We where coming home and heard a loud snap on my right side by the wheel and as we reduce speed the car starts to shake violently and the traction sensors went off the car reduced speed dangerously on the frw with traffic behind us and hard to steer... And moments after the car shut off.
2011 Chevrolet Impala suspension problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 Impala has documented front control arm and subframe mount fractures that can cause total loss of wheel control at highway speeds, compounded by defective replacement parts from a recall and recurring rear suspension failures that mechanics struggle to diagnose. Multiple reports describe dangerous steering and suspension failures that have resulted in accidents; independent mechanics and dealers have been unable to reliably fix these issues.
Front control arm problems dominate these complaints. One owner with 78,000 miles had the recall repair completed (12V377), but the replacement control arms were also defective. They caused the arms to misalign in the aluminum subframe mounts, which wore through and broke completely—a failure the owner says puts the entire wheel control assembly at risk. GM refused warranty coverage.
Steering and turning issues appear across multiple reports. Owners hear grinding during left turns paired with hesitation that makes crossing traffic dangerous. One owner spent $700 on a rack and pinion replacement, only to have the new unit leak power steering fluid within two weeks. Another reports a tire-rubbing noise during turns that recurs even after dealer service.
Rear suspension failures also show up consistently. One rear sway bar link (AC Delco part #45G0403) broke three times in a single year, with the same part repeatedly installed and failing again. Another owner's adjustable lateral link simply separated while driving.
A few reports describe catastrophic events: one owner's driver wheel locked up during a lane change, causing a spin-out and tree collision; another heard a loud snap from the right rear, felt violent shaking, lost steering control, and the engine shut off while in traffic.
Clicks, grinds, and rattles vary widely—tire noise, dash rattle, general suspension noise. Some owners cite recall notices but struggle to get dealers to actually perform the work.
Same Chevrolet Impala suspension reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Front control arm and subframe wear/breakage
Defective replacement control arms cause misalignment in aluminum subframe mounts, leading to rubbing and wear. The vertical bushing design (noted as high-failure on W-body and Delta platform cars) wears through soft aluminum mounts, eventually causing the mount to break completely, creating total loss of wheel control.
When: 78,000 miles; within 4 years of ownership; can occur unnoticed until catastrophic failure
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from front suspension; Loss of wheel control; Entire control arm mount fractures away from frame
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of control arm mounts and control arms; owner reports new arms are also defective
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 12V377 issued for front control arms (replacement arms also proved defective per owner); GM declined warranty coverage despite safety issue
Grinding noise during left turns with steering hesitation
Owners report grinding sound during left turns after stop, with car hesitating to move forward. Multiple repair attempts fail to resolve; issue recurs within days or hours. Accompanied by intermittent StabiliTrac and ABS lights. Rack and pinion replacement does not fix the underlying grinding; new rack leaks power steering fluid within 2 weeks.
When: Occurs throughout ownership; one owner reported issue between 68k and 90k miles over 2-year period
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding/grind noise on left turns; Hesitation during left turns with oncoming traffic hazard; StabiliTrac and/or ABS warning lights (intermittent); Power steering fluid loss after rack and pinion replacement; Power steering failure within 2 weeks of new rack installation
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement ($700) did not resolve the issue; new rack began leaking within 2 weeks
Rear sway bar link breakage (repeated)
AC Delco rear sway bar links (part #45G0403) break repeatedly under normal use. Same part installed three times in one year, with each replacement also failing. Owner concerned about highway driving safety.
When: Breakage occurred multiple times within the same year
Symptoms owners cite: Sway bar link fracture; Left wheel bearing damage (occurred with second failure); Rear brake pad damage (occurred with second failure)
Repairs/costs cited: AC Delco part #45G0403 replaced three times; mechanic continued installing same defective part under warranty
Rear suspension adjustable lateral link separation
Rear adjustable lateral link came apart without warning, initially mimicking a flat tire condition. Replacement with aftermarket part failed—same failure recurred.
When: 125,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden separation of rear lateral link; Symptoms similar to flat tire
Repairs/costs cited: Aftermarket replacement installed; failure recurred
Tire rubbing noise during steering input
Noise similar to tire rubbing on fender occurs intermittently when turning steering wheel left or right. Mentioned in context of recalls 14299 (ignition switch) and 12104 (lower control arm), though owner's dealer stated no suspension recall notification received.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Tire rubbing noise during left or right steering input
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner contacted dealer regarding suspension issues; dealer stated no recall notification for suspension problems and only addressed ignition switch recall
Front tire clicking noise during turning
Clicking sound from front tires during normal driving and when turning corners on side streets. Owner notes recall exists for front tire suspension.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking noise from front tires while driving; Clicking noise increases during turns
Right rear section rattle
Persistent rattling noise from right rear section of vehicle.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Constant rattle from right rear section
Driver wheel lock-up during lane change
Driver's wheel locked while changing lanes, causing violent loss of control and vehicle spin-out resulting in collision with tree.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden wheel lock during lane change; Loss of vehicle control; Vehicle spin-out
Loud snap from right side with violent shaking and steering loss
Loud snap sound from right wheel area followed by violent vehicle shaking. Traction control sensors deactivated and car reduced speed dangerously in traffic, making steering difficult. Vehicle shut off shortly after.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loud snap from right side near wheel; Violent vehicle shaking; Traction control deactivation; Dangerous speed reduction in traffic; Difficult steering; Engine shutdown
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 68,000 and 98,000 miles, with the median around 78,441. A quarter of owners report trouble before 68,000; a quarter make it past 98,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Chevrolet/Impala.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.