Home · 2011 Chevrolet Impala Eco Eassist · Complaints

What 505 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala Eco Eassist

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (505)Crash / fire / injury (30)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (132)Engine (125)Electrical system (95)Seats (77)Speed control (69)Transmission & drivetrain (64)Brakes (38)Airbags (37)Steering (35)Visibility & wipers (28)

Newest first · 505 complaints · page 4 of 21

Dec 5, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

ONE MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER I STARTED GETTING SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ABS LIGHTS WITH REDUCED POWER. IT HAS ALMOST 87K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11156062

Nov 22, 2018Steering

WHEN BRAKING THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND IS VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN TURNING

NHTSA ODI 11153206

Nov 19, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER TURNING AND BACKING OUT OF A STORE PARKING LOT, I PUT MY CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. ABOUT FIVE OR TEN FEET LATER MY FINAL DRIVE SHATTERED AND MY VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY IMMOBILE. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR A CROWDED STREET. FOR MY TRANSMISSION TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT A MEAGER 76,000 MILES IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. TRANSMISSION WAS CARED FOR ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11152565

Nov 2, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING THE STABILITRAK LIGHT REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY CAR SLOWS DOWN AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD STALL WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS AND THE GAS PEDAL WOULD SOMETIMES SHAKE. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO THE STABILITRAK LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND AFTER A DAY THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AS WELL. WHENEVER I TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND FIXED THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING OFTEN EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND FRIGHTENS ME WITH HOPES THAT IT DOES NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD SERIOUSLY INJURE MYSELF OR OTHERS, OR CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11145048

Oct 23, 2018

DOOR SYSTEM ON THE CAR HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE I HAVE TO TAKE THE DOOR APART AND FIX IT. IT'S NOT ALL 3 DOORS IT'S JUST ONE DOOR. I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY NOT THINK THIS IS A SAFETY THING. BUT I'M A FIREFIGHTER AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT IF I HAD SOMEONE IN THE BACK SEAT AND I GET IN A CRASH. HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSE TO GET OUT? SINCE I HAVE A CAR SEAT ON THE OTHER SIDE. ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR CATCHES FIRE. I GUESS SOMEONE DYING WILL HAVE TO CHANGED THAT.

NHTSA ODI 11142297

Oct 22, 2018Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. ALSO, THE STABILIZER TRACK AND ENGINE SERVICE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED AS IT REGAINED SOME POWER, BUT THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY BE DRIVEN TO ITS DESTINATION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI 11141765

Oct 16, 2018Electrical system

THIS VEHICLE IS UNDER ACTIVE RECALL. I HAVE SOLD (TRADED-IN,) THE VEHICLE TO A LICENSED CAR DEALER. I INFORMED THE BUYER VERBALLY OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I WISH TO BE CERTAIN GM IS AWARE OF THE SALE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GM WEBSITE RECALL SECTION HAS NO WAY FOR ME TO REGISTER THE SALE, AND THEREFORE THERE MAY BE A RISK TO THE EVENTUAL BUYER OF THE CAR, SHOULD THE SELLER FAIL TO MENTION TO THE BUYER/END-USER THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL. GM IS DERELICT IN NOT HAVING A WAY FOR RECALLED VEHICLE SELLERS TO SIMPLY REGISTER THE SALE WITH THE NEW OWNER'S INFORMATION. THE GM RECALL SITE ALSO DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY EMAILS OR ANY OTHER ONLINE CONTACT. CALLING GM VIA TELEPHONE RESULTS IN TRANSFERS, DELAYS, AND RECORDINGS.

NHTSA ODI 11140654

Oct 16, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I KEEP GETTING ERRORS OF CHECK STABILITRAK ENGINE POWER REDUCED I HAVE CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY

NHTSA ODI 11140669

Oct 14, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

UPON STARTING STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE. REDUSED ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND CAR RAN ROUGH. REATART AND CAR RUNS BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SATYS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11140240

Oct 10, 2018Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11139414

Sep 17, 2018Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY A POLICE TROOPER THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, IT CONTINUED TO FAIL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 11129962

Aug 22, 2018Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK? OK...HERE'S WHAT I THINK. I THINK THAT IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION AND PERSONALLY I THINK IT'S ILLEGAL THAT GM CAN GET AWAY WITH NOT HAVING TO PUT OUT A RECALL FOR THE "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" ISSUE THAT JUST ABOUT EVERY MAKE AND MODEL OF GM VEHICLES HAVE. IT'S NOT ONLY TIME CONSUMING TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FIX WOULD BE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME THING WRONG ON EACH VEHICLE (AND WHEN YOU DO HAVE IT FIXED IT DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG UNTIL THE "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" WARNING COMES BACK), IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE POWER IS REDUCED AND ACTUALLY TURNS THE CAR ENGINE OFF NO MATTER IF YOU'RE DRIVING OR NOT. IT SHUT MY 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA ENGINE OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THANK GOD THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM THIS WAS UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM. IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL THAT YOU PAY YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY FOR A VEHICLE AND IT NOT ONLY ISN'T WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE PAYING FOR BUT IT CAN ACTUALLY TAKE YOUR LIFE AND RUIN YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE GM'S BOTTOM LINE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR CUSTOMERS LIVES. I'VE FILLED A COMPLAINT ON THIS PROBLEM ALREADY AND IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE AND IT'S THE CAUSE OF GRIEF FOR MY FAMILY I WILL MAKE IT MY MISSION TO MAKE SURE GM NOT ONLY FIXES THEIR CRAPPY WORKMANSHIP BUT THAT THEY ALSO DIG INTO THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THE HEARTACHE AND GRIEF THEY HAVE CAUSED. IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE FIX FOR THEM AND THAT WOULD BE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND JUST FIX IT, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THEY CARE ENOUGH TO DO THAT. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY GUY, BUT AFTER THIS IMPALA I WILL NEVER OWN OR DRIVE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT FOR AS LONG AS I AM AROUND. THAT'S WHAT I THINK. SIGNED, CHEVY GUY FORCED TO NOT BE A CHEVY GUY

NHTSA ODI 11121777

Aug 21, 2018Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND A MESSAGE CAME UP SAYING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". IT WAS DURING RUSH HOUR AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

NHTSA ODI 11121315

Aug 20, 2018SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

SERVICE STABILITRAK SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ABS

NHTSA ODI 11121158

Aug 18, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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 ODI 11120834

Aug 8, 2018

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE STABILIZER BAR. OUR ENGINE POWERS DOWN IF THE WIRE BEHIND THE GAS PEDAL GETS LOOSE. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO MY HUSBAND CAR MORE THAN ONCE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11118650

Jul 24, 2018

IF IDLE OR RUNNING THE VEHICLE MAKES AN EXTREMELY LOUD TICKING NOSE. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT'S THE BLEND DOOR ACUATOR.

NHTSA ODI 11113454

Jun 27, 2018Speed control

I LEFT WORK TO GO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AT THE AIRPORT (ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY) BUT HEARD DINGING AND SAW THAT I WAS GETTING THE MESSAGE TO SERVICE STABILITRAK/TRACTION CONTROL AND THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, BUT I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME INSTEAD AND MY HUSBAND HAD TO LEAVE WORK TO PICK UP OUR DAUGHTER. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR SERVICE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM.

NHTSA ODI 11104198

Jun 3, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING IN CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.NO BRAKES, BRAKES OR STEERING,THANKS GOD THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI 11099372

May 24, 2018Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A FAILURE THAT SEEMED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION ADJUSTABLE LATERAL LINK CAME APART WITHOUT WARNING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE PART WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11097796

May 21, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON I-695 (IN BALTIMORE) WITH MY 3 DAUGHTERS I RECEIVED "SERVICE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED" MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRACKING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MESSAGES WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I WAS FRIGHTEN AND HOPEFUL THAT WE WOULD NOT ONLY MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION BUT THEN BACK HOME AGAIN. FORTUNATELY WE DID BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE A ONGOING ISSUES AND MAYBE COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH ONLY ONE SOURCE OF INCOME.

NHTSA ODI 11097026

May 21, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. POWER IS LOST. HAVE TO STOP, TURN CAR OFF AND TURN BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL STAYS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11097150

Apr 25, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO GEAR FROM STARTING IN DRIVE FROM A STOP . NOT ALL THE TIME BUT STILL HAPPENS .

NHTSA ODI 11090012

Apr 25, 2018Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR THREW MESSAGE SAYING REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK ALL AT ONCE. MY CAR WOULD NOT GO AND WAS LOSING SPEED WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF AT A HEAVILY TRAVELED PART OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND WORKED ON. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT IS POSSIBLY A BAD THROTTLE BODY. I HAVE HAD THIS SAME THING HAPPEN TWO OTHER TIMES WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR. I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE NOTED THAT THIS TIME IT LEFT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WENT FROM DOING THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 70 THEN IT GRADUALLY DECREASED IN SPEED UNTIL IT WOULD NO LONGER RUN AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11090033

Apr 25, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

SUDDEN DISPLAYED MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING: SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL , SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL , REDUCED ENGINE POWER. CAR WAS UNABLE TO GO AFTER STOP. PARKED THE CAR AND RESTARTED WITH JUST AN ENGINE LIGHT, BUT MESSAGES STARTED TO FLASH AGAIN. DID GET ME HOME.

NHTSA ODI 11090035

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Working with the data? Download all 505 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Chevrolet Impala Eco Eassist verdict →