What 505 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala Limited

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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT UP TO 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKES AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 09-26-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILS WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. UPDATED 10/01/2012 *JS

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I HAVE A CHEVY IMPALA, 2011, AND A MONTH OR SO AFTER BUYING IT THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I COULD GET IT INTO A SHOP, IT WENT OFF. IT CAME ON AGAIN YESTERDAY AND MY ENGINE POWER ALL BUT SHUT DOWN, I WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND THOUGHT I WOULDN'T MAKE IT. AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THAT CHEVY HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS. WHY ARE THEY NOT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM? THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS. *TR

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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

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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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT SEIZED AND THE PASSENGER COULD NOT MOVE AROUND FREELY IN THE SEAT WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALMOST EVERY TIME THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE THREE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS WERE INTERFERING WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE REAR SEAT WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

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

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ON 5/11/12, THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT CAME ON; THEN A NOTICE THAT THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND HE SAID I COULD BRING IT IN ON 5/14. I ASKED IF IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE MEANTIME AND HE SAID NO. I WAS DRIVING ON 5/12 AND WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WAITING TO TURN LEFT. I WENT TO TURN LEFT AND EXPERIENCED A GREATLY REDUCED RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL WHICH WAS FRIGHTENING. THE DEALER JUST CALLED ME ON 5/14 AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HE IS REPLACING IT. I FOUND A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THIS SAME ISSUE GOING BACK TO THE 2007 MODEL. I THINK THIS SHOULD PROMPT A SAFETY RECALL, SINCE A NON-RESPONSIVE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JS

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I BOUGHT A USED 2011 IMPALA AND DID NOTICE THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS WERE QUITE HIGH, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD GET USED TO IT. I HOWEVER AFTER THREE WEEKS HAVE NOT. IT IS A HINDRANCE HAVING TO SPEND EYE TIME ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SEAT HEAD RESTS BEING TOO HIGH. WHEN DRIVING IN 5 LANE TRAFFIC YOU NEED TO DEVOTE ALL OF YOUR ATTENTION TO ALL AROUND YOU, AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THIS IN A 2011 IMPALA. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER BECAUSE IT APPEARS FROM OTHER POSTINGS THAT THE ONLY RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME IS TO BUY 2012 REAR SEATS FOR OVER $400. THESE SEATS ARE DEFINITELY A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

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WHILE GOING TO WORK APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO A DEER CROSSED THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO STEER AWAY FROM THE DEER ONLY TO NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FELT AS IF IT HAD NO POWER STEERING. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE DEER CHANGED ITS COURSE OR I WOULD OF RAN INTO IT HEAD ON DUE TO THE STEERING BEING SO HARD. THE 2012 IMPALA HAS THE SAME ISSUE? GM IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A PI DOCUMENT FROM GM WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IT CONFIRMS THIS STEERING ISSUE WITH THE 2011 CHEVY IMPALA (ALL MODELS). THIS PI STATES TO THE MECHANICS TO TAKE CONSUMERS FOR A RIDE IN A PARKING LOT AND PERFORM PARKING LOT MANEUVERS AT SLOW SPEEDS.THEN TELL THE CONSUMER IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION IF THE STEERING ISSUE IS DUPLICATED. MY ATTORNEY STILL HAS POSSESSION OF MY INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL EXPERT REPORT WHICH STATES THAT THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY HARD AT LOW SPEEDS. MY CASE WAS LOST IN ARBITRATION AND THE DECISION WAS MADE IN A FEW HOURS. I DO HAVE THE DOCUMENT NO. [XXX]. DOCUMENT ID [XXX]. I WANT ALL CONSUMERS TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IF THEY PURCHASE A 2011 IMPALA AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOTE THAT THE NHTSA HAS THIS STEERING ISSUE DOCUMENTED. HOWEVER GM STATES THAT THIS IS NOT THEIR BULLETIN AND NONE EXIST FOR THIS ISSUE. I WAS GIVEN THIS PI BY MISTAKE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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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.

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2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH VEHICLE HEAD REST *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR HEAD REST WERE TOO HIGH AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE, WHICH MADE BACKING UP DIFFICULT. *JB

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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.

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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.

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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

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MY FIRST ISSUE WAS WITH THE CENTER HEAD RESTRAINT IN THE BACK WHICH TOTALLY BLOCKS VISION USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REMOVE IT AND I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT. BACKING UP IS IMPOSSIBLE EXCEPT WITH THE SIDE MIRRORS AND TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY BEHIND IS BLOCKED WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS BUT GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL TO ADJUST THESE HEADRESTS. ALSO, I LIVE IN THE TN MOUNTAINS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPLETELY DISENGAGES WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "THIS WAS NORMAL AND ALL NEW CARS DID THIS TO SAVE GAS"! I'M NOT THAT MUCH OF AN IDIOT! CRUISE CONTROL IS SET TO MAINTAIN SPEED.... PERIOD! PLEASE.... CAN YOU HELP? *TR

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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

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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

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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.

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

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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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOO NARROW AND WHEN DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT'S FOOT WOULD SLIP OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6, 8000.

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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.

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