IllustrationON 1/2/2021 I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HAD A FRONT END CRASH AT 60 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF.
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
790–25K
10625–50K
14150–75K
13875–100K
148100–150K
51150K+
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.
43 crash reports9 fire reports34 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
232 reportsCAR HAS HAD SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR YEARS PRIOR TO BEING INHERITED. 4 CODES WERE PULLED INLCUDING: 1. B0021 PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT LOOP OPEN. 2. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 OPEN. 3. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 HIGH RESISTANCE 4. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMEN…
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CAR HAS HAD SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR YEARS PRIOR TO BEING INHERITED. 4 CODES WERE PULLED INLCUDING: 1. B0021 PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT LOOP OPEN. 2. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 OPEN. 3. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 HIGH RESISTANCE 4. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 HIGH RESISTANCE IT APPEARS SOME 2009 IMPALAS WERE RECALLED REGARDING THE SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAG WIRING AND THIS ONE MAY BE RELATED.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. ON THE HWY GOING 60MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE BOTH ON. WENT TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION (WHICH I FAILED DUE TO THE AIRBAG) AND HE INFORMED ME TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL. …
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THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. ON THE HWY GOING 60MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE BOTH ON. WENT TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION (WHICH I FAILED DUE TO THE AIRBAG) AND HE INFORMED ME TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL. I DID, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE RECALL IS CLOSED AND I CAN'T GET THIS FIXED UNLESS I COME UP WITH A LOT OF MONEY. I EXPLAINED I NEVER GOT ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE RECALL. HOW CAN I GET MY CAR FIXED ON A CLOSED RECALL?
PURCHASED VEHICLE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. LATER ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE AIR BAG IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND AND THEN STOPPED. JUST RECENTLY IT BEGAN MAKING THE KNOCKING SOUND AGAIN WHEN I OPEN MY CAR DOOR, A…
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PURCHASED VEHICLE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. LATER ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE AIR BAG IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND AND THEN STOPPED. JUST RECENTLY IT BEGAN MAKING THE KNOCKING SOUND AGAIN WHEN I OPEN MY CAR DOOR, AS WELL AS CLOSE IT. IT LASTS ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND THEN STOPS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE CAR LOT AND THE SENSORS KEEP GOING OFF, THE SEAT BELT DOESN'T LOCK UP, SOMETIMES IT SAYS ENGINE IS HOT TURN OF AC WHEN IT ISN'T ON. AND WHEN TURNING IT'S WILL SOMETIMES MAKE A VIBRATING NOISE THAT WON'T ALLOW ME TO GO THEN THE ACCELERATOR KICKS BACK IN TO GO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V507000 (AIR BAGS). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT DIAMOND CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC LOCATED AT 768 WASHINGTON ST, AUBURN, MA 01501 HOWEVER, THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V507000 (AIR BAGS). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT DIAMOND CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC LOCATED AT 768 WASHINGTON ST, AUBURN, MA 01501 HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. THE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT. THIS SAME ISSUE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY.
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I SCANNED MY VEHICLE WITH A OBD 2 SCANNER AND NO CODE WAS DISPLAYED. I TRIED TO ERASE THE AIR BAG LIGHT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. O AM WORRIED BECAUSE MY MOTHER IN LAW WHO IS 62 YEARS OLD DRIVES THE VEHICLE . THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE . I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER AND GAVE MY VIN NUMBER. PLEASE HE…
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THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I SCANNED MY VEHICLE WITH A OBD 2 SCANNER AND NO CODE WAS DISPLAYED. I TRIED TO ERASE THE AIR BAG LIGHT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. O AM WORRIED BECAUSE MY MOTHER IN LAW WHO IS 62 YEARS OLD DRIVES THE VEHICLE . THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE . I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER AND GAVE MY VIN NUMBER. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS THIS SAFETY ISSUE OR AIR BAG RECALL LIGHT PROBLEM.
THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON WHEN STARTING, DRIVING & STANDING STILL.
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.