TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE MAKING TURNS, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
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.
Traction Control System complaints
46 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, IT MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AS IF THE TRACTION WERE UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, IT MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AS IF THE TRACTION WERE UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER AND SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SENS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER AND SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH WHILE I WAS DRIVING . I HAD BEEN DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MINUTE AT SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH. I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE .THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS BY PEOPLE HAVING THIS DAME ISSUE. THERE WERE PEOPLE SAYING THEIR LIVES WERE ENDANGERED .THEY WERE DR…
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TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH WHILE I WAS DRIVING . I HAD BEEN DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MINUTE AT SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH. I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE .THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS BY PEOPLE HAVING THIS DAME ISSUE. THERE WERE PEOPLE SAYING THEIR LIVES WERE ENDANGERED .THEY WERE DRIVING AND THEIR ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF .THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES WITH 2009 IMPALAS .THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR . AND FRIENDS ARE TELLING ME THAT FORD CARES ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE AN TAKES CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM HOPING CHEVROLET WILL PROVE THAT CUSTOMERS SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. AND DOES A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE ASAP . *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 10/13/16*LJ *TR
CPSC: 2009 CHEVY IMPALA: CONSUMER STATED DUE TO TRACTION ISSUES WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL DROP FROM THE CURRENT DRIVING SPEED TO 5 MPH. *SS THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE WAS REDUCED TO ALMOST NONE. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH THE WARNING MESSAGE "ENGINE SHUTTING OFF". THE ENGINE WAS THEN SHUT OFF AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH THE WARNING MESSAGE "ENGINE SHUTTING OFF". THE ENGINE WAS THEN SHUT OFF AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,683.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WARNING MESSAGES FOR POWER LOSS, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND SERVICE AIR BAGS WERE DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WARNING MESSAGES FOR POWER LOSS, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND SERVICE AIR BAGS WERE DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,775. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN SENSORS RELATED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN SENSORS RELATED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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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