57 complaints reported

2011 Chevrolet Impala Seats

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
57
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2014

I WANT TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST THAT INCLUDES MANY OTHERS REGARDING THE THREE HEAD RESTS BUILT INTO THE REAR SEAT. THEY SIGNIFICANTLY LIMIT THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION, AND THUS CAN AFFECT THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Jun 2014

CANNOT SEE OUT OF REAR WINDOW DUE TO OBSTRUCTIONS FROM REAR SEAT HEADRESTS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014
May 2014

THE THREE REAR SEAT HEADREST ARE WAY TOO LARGE AND HIGH AND BLOCK THE DRIVERS VIEW OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. EACH ONE OF THE THREE HEADREST BLOCK PART OF THE VIEW OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT DRIVERS OF THIS CAR ARE BEING FORCED TO DEAL WITH. THERE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING INTERFERING WITH THE VIEW OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE REAR SEAT HEADREST ARE OBVIOUSLY OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE BACKS INTO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE OR CHANGES LANES CAUSING A CRASH ON A HIGHWAY DESTROYING PROPERTY, INJURING OR KILLING SOMEONE. THEN THERE WILL BE A HUGE CIVIL SUIT AND YOU CAN BET THE DRIVER OF THE CAR WILL PREVAIL ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS SAFETY HAZARD HAS BEEN REPORTED TO GM, NHTSA, THE BBB AND OTHERS AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO MANDATE A RECALL TO HAVE THESE HEADREST REMOVED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2014
Apr 2014

I PURCHASED A 2011 CHEVROLET 2011 IMPALA LT CAR RECENTLY. I FIND THAT THE HEIGHTS OF THE THREE BACK-SEAT HEAD RESTS ARE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS FOR A DRIVER OF THIS CAR. EACH HEAD REST IS FIVE INCHES TOO HIGH TO SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW. I HAD NOT HEARD BEFORE HAND THAT THE 2011 IMPALA WAS WELL KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR. RECENTLY, BECAUSE OF MY LIMITED VISIBILITY PAST THE LEFT BACK-SEAT WINDOW HEAD RESTS, IN BACKING MY CAR, I BUMPED A PARKED CAR. MY LEFT REAR FENDER STRUCK THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER OF THAT CAR. THE COST OF THIS FENDER REPAIR WAS $983.00. I FEAR THAT MY DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT CHANGES MADE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE HEAD RESTS IS LEADING TO ANOTHER MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING. TO HAPPEN. I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Sep 2013

2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEAD REST ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE HEAD REST REMOVED. SHE STATED THEY WERE TOO LARGE, WHICH BLOCKED HER VIEW.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Aug 2013

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE BACKING I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE BEHIND ME IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BE CAUSE THE VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED BY THE 3 REAR SEAT HEADRESTS. I HAVE ALMOST HIT TWO PEOPLE WHO'S HEADS WERE BLOCKED BY THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS. I WISH THE HEAD RESTS COULD BE REMOVED BUT THE ARE MOLDED AS PART OF THE REAR SEAT. STUPIDEST REAR SEAT DESIGN I HAVE EVER SEEN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Aug 2013

REAR SEAT CENTER HEAD REST LIMITS VISIBILITY, SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. IT IS A DEFINITE HAZARD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2013
Jul 2013

THE BACK SEATS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE ALMOST HAD NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OVER THE SEATS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2013
Jun 2013

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 IMPALA IN REVERSE, REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS BLOCK HALF OF MY VIEW, SO EXTRA CAUTION HAS TO BE USED. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM ON OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. ALSO THE FRONT HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE POSITIONED TOO FAR FORWARD AND PUTS MY NECK IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. ON LONG TRIPS MY NECK ACHES VERY BAD. RAISING THE HEAD RESTRAINTS DOES NOT HELP THIS PROBLEM. IF CHEVROLET HAS NO FIX FOR THESE TWO PROBLEMS I WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE THEM MYSELF OR GET RID OF THIS CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Jun 2013

2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BACK ROW HEAD RESTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, THE HEAD REST OBSTRUCTED HIS VISION SO THAT APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF THE REAR WINDOW WAS BLOCKED FROM VIEW.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Dec 2012

THE TALL REAR SEAT HEADRESTS SEVERELY OBSCURE VISION TO THE REAR WHEN BACKING UP. THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT HEADREST IS THE WORST OFFENDER, AND COMPLETELY BLOCKS MY REAR VISION TO THE POINT WHERE I CANNOT TELL IF THERE IS A VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT BEHIND ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR BACKING UP. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY GM AS I HAVE NOTICED THE 2012 IMPALA DOES NOT HAVE THIS CENTER REAR HEADREST! THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED FOR THESE OLDER MODEL IMPALAS SO THESE REAR SEAT HEADRESTS CAN BE REMOVED. I ALREADY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO GM (REFERENCE #[XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2012
Nov 2012

HEADRESTS ON THE BACK SEAT BLOCKS APPROXIMATELY 50% OF REAR VISION. *TR *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2011
Sep 2012

CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAUSE THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT HEADREST IS VERY TALL. THIS HEADREST IS NOT PRESENT ON THE 2012 IMPALA, SO THIS IS AN ISSUE. ALSO, TURNING AND TRYING TO LOOK OUT THE BACK WINDOW IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HIGH REAR SEAT HEADRESTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2012
Aug 2012

WE, LIKE OTHERS, DIDN'T REALIZE HOW TALL THE THREE REAR HEADRESTS WERE WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR 2011 CHEVY IMPALA. THE CENTER HEADREST IS ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM; IT CREATES A BLINDSPOT AND TO ME IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. GM REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS WE OWNERS WHO ARE STUCK WITH THIS; THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REMOVED THAT CENTER HEADREST ON THE 2012 MODEL. IN THE MEANTIME, SO FAR, THEY'VE IGNORED THEIR BIG MESS UP AND DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2011 MODEL. IF WE'D KNOWN WHAT AN ISSUE THIS WAS GOING TO BE WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS CAR; IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S ALSO GOT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. GM EITHER NEEDS TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION, SUCH AS HAVING AN UPHOLSTERY SHOP REMOVE THE CENTER HEADREST OR REPLACE THE SEAT WITH THE NEW MODEL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY'LL ACTUALLY CARE????????????? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE HEADREST IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT TOO HIGH, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY WHEN UTILIZING THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2012
Jul 2012

REAR HEADRESTS ARE SO LARGE THEY BLOCK MY VIEW AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT IT BUT I COULD TRADE IN FOR A 2012... I THINK THIS IS CRAZY! I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THIS HAZARD. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE THE SEAT BACK WITH THE 2012 VERSION???? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2010
Jun 2012

MY HUSBAND IS 6' TALL AND WE GOT A 2011 CHEVY IMPALA THE BACK SEAT HAS 3 HEADREST AND THE MIDDLE HEADREST BLOCKS HIS VIEW USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HE DID NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION WHEN HE TEST DROVE IT AND WHEN I DROVE IT HOME I COULD NOT SEE THE CAR BEHIND ME SO I TOLD MY HUSBAND AND WHEN WE GOT HOME WITH THE CAR WE BOTH REALLY LIKE IT SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASK IF THE BACK SEAT COULD BE REPLACE AND THEY TOLD ME NO SO NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH A SAFETY DEFECT!!!! YOU NEED TO DRIVE ONE AROUND FOR AWHILE AND SEE WHAT I MEAN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2012
May 2012

2011 CHEVY IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEADREST AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR *TGW

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Apr 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEAD REST BLOCKED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD REST WAS LEANING ENTIRELY TOO FAR FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2011
Apr 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT HEADREST WAS IMPAIRING HIS DRIVING VIEW. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD-REST COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2011
Mar 2012

2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS BEING TOO HIGH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR SEATS HAS THREE LARGE HEAD RESTS, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Mar 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEIGHT OF THE HEADREST WAS BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY WHEN THE CONTACT HAD TO LOOK THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2012
Feb 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CENTER HEADREST OBSTRUCTED THE REAR VIEW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE HEADREST DESIGN COULD NOT BE ALTERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 7,200. ..UPDATED 09/04/12 *BF UPDATED 09/12/2012 *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Feb 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEADRESTS WERE OBSTRUCTING THE FIELD OF VISION THROUGH THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MODIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,300.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Feb 2012

REAR SEAT HEADRESTS IMPAIR VISIBILITY THROUGH REAR WINDOW. THE CENTER HEADREST IS THE WORST OFFENDER AS IT BLOCKS MOTORCYCLES AND EVEN SMALLER CARS FROM YOUR VIEW. OVER 50% OF THE VIEW THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW IS BLOCKED. ONE MUST USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN TRYING TO NAVIGATE ON THE ROADS AND IT ACTUALLY CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN BACKING INTO OR OUT OF PARKING SPACES. A PERSON WALKING BEHIND THE CAR CAN EASILY BE MISSED BY THE DRIVER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet Impala has 57 Seats complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.