YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Impala Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 64 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala, 13% of all complaints for that year. Median failure mileage is 70,300 miles. There is no related recall on file for this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
64
13% of 505
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
70,300 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the transmission slipping or hesitating when pressing the gas pedal from a stop, sometimes with a jerking sensation as if shifting from neutral into first gear.
  • Some describe an abnormal noise from underneath the vehicle followed by a stall, with one case reporting the transmission failed catastrophically while driving in reverse.
  • Several owners saw stabilitrak, traction control, and reduced engine power warnings appear together, with the vehicle losing speed or refusing to accelerate past a low speed.
  • Multiple complaints describe the vehicle surging after shifting into gear or the gear shift indicator hesitating to show the correct gear.
  • Some drivers reported the car would not move at all after a reduced-power event, even after replacing the accelerator pedal sensor.

When 2011 Chevrolet Impala transmission complaints were filed

First complaint May 2, 2011, latest Apr 19, 2023.

2011 Chevrolet Impala transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2011Aug 2013Jul 2014Mar 2015May 2016Jul 2017Jun 2019Aug 2020
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2011 to Apr 2023; peak Jul 2014 (4).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Impala model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201067 (15%)
  2. 201164 (13%)
  3. 201227 (10%)
  4. 201333 (12%)
  5. 201439 (6%)
  6. 201516 (5%)
  7. 201616 (14%)
  8. 201712 (10%)
  9. 201811 (19%)
  10. 20195 (18%)
  11. 20202 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA lists 64 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2011 Impala, which is 13% of the 505 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
No related recall is listed in the data for this problem area.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up on the 2011 Impala?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 70,300 miles.
Did any 2011 Impala transmission complaints involve crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 1 fire among the 64 transmission & powertrain complaints, with 0 injuries reported.
How does the 2011 Impala compare to other years for this problem?
The 2011 Impala had 64 complaints in this area versus 67 for 2010 and fewer in later years, such as 27 for 2012 and 16 for 2015.

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.