NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
68 reportsClear category filter62,000 miles · Jun 19, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE & QUICKLY DECELERATED WITH ANY PRIOR WARNING. 18 WHEELER ALMOST REAR ENDED ME. INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED, ENGINE POWER REDUCED,SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAK, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FINALLY EXITED INTERSTATE SAFELY AND SHUT DOWN ENGIN…
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DRIVING ON INTERSTATE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE & QUICKLY DECELERATED WITH ANY PRIOR WARNING. 18 WHEELER ALMOST REAR ENDED ME. INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED, ENGINE POWER REDUCED,SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAK, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FINALLY EXITED INTERSTATE SAFELY AND SHUT DOWN ENGINE THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP AND AFTER 2-3 TRIES TO RESTART MESSAGES DISAPPEARED AND VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE OK. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC & FOUND CODES EVIDENCING THE LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TAC AND OR THE APP UNITS CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE BUT COULD NOT GET THE CONDITION TO REOCCUR. MECHANIC HAD TO REMOVE CODES TO PERMIT TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND TOLD ME TO WAIT UNTIL RECURRED. WHILE LOOKING FOR REPAIR SHOP WAS SCARED IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN RECEIVED LETTER FROM GM STATING IF THE ABOVE CONDITION HAD OCCURRED THEY WOULD FIX. CALLED GM DEALER MENTIONED LETTER THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS THE MESSAGES WERE PRESENT ON PANEL, REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REFERENCING LETTER, EXPLAINED GM DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR. WAS TOLD BY ANGELA ISSUE WAS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM BUT GM WOULD NOT ADMIT TO SAFETY ISSUE. GM AGREED TO PAY FOR ONE HOUR OF DIAGNOSTIC TIME TO DETERMINE IF VEHICLE QUALIFIED FOR REPAIR, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, REFUSED TO REPAIR. CALLED GM AND WAS TOLD NO REPAIR WOULD BE MADE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED AS STATED IN THE LETTER AND TO WAIT UNTIL SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN THEN NOT TO START ENGINE AND TOW TO GM DEALER. WAS TOLD GM WOULD NOT PAY FOR TOW OR INCONVENIENCE AND IF THEY COULD SEE CODES THEY MIGHT REPAIR PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AND BASICALLY SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 5 MPH IF AT ALL. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX]@GMAIL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
NHTSA ODI #10726265
100,000 miles · Jun 18, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
REDUCED ENGINE POWER, CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. CHEVY IS AWARE OF DEFECT AND REFUSES TO RECALL
NHTSA ODI #10725979
97,000 miles · Jun 2, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY LOSE POWER OR FAIL TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10722857
115,484 miles · May 29, 2015
Power Train
I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN 2012. THIS CAR HAD PERIODIC ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND A CO2 SENSOR FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO ISSUES COMPARABLE TO A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. EARLIER IN THE WINTER OF 2015, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP INTO FOURTH GEAR ON THE FREEWAY UNTIL AFTER TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING. ONE DAY IN AN…
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I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN 2012. THIS CAR HAD PERIODIC ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND A CO2 SENSOR FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO ISSUES COMPARABLE TO A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. EARLIER IN THE WINTER OF 2015, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP INTO FOURTH GEAR ON THE FREEWAY UNTIL AFTER TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING. ONE DAY IN ANN ARBOR, MI, I WAS ACCELERATING OUT OF A TURN WHEN THE RPM METER STARTED REVVING TO 6,000 AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AFTER RESTARTING THE IMPALA, THE CAR WENT A FEW HUNDRED FEET TO RED LIGHT AND DIED AT THE INTERSECTION. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO DROP THIS VEHICLE OFF AT AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP FOLLOWING A LONG TRIP FULL OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND START-UPS. THE MECHANIC LATER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE REPAIR COST WAS OVER $1,600 AND THE TRANSMISSION STILL POSSESSES THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO THIS EVENT.
NHTSA ODI #10722235
74,000 miles · May 13, 2015
Power Train
ON 18 APR 2015, MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA EXPERIENCED COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE THE WARRANTY IS 5 YEARS/100,000 MILES, I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR DUE TO BEING 8 MONTHS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 74,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.
NHTSA ODI #10716346
303,303 miles · Apr 9, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN I REACH 56 MILES PER HOUR MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. THE LOCKS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING RAPIDLY AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP.…
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WHILE DRIVING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN I REACH 56 MILES PER HOUR MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. THE LOCKS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING RAPIDLY AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. ONCE I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH SEEMED TO BE STUCK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN I TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT SO I HAVE TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO PARK A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT WILL RELEASE THE KEY. SINCE THIS HAS OCCURRED I HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND IN MY GLOVE BOX WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN AND CLOSED AND SOMETIME HOURS AFTER ILL HEAR THE NOISE AND THE ELECTRIC WILL FLICKER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10704851
85,000 miles · Mar 13, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO A HARD TRANSITION OF GEARS VERY SLOWLY BEFORE SHIFTING INTO A NORMAL GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO A HARD TRANSITION OF GEARS VERY SLOWLY BEFORE SHIFTING INTO A NORMAL GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA ODI #10694187
112,000 miles · Feb 18, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COME INTERMITTENTLY ALONG WITH THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. I HAVE HAD A TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THIS FOR ME AND ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR (ACCELERATOR PEDAL) IS GOING IN AND OUT. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS CONNECTED TO A SENSOR THAT DRIVES THE THROTTLE ON THE ENGINE. WH…
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I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COME INTERMITTENTLY ALONG WITH THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. I HAVE HAD A TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THIS FOR ME AND ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR (ACCELERATOR PEDAL) IS GOING IN AND OUT. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS CONNECTED TO A SENSOR THAT DRIVES THE THROTTLE ON THE ENGINE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE LOOSES ENGINE POWER AND TRACTION CONTROL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10684013
98,780 miles · Jan 30, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
DRIVING TO WORK AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THROTTLE ERROR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND POWERED DOWN. I WAS AT RED LIGHT SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND WAITING PUT MY FLASHERS ON, WAITED A FEW MORE …
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DRIVING TO WORK AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THROTTLE ERROR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND POWERED DOWN. I WAS AT RED LIGHT SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND WAITING PUT MY FLASHERS ON, WAITED A FEW MORE MINUTES AND THE CAR FINALLY STARTED TO MOVE. I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT'S A POWERTRAIN ISSUE AND I HAVE 100K POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT'S NOT POWERTRAIN AND WANTED $778 TO REPAIR, I CALLED CHEVY AFTER SEEING THE FORUMS ONLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND CHEVY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE TO BE BACK AT WORK MONDAY AND DRIVE THROUGH A VERY ROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD I DO NOT WANT TO BREAKDOWN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10679903
85,000 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA ODI #10662358
Official recalls
5Jul 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗