AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. DEALER SAYS THE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BAD SENSOR IN IT. I WAS TOLD THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM A LOT ON THIS MODEL. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THE BAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT UNLESS THIS IS FIXED. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
2009 Chevrolet Impala
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
663 reports with mileage · 161 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 232 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 224 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 179 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
232 reportsAIR BAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASH. TOLD IT WAS A WEIGHT SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CHEVY SAME THING IS HAPPENING. *TR
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2009 IMPALA. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH ONLY 100+ MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TODAY. THE DASH WILL SAY REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MILES AN HOUR MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND JUST SAT THERE WONDERING WHAT WAS…
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I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2009 IMPALA. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH ONLY 100+ MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TODAY. THE DASH WILL SAY REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MILES AN HOUR MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND JUST SAT THERE WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING, IT WAS JUST COMPLETELY OFF. I WAS ABOUT TO CALL FOR AAA AND TRIED ONE MORE TIME AND IT STARTED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 AS WELL AND I WAS GOING 45 ON A COUNTRY RD. AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND SAT THERE AND WAITED AGAIN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL DO NOTHING. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY TRACTION CONTROL, MAKING A STRANGE GRINDING TYPE NOISE AND BOGS THE CAR DOWN FROM MOVING WHEN I AM TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR TRYING TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHTS COMING ON AND TELLING ME TO SERVICE MY AIR BAGS. IT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AND COMES ON AND GOES OFF. THE DASH LIGHT WILL COME ON AND TELL ME TO SHUT ENGINE OFF NOW FOR LOW OIL PRESSURE, THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR 4 YEARS, THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD. THIS CAR WAS NEVER A GOOD CAR FROM THE VERY DAY IT CAME OFF THE LOT. *TR
STOPPED AT THE TOP OF A SNOW COVERED HILL. PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN 2ND GEAR AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE HILL. THE VEHICLE GOT UP TO ABOUT 15 MPH THEN LOST ALL POWER; ENGINE QUIT, NO BRAKES, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE. BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING THE VEHICLE GAINED SIGNIFICANT SPEED GOING DOWNHILL. NOT BEING ABLE…
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STOPPED AT THE TOP OF A SNOW COVERED HILL. PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN 2ND GEAR AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE HILL. THE VEHICLE GOT UP TO ABOUT 15 MPH THEN LOST ALL POWER; ENGINE QUIT, NO BRAKES, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE. BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING THE VEHICLE GAINED SIGNIFICANT SPEED GOING DOWNHILL. NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IT WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MONTHS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND SEVERAL MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALL THE POWER SHUT OFF AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO AAA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WHERE SHE PURCHASED IT. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/10/14
I AM HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AS EVERYONE ELSE, WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND THAN MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY ENGINE POWER REDUCED WITH THE MIL LIGHT, THE CAR SPEED IMMEDIATELY DECREASED TO ABOUT 50 MPH, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, PULLED OVER AND LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE THAN RESTARTED…
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I AM HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AS EVERYONE ELSE, WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND THAN MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY ENGINE POWER REDUCED WITH THE MIL LIGHT, THE CAR SPEED IMMEDIATELY DECREASED TO ABOUT 50 MPH, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, PULLED OVER AND LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE THAN RESTARTED IT. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS RANDOMLY. IT IS SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO COMES OFF AND ON, I HAD TAKEN TO CHEVY DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WAS ABOUT $500 IN WORK, AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I AM NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR SO I AM DRIVING IN A VEHICLE WHERE IF THEIR IS AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR
2009 CHEVY IMPALA 3.5L FFV - MY "PASSENGER AIRBAG" LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE EARLY SPRING 2013. IN AUGUST 2013, MY "BRAKE" LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY HANDLING ISSUES. BOTH THE REGULAR BRAKES & PARKING BRAKE WORKED NORMALLY THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS FULL. FOR A FE…
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2009 CHEVY IMPALA 3.5L FFV - MY "PASSENGER AIRBAG" LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE EARLY SPRING 2013. IN AUGUST 2013, MY "BRAKE" LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY HANDLING ISSUES. BOTH THE REGULAR BRAKES & PARKING BRAKE WORKED NORMALLY THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS FULL. FOR A FEW MONTHS THE "BRAKE" LIGHT WOULD COME ON SPORADICALLY & ALARM WHILE DRIVING, ALL WITHOUT ANY CHANGES IN DRIVING OR BRAKING ABILITY. AROUND SEPTEMBER 2013, THE "TRACTION CONTROL" & "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS CAME ON. AGAIN, THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUE WITH HANDLING. THESE LIGHTS ALSO CAME ON & OFF RANDOMLY & THEY WERE SELDOM ALL ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. OCCASIONALLY, THE WARNING PANEL ALSO SAYS, "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" & ACCELERATION & POWER ARE DIMINISHED. THERE'S ALSO BEEN A "LOW PRESSURE LEFT REAR TIRE." THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE LOW, BUT THE REAR TIRE WAS OK. TONIGHT, THE "CHECK ENGINE" & "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHTS CAME ON & THE DISPLAY SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED." SUDDENLY, IT SAID, "STARTING DISABLED SERVICE THROTTLE" & MY CAR ESSENTIALLY LOST ALL POWER. THE STEERING ALSO LOCKED UP. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD. I RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE, & THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON, BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN, WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDING TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO S…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDING TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO SECURE INTO THE BELT CLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
THE AIRBAG NEEDS SERVICING LIGHT COMES ON AS SOON AS I START THE ENGINE AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT GOES ON EVEN IF THERE IS NOONE IN THE SEAT AND IT STAYS ON WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER. THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR ANY KIND OF COLLISION. THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE ANOTHER UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. *TR
MY IMPALA HAS A VERY BAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND THE MANUAL SAID IT CAN DEFLATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MY WIPERS HALF THE TIME DON'T WANT TO COME ON OR WORK. MY HORN AND ALARM SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T. THE CAR SHAKES REALLY BAD WHEN I DRIVE IT, ESPECIALLY THE STEERING WHEEL. IT ALSO BURNS OI…
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MY IMPALA HAS A VERY BAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND THE MANUAL SAID IT CAN DEFLATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MY WIPERS HALF THE TIME DON'T WANT TO COME ON OR WORK. MY HORN AND ALARM SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T. THE CAR SHAKES REALLY BAD WHEN I DRIVE IT, ESPECIALLY THE STEERING WHEEL. IT ALSO BURNS OIL LIKE CRAZY.I TRUST MY 99' CHEVY SUBURBAN OVER MY BRAND NEW 09' IMPALA. IT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I HAVE EVER HAD AND I WISH I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. IT DEFINITELY HAS TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS THEN MY 99' SUBURBAN HAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING THAT WAS UNDER THE FRONT SEAT WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING. HE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING THAT WAS UNDER THE FRONT SEAT WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING. HE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,600. *TR
Official recalls
516V507000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification; Electrical System:wiring
Jul 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 25, 2008 through February 16, 2010. The front passenger seat frame may contact and damage the wires of the passenger presence sensor module.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the wires are damaged, the passenger presence sensory system may fail to recognize that the passenger seat is occupied, disabling the air bag. Damage may also cause the air bag fuse to short resulting in a loss of all air bags and seat belt pretensions. Both conditions increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will double wrap the wires with anti-abrasion tape and replace damaged wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 36110.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 25, 2008 through February 16, 2010. The front passenger seat frame may contact and damage the wires of the passenger presence sensor module.
Consequence: If the wires are damaged, the passenger presence sensory system may fail to recognize that the passenger seat is occupied, disabling the air bag. Damage may also cause the air bag fuse to short resulting in a loss of all air bags and seat belt pretensions. Both conditions increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will double wrap the wires with anti-abrasion tape and replace damaged wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 36110.
Electrical System:wiring
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 25, 2008 through February 16, 2010. The front passenger seat frame may contact and damage the wires of the passenger presence sensor module.
Consequence: If the wires are damaged, the passenger presence sensory system may fail to recognize that the passenger seat is occupied, disabling the air bag. Damage may also cause the air bag fuse to short resulting in a loss of all air bags and seat belt pretensions. Both conditions increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will double wrap the wires with anti-abrasion tape and replace damaged wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 36110.
14V355000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jun 23, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
12V377000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Aug 3, 2012
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
10V480000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Oct 13, 2010
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET IMPALAS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE FRONT SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE LAP BELT ANCHOR PRETENSIONER MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELTS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ANCHORS TO THE PRETENSIONERS AND, IF NECESSARY, REINSTALL THE ANCHORS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
08V517000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 6, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 79 MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG INFLATOR THAT COULD FRACTURE AT AN INFLATOR TUBE DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DURING A PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR TUBE COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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