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2009 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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.

43 crash reports9 fire reports34 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

224 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2020
Electrical System

I HAVE PAID TO HAVE ACTUATORS ON BOTH SIDES REPAIRED FROM ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASED 5-11-2012 TO 6-2020 A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES. THE LAST TIME IN DECEMBER 2029 AND IT STARTED CLICKING A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPAIR. IT STARTS CLICKING AS SOON AS I UNLOCK THE DOORS AND CONTINUES TO CLICK AFTER LOCKING DOORS. I RETIRED DUE TO HEALTH FIV…

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I HAVE PAID TO HAVE ACTUATORS ON BOTH SIDES REPAIRED FROM ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASED 5-11-2012 TO 6-2020 A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES. THE LAST TIME IN DECEMBER 2029 AND IT STARTED CLICKING A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPAIR. IT STARTS CLICKING AS SOON AS I UNLOCK THE DOORS AND CONTINUES TO CLICK AFTER LOCKING DOORS. I RETIRED DUE TO HEALTH FIVE YEARS AGO AND UNABLE TO GET ANOTHER CAR. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPAIRING ACTUATORS. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GM AND CALLED ASKING THAT THIS BE MADE INTO SOMETHING THEY WOULD REPAIR NO CHARGE AS I HAVE SINCE TALKED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TO USE THE THE CAR DRIVE MY HUSBAND TO VA FOR TREATMENTS AND DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND IT GET VERY WORRISOME AS I HAVE TO DRIVE 140 MILES ROUND TRIP EACH TIME. ALL I ASK IS FOR GM TO AKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND FIX MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11329887

230,000 miles · May 12, 2020
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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

NHTSA ODI #11324250

131,000 miles · Apr 21, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE COMES ON IN MY DIC EVEN THOUGH MY OIL IS PERFECTLY FINE MY REAR TURNING SIGNAL IS NOT FLASHING BUT IS LIT AND WORKING FOR EVERYTHING ELSE MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHORTS OUT AT TIMES EVEN AFTER I REPLACED THE SENSOR PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF EVEN WITH PASSENGER INSIDE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V507…

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WHILE DRIVING OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE COMES ON IN MY DIC EVEN THOUGH MY OIL IS PERFECTLY FINE MY REAR TURNING SIGNAL IS NOT FLASHING BUT IS LIT AND WORKING FOR EVERYTHING ELSE MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHORTS OUT AT TIMES EVEN AFTER I REPLACED THE SENSOR PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF EVEN WITH PASSENGER INSIDE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V507 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 14V355 I BELIEVE THE TRUE PROBLEM IS THE BCM THE DOOR ACTUATORS ARE FAULTY

NHTSA ODI #11321868

206,576 miles · Oct 9, 2019
Electrical System

IT WILL NOT CRANK I INSTALLED A BRAND NEW STARTER THE IGNITION SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11267266

85,000 miles · Oct 3, 2019
Electrical System

I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK ON THE STREET IN MY COMMUNITY, AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE DROPPING SOMETHING IN A MAILBOX. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE TO LEAVE, AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CONSOLE SHIFTER WOULD NOT BUDGE. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE MY CAR JUST A FEW DOORS AWAY FROM HOME UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WH…

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I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK ON THE STREET IN MY COMMUNITY, AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE DROPPING SOMETHING IN A MAILBOX. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE TO LEAVE, AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CONSOLE SHIFTER WOULD NOT BUDGE. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE MY CAR JUST A FEW DOORS AWAY FROM HOME UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN MY SON CAME AND SHOWED ME HOW TO REMOVE THE CONSOLE COVER TO PRESS THE SILVER BUTTON AND RELEASE THE SHIFT. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT A BTSI (?) SOLENOID OR LOOSE WIRES. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? BEING STUCK COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS TO SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #11265975

140,000 miles · Sep 6, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

AFTER I GETTING THE TRANSMISSION FULLY REPAIRED AFTER IT WENT OUT OF NOWERE ANYWAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME AND THE SINS ARE STARTED GOING CRAZY IN THE CAR AND I AM ONE PAYMENT AWAY FROM OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS STARTING THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR I'VE NOTICED ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOT…

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AFTER I GETTING THE TRANSMISSION FULLY REPAIRED AFTER IT WENT OUT OF NOWERE ANYWAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME AND THE SINS ARE STARTED GOING CRAZY IN THE CAR AND I AM ONE PAYMENT AWAY FROM OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS STARTING THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR I'VE NOTICED ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER THE SEAT BELT IN THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SIDE DOES NOT WANT TO LOCK ALSO IT'S SAYING THAT IT NEEDS SERVICE AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED I BOUGHT THIS CAR BARELY TWO YEARS AGO IN 2017 I'M FINANCING IT ON A LEASE ONCE I FINISH THIS LAST PAYMENT IT'LL BE A LITTLE OVER 7,000 THAT I PAID FOR IT I FEEL LIKE THE DEALER GOT OVER ON ME BECAUSE IT'S MY FIRST VEHICLE AND I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING THIS WASN'T THE CAR THAT I WANTED IF ANYTHING THEY AVOIDED SELLING ME THE CAR THAT I WANTED AND GAVE ME THIS ONE EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR AWHILE BUT SLOWLY STARTED TO ALL BREAK DOWN THE TIRES ARE STARTING TO SAY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS IS ON AND NEVER GOES OFF THE CAR SHAKES WHEN I DRIVE ALSO THE WINDOWS ARE STARTING TO GET STUCK WHERE THEY MIGHT WANT TO ROLL UP IN MIGHT NOT I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REDO THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE ALREADY HACKED YOU PUT A NEW HEAD GASKET AND NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPAIR THE AXLE AND A MOTOR MOUNT AND I DON'T KNOW BUT THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE THE CAR DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A VEHICLE BASICALLY AND SCAMMED ME BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT LEASING A USED CAR WAS ABOUT THE CAR DID LOCK UP ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING I DID NOT CRASH UNFORTUNATELY BUT IT PULLED ME TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND I HAD TO PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID ANOTHER CAR TURNING INTO ME AND CRASHING THEN I PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD AND GOT HOME CUZ IT WASN'T THAT FAR AND I HAVE MY FIANCE CHECK OUT THE CAR. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MY CAR AWAY NOR DO I WANT THE MONEY BACK I JUST WANT A CAR THAT IS NOT GOING TO CAUSE DEATH TO ME OR MY CHILDREN.

NHTSA ODI #11253533

25 miles · Aug 20, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or Other

2009 CHEVY IMPALA TPS SENSOR KEEPS APPEARING BUT TIRE DEALER COULDN'T DX PROBLEM PASS SIDE RIGHT FRONT. TODAY AIR BAG P/S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SOLD AS IS. THINK NONE OF THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER GONE THRU MD STATE INSPECTION. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #11245351

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2019
Air BagsElectrical System

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT HAS A AIRBAG MESSAGE ON THE DASH THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T WORK THE CAR WON'T TURN OVER

NHTSA ODI #11233711

49,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Air BagsElectrical System

WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET, THE AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE RED AIRBAG SIGN DISPLAYED. CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DID NOT.

NHTSA ODI #11217731

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2019
Electrical SystemFire

SPEEDOMETER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT OUT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES

NHTSA ODI #11206109

Official recalls

5

16V507000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.