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 5 of 21

Apr 24, 2018WheelsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

WHEN COMING TO A STOP MY ABS SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE BRAKE LIGHTS ALL COME ON THEN MY 2011 HESITATION TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. EVEN IF I GO SLOW OR JUST STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. IT PUSHES MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. A CRANKING NOISE SOUND. I HAVE GOTTEN BRAKE, TIRE RODS, ROADERS AND NEW TIRES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THIS HAPPENS SPECIFICALLY WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN HAVING TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I ALMOST CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. MIND YOU MY CAR ONLY HAS 65000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS JUST TOO SOON.

NHTSA ODI 11089813

Apr 23, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

4T65E TRANSMISSION. I STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND GO TAKE OFF AND MY CAR WON'T MOVE FORWARD. I COULD GET ALMOST HOME IN SECOND GEAR AND THEN NOTHING AT ALL WOULD WORK TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD. I HAD REVERSE AND STILL DO BUT I CANNOT MOVE FORWARD IN ANY GEAR. CODE P1811. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPEN THERE WAS A PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS JUST LYING THERE ABOUT AN INCH LONG. HE SAID IT WAS A MISSING APPLY LUG THAT BROKE OFF ONE OF THE APPLY BANDS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR HAVE A COMPLETE REBUILD. I JUST THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 7 YEARS. AND I READ THIS IS COMMON FOR THAT TRANSMISSION BUT IT HAPPENS MORE IN 2000-2002 MODELS.....BUT I GUESS IT HAPPENS WITH THE NEWER ONES ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11089547

Apr 10, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP THE CAR DOESNT WANT TO GO THEN ALL OF S SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF JERKING MY HEAD BACKWARDS.A TRANSMISSION COMPANY DIAGNOSED IT AS A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TO GO BACK AS FAR AS 2004. IM ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOT WANTING TO LURCH INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF SAID SEAL WITH A LARGER ONE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT 95000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 11084432

Apr 9, 2018

P0128 CODE. ENGINE HOT A/C OFF LIGHT ON DASH HEAT GUAGE DROPS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND AC DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE REPLACED THERMOSTAT TWICE AND ECT SENSOR ONCE PLEASE ADVISE. THERMOSTAT RELACEMENT GAVE ME APROX 200 MILES EACH TIME, ECT SENSOR REPLACEMENT APROX 50 MILES. ALL DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN TOWN. PLEASE ADVISE!!

NHTSA ODI 11083965

Mar 26, 2018Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE CHECK ENGINE AND STABILITRAK LIGHT HAS COME ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. I AM NOW AT THE POINT OF DESPERATION AS THIS MORNING, WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF BUT PROCEEDED TO ROLL EVEN WITH ME ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON BRAKES. I HAVE READ IN SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS, INCLUDING SOMEONE CRASHING INTO A LIGHT POLE. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT CAN BE DONE, AS I NOW FEAR FOR MY LIFE WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11081186

Mar 26, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL? I SEE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR GM VEHICLES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT GM JUST DOESN'T CARE ENOUGH AFTER THE SALE. I JUST BOUGHT 2011 IMPALA AND NOW THE STABALITRACK SERVICE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT WILL DO THIS FOR NO APPARENT REASON BUT HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN ACCELERATING. USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON LEVEL ROAD AND DASH WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THROWS CAR OUT OF CRUISE, DECELERATING WHILE GAGES FLIP AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE. POWER LOSS AND LACK OF ACCELERATION ARE DEFINITELY SAFETY ISSUES. PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO MICHIGAN HIGHWAY AND I GET HALFWAY ACROSS HIGHWAY AND CAR STOPS. THIS HIGHWAY IS 55 MPG AND WHILE I WOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO CROSS THE LANE, CAR LOOSES ALL POWER. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET GIVES NO HELP FOR A FIX. I TURNED THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL OFF, BUT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THERE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER GARAGE ONLY TO GET CHARGED EXORBITANT PRICES FOR "POSSIBLE" THAT DO NOT SEEM TO HELP. GM SHOULD GET THIS FIGURED OUT AND NOT LET EVERY DEALER GARAGE DO THEIR OWN GUESSING ON WHAT WILL FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT IS NOT LIMITED TO SINGLE MODEL OR YEAR BUT SPANS MANY YEARS WITH MANY MODELS. MY FIRST VEHICLE WAS A GM BUT THIS MAY BE MY LAST GM. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A DATE BELOW BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND GETTING STEADILY WORSE. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BUT NOBODY CAN GIVE ME ANY USEFUL ANSWERS

NHTSA ODI 11081263

Mar 22, 2018

WHILE ACCELERATING, AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WERE APPLIES AND ENGINE FOUGHT THE BRAKES UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR STOPPED. ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV HIGH AND I CALLED 911. POLICE DISPATCHER ADVISED TO TURN OFF CAR IN DRIVE. POLICE ARRIVED AND SAW THAT THERE WAS NO FLOOR MATS OVER THE PEDALS. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, POLICE AND I HEARD A SNAP UNDER THE DASH. AT THAT TIME WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE SOUND WAS. I SUBSEQUENT STARTED THE CAR AND IT IDLED PERFECTLY. I LATER FIGURED THAT THE SNAP SOUND WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE OUTWARD POSITION. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE THAT ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, DURING THE ORDEAL.

NHTSA ODI 11080982

Mar 14, 2018Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL. SPENT $300 TO GET THE GAS PEDAL SENSOR REPLACED 4 DAYS AGO AND ITS DOING IT AGAIN. CAR LOSES POWER (I WAS I-65 GOING ABOUT 60 MPH). SHIFTS HARD, TOO.

NHTSA ODI 11079432

Mar 7, 2018Suspension

I READ MY CAR HAS A RECALL ABOUT THE FRONT TIRES SUSPENSION AND LATELY, I BEEN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE ON MY FRONT TIRES WHEN I'M DRIVING OR TURN THE CORNERS OF SIDE STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11076695

Feb 22, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WILL BE DRIVING, SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME AND SAY "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" "SERVICE STABILITRACK". THE ENGINE FASTLY REDUCES SPEED AND I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11074325

Feb 20, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CHEVY SAYS STABILIZE TRACK THEN ENGINE POWER SLOWS IT'S VERY DANGEROUS SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11073948

Feb 18, 2018Wheels

'SERVICE STABILITRAK' 'SERVICE TRACTION' 'SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM' WARNINGS ALERTING ONLY WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. ONLY LUMINATES DURING TURN, THEN TURNS OFF. ALERTS SHOW ON ALL TYPES OF ROADS AND AT ALL SPEEDS. NO CODES PULLED FROM COMPUTER.

NHTSA ODI 11073486

Feb 12, 2018AirbagsSeatsCrash1 injury

"TAKATA RECALL" VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HIT HEAD ON. AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED ADDITIONALLY THE BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT

NHTSA ODI 11072442

Feb 10, 2018Steering

HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO DUE TO IT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS STILL SLOPPY AND CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. WELL COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TIE ROD ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. SO A YEAR LATER I DECIDED TO HAVE THE TIE ROD REPLACED SO IT WOULD DRIVE STRAIGHT AND TRUE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAD A CRACK ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH. I HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING IN THAT VEHICLE TO CAUSE A CRACK IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37000 MILES ON IT. I KNOW THE POLICE EDITION HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL IMPALAS FROM 2011 TO AT LEAST INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO FIND OUT HOW MANY 2011 IMPALAS HAD THIS SAME DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11072115

Feb 7, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

BOUGHT 2011 IMPALA LT 2 WEEKS AGO, FIRST TIME DRIVING TO WORK ON FREEWAY - ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MESSAGE COMES UP - ENGINE POWER LOSS, STABILITAK TRACTION CONTROL. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN!! ALMOST GOT HIT BY SEMI . NO ONE HAS ANY ANSWERS!?

NHTSA ODI 11067391

Jan 27, 2018

PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATOR--MAKES LOUD CLICKING NOISE. DON'T KNOW WHICH ACTUATOR IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IT IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. LASTS FROM A MINUTE TO 3 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11065406

Jan 21, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, ONCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND AGAIN TODAY, MY 2011 CHEV IMPALA LTZ DISPLAYED A SERIES OF ROTATING ALERT MESSAGES -- 1. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL 2. SERVICE STABILITRAK 3. ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON AN OPEN ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY AND SLOWED DOWN AND THE ABOVE 3 MESSAGES REPEATEDLY DISPLAYED ONE AFTER THE OTHER. ALSO 2 YELLOW LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND THEN REMAINED ON -- THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT (I THINK). WHEN I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE CHEV DEALERSHIP A YEAR AGO, I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. (AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF IT ISN'T BROKEN WHEN I TAKE IT IN, THE SERVICE DEPT WOULD MOST CHALLENGED TO FIX IT.) TODAY, WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, WAITED A MOMENT AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THE SAME 3 MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED WITH THE TWO YELLOW LIGHTS STAYING ON. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR 3 OR 4 HOURS LATER, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS DISPLAYED. THE 3 REFERENCED ALERTS WERE NOT DISPLAYED. I AM GETTING READY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WITH THIS PROBLEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE AS TO HOW TO PROCEED?

NHTSA ODI 11063959

Dec 25, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine

WHEN TAKING LEFT TURNS THE CAR MAKES A LOUD GRIND NOISE THEN THE STABILITY CONTROLL WILL TURN ON. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STABILITY CONTROLL LIGHT POPPED ON WHILE DRIVING WHILE ALSO HAVING ENGINE POWER REDUCED WHICH THEN APPLIED MY BRAKES CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GO OFF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11056328

Nov 6, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A REDUCED POWER READING IN MY CAR. IT COMES AND GOES AT WILL ALONG WITH A STABLITRACK WARNING. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS AND THE POSITION SENSOR TO NO AVAIL. THIS CAN HAPPEN DRIVING OR JUST GOING FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS.

NHTSA ODI 11043646

Oct 26, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)

IT WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY BACK HOME. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH SAID REDUCING ENGINE POWER BUT THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON SO WHEN I GOT HOME I PARK THE CAR AND LEFT IT ALONE THAT DAY..THE NEXT DAY I TURN THE CAR ON AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROLL LIGHT IS ON I DRIVE THE CAR IT FEELS LIKE IF THE BRAKES ARE ON I HEAR A NOISE OUTSIDE THE CAR SO I TAKE IT TO A NEAR SHOP AND THEY TELL ME ITS A BAD WHEEL ROUTER SO I CHAGE IT FOR 180 AND IT WASNT THAT SO I SEE ALOT OF IMPALAS DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS

NHTSA ODI 11039966

Oct 13, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, STABILITRAC LIGHT, AND ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO START JERKING AND SHIFTING HARD, ALSO ENGINE RUNNING LIKE IT HAS A MISFIRE NOW. BEFORE THIS BEGAN THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND SHIFTING PERFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11033299

Oct 5, 2017AirbagsSeats

WELL I HAVE NOT TO MANY COMPLAINTS AS I DO MY OWN MAINTENANCE BUT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED AT 32000 MILES AT 83000 DRIVER SEAT HEATER UNION AND NOW AT 114764 MILES SERVICE AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ON DISPLAY AND LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. IT STARTED WHEN CAR WAS TURNED ON SEPT 30 2017 IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ODI 11031974

Oct 3, 2017Airbags

MU AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. REPLACED SENSORS AND ATILL HAVEN'T FIXED2

NHTSA ODI 11031620

Aug 30, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

JUNE 8 2013: 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 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 IN AND TAKE A LOOK... TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FINE... NOTHING POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. NOTHING! THE INDICATORS FOR TIRES, OIL, ETC WERE SHOWING INFO, BUT NOTHING TO INDICATE IT HAD DIED!! DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP - HAD JUST BOUGHT IT IN JULY 2012. 11 MONTHS LATER, THIS?!?!? THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD, EVEN WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER OLLLLLLDER CARS, THIS WAS THE WORST. THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED IN THE GM PEOPLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.THEIR AUTO TRANS CONCERN: CUSTOMER STATES TOWED IN TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE AT TIME OF WRITE UP REVERSE AND FORWARD WORKING INPUT AND REACTION CARRIER EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE METAL IN TORQUE CONVERTER., VALVE BODY, BURNT CLUTCHES CALL TAC CASE #71-1194752825 PRIVE COMP ADVISED TO REPLACE TRANS DUE TO COST WITH SRTA. ORD SERIAL #619ASBWJR6J PRELACW TIH SRTA FLUSH CODE 693FFEE5 THEY REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY... TOTAL COST WAS $4400 AUG. 29, 2017. THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY, JUST GOT OFF, WHILE IN MOTION, THERE WAS SOME REALLY ROUGH VIBRATION. COULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 25 MPH. NO LIGHT INDICATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT TELLS ME IF FLAT TIRE, BLINKER IS ON, THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE, ETC ETC, BUT NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED, BUT WE SMELLED VINEGAR EVERY TIME WE STARTED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS STRAIGHT. WE NOTICED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING, IT'S OKAY, BUT WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS ON THE FREEWAY, IT "SHUDDERS."

NHTSA ODI 11020489

Aug 28, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD REVERSED THE VEHICLE AND THEN SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION AND WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO CONTACTED HIS LOCAL DEALER ( PLATINUM CHEVROLET: 3001 CORBY AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA, 95407) WHERE HE INQUIRED TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE UNDER CASE NUMBER: 83215496968, AND STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,500.

NHTSA ODI 11020035

← NewerOlder →

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 →