Page 5 of 376
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Page 7 of 376

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote KeylessEntry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Trunk Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-7
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8 Sensing System for
Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 1-9
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-11
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-15
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-16
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-18
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-19
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-19
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Page 9 of 376

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-3
A.Air Vents on page 8‑5.
B. Remote Trunk Release Button. See Trunk on page 2‑10.
C. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑5.
D. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑11.
E. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4.
F. Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑24.
G. Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑16.
H. AM-FM Radio on page 7‑6.
I. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑2. J.
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑6.
K. Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑29 (If Equipped).
L. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
M. Cruise Control on page 9‑32.
N. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
O. Data Link Connector. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑17.
P. Horn on page 5‑3.
Q. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑3 (If Equipped). R.
Ignition Positions on page 9‑16.
S. Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1.
T. Power Outlets on page 5‑9.
U. Center Console Shift Lever (If Equipped). See Shifting Into
Park on page 9‑20.
V. Glove Box on page 4‑1.
Page 15 of 376

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-9
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
Controls for the outside power
mirrors are on the driver door
armrest.
Press the left or right side of
the selector located above the
control pad to adjust the driver or
passenger mirror. Then press the
control pad to move the mirror in
the desired direction.
SeePower Mirrors on page 2‑15.
Interior Mirror
Vehicles with a manual rearview
mirror can be adjusted by holding
the mirror in the center to move it for
a clearer view behind the vehicle.
Adjust the mirror to avoid glare from
the headlamps behind. Pull the
lever, located at the bottom of the
mirror for nighttime use. Return the
lever to its original position for the
day position.
SeeManual Rearview Mirror on
page 2‑15.
On vehicles with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror, the mirror
will automatically adjust to reduce
the glare of lights from behind the
vehicle. See Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror on page 2‑16.
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
The tilt wheel lever is located on the
left side of the steering column.
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Hold the wheel and pull the lever toward you.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down.
3. Release the lever to lock the steering wheel in place.
Page 16 of 376

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
1-10 In Brief
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Interior Lighting
Dome Lamp
The center mounted dome lamp
overhead comes on when a door is
opened. This lamp can also be
turned on by turning the instrument
panel brightness control clockwise.
Reading Lamps
The vehicle has reading lamps that
also act as the dome lamp. Press
the button near each lamp to turn
them on and off.Map Lamps
The vehicle has map lamps on the
rearview mirror. Push the button
near each lamp to turn the map
lamps on and off.
For more information on interior
lighting, see:
.Exterior Lighting on page 1‑10.
.Courtesy Lamps on page 6‑6.
.Delayed Entry Lighting on
page 6‑7.
.Delayed Exit Lighting on
page 6‑7.
.Parade Dimming on page 6‑7.
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.
P:
Briefly turn to this position to
manually turn the automatic lamp
control and Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) off or on. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, the off position
only works when the vehicle is
shifted into the P (Park) position.
Page 22 of 376

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
1-16 In Brief
Steering Wheel Controls
If equipped, these controls are
located on the right side of the
steering wheel.
w:Press to go to the next radio
station stored as a favorite, or the
next track if a CD is playing.
b g: Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on. Press and hold longer
than two seconds to interact with
the OnStar
®or Bluetooth systems,
if equipped.
c x:Press to go to the
previous radio station stored as a
favorite, the next track if a CD is
playing, to reject an incoming call,
or end a current call.
SRCE : Press to choose between
the radio, CD, and auxiliary
input jack.
+
e−e: Increases or decreases
volume.
¨: Press to go to the next radio
station while in AM, FM, or XM™.
Press to go to the next track or
chapter while sourced to the CD.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑3.
Cruise Control
The cruise control buttons are
located on the left side of the
steering wheel.
J: Press to turn cruise control on
and off. The indicator is lit when
cruise control is on.
+RES: Press briefly to make the
vehicle resume to a previously set
speed, or press and hold to
accelerate.
SET−: Press to set the speed and
activate cruise control or make the
vehicle decelerate.
Page 28 of 376
Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
1-22 In Brief
OnStar Steering Wheel
Controls
This vehicle may have a Talk/Mute
button that can be used to interact
with OnStar hands-free calling.
SeeSteering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑3 for more information.
On some vehicles, the mute button
can be used to dial numbers into
voice mail systems, or to dial phone
extensions. See the OnStar Owner's
Guide for more information.
Your Responsibility
Increase the volume of the radio if
the OnStar advisor cannot be heard.
If the light next to the OnStar
buttons is red, the system may
not be functioning properly.
Press
Qand request a vehicle
diagnostic. If the light appears clear
(no light is appearing), your OnStar
subscription has expired and all
services have been deactivated.
Press
Qto confirm that the OnStar
equipment is active.
Page 74 of 376

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
3-26 Seats and Restraints
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the driver.
.A frontal airbag for the right front
passenger.
.A seat‐mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
.A seat‐mounted side impact
airbag for the right front
passenger.
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and passenger directly behind
the driver.
.A roof-rail airbag for the right
front passenger and passenger
seated directly behind the right
front passenger.All of the airbags in the vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG embossed
in the trim or on an attached label
near the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the middle
part of the steering wheel for the
driver and on the instrument panel
for the right front passenger.
With seat‐mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG will
appear on the side of the seatback
closest to the door.
With roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear along the
headliner or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today's airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of an
inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job. Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{WARNING
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt
—even if
you have airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with safety
belts, but do not replace them.
Also, airbags are not designed to
deploy in every crash. In some
crashes safety belts are your only
restraint. See When Should an
Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑30.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. Everyone in your
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly —whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.