2010 Chevrolet Impala cruise control problems
severe 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Owners have filed 31 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Owners report the 2010 Impala has serious throttle and engine control issues that can cause sudden loss of power at highway speeds, sometimes followed by complete engine shutdown with no warning. Multiple repair attempts often fail to fix the problem permanently, leaving drivers stranded or at risk of accidents.
The 31 complaints cluster around throttle and engine control failures that create genuine safety hazards. The most severe incidents involve the engine shutting down without warning while driving 65–75 mph on highways, leaving drivers without power steering or brakes. One owner nearly got caught in Atlanta traffic with six lanes; another had an 18-wheeler close behind when the engine cut out on an incline. Multiple owners report the car displays "Reduced Engine Power," "Service Traction Control," "Service Stabiltrack," and sometimes "Starter Disabled" before going dark.
The frustrating pattern: owners take these vehicles to dealers, techs replace the throttle body, accelerator pedal sensor, or throttle cable, then the same warning lights and power loss happen again weeks or months later. Some owners have visited shops five times for the same issue. A few mention they found the problem traced to corroded lines or broken solder connections in the APP sensor, but repairs don't stick.
A second concern is sudden acceleration—one owner experienced two separate accidents when the vehicle took off like "a missile" while backing out of a driveway, hitting a parked car the first time and an oak tree the second time, totaling the car.
GM issued a recall for the accelerator pedal position sensor, but owners say they weren't contacted until problems appeared, and the company made clear repairs would take extended downtime. Some dealers couldn't identify the root cause even when warnings were active. The underlying issue appears to be electrical or software-related rather than a simple mechanical fix.
Same Chevrolet Impala cruise control reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden Power Loss and Engine Shutdown
Engine cuts off without warning while driving, often at highway speeds. Vehicle displays warnings including 'Reduced Engine Power,' 'Service Traction Control,' 'Service Stabiltrack,' 'Starter Disabled,' and 'Service Throttle' before shutting down completely. Loss of power steering and braking occur.
When: Occurs randomly during highway driving at speeds 30-75 mph; some owners report recurring episodes after restarting car following 5-15 minute wait
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown with no warning; Loss of power steering and power brakes; Vehicle displays 'Reduced Engine Power' message; Service Traction Control and Stabiltrack warnings illuminated; Check Engine light comes on; Starter disabled message appears; Vehicle coasts to shoulder; Recurring after restart following wait period
Codes mentioned: P0068, P0340, P0651, P2135
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite throttle body replacement, accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor replacement, and throttle cable replacement as attempted fixes; some report issues recur after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued recall notice regarding accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor with broken solder connection; GM stated they would only correct the problem after warning displays; some dealers replaced throttle bodies and pedal sensors; one owner received notice (May 17, 2015) that repair would require extended vehicle downtime
Intermittent Reduced Power and Throttle Lag
Engine power reduces unexpectedly while driving, limiting acceleration. Vehicle slows to 15-20 mph without driver input. Warnings include 'Reduced Engine Power' and 'Service Traction Control.' Occurs sporadically, often requiring vehicle shutdown and restart to clear.
When: Occurs intermittently, sometimes off-and-on over a year or more; triggered during highway driving, highway merging, accelerating uphill, or without apparent cause; mileage range 38,200 to 126,700
Symptoms owners cite: Engine power drops significantly; Speed reduced to 15-20 mph involuntarily; Cannot accelerate or increase speed; Service Traction Control warning displays; Engine Power Reduced message appears; Traction control system lights illuminate; Check Engine light comes on; Cruise control stops functioning; Vehicle shakes or feels unstable; Warnings clear after shutdown and restart
Codes mentioned: P0068, P0340, P0651, P2135
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs attempted include accelerator pedal position sensor replacement, throttle body assembly replacement, throttle cable replacement, and replacement of line to accelerator pedal and oil sensor; owners report issues recur even after throttle body and pedal sensor replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners took vehicles to Carmax and dealers who could not identify root cause; GM acknowledged the issue as out-of-warranty but under 'special conditions'; recall issued for APP sensor with broken solder connection; owners report GM was aware issues should have been recalled but declined to do so
Sudden Acceleration (Sticky Throttle)
Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly without driver input, particularly during backing up or low-speed maneuvers. Throttle becomes unresponsive to brake input in one incident. Owner reports this caused two separate accidents.
When: Occurs during backing maneuvers and low-speed driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates suddenly without driver input; High rate of speed when backing up; High pitch whining noise during acceleration event; Brakes do not reduce speed effectively during second incident; Vehicle travels uncontrollably across street and into parked vehicle; Vehicle accelerates backward at high speed
Repairs/costs cited: Accelerator replaced; throttle repaired between first and second accident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for accelerator pedal position sensor and throttle position sensor; dealer initially claimed nothing was wrong with accelerator
Unresponsive Throttle After Sudden Stop
Check Engine and Traction Control lights come on after driver makes a sudden stop (such as emergency braking to avoid a deer). No physical damage to vehicle occurs, but warning lights remain.
When: Triggered by sudden hard braking event; lights persist after incident
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light comes on after sudden stop; Traction Control System light illuminates; Lights remain on persistent after triggering event
Delayed Throttle Response (Pedal Lag)
When driver removes foot from gas pedal while descending or approaching a curve, vehicle accelerates instead of decelerating. Brakes function when applied, but throttle behavior is inverted or delayed.
When: Occurs during descent and curve navigation; becomes more frequent over time
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates when foot removed from gas pedal; Car speeds up during descent when deceleration expected; Brakes function when applied; Increasing frequency of incidents
Brake and Stability Control System Faults
ABS, Traction Control, Stability Control, and Assisted Brake Control warning lights illuminate together or separately, often without corresponding sensor or mechanical failures.
When: Occurs during normal driving at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light comes on; Service Traction Control message; Service Stabiltrack message; Service Electronic Stability Control message; Service Assisted Brake Control System message; Multiple lights illuminated simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports wheel bearing replacement did not resolve issue; owners cite wheel bearing, brake caliper, rotor, brake pads, and tire replacements as attempted repairs with no resolution
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 31 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 25 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 57,070 and 101,500 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,070; a quarter make it past 101,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.