What 505 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala

THE REAR CENTER HEAD REST NEEDS TO BE REMOVED CAN'T SEE TO BACK UP THEY ALL ARE VERY LARGE BUT THE MIDDLE BLOCKS YOUR VIEW TOTALLY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT DUE TO THIS ISSUE IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE MAYBE THEY CAN'T REMOVE THE HEADREST ITSELF BUT THEY CAN REPLACE THE WHOLE SEAT. I THOUGHT SEATS IN THE BACK WERE SUPPOSE TO FOLD DOWN ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE TRUNK THIS AUTO DOESN'T DO THAT THERE AREN'T EVEN CUPHOLDERS IN THE BACK SEAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD DESIGN FOR GM. *TR

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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

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2011 CHEVY IMPALA LT. REAR HEAD REST REDUCES VISIBILITY. DIFFICULT TO SEE VEHICLES WHEN DRIVING AND BACKING. *TR

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2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE HEAD RESTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR HEAD RESTS ARE THREE INCHES TO HIGH AND TOO WIDE. THE THREE HEAD RESTS BLOCK ALMOST 40% OF THE VIEW LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND OUT THE BACK WINDOW. THE PROBLEM IS THEY CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN OR REMOVED. *JB UPDATED 10/20/11.*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HEADRESTS WERE POSITIONED TOO HIGH AND OBSTRUCTED VISION WHILE REVERSING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BECAUSE THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS WERE OBSTRUCTING HER VISION. THE HEAD RESTS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED OR REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD RESTS WERE DESIGNED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES AND COULD NOT BE ALTERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADREST IN THE MIDDLE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS OBSTRUCTING HIS VIEW. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT CRASH INTO OBJECTS SINCE HE DID NOT HAVE A CLEAR VIEW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5.

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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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS WERE TOO HIGH AND WAS BLOCKING HER VISION IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10. UPDATED 06/17/11*LJ UPDATED 06/21/11

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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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT HEADRESTS WERE TOO HIGH AND OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY THRU THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. IN ADDITION, HE STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE ABNORMALLY SMALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE, STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COULD POSSIBLY LOWER THE SEAT OR CUT DOWN THE HEADREST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.

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THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS ARE TOO TALL AND BLOCK VISION ESPECIALLY CENTER HEAD REST,MAKES BACKING UP VERY DIFFICULT, ALSO WHILE DRIVING BLOCKS VISION OF ANY THING BEHIND YOU .THESE ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE OR REMOVABLE.

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2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA S.T. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS BEING MUCH HIGHER THAN THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR CAR WINDOW AND BLOCKS OUT ABOUT 40% OR MORE OF VISION WHEN LOOKING OR USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED LOWERING OR ELIMINATING THE REAR SEAT HEAD REST WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND RESTORE SAFETY TO USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND RESTORE 100% VISION TO THE REAR WINDOW. *JB

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REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY IN THE 2011 CHEVY IMPALA IS SEVERELY LIMITED BY THE PLACEMENT OF READ SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS. A VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU IS COMPLETELY HIDDEN FROM VIEW USING THE REARVIEW MIRROR. *TR

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THE THREE HEAD RESTS PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE REAR SEAT BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, CREATING A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

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REGARDING REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS ON 2011 CHEVY. IMPALA LT. THE 3 REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS ARE POSITIONED (STATIONARY) IN SUCH A MANNER THAT WHEN LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW BY AT LEAST 90%. THIS MAKES FOR A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE. EVEN IF SIMPLY THE CENTER REAR HEAD REST WAS REMOVED IT WOULD HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM DRASTICALLY. CHEVROLET SITE FOR 2011 IMPALA HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF OWNERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. CHEVROLET SHOULD STAND THE COST TO REPAIR/ADJUST THE ABOVE PROBLEM. IT'S A LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHAT EVER THE DESIGNERS FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE WERE THINKING IS BEYOND ME. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA LST. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEATS HEAD REST WERE TOO TALL AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE THE REAR VIEW WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILLED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE DEALER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100. UPDTATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 03/03/11

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2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT. CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE EXCESSIVELY HIGH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS REAR VIEW VISION OF TRAFFIC WAS OBSTRUCTED. *JB

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