Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the occupant sensor in the passenger's seat occasionally failed to recognize an occupant seated in the passenger's side front seat. The air bag off warning light would remain illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The contact was referred to a junkyard for assistance with finding a replacement part. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag inadvertently deactivated while a passenger was seated in the passenger's side front seat. The air bag warning light was illuminated and the Air Bag System message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While driving at 40 MPH, the instrument panel flickered and the steering wheel seized. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained nose and face injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the hood and siding needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V355000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 5,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 70 MPH, the traction control light illuminated as the vehicle stalled. As a result, the vehicle crashed and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver and passenger sustained minor injuries to their hands and legs, but did receive medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the impact was not hard enough for the air bags to deploy. The failure mileage was 56,000. Updated 6/8/15 updated 11/6/15
G.m. Replaced my ingintion switch on a national recall. I was hit in left rear qtr. Panel. I lost all power and could not stop or steer the car. I careened across highway and ran into a house. No air bags deployed either. G.m. Sent a team to recover computer info and has now told me there is no problem.
I was driving and a cop was behind me and he turned on his lights when I noticed his I tried to move into the right lane, and when I started to change lanes my driver wheel locked and it sounded as if I hit my brakes and the cop hit me my car spin out of control and I hit a tree.
Driving at approximately 60 MPH on the highway, I was rear ended, spun around two to three times; hit a guardrail head on before coming to a stop; airbags never deployed. The ignition recall had been fixed over the past summer at a local dealership.
"Takata recall" vehicle involved in a rear end collision, was pushed into oncoming traffic and hit head on. Air bag never deployed additionally the back of drivers seat collapsed into the rear seat
I was on my to work and a deer ran out in front of me. I of course like others swerved to miss the animal causing me to roll 3 and a half times side to side will wearing seatbelt. I received scratches on left side of face and struck steering wheel with my chest at the bottom of my sternum. Causing severe chest pain and slight pneumothorax to left lung and something had gotten behind me causing left buttock black bruising and bruising on my spine causing slight paralysis for quite some time. No airbag deployment happened and I have pictures of all this including pictures of airbag compartments busted open and sensors showing that was suppose to deploy them. I had to be extricated from car and flown by helicopter to trauma center. Seatbelt held at waist but did not lock at top holding me still at all. I still have pain in mid sternum area. …
"Takata recall" - service air bags warning just recently came up on my dashboard when driving. Passenger side seat belt sounds off, and flashes to fasten seat belt when there is no passenger is in the car, and the air bag panel flicks on and off consistently. When I open the drivers door, there a tapping like sound starts and continues for five to six seconds and then stops. When I push the heat and air levers, it stops. When I turn on the air or heat, it will make the tapping noise and stop after a short while. The noise seem to be getting louder. When the car is sitting in the heat or when in the car just sitting and the car not turned on, the same tapping noise will occur. The noise sounds like a wood pecker sound. It sound like it is located in the cooling system area, close by the dashboard area.
Airbag complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Chevrolet Impala, 7% of the model year's 505 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Impala, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 15 crashes, 0 fires and 18 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.