Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
770–25K
8225–50K
9150–75K
7975–100K
67100–150K
14150K+
410 reports with mileage · 95 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
THE REAR CENTER HEAD REST NEEDS TO BE REMOVED CAN'T SEE TO BACK UP THEY ALL ARE VERY LARGE BUT THE MIDDLE BLOCKS YOUR VIEW TOTALLY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT DUE TO THIS ISSUE IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE MAYBE THEY CAN'T REMOVE THE HEADREST ITSELF BUT THEY CAN REPLACE THE WHOLE SEAT. I THOUGHT SEATS IN THE BACK WERE SUPPOSE TO FOLD DOWN AL…
Read full complaint
THE REAR CENTER HEAD REST NEEDS TO BE REMOVED CAN'T SEE TO BACK UP THEY ALL ARE VERY LARGE BUT THE MIDDLE BLOCKS YOUR VIEW TOTALLY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT DUE TO THIS ISSUE IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE MAYBE THEY CAN'T REMOVE THE HEADREST ITSELF BUT THEY CAN REPLACE THE WHOLE SEAT. I THOUGHT SEATS IN THE BACK WERE SUPPOSE TO FOLD DOWN ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE TRUNK THIS AUTO DOESN'T DO THAT THERE AREN'T EVEN CUPHOLDERS IN THE BACK SEAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD DESIGN FOR GM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10422496
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2011
EquipmentSeatsVisibility
PURCHASED 2011 IMPALA LT/4 DOOR SEDAN 3 WEEKS AGO. REAR CENTER HEADREST COMPLETELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND, WHICH PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING THE CAR IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS ALSO POSES A HAZARD WHEN BACKING UP, DUE TO 90% SIGHT BLOCKAGE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED BY GM …
Read full complaint
PURCHASED 2011 IMPALA LT/4 DOOR SEDAN 3 WEEKS AGO. REAR CENTER HEADREST COMPLETELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND, WHICH PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING THE CAR IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS ALSO POSES A HAZARD WHEN BACKING UP, DUE TO 90% SIGHT BLOCKAGE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED BY GM TO REMOVE THE CENTER REAR HEADREST FROM THIS VEHICLE. THE 2012 MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A CENTER HEADREST. IT ONLY HAS HEADRESTS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT, WHICH PROVES THIS IS AN ISSUE THEY HAVE CORRECTED FOR THE NEWER MODEL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2011. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10421401
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2011
Seats
2011 CHEVY IMPALA LT. REAR HEAD REST REDUCES VISIBILITY. DIFFICULT TO SEE VEHICLES WHEN DRIVING AND BACKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10420798
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2011
Seats
2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE HEAD RESTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR HEAD RESTS ARE THREE INCHES TO HIGH AND TOO WIDE. THE THREE HEAD RESTS BLOCK ALMOST 40% OF THE VIEW LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND OUT THE BACK WINDOW. THE PROBLEM IS THEY CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN OR REMOVED. *JB UPDAT…
Read full complaint
2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE HEAD RESTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR HEAD RESTS ARE THREE INCHES TO HIGH AND TOO WIDE. THE THREE HEAD RESTS BLOCK ALMOST 40% OF THE VIEW LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND OUT THE BACK WINDOW. THE PROBLEM IS THEY CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN OR REMOVED. *JB UPDATED 10/20/11.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10419071
2,000 miles · Aug 11, 2011
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEADRESTS WERE POSITIONED TOO HIGH AND OBSTRUCTED VISION WHILE REVERSING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEADRESTS WERE POSITIONED TOO HIGH AND OBSTRUCTED VISION WHILE REVERSING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
NHTSA ODI #10418563
2,000 miles · Jul 19, 2011
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BECAUSE THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS WERE OBSTRUCTING HER VISION. THE HEAD RESTS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED OR REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS I…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BECAUSE THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS WERE OBSTRUCTING HER VISION. THE HEAD RESTS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED OR REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD RESTS WERE DESIGNED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES AND COULD NOT BE ALTERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
NHTSA ODI #10413566
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2011
SeatsVisibility
BOUGHT 2011 IMPALA, REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS OBSTRUCTING VIEW ON REAR VIEW MIRROR. VERY HAZARDOUS, WILL PROBABLY CAUSE MANY ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY DEATHS. LOT OF PERSONS COMPLAINING TO DEALER AND GM AND THEY SAY NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEIR REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT…
Read full complaint
BOUGHT 2011 IMPALA, REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS OBSTRUCTING VIEW ON REAR VIEW MIRROR. VERY HAZARDOUS, WILL PROBABLY CAUSE MANY ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY DEATHS. LOT OF PERSONS COMPLAINING TO DEALER AND GM AND THEY SAY NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEIR REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413319
14,000 miles · Jul 7, 2011
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SEATS HEAD REST WERE VERY WIDE AND OBSTRUCTED THE REAR AND SIDE VIEW. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 14,000.
NHTSA ODI #10410913
2,000 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SEAT HEADREST WAS OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 07/18/11
NHTSA ODI #10405624
56 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Seats
REAR SEAT HEADRESTS (3) ARE EXTREMELY HIGH MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR DRIVER TO SEE VEHICLES IN REAR. DIFFICULTY IN BACKING CAR, AS WELL AS CHANGING LANES. HEADRESTS ARE SEWN INTO REAR SEAT; NON-ADJUSTABLE. HAD TO HAVE MIDDLE HEADREST REMOVED PERMANENTLY. *TR
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. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2011 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration