The Chevrolet Impala has been a popular and affordable big sedan from General Motors, with its production continuing for well over five decades now. GM did update the car periodically but newer sedans with better designs and superior engineering slowly captured the attention of shoppers. However, the Impala still serves as an inexpensive ride with decent reliability aspects. The 2011 Impala faced nearly 500 complaints to date, most of which were regarding powertrain issues, StabiliTrak issues, airbag issues, and excessively large rear seat headrests which blocked the view of the drivers. Furthermore, the sedan has been recalled twice for an ignition switch problem and a faulty lower control arm. It is surprising to see that despite numerous issues with the safety systems, the brand hasn't issued any recalls yet and the problem has been present on last year’s model too. The Chevrolet Impala is rivaled by the Toyota Avalon, the Chrysler 300, and the Ford Taurus.
Chevrolet Impala user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Transmission slipping: Several owners complained about transmission slipping in their 2011 Chevrolet Impalas. The failures occurred suddenly while driving. The symptoms were that when shifted to drive mode, the vehicle refused to accelerate while the engine rpm rose. In some cases, the failures caused the engines to stall too while driving due to erroneous shifting.
- Transmission failure: Apart from the transmission failures, some users also faced transmission failures too. In some cases, the failures occurred in new vehicles with very low mileage, after a few months of purchasing.
Safety problems
- Stabilitrak faults: A plethora of owners of the 2011 Chevrolet Impala faced a similar issue with the standard StabiliTrak system. The main issue was that due to the faulty system, the vehicles would suddenly start to decelerate due to reduced engine power, making it hard to control the car at high speeds. Moreover, during the failures, the service StabiliTrak warning sign came on along with other warning signs on the instrument cluster.
- Non-deployment of airbags: In some cases of crashes, the airbags of the affected vehicles failed to deploy. As a result, the owners and their occupants were injured and required medical attention.
- Airbag sensor fault: Apart from the non-deployment of the airbags, the airbag sensors on the front passenger side of several 2011 Impala units were defective. As a result, the airbag warning lights came on while driving and indicated that the system had been deactivated. Moreover, in a few cases, replacing the sensors also did not solve the problem.
Miscellaneous problems
- Obstructed rear visibility: Several owners complain about the poor rear visibility while driving. The main reason due to it was the unnecessarily big center headrest of the rear seats of the vehicles. No assistance was provided from the dealerships to the owners in this regard.
- Power steering failure: A few owners faced power steering failures in their new 2011 Impala sedans. Due to the failures, the vehicles became hard to control and steer while driving. In some other cases, the steering would lose its alignment frequently, causing the vehicle to pull to one side.
2011 Chevrolet Impala recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
August 3, 2012 |
12V377000 |
Lower Control Arms |
A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
GM will notify the owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. |
|
2 |
June 23, 2014 |
14V355000 |
Ignition Switch may Turn Off |
If the key is not in the run position, the airbags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. |
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. |
Should you buy a used Chevrolet Impala?
The Chevrolet Impala becomes a strong option in its class for fleet operators and shoppers looking for a rather simple and uncomplicated car. Apart from having a simple interior and huge trunk, the Impala does offer a spacious cabin too with an optional 6-seater configuration as well. However, it does lack in terms of overall fit and finish levels on the inside and its reliability issues have been troubling some owners in recent times too. Even though the brand only recalled the car twice, there are plenty of issues that need to be addressed such as the StabiliTrak issue and the transmission issues as reported by the owners. Getting a used Toyota Avalon would be a better option than a used Impala.
