2011 Chevrolet Impala Visibility Problems

I NOTICED MY REAR DEFROST HAS QUITE WORKING. I FIGURED IT WAS A FUSE SO I WASN'T TO WORRIED ABOUT IT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SNOW RECENTLY AND FIGURED I BETTER CHECK MY FUSES. THE RELAY IS WORKING THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. WE TRACED TO WIRING THROUGH THE FIRE WALL AND DOWN TO WHERE IT COMES INTO THE VEHICLE (DOWN BY YOUR FEET). THERE IS A WIRING THERE AND ONCE WE DISCONNECTED IT WE NOTICED IT IS BURNT VERY BAD. WHERE THE TWO PIECES CONNECT TOGETHER IS MELTED AND IS BLACK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BAD IF IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11390711

Incident

Jan 29, 2021

Mileage

115,000 mi

THE REAR DEFOGGER ON MY VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. INVESTIGATION LEAD TO A VIDEO ON THE INTERNET SHOWING A MELTED CONNECTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FUSE BOX. FOLLOWING THE STEPS IN THE VIDEO I FOUND THE EXACT SAME BURNED UP CONNECTOR UNDER THE CARPET OF MY VEHICLE. PHOTOS INCLUDED. THE CONNECTOR WAS CLEARLY NOT DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE CURRENT THE FUSE WAS ALLOWING TO FLOW THROUGH. THIS IS A FIRE RISK AS WELL AS AN INCONVENIENCE AS NOW MY REAR DEFOGGER IS INOPERATIVE. I NEVER SMELLED THE BURNING PART BUT LOST CLEARING ABILITY ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

11291727

Incident

Dec 20, 2019

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION DURING USE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY BEARING IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

NHTSA ID

10981098

Incident

Jun 9, 2016

Mileage

51,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10785338

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DEFOGGER FAILED TO OPERATE BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

10670212

Incident

May 5, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IN THE VENTS JAMMED. SINCE MARCH 2013, I'VE HAD TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE 3 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648862

Incident

Mar 14, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE NO CRACKS ON THE WINDOW TO INDICATE THAT IT WOULD HAVE SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10620744

Incident

Aug 6, 2014

Mileage

55,000 mi

AFTER THE NOVELTY OF MY NEW CARE WORE OFF, I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF LIMITED VISIBILITY WHEN LOOKING OUT THE REAR WINDOW. THE MIDDLE HEADREST IN THE BACK SEAT OBSCURES MUCH OF THE WINDOW! I AM EXTRA CAREFUL WHEN BACKING UP BECAUSE OF THIS LIMITED VISIBILITY. I AM CONCERNED WHEN MY KIDS DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, YOUNGER DRIVERS DON'T ALWAYS LISTEN TO THEIR PARENTS. IN ADDITION, MY DAUGHTER ISN'T NEARLY AS TALL AS I AM AND THE BACKSEAT MIDDLE HEADREST IS EVEN MORE OF AN ISSUE WITH SHORTER PEOPLE. THIS ISN'T A DEFECT, PER SE, BUT JUST AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DESIGN FLAW. LOOKING ON YOUR WEBSITE, I AM NOW AWARE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS CONCERN. I AM GLAD GM REDESIGNED THE 2012 MODEL TO TAKE THIS HAZARD AWAY BUT WHAT ABOUT FOR THIS 2011 MODEL YEAR? *TR

NHTSA ID

10537152

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

500 mi

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH WOULD NOT OPERATE ( INTERMITTENT) AT TIMES. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP (YOUNG CHEVROLET). DURING THE PAST MONTH (6/13) THE SAME TYPE OF CONDITION HAS OCCURRED. THIS PROBLEM SOUNDS MUCH LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH NHTSA ID - 13V248. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520714

Incident

Apr 18, 2011

Mileage

33,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST IN THE VEHICLE WAS TOO LARGE AND THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE TOO SMALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10478500

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

Mileage

3 mi

THE VISION OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW IS VERY POOR SINCE THERE ARE 3 HEAD RESTS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE CENTER ONE BLOCKS MUCH OF THE VISION. IT IS EASIER TO SEE A TRUCK OR AN SUV BEHIND YOU BUT HARD TO SEE ANOTHER CAR ESPECIALLY THE SMALLER TYPE. THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE MUCH SMALLER COMPARED TO THE 2003 I USE TO OWN. I WAS TOTALLY HAPPY WITH MY 2003 WHICH IS WHY I GOT A USED 2011. I HAVE ADDED ON THE SMALL STICK ON MIRRORS BUT THEY DO NOT HELP MUCH. WHY CAN GM MAKE SUCH A CHANGE? TO ME THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET A LOT OF OTHER 2011 IMPALA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. GM SAVES MONEY WITH NO REGARD TO SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464619

Incident

Jul 8, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEAD REST ON THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BLOCKED HIS VIEW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 06/05/12 *BF UPDATED 06/07/12 *JS

NHTSA ID

10456450

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

30 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT HEADREST SAT ENTIRELY TOO HIGH, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST WAS BLOCKING THE ENTIRE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID

10450277

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

Mileage

10 mi

THE REAR VISIBILITY BOTH USING THE MIRROR AND TURNING YOUR HEAD IS COMPROMISED BY THE MIDDLE HEADREST LOCATED ON THE BACK SEAT. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO BE REMOVED BUT IS MADE INTO THE REAR SEAT. I BELIEVE IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE OTHER TWO HEADRESTS ALSO MAKE IT HARD TO SEE. I REALLY BELIEVE IT WAS AN ALL AROUND BAD IDEA BY GMC. I ALSO GET A FILM ON MY WINDSHIELD LIKE I'VE BEEN SMOKING BUT NOBODY IN MY FAMILY SMOKES. I SUGGESTED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT MAY BE THE HEATER CORE BUT THEY ASSURED ME IT COULDN'T BE THE HEATER CORE. THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP WASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443636

Incident

Aug 18, 2011

Mileage

7 mi

MY COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE IS VISIBILITY CAUSED BY THE REAR HEADRESTS WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. GM BUILT THE BACK SEAT WITH 3 LARGE HEADRESTS "WHICH CANNOT BE REMOVED" THAT BLOCKS ALMOST THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, THE MOST I CAN SEE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS THE TOPS OF THE CAR(S) BEHIND ME, SOMETIMES NOT THAT MUCH. WHEN BACKING UP, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AROUND ALL THREE BACK HEADRESTS IN ORDER NOT TO HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. THESE BACK SEAT HEADRESTS CAN BE REPLACED BY BUYING THE 2012 IMPALA HEADREST COMPONENTS FROM GM WHICH COST AT LEAST $400.00 JUST FOR THE 3 PARTS NEEDED. I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE BACK SEAT HEADRESTS DUE TO THE HAZARD POSED BY THE HEADRESTS. *KB

NHTSA ID

10441920

Incident

Jan 28, 2011

Mileage

434 mi

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 ID

10440982

Incident

Nov 17, 2011

Mileage

21,000 mi

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 ID

10433935

Incident

Sep 14, 2011

Mileage

5,800 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10433496

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

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 ID

10432322

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

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 ID

10425247

Incident

Jan 27, 2011

Mileage

125 mi

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 ID

10421401

Incident

Jul 27, 2011

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 ID

10413319

Incident

Jul 18, 2011

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 ID

10401483

Incident

Apr 14, 2011

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 ID

10397548

Incident

Mar 30, 2011

Mileage

170 mi

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 ID

10394406

Incident

Mar 31, 2011

Mileage

68 mi