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2011 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Visibility complaints

23 reports
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21,000 miles · Dec 22, 2011
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THREE REAR HEADREST WERE ELEVATED TOO HIGH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTS SHOULD BE LOWERED OR THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE COME EQUIPPED WITH A BACK-UP CAMERA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THREE REAR HEADREST WERE ELEVATED TOO HIGH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTS SHOULD BE LOWERED OR THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE COME EQUIPPED WITH A BACK-UP CAMERA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI #10440982

5,800 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

MY IMPALA WILL NOT HEAT IN IDLE POSITION,NO EARLY MORN DEFROSTS FOR ME! TOOK TO DEALER ( 10/18/11) HE FOUND A LEAK, REPLACED A HOSE. IT WAS GOOD FOR A WHILE, NOW DOING AGAIN, (10/28/11), GOING BACK IN SHOP ON 11/3/11. ALSO CAR WILL NOT HEAT WHEN REMOTE STARTER IS USED,COMES UP TO TEMP EVERYTIME JUST DOESN'T BLOW HOT AIR, THIS …

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MY IMPALA WILL NOT HEAT IN IDLE POSITION,NO EARLY MORN DEFROSTS FOR ME! TOOK TO DEALER ( 10/18/11) HE FOUND A LEAK, REPLACED A HOSE. IT WAS GOOD FOR A WHILE, NOW DOING AGAIN, (10/28/11), GOING BACK IN SHOP ON 11/3/11. ALSO CAR WILL NOT HEAT WHEN REMOTE STARTER IS USED,COMES UP TO TEMP EVERYTIME JUST DOESN'T BLOW HOT AIR, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THEM, THEY TELL ME THAT'S "NORMAL", WHAT??, IM SORRY, BUT ISN'T THE PURPOSE OF REMOTE STARTERS, FOR REGULATING CABIN TEMPERATURE? I WILL SEE HOW THESE TWO ISSUES ARE HANDLED ON THURS, I HAVE THIS FUNNY FEELING I WILL BE BACK HERE ON THIS SITE FOR THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433935

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2011
SeatsVisibility

THE HEADREST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OUT THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433496

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2011
SeatsVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEAD REST LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT WAS BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW WHEN SHE USED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEAD REST LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT WAS BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW WHEN SHE USED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 11/25/11 *BF UPDATED 11/30/11

NHTSA ODI #10432322

125 miles · Sep 13, 2011
SeatsVisibility

HUGE REAR HEADRESTS (3 OF THEM) BLOCK NEARLY 70% OF REAR VISIBILITY AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE VEHICLES DIRECTLY BEHIND OR APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. EVEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE MIDDLE HEADREST BLOCKS THE VIEW OF ANY VEHICLE BEHIND. CHANGING LANES IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS, AT BEST, BECAUSE DRIVER CAN'T S…

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HUGE REAR HEADRESTS (3 OF THEM) BLOCK NEARLY 70% OF REAR VISIBILITY AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE VEHICLES DIRECTLY BEHIND OR APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. EVEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE MIDDLE HEADREST BLOCKS THE VIEW OF ANY VEHICLE BEHIND. CHANGING LANES IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS, AT BEST, BECAUSE DRIVER CAN'T SEE WHAT'S DIRECTLY BEHIND. TRIED SEAT ADJUSTMENTS, OUTSIDE MIRROR ADJUSTMENTS, REAR VIEW MIRROR ADJUSTMENTS, AND NOTHING WORKS TO IMPROVE THE REAR VIEW. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WHICH HAS APPARENTLY BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE IMPALA FOR 2012; WHY HAS CHEVROLET NOT CONTACTED DRIVERS FOR A SAFETY FIX OR RECALLED? I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE HOPING NO ACCIDENTS OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THIS POOR VISIBILITY ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CHEVY WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT LIABILITY, IF NOTHING ELSE. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THERE ARE FIXES FOR THIS, SHORT OF SAWING OFF THE MIDDLE HEAD REST? THEY CAN'T BE ADJUSTED OR EVEN FOLDED DOWN WITH THE SEAT SINCE THEY'RE BUILT INTO THE REAR WINDOW SHELF AND NOT THE SEATS. (WHO THE HECK CAME UP WITH THIS ONE?) I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS INJURED OR WORSE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING THOSE ON YOUR SITE. PLEASE HELP! THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425247

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 …

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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 · 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…

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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

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2011
SeatsVisibility

OVERSIZED, IMMOVABLE THIRD HEADREST IN MIDDLE OF BACK SEAT OF 2011 CHEVY IMPALA. BLOCKS VISION OUT OF REAR WINDOW - DRIVER CANNOT USE REAR VIEW MIRROR. DRIVER CANNOT SEE VEHICLE FOLLOWING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401483

170 miles · Apr 17, 2011
SeatsVisibility

I CANNOT SEE WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DUE TO THE REDUCED VISIBILITY CAUSED BY THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS. THE VIEW WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS OBSTRUCTED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH ONLY 4 INCHES OF VISIBILITY BETWEEN THE CEILING OF THE THE CAR AND THE TOP OF THE HEAD RESTS. ALSO, THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE SMALL INCREASI…

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I CANNOT SEE WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DUE TO THE REDUCED VISIBILITY CAUSED BY THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS. THE VIEW WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS OBSTRUCTED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH ONLY 4 INCHES OF VISIBILITY BETWEEN THE CEILING OF THE THE CAR AND THE TOP OF THE HEAD RESTS. ALSO, THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE SMALL INCREASING THE POOR VISIBILITY IN THIS VEHICLE. THE HEAD REST PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED IF THE CAR SALESMAN HAD NOT SAT IN BACKSEAT IN THE MIDDLE. THE CAR DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR BE TAKEN TO A LOCAL SEAT COVER COMPANY TO HAVE THE HEADRESTS REBUILT. THIS IS A NEW CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10397548

68 miles · Apr 6, 2011
SeatsVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY CAUSE BY THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIEW WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS OBSTRUCTED BY APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY PERCENT. THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY CAUSE BY THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIEW WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS OBSTRUCTED BY APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY PERCENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEAD LIGHTS FROM VEHICLES IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY DISAPPEAR DUE TO THE REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118.

NHTSA ODI #10394406

Official recalls

2

14V355000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.