← New search

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 →

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

Engine complaints

179 reports
Clear category filter
160,000 miles · Jan 9, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN THE CAR STALLED AND HAD TO BE BE EASED OFF THE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES TRIED ONE MORE TIME AND THE CAR RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME PERFECTLY. …

Read full complaint

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN THE CAR STALLED AND HAD TO BE BE EASED OFF THE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES TRIED ONE MORE TIME AND THE CAR RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME PERFECTLY. RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE, AND THERE ARE ENTIRE FORUMS IN EDMUNDS DEDICATED TO THIS VERY PROBLEM. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11061540

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL- CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA LT... TRANSMISSION SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN MAIN ROAD... TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BACK IN JUNE OF 2017. TRANSMISSION REDUCED POWER AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY...CONTACT WAS ON MAIN ROAD WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF VEHICLE SHUT OFF AFTER A SECOND TIME OF THE BELTWAY.......VEHICLE STARTED…

Read full complaint

TL- CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA LT... TRANSMISSION SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN MAIN ROAD... TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BACK IN JUNE OF 2017. TRANSMISSION REDUCED POWER AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY...CONTACT WAS ON MAIN ROAD WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF VEHICLE SHUT OFF AFTER A SECOND TIME OF THE BELTWAY.......VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP AFTER THIRTY MINUTES.... TR..... RECEIVED TK HOLDINGS NOTICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON .... CONTACT CALLED CHEVY AND AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED ALREADY.... 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN

NHTSA ODI #11055508

67,000 miles · Dec 11, 2017
Engine

MY TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON . WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN MY POWER IS REDUED LIGHT COMES ON AT SAME TIME CAR HAS NO POWER CANT HARDLY GET IT TO MOVE CANT ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF WAY OF CARS. LIGHT IS COMING AND GOING STAY ON FOR A WHILE GO OFF THEN COME BACK IN DAY OR SO

NHTSA ODI #11053932

88,000 miles · Nov 13, 2017
Engine

DISPLAYS "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ODI #11045586

88,223 miles · Oct 14, 2017
Engine

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND REDUCE POWER WARNING COMES ON THEN ENGINE SHUTS OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11033394

125,000 miles · Jul 18, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE: ENGINE POWER REDUCED BY 50%" WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. MONTGOMERY CHEVROLET OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY WAS MA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE: ENGINE POWER REDUCED BY 50%" WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. MONTGOMERY CHEVROLET OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SERVICE PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA ODI #11006145

126,000 miles · Jun 14, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE THREE YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCDERMOTT CHEVROLET WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED DUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V507000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO THE RECALL AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #10995057

223,300 miles · Mar 26, 2017
Engine

VEHICLE SERVICED BY FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2016 VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET VEHICLE EXHIBITED REDUCED ENGINE POWER, RAN ROUGH, TRIGGERED ENGINE ERROR ALARM. DIAGNOSTIC BY FIRESTONE REVEALED A PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ERROR, ERROR CODE ' P2122, RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE SERVICED BY FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2016 VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET VEHICLE EXHIBITED REDUCED ENGINE POWER, RAN ROUGH, TRIGGERED ENGINE ERROR ALARM. DIAGNOSTIC BY FIRESTONE REVEALED A PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ERROR, ERROR CODE ' P2122, RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT OF THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE TO THE OWNER, REPLACEMENT OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR RESULTED IN INTERMITTENT, DANGEROUSLY UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE ACCELERATION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO FIRESTONE REPAIR SHOP. UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE ACCELERATION WAS RESOLVED BY REPLACEMENT OF THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE CONDITIONS INITIALLY DESCRIBED, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, ROUGH IDLE WAS PREDICTED IN A LETTER, DATED NOVEMBER 2015 AS RECEIVED BY OWNER FROM GENERAL MOTORS CHEVROLET DIVISION REGARDING A DO NOT RETURN TO DEALER ORDER, ALL IN BOLD LETTERS AND UNDER LINED. FURTHER INSTRUCTION CLEARLY COMMUNICATED THAT THE ISSUE WOULD NOT BE ADDRESSED UNLESS THE ISSUE ACTUALLY OCCURRED AND HAD TO BE WITHIN STRICT TIME CUT OFF RELATED TO WHEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN TO SERVICE OR UNDER 120,000 MILES. ANY POSSIBLE REPAIRS ONCE APPROVED FOR THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED WERE COVERED UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM. THE ISSUE CREATED A CLEAR AND OBVIOUS DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANAGED AS A SAFETY RECALL NOT A DO NOT RETURN TO DEAL ORDER AND MANAGED AS A SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE ISSUE OR THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS ISSUE TO OCCUR, VICTIMS RESULTING FROM THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR ALL REPAIR FEES AND LIABILITY CLAIMS RESULTING FROM THIS ISSUE AS REPORTED HERE TODAY.

NHTSA ODI #10968525

121,225 miles · Jan 8, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower TrainCrash

FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, I HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE OVER 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BACK AND FORTH. THE CAR WOULD DO THIS EVERY TIME I WOULD TRY AND DRIVE OVER 40 MPH, NO MATTER THE ROADWAY OR STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON…

Read full complaint

FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, I HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE OVER 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BACK AND FORTH. THE CAR WOULD DO THIS EVERY TIME I WOULD TRY AND DRIVE OVER 40 MPH, NO MATTER THE ROADWAY OR STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. A MONTH BEFORE THIS PROBLEM STARTED, MY FATHER HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940428

121 miles · Jan 8, 2017
EnginePower TrainCrash

FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, I HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE OVER 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SHAKE BACK AND FORTH. THE CAR WOULD DO THIS EVERY TIME I WENT OVER 40 MPH, NO MATTER IF I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR ROAD OR COMING TO A STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENED,…

Read full complaint

FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, I HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE OVER 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SHAKE BACK AND FORTH. THE CAR WOULD DO THIS EVERY TIME I WENT OVER 40 MPH, NO MATTER IF I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR ROAD OR COMING TO A STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WEEKS AFTER I HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940420

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.