Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2011 Chevrolet Impala: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 505 safety complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved September 7, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

505
Complaints
2
Recalls

Complaints for this vehicle report 22 crashes, 5 fires, 25 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Brakes & stability leads the complaint list, cited in 161 of 505 complaints, followed by Engine & cooling.
  2. Stalling is a recurring theme. 40 of the 505 reports describe the engine stalling — many while driving.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2011 Chevrolet Impala, here is how reports break down by system.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 505 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Brakes & stability
161
Engine & cooling
134
Electrical
95
Body & structure
85
Speed control
69
Power train / transmission
64
Other / unspecified
53
Airbags & restraints
41

"Brake assist, traction control, stablitrack, and ABS lights continually coming on. When breaking while making a turn the breaks slip or give and then suddenly grab hold causing a grinding sound. Car wobbles while these lights are on causing a noticeable change in stability and control."

Owner complaint filed July 2021 · Steering,Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes · NHTSA ODI 11423489

"2011 Chevrolet Impala. Consumer writes in regard to illuminated ABS light. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE ASSIST, STABILITRAK, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOBBLES."

Owner complaint filed May 2021 · Service Brakes, Air · NHTSA ODI 11417552

When complaints were filed

Complaint filings for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala over time:

Complaints filed per year — 2011 Chevrolet Impala
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
4
48
39
44
118
58
45
32
44
27
21
12
5
6
2
101112131415161718192021222324
2026 is a partial year (through September 7, 2026).

How the 2011 compares with other model years

Across the Chevrolet Impala model years we track, the 2014 has the most complaints on file (633); the 2011 ranks 2 of 3.

Total complaints by model year — Chevrolet Impala
All complaints on file per model year, as of September 7, 2026
441
2011
505
633
Older model years have had more time on the road to accumulate complaints — compare adjacent years, not endpoints.

Recall history: 2 recalls

2 recalls apply to some or all 2011 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Aug 201212V-377
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm

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.

Jun 201414V-355
Electrical System:Ignition

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 m…

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have?

As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 505 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA. The most-reported system is brakes & stability.

How many recalls does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have?

The 2011 Chevrolet Impala has 2 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.