CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2011 Chevrolet Impala

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

505

Complaints

22

Crashes

5

Fires

25

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have filed 505 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2010 and August 2024. The most complained-about system is electronic stability control, named in 132 of them (26%). The typical failure was reported at 60,425 miles, the median across the 410 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

14V355000 · June 23, 2014

The defect
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.
The 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.
The remedy
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.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,141,731 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

12V377000 · August 3, 2012

The defect
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.
The risk
A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 36,413 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 505.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 132 26%
ENGINE 125 25%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 95 19%
SEATS 77 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 69 14%
POWER TRAIN 64 13%
AIR BAGS 37 7%
STEERING 35 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 34 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 31 6%
VISIBILITY 23 5%
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 18 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 118.

2010 2014 2024
2010 to 2024

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

3 injured · crash · 97,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO THE CHEST AND BACK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HANDS AND CHEST. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO ASSIST AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 9/19/11 *CN

NHTSA complaint 10421630. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

2 injured · fire · 86,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING AND A PART IN MY A/C BEGAN CLICKING LOUDLY, THEN THE AIR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND STARTED SMOKING. A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM WHERE THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR IS AND WITHIN MOMENTS THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint 11374324. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · crash · towed

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND RIGHT HIP INJURIES BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANKLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE

NHTSA complaint 10692249, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

2 injured · crash · 56,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THEIR HANDS AND LEGS, BUT DID RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IMPACT WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 11/6/15 *JS

NHTSA complaint 10706702. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
After getting into my parked car and starting it, the Stabilitrak warning message came on my display. This is the 2nd tike that this occurred. The first time it occured, my mechanic diagnosed it as a failed throttle body, which I replaced myself, (easy removal/installation). Now, a couple of months later, it occurred again. After doing some online research, it seems as though the position sensor on the accelerator pedal may be at fault. A lot, if not most cars today have a "fly-by-wire" system which replaces cables and such with sensors and motors. So, the accelerator, (gas), pedal controls the movement of the butterfly valve on the throttle body by sending a signal to the motor. I'm going

NHTSA complaint 11611932, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Service stabilitrak warning, followed by reduced engine power, then car starts jerking.

NHTSA complaint 11563735. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
i own a 2011 chevy impala 4 door that has a very serious engine issue. I was on my way home and suddenly the service stability trac, and check engine light came on, then the message center displayed reduced engine power and low oil pressure then the engine shut off. I tried to restart the vehicle and it would not restart. I got it towed to a parking lot where it sat over night then it would restart but only for a few minutes. Once I got a scanner hooked up it had a p0642 code lost 5 volt reference circuit 1 and a cam sensor code I worked on this vehicle for two days and still have not found the issue. this vehicle needs a recall since this is a recurring issue with a few different model

NHTSA complaint 11561755, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Mechanic Wedige Automotive in Elkhorn Wi, use AC Delco Parts, Just in This year He installed The Rear Swaybar links part#45G0403 The same part Broke Twice and put the same for the third time. We don't know if is going to brake for the third time, but we are afraid that if we drive in a highway we can be on a bad car accident. The second time it broke, our car got left wheelbearing damage and rear brake pads according the same mechanic that warranty the same defective part and keep putting the same defective part brand. We don't know what to do because our life was in danger twice, we don't want die if that cause a bad accident due to defective parts third time. Please help us.

NHTSA complaint 11554713. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This problem has happened for many many years. Made appointments @ Fuccillo Chevy dealer, by then it’s gone off & they don’t know! Well, just occurred again when getting new tires @Dunn pulling in. 2011 impala Stabilitrak, engine power loss, then check engine light! Thank goodness the mechanic printed me the codes & what they mean!! SO- P2138 Throttle/pedal pod sensor voltage correlation DTC P0523 Engine oil pressure sensor/switch high input Same complaint of loss of power as I’ve now seen others write about!! Voltage referring to throttle ‘s ability to open/close properly. An electrical malfunction in manufacturing! RECALL!!! Obviously I actually have another impala- 2007 that the rear

NHTSA complaint 11554752, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

68,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle lost electrical power. The ignition switch was stuck in accessory mode and the contact was unable to release the key from the ignition switch. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle experienced inaccurate fuel gauge reading. Several unknown messages were displayed in different languages. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the battery had failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA complaint 11541720. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Impala

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 28 1
2018 59 1
2017 116 0
2016 111 0
2015 300 3
2014 632 12
2013 270 1
2012 258 3
2010 441 4

Other 2011 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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