The driver seat power motor caught fire underneath the seat while driving my vehicle. It started smoking really bad. Out of no where.
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.
Seats complaints
12 reportsI'VE BEEN HAVING CRAZY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY IMPALA 2009 WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO MOVE MY CHAIR MY LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND WHEN I START MY CAR IT SHAKES IN THE HOOD ALSO
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE LAST RECALL FOR THE PASSANGER AIR BAG SENSOR IT DID NOT TURN THE LIGHT OFF AND THE DEALER SAYS THER IS A DIFFERANT ISSUE WITH IT AND THAT'S WHY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY DID AS FAR AS TAPING THE WIRES OR REPLACING THE SENSOR. BUT I FEEL LIKE THEY DID NOTHING NOW THEY TELL ME …
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I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE LAST RECALL FOR THE PASSANGER AIR BAG SENSOR IT DID NOT TURN THE LIGHT OFF AND THE DEALER SAYS THER IS A DIFFERANT ISSUE WITH IT AND THAT'S WHY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY DID AS FAR AS TAPING THE WIRES OR REPLACING THE SENSOR. BUT I FEEL LIKE THEY DID NOTHING NOW THEY TELL ME THE PART IS 433.00 AND LABOR AND PROGRAMING IS ALMOST 1000.00. I SEE MANY CARS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE PASSANGER PRESENCE SENSOR MODULE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON KEEPS ME FROM GETTING THE CAR INSPECTED. BASICALLY IF YOU SIT IN MY PASSANGER SIDE FRONT SEAT IT CAN'T RECOGNIZE ANYONE SITTING THERE. ANY HELP WOULD BE WELCOME ON THIS SITUATION.
AT AROUND 140,000 MILES I NOTICED MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF. OVERTIME IT CONTINUED TURNING ON AND OFF STAYING ON MORE FREQUENT THAN BEING OFF. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL THAT AFFECTED THE AIRBAGS. THEY TOLD ME THEY JUST HAD TO WRAP SOME WIRES THAT GO UNDERNEATH THE SEAT AND THAT WAS IT. HOWEVER T…
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AT AROUND 140,000 MILES I NOTICED MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF. OVERTIME IT CONTINUED TURNING ON AND OFF STAYING ON MORE FREQUENT THAN BEING OFF. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL THAT AFFECTED THE AIRBAGS. THEY TOLD ME THEY JUST HAD TO WRAP SOME WIRES THAT GO UNDERNEATH THE SEAT AND THAT WAS IT. HOWEVER THIS DID NOT TURN MY AIRBAG LIGHT OFF AND I HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM ANY DEALERSHIP OR ONLINE FORUMS. I BELIEVE CHEVY SHOULD RECALL THIS AS MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH IMPALAS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. AS TO THE SEAT PROBLEM. WHERE MY SEAT COMES TOGETHER AT THE LOW BACK, IT SHIFTS AND MOVES AROUND. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD FIX IT AT $900. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND A NEW SEAT AND THEN PUT MY CUSHIONS AND UPHOLSTERY ON IT.
AIRBAG SERVICE MESSAGE AND AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. PAID 269.36 4/22/2016 SO IT WOULD PASS STATE INSPECTION. LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, NOW IT IS GIVING US THE SAME PROBLEM. RETURNED TO DEALER, SAID COST TO REPAIR WITH NEW HARNESS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD BE AROUND 250.00 MORE. THE GENERAL HAS A HUGE PROBLEM HE…
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AIRBAG SERVICE MESSAGE AND AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. PAID 269.36 4/22/2016 SO IT WOULD PASS STATE INSPECTION. LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, NOW IT IS GIVING US THE SAME PROBLEM. RETURNED TO DEALER, SAID COST TO REPAIR WITH NEW HARNESS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD BE AROUND 250.00 MORE. THE GENERAL HAS A HUGE PROBLEM HERE.
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY.
WE PURCHASED A USED 2009 CHEVY IMPALA AROUND FEBRUARY 2014. WITHIN A WEEK OF DRIVING IT WE STARTED HEARING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE ANYTIME WE UNLOCKED THE DOORS OR CUT ON THE HEAT BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE SO WE JUST DEALT WITH NOISE. I DID LOOK ONLINE ONLY TO FIND TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I ALSO HAD…
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WE PURCHASED A USED 2009 CHEVY IMPALA AROUND FEBRUARY 2014. WITHIN A WEEK OF DRIVING IT WE STARTED HEARING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE ANYTIME WE UNLOCKED THE DOORS OR CUT ON THE HEAT BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE SO WE JUST DEALT WITH NOISE. I DID LOOK ONLINE ONLY TO FIND TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I ALSO HAD MULTIPLE FRIENDS WHO SAID NEARLY EVERY IMPALA LIKE MINE THEY HAD BEEN IN MADE THAT SAME NOISE, WOW! SERIOUSLY? BUT ME BEING THE CHEVY LOVER, I JUST SAW IT AS A MINOR ISSUE MAYBE MISSED IN PRODUCTION BUT NOT REALLY A SAFETY HAZARD. THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THAT SEEMS TO HAVE WENT AWAY BUT NOW IT TAKES ABOUT 2 MINUTES TO GET THE AC TO SWITCH FROM DEFROST TO BLOWING OUT OF THE DASH VENTS. YOU CAN STILL HEAR IT ON, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY START BLOWING FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. STILL, NOT A BIG DEAL. THEN I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15MPH(NEAR A SCHOOL) WHEN A LOW OIL PRESSURE POWER OFF ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF QUICKLY, I PULLED OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, NO MORE ISSUES. A FEW DAYS LATER MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON RANDOMLY, HMM, SO IF THAT LIGHT IS ON WILL MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY IF NEEDED? NOT SURE... THEN I GET ALARMS THAT SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT BUCKLED IN, BUT THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEN MY CAR STARTS CUTTING OFF RANDOMLY WHILE I'M DRIVING. THIS MORNING I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND IT JUST CUT OFF LEAVING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR A FEW MINUTES WITH NO WAY FOR OTHER CARS TO GET AROUND ME.... IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE IF I WAS PULLING OUT AND ANOTHER CAR SPED AROUND THE CORNER. THEN THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ME STATING I SHOULD REMOVE EVERYTHING FROM MY KEY DUE TO IGNITION FAILURE RECALL. I SAW ON CBS YOU COULD REQUEST A FREE LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL PARTS CAME IN BUT THE DEALER ONLY OFFERED ME A RENTAL AT 300/WK.WOW, THANKS GM FOR CARING ABOUT OUR SAFETY. *TR
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING UP FROM UNDER MY SEAT, I PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO A SAFE SPACE AND BY THAT TIME VISIBLE FIRE WAS COMING UP FROM AROUND THE EDGES OF THE SEAT I HIT THE ONSTAR BOTTON TOLD THEM MY CARE WAS ON FIRE THEY DISPATCHED POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER T…
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WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING UP FROM UNDER MY SEAT, I PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO A SAFE SPACE AND BY THAT TIME VISIBLE FIRE WAS COMING UP FROM AROUND THE EDGES OF THE SEAT I HIT THE ONSTAR BOTTON TOLD THEM MY CARE WAS ON FIRE THEY DISPATCHED POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT APPEARED TO THEM THAT THE WIRING FROM THE SEAT MOTOR AT SHORTED OUT AND BURNED THROUGH THE WIRE CASING WHICH THEN CAUGHT THE SEAT I WAS SITTING IN ON FIRE. THE AUTO BODY ALSO STATED THAT THAT APPEARED TO BE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL. *TR
NOTICED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT APPEARED TO BE LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING WAS DISCOVERED '" SEAT FRAME BOLTS IN THE REAR AND SLIDES INTO SLOTS IN THE FRONT FOUND METAL FATIGUED ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE SLIGHTLY". SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COV…
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NOTICED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT APPEARED TO BE LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING WAS DISCOVERED '" SEAT FRAME BOLTS IN THE REAR AND SLIDES INTO SLOTS IN THE FRONT FOUND METAL FATIGUED ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE SLIGHTLY". SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE VEHICLE TO A AUTO BODY SHOP TO SEE IF A PIECE OF METAL CAN BE WELDED ONTO THE AREA WHERE THE FRONT OF THE SEAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE MAIN CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. HOW THE METAL CAN FATIGUE IN A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD MAKES NO SENSE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND ADVISE. THANK YOU *TR
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED . WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GMC -BUICK DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SEATBELT ANCHOR ASSEMBLY AND HAS HAD A RECALL. THEY SAID THE CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR THE RECALL ID # 89931 AND HAD BEEN CHECKED. WE DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON 8/ 31/11 FROM A DIFFERENT DEAL…
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THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED . WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GMC -BUICK DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SEATBELT ANCHOR ASSEMBLY AND HAS HAD A RECALL. THEY SAID THE CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR THE RECALL ID # 89931 AND HAD BEEN CHECKED. WE DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON 8/ 31/11 FROM A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. WE HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE ONLY 6 WEEKS WHEN THE PROBLEM AROSE. WE DON'T KNOW IF PROBLEM WAS EVER SOLVED OR IF THE TROUBLE WAS JUST CLEARED. THE LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THIS TIME. WE BELIEVE IF PROBLEM WAS PROPERLY REPAIRED ON THE RECALL THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. THIS DEALER (YOUNG- BUICK GMC) OF OWOSSO, MI SAID THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $190.79. WE DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS A RECALL AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. EVIDENTLY THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS IT MUST OF NOT BEEN FIXED PROPERLY. *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.
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