I STARTED MY CAR AFTER A COLD NIGHT AND IMMEDIATELY GOT A "SERVICE STABILITRAK", "ENGINE POWER REDUCED", AND "SERVICE TRANCE ION CONTROL" MESSAGES. THE CAR HAD AN EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLE AND THEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO MORE THAN 25 MPH. I RETURNED HOME AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. LATER, I WAS READY TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND IT STARTED FINE WITH NO ERROR MESSAGES OR CHECK ENG…
2011 chevrolet Impala powertrain problems
moderate 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
WHILE DRIVING, THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS CAME ON 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. SERVICE STABILITRAK, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. TURNED CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, AND LIGHTS WENT OFF AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THAT MONDAY, TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND WERE TOLD IT WAS A PART THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL. OUT OF WARRANT, BUT THEY COVERED IT ANYWAY CONSIDERING I JUST PURCHASED THE…
UPON CRANKING THE CAR USING THE KEY, THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A TICKING NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE APPEARING TO COME FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE KNOB IS SET TO HEAT; HOWEVER, WHEN THE NOISE STOPS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS MOVED TO COLD AIR. THE CAR WAS SERVICE WHEN I PURCHASED IT IN JUNE 2014 BY WILLETT HONDA SOUTH. NOW, DECEMBER 2014, THE NOISE HAS STARTED AGAIN, AS WELL AS, THE TRANSMISSION …
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2011 chevrolet Impala?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 60 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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