YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

90/100

#2 most-complained of 11 Impala years

The 2011 Chevrolet Impala ranks 2nd worst of 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 90 and 505 complaints, mostly tied to engine and brake problems. It carries a Avoid verdict relative to other Impala years, with 2 recalls on file.

Complaints
505
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
22 / 5
Injuries / deaths
25 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
18 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2011 Chevrolet Impala problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine174 (34%)
  2. Brakes169 (33%)
  3. Electrical System99 (20%)
  4. Structure & Body85 (17%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain64 (13%)
  6. Airbags37 (7%)
  7. Other35 (7%)
  8. Steering35 (7%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires33 (7%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers24 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in low- and moderate-speed frontal or head-on crashes, sometimes resulting in chest, wrist, or neck injuries.
  • Rear middle headrest obstructs the driver's view when reversing, contributing to low-speed backing collisions.
  • Vehicles stalled or lost engine power while driving around 40 to 45 mph, in some cases leading to loss of control and a crash.
  • Brake and traction control warning lights illuminated intermittently along with sudden loss of braking ability, in one case after hitting a pothole.
  • Burning fumes and a fire occurred near the engine area accompanied by stalling and check engine and traction control warnings.
2011 Chevrolet Impala complaints: complaints filed per quarter562010 Q32012 Q22014 Q12015 Q42017 Q32019 Q22021 Q12023 Q1
783 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2024 Q3; peak 2014 Q2 (56).

2011 Chevrolet Impala recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V355000Jun 23, 2014Electrical System3,141,731 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags 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.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

  2. NHTSA 12V377000Aug 3, 2012Suspension, Wheels & Tires36,413 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.

    Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

2011 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Impala years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid80440422
2011Avoid90505222
2012Caution70258322
2013Caution50272122

All Chevrolet Impala years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Relative to other Impala model years, the 2011 ranks poorly. NHTSA data give it a Complaint Index of 90, the second-highest of all 11 model years covered, and a verdict of Avoid.
What are the most common problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
Engine complaints make up 34% of reports and brakes make up 33%, followed by electrical system issues at 20%. Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 60,425 miles.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 Impala: one covering the airbag/key ring electrical system defect and one covering front lower control arm fracture risk on police-package vehicles.
How does the 2011 Impala compare to other years?
Only the 2014 Impala (Complaint Index 100) ranks worse. Years 2016 through 2020 score much lower, from 40 down to 0, and are rated Good or Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
EPA rates the 2011 Impala at 22 mpg combined (18 city / 27.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.