI, USA

problem #87

Jan 012016

Impala

  • 60,000 miles
The engine sputters and bogs down. I have spent over $300 trying to figure it out, and no one can because there is no dashboard light that comes on. It happens mainly at a slow rate of speed.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

problem #86

Oct 272016

Impala

  • 117,000 miles
Transmission failure, vehicle cut off in the middle of the street during rush hour. People could not push the vehicle out of street. Transmission /engine locked

- Stafford, VA, USA

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