Does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have a rear visibility problem?

Yes. NHTSA lists 24 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2011 Impala, mostly describing fixed rear headrests that block the rear view mirror.

How common are these complaints compared to other Impala years?

The 2011 model year has a 5% share of complaints in this area, the highest share among the Impala model years listed in this data.

Is there a recall for the Impala headrest visibility issue?

No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2011 Impala.

At what mileage do these visibility complaints happen?

The median mileage at failure for this problem area is 317 miles, and several owners reported the issue as soon as they got the vehicle.

Did these visibility complaints lead to crashes or injuries?

NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries tied to these 24 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2011 Impala.

2011 Chevrolet Impala Visibility & Wipers Problems

Owners filed 24 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala, 5% of its 505 total complaints for the year — the highest share among the model years listed. Nearly all describe fixed rear headrests blocking the rear view mirror. No related recalls are listed.

Visibility & Wipers complaints: 24; 5% of 505
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 317 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

Fixed, non-adjustable rear headrests, especially the center one, block a large portion of the view through the rear view mirror.
Owners describe the obstruction ranging from about 70% to 90% of the rear window depending on driver seating position.
Side mirrors are described as small, compounding the reduced rear visibility when changing lanes.
Drivers report difficulty seeing vehicles behind them at stops, while backing up, and when merging.
Dealers reportedly told owners the headrests could not be adjusted or altered, offering no fix for the visibility loss.

When 2011 Chevrolet Impala visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 25, 2010, latest Jan 29, 2021.

24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2010 to Jan 2021; peak Apr 2011 (2).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Impala model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

200518 (3%)
200624 (5%)
200719 (3%)
20089 (1%)
20098 (1%)
20106 (1%)
201124 (5%)
20124 (2%)
20134 (1%)
201419 (3%)
20157 (2%)
20161 (1%)
20172 (2%)
20182 (3%)
20190 (0%)
20201 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Chevrolet Impala have a rear visibility problem?: Yes. NHTSA lists 24 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2011 Impala, mostly describing fixed rear headrests that block the rear view mirror.
How common are these complaints compared to other Impala years?: The 2011 model year has a 5% share of complaints in this area, the highest share among the Impala model years listed in this data.
Is there a recall for the Impala headrest visibility issue?: No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2011 Impala.
At what mileage do these visibility complaints happen?: The median mileage at failure for this problem area is 317 miles, and several owners reported the issue as soon as they got the vehicle.
Did these visibility complaints lead to crashes or injuries?: NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries tied to these 24 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2011 Impala.