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
What owners actually said
505 reports
90 miles · Jul 18, 2011
StructureInjury
5 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE IMPALA I SLICED MY LEG QUITE SEVERELY (2"X3" AND 1/2" DEEP) SIMPLY BY CLOSING THE DOOR. THE BOTTOM CORNER OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR COME TO A VERY SHARP POINT. BECAUSE OF MY AGE AND SIZE I NEED STAND FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE DOOR TO CLOSE IT. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY FOR CH…
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5 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE IMPALA I SLICED MY LEG QUITE SEVERELY (2"X3" AND 1/2" DEEP) SIMPLY BY CLOSING THE DOOR. THE BOTTOM CORNER OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR COME TO A VERY SHARP POINT. BECAUSE OF MY AGE AND SIZE I NEED STAND FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE DOOR TO CLOSE IT. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND ELDERLY, ACTUALLY ANYONE WHO MAY BE A LITTLE WEAKER THAN AVERAGE. I TRIED TO RETURN OR EXCHANGE VEHICLE BUT DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO TAKE A $4315 LOSS. I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM THIS VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP
NHTSA ODI #10414276
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
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
NHTSA ODI #10405534
5 miles · Jun 2, 2011
Seats
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS WERE POSITIONED TOO HIGH, OBSTRUCTING HIS VISION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE HEAD RESTS WERE INSTALLED IN A MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE NOT ADJUSTABLE AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS WERE POSITIONED TOO HIGH, OBSTRUCTING HIS VISION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE HEAD RESTS WERE INSTALLED IN A MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE NOT ADJUSTABLE AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE EQUIPMENT COULD NOT BE ALTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
NHTSA ODI #10404151
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
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2011
Structure
2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER DEFECTIVE LEFT REAR DOOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT REAR DOOR MOLDING WHERE THE CHROME MET THE DOOR WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. THE DEALER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE CONSUMER.
NHTSA ODI #10400350
10 miles · May 9, 2011
Seats
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR MIDDLE HEAD RESTRAINT WAS OBSTRUCTING HER VISION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR MIDDLE HEAD RESTRAINT WAS OBSTRUCTING HER VISION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900.
NHTSA ODI #10399620
5 miles · May 2, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD HESITATE WHEN INDICATING WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD HESITATE WHEN INDICATING WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5.
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
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