IllustrationREAR WINDOW VISIBILITY IN THE 2011 CHEVY IMPALA IS SEVERELY LIMITED BY THE PLACEMENT OF READ SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS. A VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU IS COMPLETELY HIDDEN FROM VIEW USING THE REARVIEW MIRROR. *TR
2011 Chevrolet Impala
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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.
22 crash reports5 fire reports19 injury reports
Seats complaints
77 reportsTHE THREE HEAD RESTS PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE REAR SEAT BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, CREATING A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR
REGARDING REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS ON 2011 CHEVY. IMPALA LT. THE 3 REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS ARE POSITIONED (STATIONARY) IN SUCH A MANNER THAT WHEN LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW BY AT LEAST 90%. THIS MAKES FOR A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE. EVEN IF SIMPLY THE CENTER REAR HEAD REST WAS REMOVED IT WOULD H…
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REGARDING REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS ON 2011 CHEVY. IMPALA LT. THE 3 REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS ARE POSITIONED (STATIONARY) IN SUCH A MANNER THAT WHEN LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW BY AT LEAST 90%. THIS MAKES FOR A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE. EVEN IF SIMPLY THE CENTER REAR HEAD REST WAS REMOVED IT WOULD HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM DRASTICALLY. CHEVROLET SITE FOR 2011 IMPALA HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF OWNERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. CHEVROLET SHOULD STAND THE COST TO REPAIR/ADJUST THE ABOVE PROBLEM. IT'S A LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHAT EVER THE DESIGNERS FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE WERE THINKING IS BEYOND ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA LST. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEATS HEAD REST WERE TOO TALL AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE THE REAR VIEW WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILLED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA LST. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEATS HEAD REST WERE TOO TALL AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE THE REAR VIEW WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILLED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE DEALER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100. UPDTATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 03/03/11
2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT. CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE EXCESSIVELY HIGH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS REAR VIEW VISION OF TRAFFIC WAS OBSTRUCTED. *JB
I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA WHICH HAS A SERIOUS TRAFFIC HAZARD INVOLVING THE THREE REAR HEAD RESTS AFFIXED/SEWN - WHICH MAKES THEM NON-ADJUSTABLE. THE PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THE HEAD RESTS ARE HIGHER THAN MOST VEHICLES. THE FIXED POSITION OF THESE HEAD RESTS BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VISION OUT OF ABOUT ONE THIRD O…
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I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA WHICH HAS A SERIOUS TRAFFIC HAZARD INVOLVING THE THREE REAR HEAD RESTS AFFIXED/SEWN - WHICH MAKES THEM NON-ADJUSTABLE. THE PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THE HEAD RESTS ARE HIGHER THAN MOST VEHICLES. THE FIXED POSITION OF THESE HEAD RESTS BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VISION OUT OF ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE MIDDLE HEAD REST IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLESOME. I WROTE GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THIS APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO AND THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE SALES AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE WELL AWARE OF MY CONCERNS. NHTSA COMPLAINT 10358310 WAS ALSO FILED CONCERNING THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM, I HAVE 61 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE - ALL SIZES/TYPES OF AUTOS. IN MY CONSIDERED OPINION THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE RAISED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE HIGHEST SETTING AND HAVE TRIED ALL POSSIBLE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE INSIDE AND SIDE MIRRORS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THIS TO NO AVAIL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW DUE TO THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS BLOCKING HER VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING TO STANDARDS AND COULD…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW DUE TO THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS BLOCKING HER VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING TO STANDARDS AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11. UPDATED 12/30/10*LJ UPDATED 01/04/11
Official recalls
214V355000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jun 23, 2014
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.
12V377000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Aug 3, 2012
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.