2011 Chevrolet Impala: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
505 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Chevrolet Impala has one year to avoid, 2016, which carries 897 complaints, a score of 47 and no recall campaigns at all; the next highest count is 505 on the 2011 car. The years to buy are 2017 to 2020, which score 92, 91, 92 and 96 on 116, 59, 28 and 15 complaints, and the 2012 and 2013 cars, at 78 each. Read the full note on the model page. 2011 specifically: 505 complaints on record, score 59/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Impala and Buick LaCrosse: the years to avoid, including 2011 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 505 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 33.67
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
After getting into my parked car and starting it, the Stabilitrak warning message came on my display. This is the 2nd tike that this occurred. The first time it occured, my mechanic diagnosed it as a failed throttle body, which I replaced myself, (easy removal/installation). Now, a couple of months later, it occurred again. After doing some online research, it seems as though the position sensor on the accelerator p…
The Mechanic Wedige Automotive in Elkhorn Wi, use AC Delco Parts, Just in This year He installed The Rear Swaybar links part#45G0403 The same part Broke Twice and put the same for the third time. We don't know if is going to brake for the third time, but we are afraid that if we drive in a highway we can be on a bad car accident. The second time it broke, our car got left wheelbearing damage and rear brake pads acc…
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle lost electrical power. The ignition switch was stuck in accessory mode and the contact was unable to release the key from the ignition switch. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle experienced inaccurate fuel gauge reading. Several unknown messages were displayed in different languages. The contact stated that the vehicle was ex…
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 12V377000 | 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. |
| 14V355000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950 · EPA range 264 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc)132 complaints · typical job: Yaw sensor or ESC module replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$660–$1,560
- Engine125 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System95 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Seats77 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200
- Vehicle Speed Control69 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Power Train64 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Chevrolet Impala years
Chevrolet Impala years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electronic Stability Control (Esc) (132 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Impala a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 59/100, computed from 505 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2011 Chevrolet Impala's most common problem?
132 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2011 Chevrolet Impala sit in the Electronic Stability Control (Esc) group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is yaw sensor or esc module replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $660–$1,560 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2011 Chevrolet Impala cost to run per year?
About $6,079 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,398 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 03/08/2012. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2011 Chevrolet Impala really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 505 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 505 NHTSA complaints on record (33.7/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (18.4/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems