What 505 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala Limited

REDUCED ENGINE SIGNAL CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER SERVICE TRACTION, BRAKES, STEERING, CAME ON THEN CAR SHUT OFF NO POWER TO ANYTHING. BRAKES, STEERING NOTHING WORKED. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO TRY A RESTART NOTHING. GOT CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP TOOK THE KEY OUT. THE DASH MADE A WEIRD NOISE ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING RESET. I PUT KEYS BACK IN TURNED THE KEY CAR STARTED NO PROBLEM ONLY THING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK VEHICLE HOME WENT BACK LATER THAT NIGHT. STARTED IT UP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ONCE AWEEK. 2ND ISSUE HEATER BLOWER GOING DOWN THE ROAD JUST SHUT OFF WEATHER -2 PLUS A WIND CHILL. HAD IT SERVICED THEY REPLACED A MODULE BLOWER RAN FINE FOR 4 DAYS, WEATHER ADVISORY WINDCHILL TEMP IS -10 45 MILES AWAY FROM HOME HEATER BLOWER NOT WORKING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683544

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD THE STABILITRAC LIGHT CAME, ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET VEHICLE HOME AS THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER, BARELY ENOUGH TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD.THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO PANIC AND CRASH MAY OCCUR. MY WIFE AND I OWN A COLLISION APPRAISAL BUSINESS AND HAVE PROCESSED APPROX 60,000+ CLAIMS FOR VARIOUS NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANIES. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS SAME CONDITION HAS POSSIBLY BEEN THE CAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE CLAIMS AS I THINK BACK ABOUT INSURED COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE ISSUES, LOSS OF ENG POWER AND NOW I SEE THAT SAME CONDITION AND ISSUE ON MY OWN VEHICLE. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FULLY CHECKED INTO AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10680737

MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT KEEPS COMING ACROSS THE DASH BOARD. IT SEEMS TO RESET ITSELF, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A TIME WHEN TURNING....MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND DIDN'T RESET FOR ABOUT A WEEK. IF THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM, THEN WHAT IS IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10651933

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE ABS AND THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 10648231

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE CONTACT MADE A TURN OR APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF THE SIGNAL FROM THE IGNITION TO THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 10640568

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

COMING OFF OF A FREEWAY, THE EXIT IS A WIDE CURVE. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN (GOING TOWARD THE RIGHT) THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE REST OF THE CURVE AND PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE MUSCLING CAUSED MINOR INJURY TO LEFT SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621703

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN A DODGE RAM 5500 MADE AN IMPROMTU STOP AND MY CAR AN IMPALA 2011 DIDN'T STOP THEREFORE I CRASHED BEHIND THE DODGE RAM 5500. THE IMPALA WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THE DODGE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DAMAGE AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604430

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCE WARNING MESSAGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. KLMJ

NHTSA ODI 10586102

THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR (PAGE 5-17 IN MY MANUAL) CAME ON AND THE MESSAGE WAS TO PREVENT SERIOUS DAMAGES, GO TO YOUR SERVICE STATION IMMEDIATELY. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE, AND MADE MY WAY TO THE INTERSTATE HEADING TO OUR SERVICE STATION WHEN MY CAR STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 485 ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY MAYBE ( ABOUT 7 MILES FROM HOME AND OUR SERVICE STATION). I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR HWY THAT WAS/IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WHEN I FELT SOMETHING UNUSUAL. I GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AS HARD AS I COULD BETWEEN THE CARS AND JUST MADE IT TO THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THIS MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE STEERING, A/C AND BRAKES WERE GONE AND THEN I REALIZED IF I DID NOTHING I WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER BY THE TRUCKS ON THIS INTERSTATE. I GOT CLOSE TO THE GUARDRAIL AND COLLECTED MY WITS AND CALLED BOTH AAA AND THE CHARLOTTE NC POLICE. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE GONE OFF! THE NC POLICE WERE TO COME IMMEDIATELY BUT NEVER SHOWED UP, BUT AN HOUR LATER THE AAA DRIVER CAME AND ASSISTED TO HELP ME OUT OF MY CAR INTO HIS TOW TRUCK. HE SAID TO SIT IN THE AC AND DRINK SOME WATER. IT WAS A HOT DAY IN THE CAROLINAS. NO AC, NOTHING TO DRINK AND COULD NOT OPEN MY WINDOWS. I COULD NOT OPEN MY DOOR AS CARS WHIZZED BY ME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAR JUST DIED. FINALLY GOT IT TOWED TO THE CHEVY SERVICE STATION AND THE REPAIRS COST (ENCLOSED) $696.84. AFTER SEEING THE EVENT ON TV I REALIZED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT HIS ISSUE, AS I HEAR ALL THE HORROR STORIES OF THE INNOCENT KILLED UPSETS ME. I WAS FORTUNATELY TO BE ABLE TO GET ME AND MY CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE CARS WHIZZED BY ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BUT HOW MANY HAVEN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576447

WE PURCHASED THE IMPALA IN APRIL OF 2013 WITH 35,408 MILES ON THE CLOCK, WE DROVE IT AROUND TOWN THEN WE TOOK IT ON A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA FROM LAS VEGAS A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHEN WE WHERE ON THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA ON A NOT SO STEEP DOWNGRADE WE HIT THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 70MPH TO SLOW DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY SIDE TO SIDE LIKE THE FAMOUS 'DEATH WOBBLE' BUT WE ONLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 60MPH. ON THE WAY BACK IT DID IT AGAIN THIS TIME WENT FROM 70 TO 67 MPH, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID MY ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AND GAVE ME THE DEALER COLD SHOULDER.. I REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND ALL 4 NEW TIRES AS OF TODAY AND IT STILL DOING IT, WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND SAME THING, THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE OVER 50MPH BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT CARE AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY... I WILL NEVER BUY A GM PRODUCT EVER AS LONG AS I LIVE. I TOOK VIDEO OF THE SHAKING FROM 70 TO 67MPH I WILL POST IT ON YOUTUBE. THIS CAR IS CERTIFIED TOO NOT THAT IT MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547338

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOO NARROW AND WHEN DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT'S FOOT WOULD SLIP OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6, 8000.

NHTSA ODI 10450473

DRIVING DOWNHILL A TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER BRAKE SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO BRAKE HARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL SHUDDERED AND FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE BUT I COULDN'T! ADDITIONALLY THE STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERED HORRIBLY SIDE TO SIDE. BRAKING ON THE REMAINDER OF THE HILL AND FOR A WHILE AFTER HAD THE SAME CHATTERING, SHAKING, SHUDDERING, AND SORT OF BRAKE GRINDING FEELING MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I COULD NOT RELY ON THE BRAKES AND MAYBE THE STEERING WAS HAVING PROBLEMS TOO. SCARED ME AND FELT TERRIBLY UNSAFE!!!! THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT A YEAR AGO WITH THIS CAR IN A SIMILAR DOWNHILL SUDDEN BRAKING SITUATION. I DRIVE TO AVOID HAVING TO BRAKE SUDDENLY BUT SOMETIMES IT IS UNAVOIDABLE AND I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE BECAUSE IT FEELS TOO UNSAFE. *TR

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