WHILE DRIVING I KEEP GETTING MESSAGE STATING REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND THE CAR WILL START SKING AND LOWERING SPEED. THERE ALSO IS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME WITH A ANY REASON AND THEN THEY WILL START WORKING AGAIN. I EVEN GOT PULLED OVER ONCE OVER THIS ISSUE. *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.
Engine complaints
179 reportsWHILE DRIVING, I GOT TO ABOUT 60MPH AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AS WELL AS TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE POWER REDUCE. I DROPPED TO 40-45MPH THEN SYSTEM SAID ENTERING TROTTLE MODE AND VEHICLE CUT IN ROAD. I PULLED OVER, TURNED IGNITION OFF AND WAITED 2 OR 3 MINUTES THEN I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. *TR
WAS DRIVING WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND MESSAGE CAME ACROSS SAYING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL: THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING RAPIDLY AT THE SAME TIME. FOLLOW BY A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THEN SPEED WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TURNED ON FLASHERS AND COASTED INTO PARKING LOT. VEHICLE HAD TROUBL…
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WAS DRIVING WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND MESSAGE CAME ACROSS SAYING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL: THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING RAPIDLY AT THE SAME TIME. FOLLOW BY A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THEN SPEED WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TURNED ON FLASHERS AND COASTED INTO PARKING LOT. VEHICLE HAD TROUBLES RESTARTING AND WOULD NOT MOVE. STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. TRIES TO DIE WHILE IDLING AFTER YOU GET IT TO START. DID DIAGNOSTICS AND CODE P0300 RANDOM MISFIRE DETECTION POWER TRAIN UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A LINK TO THE VEHICLE. FUEL SYSTEM 2 IS OL, LIFT AT 0%, SPARK PLUG 13.5, FUEL LEVEL LOW 38.8, ECU 14.417, LOW ACCELERATION. CONTACTED LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WILL COST $35 TO TOW IT TO THEIR SHOP AND ABOUT $85 JUST TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ON THEIR MACHINE. IF IT IS A LIFTER THE COST WILL BE OVER $700 TO GET FIXED. I PURCHASED THIS AUTOMOBILE IN AUGUST 2013 AND HAVE JUST HAD IT A YEAR. SO NOW I HAVE A CAR PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT DOESN'T RUN. I BOUGHT IT AT WK MOTORS IN SEDALIA, MO. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS CAR HAS HAD ISSUES AND WITHOUT A WARRANTY THE DEALERSHIP WONT DO ANYTHING!!! *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR INTO A SERIES OF TURNS AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILE PER HOUR WHEN IT SEEMED I LOST ENGINE POWER RAPIDLY AND THE CAR DECREASED SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MILE PER HOUR I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I COULD BARELY STEER AND BRAKING WAS REALLY DIFFICULT. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD WHERE IT SET FOR APPROXIMAT…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR INTO A SERIES OF TURNS AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILE PER HOUR WHEN IT SEEMED I LOST ENGINE POWER RAPIDLY AND THE CAR DECREASED SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MILE PER HOUR I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I COULD BARELY STEER AND BRAKING WAS REALLY DIFFICULT. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD WHERE IT SET FOR APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. I CONTACTED GM AND MY DEALERSHIP AND DID NOT GET A SATISFACTORY ANSWER EITHER PLACE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MY RECALL LETTER DESCRIBES YET I WAS TOLD THAT MY ISSUES WERE NOT DUE TO THE RECALL. I AM GREATLY DISAPPOINTED TO BE PAYING FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH THE AIR BAGS HAD TO BE REPLACED A TOTAL OF ELEVEN TI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH THE AIR BAGS HAD TO BE REPLACED A TOTAL OF ELEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL THUMPING SOUND LASTING THIRTY SECONDS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THE TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEFT TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL THUMPING SOUND LASTING THIRTY SECONDS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THE TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEFT TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,006.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SWITCH THE SHIFTER TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SWITCH THE SHIFTER TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I CRANKED MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA LEAVING A NEARBY GAS STATION AND THE MESSAGE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL FLASHED, THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR DROVE SLUGGISH HOME AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM HOME. THE NEXT MORNING NO MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AND THE CHECK E…
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I CRANKED MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA LEAVING A NEARBY GAS STATION AND THE MESSAGE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL FLASHED, THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR DROVE SLUGGISH HOME AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM HOME. THE NEXT MORNING NO MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. I TOOK IT TO ADVANCE AUTO PARTS AND THE CODE P2127 WAS DISPLAYED TWICE - THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. I SEE MOST OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE SIMILAR TO MINE I JUST HAPPEN NOT TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY. IS GM INVESTIGATING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SERIOUS WITH MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE REDUCE POWER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 45 MPH AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE REDUCE POWER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 45 MPH AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 10/22/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/1/2015 *JS
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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