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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

108 reports
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91,100 miles · Jul 1, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WARNING SAYS ENGINE POWER DOWN. GM DEALER SAID RECALL EXPIRED FOR THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. MY VEHICLE IS UNDER 100,000 MILES I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT FIXED UNDER RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11331960

150,000 miles · Jun 12, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes

POWER REDUCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. IF I SLOW BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC IT JERKS LIKE BRAKES ARE STILL ENGAGED. ACTS LIKE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT. THIS CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET RUN INTO FROM BEHIND. THERE WAS A RECALL EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE MILEAGE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO COVER MY VECHILE. THERE SHOULD BE NO MILEAGE LIMIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328494

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

100,000 miles · May 4, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR IN MOTION IT COMPLETELY LOSES POWER. HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE ON HIGHWAY, INTERSTATE, AND IN TOWN ROADS. SO PROBLEM OCCURS AT ANY SPEED, AND RESULTS IN VEHICLE COASTING TO A STOP AS THE STEERING AND BRAKES STOP WORKING TOO. HAS HAPPENED TO ME HUNDREDS OF TIMES AS WE CAN NOT PIN POINT PROBLEM, AND HAS RE…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR IN MOTION IT COMPLETELY LOSES POWER. HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE ON HIGHWAY, INTERSTATE, AND IN TOWN ROADS. SO PROBLEM OCCURS AT ANY SPEED, AND RESULTS IN VEHICLE COASTING TO A STOP AS THE STEERING AND BRAKES STOP WORKING TOO. HAS HAPPENED TO ME HUNDREDS OF TIMES AS WE CAN NOT PIN POINT PROBLEM, AND HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS DIFFERENT PARTS TRYING TO SOLVE IT. WHEN POWER LOSS OCCURS THERE IS VERY LITTLE TO NO TIME AT ALL FOR DRIVER TO COAST & STEER VEHICLE & OCCUPANTS TO SAFETY AREA ON SIDE OF ROAD. THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION CENTER WILL STATE "STARTING DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE" ALSO ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND "SERVICE STABLITRAK." A NEW THROTTLE HAS BEEN PUT IN VEHICLE AND STILL DOES SAME THING. OVER THE YEAR IVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE IVE NOTICED IT DOES IT MORE IN WARM WEATHER. AFTER VEHICLE COAST TO A STOP AND IS PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF, WAIT 5 TO 10 MINUTES THEN VEHICLE WILL START UP AND NO INFORMATION OR LIGHTS DISPLAY IN DASH CENTER, LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #11323282

124,000 miles · Oct 15, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

REACCURING PROBLEM WITH GRINDING ON FRONT WHEELS WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTING ON CONTROL PANEL. HAVE HAD WHEEL HUBS REPLACED WHICH HAD NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF OTHER IMPALA OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE GRINDING OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION WHEN MOVIN…

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REACCURING PROBLEM WITH GRINDING ON FRONT WHEELS WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTING ON CONTROL PANEL. HAVE HAD WHEEL HUBS REPLACED WHICH HAD NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF OTHER IMPALA OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE GRINDING OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION WHEN MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARD MOSTLY WHEN TURNING BUT HAS OCCURED WHEN JUST MOVING FORWARD, MOSTLY ON CITY AND SUBURBAN STREETS. THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO AND CONTINUES TO DATE. NEED HELP AND ADVICE PLEASE.

NHTSA ODI #11268462

156,543 miles · Aug 27, 2019
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE WE ARE DRIVING OUR CAR. AND I'M WORRIED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A ACCIDENT, OR THEY MAY DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I DON'T WANT TO DISABLE THE AIR BAGS BUT NOT KNOWING WHY THE LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS IS COMING ON. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT…

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THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE WE ARE DRIVING OUR CAR. AND I'M WORRIED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A ACCIDENT, OR THEY MAY DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I DON'T WANT TO DISABLE THE AIR BAGS BUT NOT KNOWING WHY THE LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS IS COMING ON. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT ON THE 2006-2014 IMPALA'S. AND PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THERE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET FIXED AND THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT. PLUS OUR SERVICE OUR TRACTION CONTROL KEEPS COMING ON AND THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. SO I'M WORRIED THAT THIS CAR ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN A ACCIDENT OR IF THEY WILL JUST DEPLOY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11246593

47,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON ROADS AND INTERSTATES, I FREQUENTLY RECEIVE A DASH NOTIFICATION "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY VEHICLE LOSES SPEED AND CANNOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 40MPH - DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY ON AN INTERSTATE. THE NOTIFICATION LIGHTS AND SYMPTOMS OCCA…

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WHILE DRIVING ON ROADS AND INTERSTATES, I FREQUENTLY RECEIVE A DASH NOTIFICATION "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY VEHICLE LOSES SPEED AND CANNOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 40MPH - DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY ON AN INTERSTATE. THE NOTIFICATION LIGHTS AND SYMPTOMS OCCASIONALLY GO AWAY AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON, ONLY TO COME BACK LATER. I CANNOT FIND AND ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11217735

85,000 miles · Dec 29, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON CAUSING CAR TO JERK WITH ACCELERATION, OR OCCASIONALLY, TO SLIP DURING BRAKING. WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE SAME FAULTY ISSUE KEEPS REOCCURRING. LOW QUALITY WIRING AND POSITION AND TAUTNESS GOING INTO THE HARNESS ARE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. …

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ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON CAUSING CAR TO JERK WITH ACCELERATION, OR OCCASIONALLY, TO SLIP DURING BRAKING. WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE SAME FAULTY ISSUE KEEPS REOCCURRING. LOW QUALITY WIRING AND POSITION AND TAUTNESS GOING INTO THE HARNESS ARE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. SENSORS CAN BE SET OFF WITH AS LITTLE EFFORT AS GENTLY ROCKING THE CAR, DEFINITELY GOING OFF IF THERE ARE ANY BUMPS OR POTHOLES IN THE ROAD. ALSO HAD OTHER ANNOYING ALTHOUGH LESS DANGEROUS ISSUES: DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS AND HEATING/AC ACTUATOR, CAUSING DOOR LOCKS TO NOT RESPOND AND CAUSING A HORRIBLE CLICKING NOISE IN THE CAR, RESPECTIVELY. I HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM THE CAR THINKING I HAD LOCKED IT ONLY TO FIND ONE OR MORE OF THE DOORS DID NOT LOCK. ACTUALLY HAD ITEMS TAKEN FROM THE CAR. THE CLICKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE DASH WAS SPORADIC, USUALLY UPON STARTING THE CAR, BUT OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO NOTICE. THIS EAR SPLITTING, HEADACHE INDUCING NOISE WOULD FOR THE MOST PART STOP AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING, BUT WOULD SOMETIMES CONTINUE AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND WOULD DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE CAR IS HORRIBLE.

NHTSA ODI #11163935

140,000 miles · Nov 14, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE IMPALA DISPLAYS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL FOLLOWED BY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THROWS A CODE FOR THROTTLE BODY SENSOR, BUT THAT DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR IS ANOTHER REASON THEY SAY, WHICH ALSO DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF ON ME GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, ON A HIGHWAY, AND AND OVER A…

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THE IMPALA DISPLAYS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL FOLLOWED BY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THROWS A CODE FOR THROTTLE BODY SENSOR, BUT THAT DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR IS ANOTHER REASON THEY SAY, WHICH ALSO DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF ON ME GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, ON A HIGHWAY, AND AND OVER A HILL. IT SHUTS DOWN AND SAYS 'STARTING DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE' WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THEY SAY WIRING BUT IT NEVER FIXED ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11151489

101,000 miles · Aug 8, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF. THEN THE STEREO WILL TURN OFF FOR A SECOND THEN COME BACK ON AND DISPLAY SERVICE STABILITRAK. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A STOPLIGHT. THE ENGINE HAS ALWAYS COME BACK ON WHEN TRYING TO RESTART IT WITH THE KEY.

NHTSA ODI #11118439

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.