2011 Chevrolet Impala Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala.

20102012
Complaints
844
Crashes
39
Fires
8
Injuries
46
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2011 Chevrolet Impala Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1132 complaints

Electronic Stability Control

Avg mileage:80,175 mi
Fires:1
#2125 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:81,510 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#391 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:95,989 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala.

Electronic Stability Control
132
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
80,175
Engine Problems
125
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
81,510
Electrical Faults
91
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
95,989
Unintended Acceleration
67
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,978
Transmission / Drivetrain
63
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
70,969
Seat-Related Issues
61
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
14,789
Steering Defects
35
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
66,210
Airbags
34
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
Avg Miles
74,636
Brakes
34
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
73,992
Traction Control System
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
56,696
Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,885
Suspension Failures
16
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
67,398
Visibility
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,739
Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,875
Wheel Issues
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,842
Engine & Cooling
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,070
Seat Belt Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
77,008
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
53,233
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
41,498
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
89,000
Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
1,279
Wipers & Visibility
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,501
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Chevrolet Impala

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,178,144 vehicles.

14V355000Electrical System:ignition
~3,141,731 affected

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.

12V377000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~36,413 affected

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.

Other Chevrolet Impala Years

2011 Chevrolet Impala — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2011 Chevrolet Impala has 844 NHTSA complaints, 39 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electronic Stability Control with 132 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
Top reported problems: Electronic Stability Control (132 complaints, avg 80,175 mi); Engine Problems (125 complaints, avg 81,510 mi); Electrical Faults (91 complaints, avg 95,989 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 69,047 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala include 39 crash-related reports, 8 fire reports, 46 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,178,144 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Impala reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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