IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT THE GEAR OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE OCCURED ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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
790–25K
10625–50K
14150–75K
13875–100K
148100–150K
51150K+
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
Power Train complaints
68 reportsCAR STATES REDUCED ENGINE POWER STALLING TO ABOUT 10MPH VERY DANGEROUS. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR
MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON ALONE WITH THE TRACTION LIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES AND CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE F…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES AND CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,600.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 55 MPH WHEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I FELT THE CAR POWER DOWN SOME AND MADE IT HOME SAFELY. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS HERE, I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. THIS IS THE CAR I DRIVE MY KIDS IN EVERYDAY. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE AND A RECALL NEE…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 55 MPH WHEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I FELT THE CAR POWER DOWN SOME AND MADE IT HOME SAFELY. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS HERE, I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. THIS IS THE CAR I DRIVE MY KIDS IN EVERYDAY. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED REGULARLY SO I AM NOT A NEGLECTFUL CAR OWNER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
I WENT TO A STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO LEAVE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. SO, TO GET IT OUT OF PARK I HAVE TO REACH INTO THE CONSOLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO PUSH THE RELEASE BUTTON WHILE IT'S IN NEUTRAL WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS EVERY TIME I USE THE CAR. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN TO BE LAYING …
Read full complaint
I WENT TO A STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO LEAVE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. SO, TO GET IT OUT OF PARK I HAVE TO REACH INTO THE CONSOLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO PUSH THE RELEASE BUTTON WHILE IT'S IN NEUTRAL WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS EVERY TIME I USE THE CAR. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN TO BE LAYING DOWN IN MY PASSENGER SIDE--NO MATTER WHERE I'M AT, TO GET MY CAR INTO GEAR SO I CAN GET TO WORK, ETC. I SEE BY OTHER WEBSITES THAT THIS IS A ROUTINE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. APPARENTLY THE WIRES ARE NOT MADE WELL ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF USE. *TR
UPON STARTING AND ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE TO GO TO WORK, THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE FLOOR MOUNTED GEARSHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT DEPRESS, THEREBY PREVENTING ME FROM SHIFITNG INTO REVERSE, LET ALONE DRIVE IF I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION ON MY RECEIPT FOR REPAIR: "INSPECTED LOSS OF…
Read full complaint
UPON STARTING AND ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE TO GO TO WORK, THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE FLOOR MOUNTED GEARSHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT DEPRESS, THEREBY PREVENTING ME FROM SHIFITNG INTO REVERSE, LET ALONE DRIVE IF I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION ON MY RECEIPT FOR REPAIR: "INSPECTED LOSS OF POWER AT SHIFTER AT R.T.S.I. SOLENOID - (PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED GROUND CIRCUIT 1135 GREEN VOLTAGE SUPPLY BROKE AT CONNECTOR) - NEC TO REPLACE COMPLETE CONNECTOR AND HARNESS AND ROUTE CORRECTLY -- GRID# 013, DOC ID#'S 1912937, 2417697" THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF ME APPROPRIATELY EACH TIME. HOWEVER, I SEE THAT OTHER OWNERS OF IMPALAS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM VIA THE INTERNET. I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF IT WAS LOOKED INTO. I'D HATE TO SEE ANY BODY HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN A NOT TOO FRIENDLY AREA, LET ALONE MY SPOUSE. THANK YOU. *TR
LAST NIGHT, I STARTED UP MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER PRETTY HARD. MY CAR STARTED CHIMING AND A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SHOWED UP ON MY DASH, FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE LIGHT INDICATOR FOR MY TC WAS LIT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. …
Read full complaint
LAST NIGHT, I STARTED UP MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER PRETTY HARD. MY CAR STARTED CHIMING AND A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SHOWED UP ON MY DASH, FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE LIGHT INDICATOR FOR MY TC WAS LIT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED 2 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. IT STARTED FINE, WITH NO BAD INDICATIONS. THE CAR ALSO DROVE NORMALLY. A FEW HOURS LATER AS I WAS STARTING HOME, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR WAS STILL PARKED AS BEFORE WHEN THE INDICATIONS SHOWED UP. SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED AND IT CLEARED OUT. NO PROBLEM ONCE I STARTED DRIVING. THIS MORNING WAS NO DIFFERENT. SO FAR, THIS ONLY HAS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS STARTING MY CAR UP. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THIS HASN'T HAPPENED TO ME WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION- YET. OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVEN'T BEEN SO FORTUNATE. THERE HAS BEEN NO BAD WEATHER AT ALL. DRY AS A BONE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2010 KNOWING IT USED TO BE A RENTAL. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL NOW. I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP, WHO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. THEY ARE ORDERING THE PART IN, BUT I'M STILL SKEPTICAL IF THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS CAUSING IT. I HAVE HEARD THE SENSOR ON THE HUB ASSEMBLY COULD CAUSE THIS, AS WELL AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR. FROM READING MULTIPLE FORUMS, MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD SCARY EXPERIENCES WITH THE CAR DECELERATING ON FREEWAYS OR OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES THAT COULD RESULT IN WRECKS AND PERSONAL HARM. THEY HAD TAKEN THEIR CARS IN MULTIPLE TIMES AND SHELLED OUT THOUSANDS TRYING TO FIX THIS PHANTOM GHOST PROBLEM. FRANKLY I AM AMAZED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS. I AM MOVING TO CA, AND I'M DRIVING THERE BY MYSELF IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. I CAN'T HAVE MY CAR TRY TO DO ME IN RIGHT NOW, NOR DO I HAVE ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF CASH TO FIX A MECH'S GUESS. WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS. *TR
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.