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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 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #85

May 302016

Impala

  • 112,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While driving various speeds, the engine warning indicator illuminated and a beeping sound was heard. The engine power reduce warning message also displayed. The vehicle would decelerate, but once the vehicle was powered off and restarted, the issue would be corrected. The contact stated that the failure occurred at any time. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 112,000.

- Union City, GA, USA

problem #84

Nov 012016

Impala

  • miles
Check engine - then power reduction - down to about 20 miles per hour - jerking all over the place - then stableteck light comes on... extremely dangerous. Local dealership says this happens frequently - and they don't really know whats going on... GM fix it please... I don't have 80,000 and now a busted vehicle - won't buy another GM product ever... oh yeah - retired from GM family

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #83

Oct 112016

Impala

  • 60,000 miles
When starting from a stop the car jerks as if the transmission is trying to catch up and it feels like you've been hit from behind. It's an on and off problem but it happens in the rain and is dangerous the dealer changed the trans oil and it still does it. Next the car goes into "reduced engine power" and "service stabilitrak" while driving and will not let me finish my highway drive safely, no one at the dealer can help with this except to say it will cast a lot of money to fix. Headlights constantly burn out and I bought expensive lights last time and one is already burnt out. I have only 1 payment left and the car is ready for the junkyard, you would think after $28000 it would last a little longer. What happened to GM??

- Elmwood Park, IL, USA

problem #82

Oct 062016

Impala

  • miles

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

While driving the car I came up to a red light it started shaking then a message came up that said service stabilitrack after it turn off and wouldn't turn back on I had to push it out of the main St to avoid getting hit or causing an accident I ended up getting it towed to my house called a mechanic to look at it and he says it might be my motor so I called the Chevy dealer in lakewood and they told me my warranty was up last year so they say they could not do nothing for me I have to fix it out of my pocket this car had already too much problems from the start my transmission broke also under 60000 miles luckily is was covered by warranty but now I got no car no money and I'm still paying for the car I got about 2 yrs left to finish it and it didn't even get to 100000 miles I got played on buying this car all my hard work money is being taken for them selling me a problematic car I spoke to General Motors and all they said they have to talk to a senior advisor it's become dangerous to even drive this car because when something happens to it it stops were ever now I have a family kids I don't feel safe driving this car no more I need to know what could be done to fix this problem if not I have to proceed with legal matters and also get a class action lawsuit started cause theirs many people with similar problems and the same car.

- Paramount, CA, USA

problem #81

Aug 052016

Impala

  • 77,000 miles
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.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #80

Jul 262016

Impala

  • 102,355 miles
My car all of a sudden beeped and 3 warnings came up saying "engine power reduced","service traction control" and "service stabilitrak" 2 images came on as well the engine light and the traction one. The car seemed to be running fine I was almost home. But it scared me since all those lights were flashing. Especially the engine power reducing. Reading all these stories I feel lucky that my car did not stop on me. I remembered id received a letter that was not a recall but mentioned to take in if you had any issues with this and should be covered or refunded if fixed in the past. I found it called GM and have an appt in 2 weeks which worries me hope nothing happens between then. The bad and good thing is that now all the lights have come off. Hoping they are still able to fix it and I am not having to pay anything for it. I feel like this is very dangerous and should be a recall.

- Del Valle, TX, USA

problem #79

May 302016

Impala

  • 85,000 miles

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

Today our 2011 Impala displayed msgs for "service traction control, service stabilitrack, engine power reduced". we started to pull over as it dramatically slowed. The engine then died. We were on a 6 lane highway going 45. This could have been deadly. We received a recall letter for the throttle position sensor. The dealer did not repair it because they could not reproduce the error.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #78

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 #77

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 #76

Feb 182016

Impala

  • 135,000 miles
G.M. replaced my ingintion switch on a national recall. I was hit in left rear qtr. Panel. I lost all power and could not stop or steer the car. I careened across highway and ran into a house. No air bags deployed either. G.M. sent a team to recover computer info and has now told me there is no problem.

- W.Alexandria, OH, USA

problem #75

May 022016

Impala

  • 98,110 miles

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

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 #74

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 #73

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 #72

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 #71

Mar 042016

Impala

  • 120,473 miles
Service traction control and check engine lights came on this morning. Then a message saying my engine power is reducing. I just bought this car 3 weeks ago. I called GM customer service and they told me there was nothing they could do, even though there was a recall regarding this because it was over the 120000 mile warranty (but I just bought this car 3 weeks ago!!!)

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #70

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 #69

Jan 082016

Impala

  • 110,000 miles
I have problem with the stabilitrak/traction control on a 2011 Impala with 120,000 miles. I have found other people from all over the country with the same problem. I have taken it to 3 different mechanics and they are all unsure as to what it is. I have put a new throttle body in, new spark plugs, change my oil faithfully every 3,000 miles. It continues to flash the message to me, does not have the same acceleration, is very unpredictable as far as reducing my engine power at any given time. This happens when I'm driving down the road and even when I just start my car. I have to turn car off, let it sit for a few minutes and then it seems to reset but the engine light stays on for a few days. This needs to be addressed with as many complaints I am reading about!

- Marseilles, IL, USA

problem #68

Oct 112012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 44,815 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 65 mph, the engine stalled and the engine stability power reduction warning light illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal and re-learned idle failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Also, while driving at various speeds, the gear shift became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission was failing and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 44,815. Updated 01/12/16

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #67

Nov 022015

Impala

  • miles
When your at a complete stop vehicle gives a hard jerk like someone has rear ended you. All of the Impala's have a failed transmission pressure control solenoid which can cause accidents when it jerks very hard causing someone to run into the back of another vehicle. No check engine light or anything will come on letting you know the problem. Years 2000 to 2015 all have the same problem. Needs to be recalled before someone seriously gets injured.

- Great Mills, MD, USA

problem #66

Sep 012012

Impala

  • 34,500 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 60, the vehicle stalled after the stabilitrak, traction control, and engine power down warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle restarted; however, the failure recurred on one other occasion while driving approximately 45 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine wiring harness was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,500.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

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