2011 Chevrolet Impala Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electronic stability control and throttle-related warnings — 'Service Stabilitrak' and 'Engine Power Reduced' — usually while driving, sometimes followed by a loss of throttle and a stall. A separate group of complaints concerns the rear head restraints blocking the view out the back, reported on cars with very low mileage.

1. 1
   Electronic stability control

   Service Stabilitrak / Engine Power Reduced warning

   • 213 complaints (42%)
   • median 70,967 mi at 4.4 yrs old (192 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2024

   Complaints describe a 'Service Stabilitrak' message, often together with 'Engine Power Reduced' and traction control lights, appearing while driving at highway or city speeds. Owners report the vehicle then slowed drastically or refused to accelerate, sometimes with hard steering and rough shifting, and that restarting or waiting cleared it temporarily. Dealers were reported to clean or replace the throttle body, gas pedal or throttle position sensor, with the symptom returning after a while in several accounts. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 135,000 miles, with several owners noting the warning appeared more often in cold, wet or snowy weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, watch for any stabilitrak or reduced-power messages and ask whether the throttle body, pedal or wiring has already been replaced. A scan tool check for stored throttle position codes can show pending issues.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle displays reduced power service stabilitrak system . I replaced the throttle position switch (tps) and it has came back again. Service light is on and reads p2138, tps. On hundreds of forums people are complaining of this same problem, shouldn't this be recalled? Also I even cleaned the throttle motor and position sensor under the hood, it seemed to help for a little while.”

   NHTSA complaint #10577246, filed 2014-04, 50,000 miles

   “I was driving on the highway and received the following message, service stabilitrak - reduced engine power. This has come up a few times. This time though while still driving my engine power was greatly reduced with the error, starter disabled, service throttle . This LED to a drastic decrease in speed with zero control over throttle and moved to the shoulder and the car rolled to a halt.”

   NHTSA complaint #11300986, filed 2020-01, 113,000 miles
2. 2
   Seats

   Rear head restraints obscure the view

   • 80 complaints (16%)
   • median 700 mi at 0.8 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2014

   Owners report that the fixed rear head restraints sit high enough to block much of the view through the rear window and the mirror, making reversing and lane changes harder. Complaints state the restraints are not adjustable or removable, and that both the dealer and the manufacturer said the design could not be changed. One owner described a reversing collision attributed to the obstruction. Nearly all reports came from cars with very low mileage, often under 3,000 miles, and appear soon after purchase.

   What to check: Sit in the driver's seat and check the rearward view for yourself, and see whether the restraints have been altered or removed by a previous owner.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear seat headrests (3) are extremely high making it difficult for driver to see vehicles in rear. Difficulty in backing car, as well as changing lanes. Headrests are sewn into rear seat; non-adjustable. Had to have middle headrest removed permanently.”

   NHTSA complaint #10405534, filed 2011-06, 56 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated the rear seat head rests were positioned too high, obstructing his vision. The contact also stated the head rests were installed in a manner in which they were not adjustable and could not be removed from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed the equipment could not be altered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 5 and the current mileage was 3,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10404151, filed 2011-06, 5 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 118 complaints (23%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (113 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2023

   Owners describe the engine cutting out or dropping power without warning at highway and city speeds, sometimes leaving no power steering or power assist for the brakes. Several complaints mention the engine dying right after a stability or reduced-power message, and a few note the key could not be turned or removed afterward. Diagnostics in the sample were variously attributed to the throttle system, battery, ignition switch or nothing reproducible at the dealer. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 50,000 to over 170,000 miles.

   Recall 14V3550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall work has been completed, and check that the key turns freely and comes out without binding. Note any history of stalling or no-start events at the battery and ignition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 60 MPH, messages were flashing: service stabilitrac soon, reduced power to engine, check traction control. Car decelerated to 30 MPH on the highway, hard to steer. I pulled off the road, turned it off and waited. Several minutes later it restarted and I was able to drive it home. The engine light and the traction control light still come on. It shifts hard (and it's an automatic transmission). In addition, cruise control will not work during this condition.”

   NHTSA complaint #10554150, filed 2013-11, 52,000 miles

   “2/17/2015 was the second event. I was driving approx- 65 MPH up a mountain when my electronic display panel showed stabilitrack/service traction control/vehicle in reduced power. As the power suddenly reduced I lost power steering control and brake function. Since I was traveling at a up hill grade, I was barely able to jerk the steering wheel enough to roll across the lane of traffic beside me to the side of the road. I wasn't able to get out of the road completely and was almost hit by a logging truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10684014, filed 2015-02, 95,620 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hesitation and harsh shifting

   • 35 complaints (7%)
   • median 68,800 mi at 6.0 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2023

   Complaints describe delayed engagement when accelerating from a stop, followed by a hard jerk or surge, and rough or delayed shifts between gears. Some owners report the transmission hunting, losing power on grades, or making noise before shifting. Reported responses include fluid changes, solenoid replacement and, in some cases, no diagnosis at the dealer. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 185,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test a few starts from a stop and a highway on-ramp merge, feeling for delayed engagement or a hard clunk. Ask for transmission service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Anytime I go to accelerate after coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, red light, or etc the car hesitates and then jerks forward. The car hesitates and loses power. While driving down a busy city road the car turned off. I had to try and steer the vehicle to the side of the road. The steering wheel would barely turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #11120834, filed 2018-08, 91,000 miles

   “When driving, noticed on the freeway, it wasn't smooth at times. The transmission's shifting was pretty rough. No indication of any issues popped up on dashboard. When arriving at a freeway ramp, it felt like I was hydroplaning, but on gravel. Then, noticed when pressing the accelerator, was not going anywhere, but felt like I was in neutral. Was able to pull over and take a look... Transmission fluid was fine... Nothing popped up on the dashboard. Nothing! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10521665, filed 2013-06, 43,700 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Passenger seat occupant sensor not detecting a passenger

   • 22 complaints (4%)
   • median 69,472 mi at 6.0 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2022

   Owners report the passenger air bag off light staying lit and a service air bag message even with someone seated in the front passenger seat. The occupant detection sensor was identified as the cause in several complaints, and owners described limited part availability or being told the vehicle was not covered by a recall. Some also mention an air bag warning light on its own. Reported from roughly 45,000 to 165,000 miles.

   Recall 14V355000

   What to check: With a passenger seated, confirm the passenger air bag indicator reads on, and check whether any air bag warning light stays illuminated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have been having problems off an on with several issues I don't know if it's sensor , wiring, wheel, or other related but I have been having issues with service stabil trak, service airbags, traction control, braking related, etc. Most recent has been with service stabil trak . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11256889, filed 2019-09, 79,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated the service air bag warning light was constantly illuminated. Additionally, while a passenger was seated in the front passenger's seat, the sensor failed to acknowledge that the seat was occupied. An independent mechanic diagnosed the failure as a occupant detection sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither a dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11318786, filed 2020-03, 105,000 miles

Buying note. Check for stored throttle and stability-control codes and confirm recall work was completed before purchase, since the reduced-power warning is the most common complaint here. Also sit in the driver's seat to judge the rearward view and test the transmission from a stop.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.