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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

21 reports
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36,500 miles · Jun 19, 2015
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES STAYS OFF FOR UP TO A WEEK AND THEN COMES BACK ON. TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE MODULE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $730- HOW CAN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT, LOW MILEAGE OR ANY TY…

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THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES STAYS OFF FOR UP TO A WEEK AND THEN COMES BACK ON. TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE MODULE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $730- HOW CAN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT, LOW MILEAGE OR ANY TYPE OF "BUMPING" TO THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM SHOULD RESOLVE. UPON LOOKING INTO THIS COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET, I SEE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD EFFECT ANY DRIVER WITH THIS PROBLEM IF THERE IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DO NOT GO OFF AS INTENDED...UPDATED 10/20/15 *BF UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ.....UPDATED 08/11/16 *BF UPDATED 1/20/2016 *JS... UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10726252

98,675 miles · Dec 8, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingTraction Control System

THE TRACTION CONTROL SUDDEN WENT OFF - TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BOTH ON - FIRST TIME OF REALLY COLD WEATHER/RAIN SNOW. DID IT ONE MORE TIME AND THEN TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS OFF AND SERVICE ENGINE IS ON - I SEE THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE IMPALA AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO "POSSIBLY" REPAIR. …

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THE TRACTION CONTROL SUDDEN WENT OFF - TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BOTH ON - FIRST TIME OF REALLY COLD WEATHER/RAIN SNOW. DID IT ONE MORE TIME AND THEN TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS OFF AND SERVICE ENGINE IS ON - I SEE THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE IMPALA AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO "POSSIBLY" REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662733

69,300 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING ALONG AT 40 MPH, TRACTION LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, POWER REDUCING MESSAGE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR QUITS IN MIDDLE OF BUSY HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. ABLE TO COAST TO MIDDLE BETWEEN TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC GOING BOTH WAYS. SAT FOR AWHILE AND CAR STARTED. THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH MISHAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654205

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingCrash

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS RIGHT SIDE KNOCKING IN THE DASHBOARD FOR ALONG TIME. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THAT NOT REALLY SURE OF WHAT IT IS. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE A SENSOR BUT HAD TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD TO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN FIXED BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT TO JUST BE SPENDING MO…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS RIGHT SIDE KNOCKING IN THE DASHBOARD FOR ALONG TIME. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THAT NOT REALLY SURE OF WHAT IT IS. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE A SENSOR BUT HAD TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD TO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN FIXED BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT TO JUST BE SPENDING MONEY AND THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM AND MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON 6/29/2014 AND ITS SAYING TO "SERVICE AIR BAG" AND THE TICKING HAS GOTTEN LOUDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IN THE DASHBOARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607176

101,020 miles · Jun 21, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingTraction Control System

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH IN TOWN AND MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY ENGINE REDUCE POWER LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604977

70,000 miles · Jun 12, 2014
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRACTION CONTROL, EMISSIONS AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRACTION CONTROL, EMISSIONS AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10597886

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

I TOO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE ACHING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT, THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE IMPALAS. MY IMPALA WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK AND I WAS TOLD THE REASON THAT IT TOOK SO LONG WAS THAT THERE ARE THREE ACTUATORS AND THEY H…

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I TOO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE ACHING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT, THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE IMPALAS. MY IMPALA WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK AND I WAS TOLD THE REASON THAT IT TOOK SO LONG WAS THAT THERE ARE THREE ACTUATORS AND THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IT WAS OR CHARGE ME TO FIX ALL THREE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T MAKE OUT WHICH ONE IT WAS. I PAID TO GET THE ONE FIX AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MAYBE THEY FIXED THE WRONG ONE AND I COULD PAY TO GET THE OTHER TWO FIXED. THIS IS A $40 PART THAT I PAID $238.00 TO GET FIXED. I DECLINED AND FOUND NUMEROUS YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND BLOGS REPORTING MODELS AS EARLY AS 2006 WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD OR HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE "KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE DASH BOARD". I AM VERY SURPRISED AND DISHEARTENED THAT THIS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS AND YET GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. HOPEFULLY, I CAN GET OTHERS TO SPEAK OUT ON THIS ISSUE AND FILE COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593909

110,223 miles · May 2, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON THEN I LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING AT A SPEED OF 70MPH. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND HAD COMING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL POWER ALMOST REAR ENDED AND TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY OVER CUT…

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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON THEN I LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING AT A SPEED OF 70MPH. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND HAD COMING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL POWER ALMOST REAR ENDED AND TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY OVER CUTTING IN FRONT OF CARS SO THAT I WOULD NOT BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO MAKE OVER TO THE MEDIAN AND THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. SO THEN I WAITED THERE FOR 20 MIN UNTIL MY FRIEND ARRIVED TO HELP ME AND THE CAR CRANKED UP AND DROVE LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. SO I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND WITHIN 45 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAITED A FEW MINS AND IT CRANKED UP. ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE. I DON'T MAKE MUCH MONEY AND DON'T HAVE IT TO TAKE TO A MECHANIC AND ITS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS A RECALL. I HAVE SEEN AND READ THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER CARS IM WONDERING IF THEY MISSED A YEAR OR SOMETHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586118

92,320 miles · Apr 12, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 CHEVY IMPALA TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH WHEN THE "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE CAME UP FOLLOWED BY "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL". THE CAR THEN BECAME SLUGGISH AND SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 15-20 MPH. IT THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 CHEVY IMPALA TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH WHEN THE "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE CAME UP FOLLOWED BY "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL". THE CAR THEN BECAME SLUGGISH AND SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 15-20 MPH. IT THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THANK GOD TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT BECAUSE WITH THAT HAPPENING IT WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR FOR A FEW YEARS AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL YET. IS GM WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO PINPOINT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT SOMEONE HAS TO PAY MONEY TO FIX WHAT MAY BE A PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. I SEE A LOT OF IMPALAS IN MY TOWN AND IT'S SCARY TO THINK THAT AT ANY TIME THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANY ONE OF THOSE CARS, MINE INCLUDED, AND SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILL SOMEONE. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO INVESTED THEIR MONEY IN THE GM BRAND.

NHTSA ODI #10584829

60,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingTraction Control System

I HAVE A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA I PURCHASED IN 2010 AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS ALSO COMING ON DURING THIS TIME. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CRASHED FROM THIS I FEEL CHEVROLET NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. I LIVE IN ATLANTA AND IF MY CAR REDUCES SPEED WHILE I'M ON 285 THIS COULD…

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I HAVE A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA I PURCHASED IN 2010 AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS ALSO COMING ON DURING THIS TIME. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CRASHED FROM THIS I FEEL CHEVROLET NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. I LIVE IN ATLANTA AND IF MY CAR REDUCES SPEED WHILE I'M ON 285 THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE I VERY BAD CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569000

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.