Home · 2011 Chevrolet Impala · Complaints

What 505 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala

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)

4 of 505 complaints match · Steering · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Nov 6, 2020SteeringSuspensionBody & structureCrash

ON MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME AND THE CONTROL ARM ITSELF HAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY OFF ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT THE WELD THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HOLDING IT ONTO THE FRAME ITSELF WAS A WEAK POINT IN THE WHOLE CROSS MEMBER FRONT K FRAME AND I FOUND IT VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE NO CLUE ON HOW TO FIX THIS AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU GUYS HAD A RECALL ON IT AND ARE WILLING TO FIX IT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS I KNOW THAT I CANNOT HAVE IT REWELDED ON I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND ALMOST KILLED ME AS I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11373536

Apr 6, 2015SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NOSE AND FACE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD AND SIDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI 10703869

Feb 13, 2015SteeringCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND ANKLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 10683360

Aug 12, 2014SteeringEngine & coolingBrakes1 injury

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

Working with the data? Download all 505 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 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 verdict →