2011 Chevrolet Impala — Known Issues & Recalls

Your passenger-side airbag unexpectedly turned off while someone was sitting in the front passenger seat. You'll see an airbag warning light and message on your dashboard. An independent mechanic recommended taking the car to a Chevrolet dealer for diagnosis and repair, but the issue hasn't been fixed yet.

Your Impala's passenger seat occupant sensor sometimes fails to detect when someone is sitting in the passenger seat, causing the airbag off warning light to stay on. This means the passenger airbag may not deploy in a crash even if someone is seated there. The dealer said the replacement part wasn't available and suggested checking a junkyard. The fix will require replacing the occupant sensor module in the passenger seat.

Your airbag warning light stays on and won't turn off. This means your airbags may not deploy properly in a crash, even though there's no current crash or fire issue. You'll need to have the airbag system diagnosed with a scan tool to identify what's triggering the light.

Your passenger seat airbag warning light turns on whenever someone sits in the front passenger seat. This problem has occurred in both Impalas you've owned. The airbag system may need diagnostic testing to identify why the passenger sensor is triggering the warning light.

Your car's service stability traction and check engine lights came on while driving, followed by a reduced engine power warning and low oil pressure message, then the engine shut off completely. The vehicle wouldn't restart initially, but after sitting overnight it would restart briefly before shutting down again. A diagnostic scan revealed a P0642 code (lost 5-volt reference circuit) and a camshaft sensor code, though the exact cause hasn't been identified after extensive troubleshooting. This issue is dangerous because losing engine power also affects your steering and braking. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and replacing the faulty component in the electrical reference circuit or camshaft sensor system.

Your StabiliTrak and traction control warning lights keep turning on and off intermittently, but the diagnostic scanner shows no error codes. Online sources suggest this could be an electrical problem related to wheel bearings, the gas pedal, or various sensors, though the exact cause isn't clear. If this issue progresses, your car might enter limp mode or shut off completely, which would disable power steering and make it difficult to safely steer to the shoulder.

Your car stalled without warning while driving at 55 mph and wouldn't restart. The key was stuck in the ignition and couldn't be removed. The vehicle had to be towed away, and the problem wasn't diagnosed or repaired.

Your car's stability control and brake system may be malfunctioning while driving, causing the wheels to feel like they're trying to twist in different directions and making the vehicle slow to respond when you press the gas pedal. You may also notice a grinding sensation and feel the tires shifting unexpectedly. This issue nearly caused a crash on the highway. Your vehicle has at least two open recalls related to the stabilization and brake system that should be addressed.

While driving at 65 mph on the highway, your engine suddenly shuddered, the Stabilitrack Service Light and Check Engine Light came on, and you saw a "reduced engine power" message. The engine then completely shut off while you were going uphill, forcing you to coast to the shoulder with no power. After restarting and driving slowly for 6 miles, the car made it home. This sudden power loss on a busy highway created a serious safety risk from other vehicles.

While turning right onto a highway from a stop sign, your car's front wheels suddenly locked up and the car wouldn't move in any gear, including neutral. A transmission shop found that all the gears inside the transmission were stripped smooth with metal fragments throughout, suggesting a catastrophic internal transmission failure. This is a serious safety issue that could have caused a crash if there had been oncoming traffic.

Your car displays a 'Service StabiliTrak' warning message, which then leads to reduced engine power and jerking motions while driving. This sequence suggests an electrical or engine control issue that's affecting how your engine performs. The repair will likely involve diagnosing the StabiliTrak system and engine control modules, possibly replacing sensors or updating software.

Your rear sway bar links have broken twice after being replaced, and a third identical part was installed. The second time the part failed, it caused damage to your left wheel bearing and rear brake pads. You're concerned about safety on highways if this part fails again. The repair will likely involve replacing the sway bar links with a different brand or higher-quality part, and inspecting related suspension and brake components for additional damage.

Your 2011 Impala is experiencing intermittent engine power loss accompanied by a check engine light, with diagnostic codes pointing to throttle sensor voltage issues (P2138) and engine oil pressure sensor problems (P0523). This problem comes and goes unpredictably — it may disappear before you can get it diagnosed at a dealer. The underlying issue appears to be an electrical malfunction affecting how your throttle opens and closes properly. Fixing this will likely require replacing the throttle position sensor and/or engine oil pressure sensor, along with electrical diagnostics to identify any wiring or connection problems.

Your car lost electrical power, and the ignition key became stuck in the accessory position and wouldn't come out. You also noticed the fuel gauge was reading incorrectly and random messages in different languages appeared on the dashboard. The dealer determined your battery had failed, which was likely causing these electrical problems. The fix will involve replacing the battery and potentially checking the electrical system for any related damage.

Your car makes a grinding noise when you turn the steering wheel, and you've experienced multiple radiator and transmission issues that keep recurring. You're noticing jerking movements instead of smooth acceleration, the engine stalls while driving, and your brakes and rotors are grinding. The control arm has needed replacement multiple times. Getting the steering, suspension, and powertrain systems thoroughly inspected and repaired is important to restore safe operation.

Your seat belt buckle won't click into place on the first try — you have to push the release button multiple times before it finally locks. The buckle releases easily, but something inside appears to be loose or broken, preventing it from latching properly.

Your car's engine failed shortly after purchase in June 2021. The dealership has had your car for 4 months without completing repairs or replacement, while you continue making loan payments on a non-functioning vehicle. The shop has stopped responding to your calls about the repair status. Resolving this will likely require engine replacement or a major engine rebuild.

Your brake warning lights (brake assist, traction control, StabiliTrak, and ABS) keep coming on. When you brake while turning, your brakes may slip or fade and then suddenly grab hard, making a grinding noise. Your car wobbles when these lights are on, affecting its stability and control. This likely requires a full brake system inspection and possibly replacement of brake components or ABS sensors.

Your brake warning lights are on—specifically the ABS, brake assist, StabiliTrak, and traction control lights. You may notice your vehicle wobbles while driving. This typically indicates an issue with your anti-lock braking system or stability control that needs diagnostic testing to identify the root cause, which could involve sensor replacement, wiring repair, or brake system service.

Your StabiliTrak warning light keeps coming on when you start the car. You've already replaced the throttle body once, but the problem has returned a couple months later. Based on your research, the accelerator pedal position sensor may be sending incorrect signals to the engine, causing the warning light to activate. The fix will likely involve replacing the accelerator pedal position sensor.