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)

132 of 505 complaints match · Electronic Stability Control (esc) · clear filters · page 4 of 6

Aug 17, 2015SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 70MPH WHEN MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE STATING THE STABLITRAK IS ON AND THE ENGINE IS REDUCING SPEED! ACCELERATION PEDAL WOULDN'T DO ITS JOB

NHTSA ODI 10749086

Aug 11, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, AS I ATTEMPT TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO DRIVE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR WILL STALL FOR A SECOND, MAKE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WHINE, AND THEN JUMP FORWARD LIKE IT'S HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE DOES THIS EVERY SO OFTEN, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. I'VE TAKEN IT INTO CAR X, MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, AND ANOTHER LOCAL GOODYEAR TIRES DEALER, BUT NOBODY HAS ANY IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HOOKED UP TO A COMPUTER AND TECHNICIANS HAVE LOOKED AT IT, BUT JUST SCRATCH THEIR HEADS. THERE IS EVEN A FORUM ONLINE REGARDING THIS HAPPENING WITH OTHER CHEVY IMPALA OWNERS [XXX] AND OWNERS SEEM TO PUT LOTS OF MONEY INTO THE ISSUE BUT WITH NO RESOLVE. ** THE ISSUE SEEMS TO REMEDY ITSELF WHEN I TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL. ** THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS WHERE I'LL BE PULLING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE CAR WILL STALL AND I'LL FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO BE HIT BECAUSE THE CAR "DIES" FOR A SECOND. I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *AN

NHTSA ODI 10747715

Jun 2, 2015Electronic Stability Control (esc)

ON THE MORNING OF TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2015 JUST AFTER 10AM I WAS LEAVING MY APARTMENT MANAGERS OFFICE AND WHEN I WAS GOING IN REVERSE AND THEN TO DRIVE AND TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR THE IMPALA BEGAN TO SHAKE AND ON THE DASHBOARD IT SAID THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO HALF AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITRAK. WHEN I PARKED IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING, I TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WAS STILL SHAKING/ IDLING ROUGH AND ON THE DASHBOARD IS CONTINUED TO READ, "ENGINE POWER REDUCED BY HALF" AND MENTIONED STABILITRAK. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ON DURING THIS TIME. I LEFT THE CAR AND RETURNED 10 MINUTES LATER AND ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND WHILE IT NO LONGER IDLED ROUGHLY, IT STILL HAD STIBILITRAK ON THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ODI 10722933

May 29, 2015Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WE OWN BOTH A 2011 AND A 2013 CHEVY IMPALA. BOTH VEHICLES GRIND AND HESITATE. THEY BOTH ACT THIS WAY WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT, BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE AND ANY OTHER TIME IT FEELS NECESSARY TO DO SO. EXCEPT WHILE BEING CHECKED BY THE MECHANIC. WE OWNED A 2007 IMPALA THAT DID THE SAME THING. OUR REMEDY, PUSH THE TRACTION CONTROL BUTTON TO THE "OFF" POSITION. STOPPED MAKING THE NOISE AND NO LONGER HESITATES AFTER PUTTING IT IN DRIVE. OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO DO THIS EACH AND EVERY TIME WE GET IN THE CAR. NO MORE BUYING CHEVY'S FOR US.

NHTSA ODI 10722114

May 22, 2015Electronic Stability Control (esc)2 injuries

DRIVING ALONG AND CAR JUST ACCELERATED AND COULD NOT GET IT TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE REDUCE POWER, LOW ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILITY TRAK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO STOP OR AT LEAST SLOW DOWN BUT THE CAR SEEMS AS IF IT WAS GETTING FASTING THEN IT MADE A JERK AND I BUMPED MY HEAD AGAINST THE WINDOW, AND MY FOOT GOT STUCK UNDER THE PEDAL AND KNEE GOT JAMMED . MY MOM GOT HURT ALSO AND BEING JERKED BACK AND FORTH.

NHTSA ODI 10720990

Mar 17, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED THE IMPALA ON JUNE 16, 2014, THERE WAS SOME POPPING NOISE FROM THE DASH BOARD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE SALE'S MANAGER HAD ME BRING THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITHIN 2-3 DAYS. I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE ACTUATOR SENSOR. IN JANUARY 2015 THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY IT WAS UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. NOW 8 MONTHS LATER TO THE DATE (MARCH 12, 2015), THE STABILIZER TRACK-ENGINE REDUCE POWER LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME. I CAME TO A STOP. CUT THE CAR OFF FOR 15-20 MINUTES ONLY FOR THE LIGHT TO REAPPEAR AFTER MOMENTS OF DRIVING. I GOT TO WORK. THE CAR SAT FOR 9 HOURS AND STILL THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING THE CAR. I FOUND OUT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT WANT TO COVER IT. I AM AT MY WITS END AND NOW THE FINANCE COMPANY WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO PAY MY MONTHLY CAR NOTE FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT TOTALLY DRIVABLE...WHY??? GM SHOULD PAY!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10694903

Feb 16, 2015SteeringSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING AT APPROX 35 MPH, MY CAR SHOWED SERVICE STABILITRACK / SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL / VEHICLE IN REDUCED POWER. I DID HAVE REDUCED POWER, COULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 15 OR 20 MPH. I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER BLOCK AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE GOING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE,, WHICH CAUSE STEERING TO BECOME VERY HARD TO USE ALONG WITH LITTLE TO NO BRAKING, I ENDED UP GOING THRU A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GRADE BECAUSE OF LACK OF BRAKING POWER, LUCKILY NO VEHICLES WERE COMING, I GOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED, AND LOOKED AT THE DISPLAY, IT SAID IGNITION DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE. BY THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER SHUT DOWN MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, IF IT FINDS AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE, IT SHOULD JUST DISABLE THE THROTTLE SO I CAN STEER AND BRAKE WITHOUT PROBLEM. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE A FEW TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS, THE 4TH TIME I TRIED THE VEHICLE DID START BACK UP AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT WAS DID NOT SEEM TO BE RUNNING RIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683685

Feb 6, 2015Electronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING ON 494E IN BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA DURING RUSH HOUR AND SNOWING. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN VERY FAST AND LOST POWER.THE FOLLOWING MSG CAME UP SERVICE STABILTRAK, REDUCING ENGINE POWER.THE CAR FELT LIKE IT LOST A COUPLE OF CYCLINDERS AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP EASILY. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING THE STABILTRAK MSG WAS GONE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED WORKING AGAIN.FEW DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. CHEVY GARAGE NOT SURE OF PROBLEM WANTS CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I HAVE HEARD MAY BE THROTTLE BODY NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10681742

Jan 24, 2015Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I TURNED MY CAR ON TO LET IT WARM UP AFTER WORK, THEN STARTED DRIVING HOME. THEN SOME LIGHTS POPPED ON. IT SAID SERVICE STABILITITRAK. IT SAID THAT IT WAS REDUCING ENGINE POWER. SERVICE CONTROL SOON. IT WAS VERY SCARY DRIVING HOME. THE CAR WOULD TAKE OFF BY ITSELF AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS STALLING OUT. ITS A FAIRLY NEWER CAR 2011, I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10678690

Jan 18, 2015Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A CURVY RIVER ROAD MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT , MY TRACTION CONTROL AND THE STABILIZE LIGHT CAME OUT. THEN THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER. BARELY MADE IT HOME. WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES RESTATED THE CAR AND IT RAN NORMAL BUT STILL FEEL THE CAR HESITATE. EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT I WORRY THAT ITS CONING TO DO IT AGAIN. I LIVE IN THE PART OF THE COUNTY THAT GETS SNOW AND AM WORRIED ITS GOING TO HAPPEN DURING A STORM, THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676338

Dec 16, 2014SuspensionEquipment Adaptive/mobilityElectronic Stability Control (esc)

IN OCTOBER I TOOK MY CAR TO SANDY SANSING IN PENSACOLA FL THE REPLACE THE KEYPAD TO MY CAR, BUT NOW WHEN YOU USE THE KEYPAD IT START TO TICKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WE TIME IT. THE TICKING LAST ABOUT 60 SECONDS AND THEN IT STOP WHEN EVER YOU USE THE KEY PAD TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE CAR IT MAKE THAT TICKING SOUND. IT THERE ANY THING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10664630

Oct 20, 2014Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10648922

Sep 6, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesFire

DEC 2013 VEHICLE HIT POT HOLE WHILE BRAKING AT APPROACHING INTERSECTION, AFTER THAT WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ABS BRAKES/TRACT CONTROL/STAB CONTROL, I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, THEN SHUT DOWN. SINCE THEN TEMP GAUGE WENT BAD N WAS REPLACED. THE 3 ABOVE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, WORSE WHEN IT RAINED. AT TAKE OFFS N TURNS CAR WOULD JAR N ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD PULSATE(GRABS). HUB/SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THIS DID NOT HELP. ACCESSORY OUTLETS, WHEN CONTAINED W A CHARGER, DOESN'T MAINTAIN CONTACT W POWER SOURCE (SUCH AS DISCONNECTION/LOOSE CONNECTION), CAUSING POWER SURGE RESULTING IN 2 IPHONES TO HAVE BAD AUX PORTS. MAY 2014 BLOWER MOTOR STARTED INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING FOR SECONDS, THEN MINUTES UNTIL TODAY SEPT 6TH, 2014 WHEN SOMETHING UNDER-DASH (NEAR BLOWER MOTOR) OVERHEATED FILLING CAR WITH SMOKE, THEN CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE MOVING ONCE AGAIN, CAR SMELLS AWFUL FROM THE BURNING! CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON AND NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN! SEEMS LIKE AUXILIARY ELECT FUSE BOX(PASSENGER RT FOOT BOARD), AND HARNESS IS SHOT AS WELL AS WHICHEVER HARNESS IS SENDING POWER TO SPEED SENSOR, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS I COULD NOT MENTION (PROBLEMS/DEFECTS) DUE TO SO MANY OTHER ISSUES W THIS 2011 IMPALA WHICH IS NOW WORTH 7000 AS TRADE AT CHEVY, I PAID 13500 ON OCT14, 2014! I'VE CHECKED SEVERAL GROUND CONNECTS N THEY SEEM OKAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631294

Jul 29, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE SERVICE STABILITY PACK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAME ON. THE CAR THEN JERKED, AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING, AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER. THERE WERE NO WET NOR ROAD HAZARD CONDITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. FURTHERMORE, I WAS DRIVING AT 60MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED IN MODERATE TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE ISSUE, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE GAS PEDAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN MY VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES. THIS ISSUES NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE IMPALA. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE AN INJURY OR FATALITY FOR A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. MOREOVER, ANY VEHICLE THAT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BECAUSE OF AN ISSUES WITH THROTTLE BODY/GAS PEDAL NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10617125

Jul 19, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

FIRST TIME I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE LEFT TURN WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN MESSAGE TO CHECK STABILIY TRAC AND THEN TRACTION CONTROL CAR LOST POWER WHILE MAKING TURN AND JERKED .I GOT THE CAR BACK HOME BY DRIVING AT LOW SPEED HAD TO SHUT OFF AND START SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD CLEAR AFTER IT CLEARED DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT TEN MILES AT LOW SPEED AS SOON AS I GOT UP TO50 MPH ENGINE LITE CAME ON STARTED JERKING AND LOST POWER AGAIN AGAIN MESSAGE THE SAME ONLY NOW ALL MESSAGES ARE MESSED UP EVERYTHING IS FOLLOWED BY CAL I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS .ONLY HAD THE CAR ONE MONTH BOUGHT IT ON 6/16/2014 FIRST PROBLEM HAPPENED ON 7/16/2014 SECOND 7/19/2014. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10614713

Jul 14, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-74 OUTSIDE PEORIA IL AND THE STABILITRAC POWER REDUCED POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND 3 SECONDS LATER IT STATED THE ANTI-THEFT ENGAGED AND SHUT MY CAR OFF. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY MULTIPLE CARS ON THE INTERSTATE. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I EMAILED GM AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME YET. I EMAILED THEM THE SAME DAY IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10610376

Jun 28, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE SERVICE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNINGS CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER GOING AROUND A CURVE. I TEMPORARILY LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE NEARLY CAUSING ME TO GET REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY SLUGGISH AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. I AM PLANNING TO GET THIS SERVICED ASAP. AFTER READING MANY FORUM POSTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE, I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW RAMPANT OF A PROBLEM THIS AND THAT IT IS USUALLY CAUSED BY A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY THAT ISN'T COVERED IN THE 100K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ BELIEVE THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY SOMEONE COULD VERY EASILY BE KILLED IF THEIR CAR LOSES POWER DUE TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10606682

Jun 14, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MESSAGE PANEL SAID THAT THE STABILITRAC NEEDED SERVICE AND THAT ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL NEEDED SERVICE. I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE AND FIXED IT. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY WORSE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. THE CAR IS JERKING AND I AM AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE THIS. THERE REALLY NEEDS GO BE SOMETHING DONE TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10598262

Jun 4, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND THE FRONT END HESITATED THEN TOOK OFF NORMALLY. I GOT ON A HIGHWAY, DROVE 30 MILES AND AS I WAS DECELERATING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE TO SERVICE MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED. I LOOKED UP THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS MANY MODELS AND NUMEROUS MODEL YEARS. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO LOG THE COMPLAINT . *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596047

May 16, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60MPH AND MY DASH SHOWED A MESSAGE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION STATION, SERVICE STABILITRAK. THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT A CAR HAD TO SWERVE AROUND ME. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA. THIS HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND I SEE A LOT OF IMPALAS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588829

May 13, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT AND I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE, I HAD BEEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I DROVE THE CAR AT THE SPEED WHICH IT PERMITTED WITH MY FOUR-WAY BLINKERS ON UNTIL I ARRIVED HOME. IT WAS AT NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO WHERE ELSE TO GO. THE NEXT DAY, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT, BUT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I HAD PURCHASED IT, USED. THAT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE PROBLEM, AND TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET FRANCHISE WHERE IT WAS "REPAIRED" AND RETURNED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY I COULD NOT ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. THIS TIME, AS IT HAPPENED DURING THE DAY, I AGAIN TOOK IT TO MY DEALER. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO WHOM HE HAD TAKEN THE CAR THE FIRST TIME. THAT DEALER HAD IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THE FACTORY DIRECTLY FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, . TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RE-OCCURRENCE OF THIS, NOR ANY OTHER PROBLEM. THE FIRST VISIT FOR REPAIR COST ABOUT $200 AND THE SECOND $500. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS DIRECTLY AND THEY AGREED TO REFUND $250 EARLIER THIS YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588019

May 7, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE ON FREEWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON AND DISPLAY READ "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK" APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY WIFE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO USED AND IT HAS GONE OFF MULTIPLE TIMES. THE ENGINE SHIFTS GEARS VERY ROUGH AND POWER IS LOST. SCHEDULED TO GO TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW BUT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL COST ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586914

May 4, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

CRANKED UP THE CAR TO GO HOME. STABILITY LIGHT AND "ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE PASSING A TRUCK THE ENGINE DIED. DISPLAY CENTER INDICATED SERVICE STABILITY TRACK AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER. COASTED OVER TO RT. SHOULDER. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 30 SEC. CRANKED IT UP AND MADE IT HOME. TROUBLE CODE IS P2138 WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR D/E VOLTAGE. WILL TAKE TO DEALER IN AM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586464

Apr 30, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN CHECK ENGINE, STABILITRAK PROBLEM, REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON MESSAGE PORTION OF DASH.DROVE UNDER REDUCED POWER, MAX 30 MPH, TO DEALER, APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES. LEFT CAR WITH DEALER FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS. INVOICE FROM DEALER SAID, DIAGNOSE CODE P2135, TRACE TO THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR-BULLETIN REPLACED SENSOR ASSEMBLY, GM 19300180 SENSOR KIT, NO CHARGE TO ME UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. TODAY, APRIL 30, 2014, SAME WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, STABILITRAK PROBLEM, REDUCED POWER, WHEN BACKING OUT OF SAME GARAGE. PARKED CAR BACK IN GARAGE AND CALLED DEALER, HAVE APPOINTMENT TOMORROW. HOPE THEY CAN PERMANENTLY FIX PROBLEM AS DRIVING UNDER REDUCED POWER IS DANGEROUS AND CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10585778

Apr 20, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN "REDUCED ENGINE POWER, ENGINE LIGHT,ELECTRONIC STABILI TREK" WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. MY RPM WAS RACING UPWARDS BUT MY ENGINE NEVER RAN HOT. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE WARNINGS AND LOST OF ACCELERATION. I GOT HOME AND CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO ADVISED ME OF NO RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM AND CONNECTED ME TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT. RESEARCHING THE CAR MALFUNCTION, I FOUND NUMEROUS POSTINGS ABOUT THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID I NEEDED A APP SENSOR / PEDAL WHICH IS A FACTORY ONLY PART. I OK'D THE SERVICE WORK. THE NEXT DAY (APRIL 18TH,2014) THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AND THE CAR WAS HESITATING AGAIN, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP AT 2:35 AND SPOKE WITH MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED MY CAR AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC ASKED ME IF THE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON I REPLIED NO AND HE STATED THE MECHANICS ARE LEAVING IN HOUR. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE CAR UNTIL MONDAY, HE REPLIED YES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10583737

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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 →