I STARTED MY CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON. MY BACK TIRES THEN BEGAN TO SPIN WHEN DRIVING AND THE CAR MADE A SCARY NOISE. *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 And Engine Cooling complaints
21 reports"SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & ENGINE POWER WILL BE REDUCED MESSAGE CAME ON". THE CARS SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 40MPH & WOULD HARDLY GO. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. I DID GET TO WORK SAFELY BUT I AM TERRIFIED T…
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"SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & ENGINE POWER WILL BE REDUCED MESSAGE CAME ON". THE CARS SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 40MPH & WOULD HARDLY GO. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. I DID GET TO WORK SAFELY BUT I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. ME AND MY [XXX] YR OLD WAS ON A 4 LANE WHEN IT JUST CUT OFF AFTER RECEIVING THIS ERROR MESSAGE. I TRAVEL ALOT AND AND SCARED WHEN THIS MESSAGE APPEARS!! *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, REALLY SPORADIC SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A MESSAGE POPS UP ON MY DISPLAY STATING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN THE VEHICLE; BRAKES, STEERING AND …
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THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, REALLY SPORADIC SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A MESSAGE POPS UP ON MY DISPLAY STATING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN THE VEHICLE; BRAKES, STEERING AND ALL. FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CLOSE CALLS. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. A RECALL IS PROMINENT! *TR
TRS/ENGINE REDUCE POWER WILL DISPLAY. CAR HAS STOPPED WHILE DRIVING OVER 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY. WHILE VIEWING WEB PAGE EDMUND.COM IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON OVER A DOZEN CHEVY IMPALAS. DOES NOT APPEAR TO AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. GM NEED TO RECALL THE CARS,BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
I-40 EAST BOUND; 60 MPH; COMING DOWN A 4 TO 7% GRADE THROUGH THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, NORTH CAROLINA SIDE; 1ST ERROR: "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER 2ND ERROR: "STARTING DISABLE,SERVICE THROTTLE" LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE. A VERY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING EVENT H…
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I-40 EAST BOUND; 60 MPH; COMING DOWN A 4 TO 7% GRADE THROUGH THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, NORTH CAROLINA SIDE; 1ST ERROR: "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER 2ND ERROR: "STARTING DISABLE,SERVICE THROTTLE" LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE. A VERY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING EVENT HAVING NO CONTROL OF YOUR SPEED, STEERING, AND BRAKING TRYING TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF I-40 WITH THE TYPE OF GRADE, TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS THAT CAN NOT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH TO LET YOU OVER. WE WERE VERY.... VERY FORTUNATE WITH OUR OUTCOME. HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. RAN DIAGNOSTIC; ERROR CODES P2122, P2138. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPONENT: ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO DUPLICATE THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO TOLD THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY AT ANY TIME. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY AT ANY TIME. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 73,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 40 THE ENGINE CAME TO A STALLED. I WAS FORCE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR 15 MINUTES OR MORE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ALONE WITH TRACTION CONTROL. TOOK INTO DEALER AND UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS OF TODAY OCTOBER 15, 2011. ALSO WITHIN THE FIRST…
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WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 40 THE ENGINE CAME TO A STALLED. I WAS FORCE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR 15 MINUTES OR MORE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ALONE WITH TRACTION CONTROL. TOOK INTO DEALER AND UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS OF TODAY OCTOBER 15, 2011. ALSO WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED BECAUSE THE DEALER CHARGE ME 185.00 TO REMOVE THE LIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AS HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD ROAR EXTREMELY LOUDER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AS HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD ROAR EXTREMELY LOUDER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT WHEN THE ROTORS WERE HEATED, THEY WOULD BECOME WARPED AS IT WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE DEALER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS COLD AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AND ONLY HAP WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,900.
2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES EXTREME VIBRATION, SEVERE STEERING DIFFICULTIES AND BRAKE UNRESPONSIVENESS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE FROZEN IN ONE POSITION . THE DEALER MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS AND SANDED THE PADS. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE IN 3RD GEAR. *JB
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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