Chevy’s Impala is a dream car for many drivers, and the 2011 model doesn’t disappoint. But be on the lookout for Stabilitrak failure, make sure you’ve got your ignition switch recall taken care of, and consider replacing the obtrusive headrests in the back seats.
Key Points
- The 2011 Chevrolet Impala‘s leading problem has to do with the electronic stability control going out due to bad wiring, an issue that can cut power to the engine.
- Chevy’s 2011 Impala and other GM vehicles were subject to a 3,000,000-unit recall for the ignition turning off on bumpy roads due to a key that could switch to the off position accidentally.
- The rear seat headrests have a tendency to block the driver’s view out the back window, an issue further emphasized by the 2011 Impala’s narrow rear window.
- Overall a reliable full-size sedan, the 2011 Impala is a good used car to consider, especially with its standard, potent V6 engine and lack of widespread issues.
Bad Wiring in Wheel Sensor System of Some 2011 Impalas May Cause Stabilitrak to Fail, Resulting in Reduced Engine Power
The 2011 Chevrolet Impala’s biggest problem is in its electronic stability control, with ESC complaints comprising 132 out of 491 total listed on the NHTSA website. A majority of the car’s 120 engine complaints and 61 powertrain complaints point to the same issue.
[The] check engine light came on, [a] message came across saying ‘reducing engine power,’ then said to service stabilizer. It then turned off traction control.” Shortly thereafter, the car automatically disabled the starter.Another driver filed a complaint stating “I was driving on the highway and received the following message: ‘Service Stabilitrak – Reduced engine power.’ My engine power was greatly reduced… The car rolled to a halt.”
There is a clear pattern among the 100+ stability control complaints of the car issuing this warning before losing power. In some cases, it becomes difficult to steer, leaving drivers trying to pull off to the shoulder with engine power reduced and the traction control disabled.
There has not been a recall for this issue, and there have been no investigations. However, it turns out to have been a wiring problem, and a technical service bulletin was issued in May 2016. The incident rate has slowed since then. The last complaint on the matter was in late 2020, with only four reports in total that year.
Does that mean that the matter is entirely settled? Well, don’t take it as a guarantee, but you’re probably safer on this issue now than you would have been buying a 2011 Impala in 2015.
2011 Impala Ignition May Switch off on Bumpy Roads and Stall the Engine while in Motion
In 2014, General Motors issued a recall on over 3,000,000 units across several brands and nameplates in order to correct an issue with the ignition switch. In affected vehicles, the ignition switch had a tendency to flip on bumpy roads, turning the engine off while in motion. This was especially common if you had a heavy keychain or a keyfob hanging from the ring. In the meantime, GM advised drivers to take the key off the ring when in use while waiting for a fix.
On the surface, this sounds like it overlaps with the stability control issue, but this it’s a totally unrelated problem with the engine shutting off out of nowhere.
In the previous example, the problem was bad wiring in the wheel sensor system. Here, it was simply a matter of keys being jostled out of position, turning the car off the same as if you were to use your hand to do so.
The real concern here wasn’t just the engine shutting off, but the fact that the airbags won’t engage if the car isn’t actually running during the accident. The fix was simple, with dealers installing inserts in the key slots or covers over the key heads to lock the key into position while in use. But this wound up being a massive recall because of the potential danger posed by the car’s airbags being disabled while in motion.
‘Seats’ Account for Big Chunk of 2011 Impala’s NHTSA Complaints at 77 Out of 491, with Owners Lamenting Rear Seats that May Obstruct the View
Not a major mechanical issue, but a serious safety concern: Once we rule out engine, electrical, and powertrain complaints pertaining to the car’s electronic stability control issues, we see “seats” taking up a big chunk of NHTSA complaints at 77 out of 491.
The issue is that the three back seats use tall headrests, and the rear window is a bit narrow. So put that all together and you’ve got three extra blind spots in your car.
While this might not sound like a big problem, with so many drivers registering complaints with the NHTSA, it’s worth considering before you buy a 2011 Impala.
You can always swap the rear seats out with an aftermarket bench seat, but if you’re just looking for a decent get-around-town car, that might be a little more hassle than you’re willing to deal with just to look out your back window, especially since 2011 was before backup cameras became a standard feature on most cars.
A Few Moderate to Serious Problems Don’t Stop the 2011 Chevy Impala from Being Considered a Modern-day Classic
With a V6 engine cranking out 230 horsepower at the low end, the 2011 Chevy Impala is everything you want it to be. A solid daily driver with a little more muscle than you might expect.
For Impala fans, none of the issues we’ve listed here are definite dealbreakers. The model’s rate of incidents is low, and dealers have already been briefed on how to fix the big problems. If an Impala is your dream car, the 2011 is a fine example of an American classic.
Photos: Chevrolet
