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2009 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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.

43 crash reports9 fire reports34 injury reports

Visibility complaints

11 reports
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72,000 miles · Oct 2, 2018
Electrical SystemVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WINDOWS BECAME INOPERABLE AND COULD NOT BE MOVED UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DIVER CHEVROLET (2101 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, 302-504-8313) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE WINDOW MOTORS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WINDOWS BECAME INOPERABLE AND COULD NOT BE MOVED UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DIVER CHEVROLET (2101 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, 302-504-8313) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE WINDOW MOTORS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #11132983

111,000 miles · Dec 9, 2016
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILAB…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10934116

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility

I HAVE GOTTEN THE BLEND DOOR / AIR DOOR ACTUATOR CHANGED ABOUT 8 OR 9 MONTHS AGO. ONCE THE UNLOCK BUTTON IS PRESSED THE TICKING NOISE BEGINS TO GO ,OFF IT MAY GO FOR 3 MINUTES OR LONGER BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY STOP, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY CAR HAVING AN ISSUE BUT WHEN I DID SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT IT'S ALOT OF IMPALAS …

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I HAVE GOTTEN THE BLEND DOOR / AIR DOOR ACTUATOR CHANGED ABOUT 8 OR 9 MONTHS AGO. ONCE THE UNLOCK BUTTON IS PRESSED THE TICKING NOISE BEGINS TO GO ,OFF IT MAY GO FOR 3 MINUTES OR LONGER BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY STOP, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY CAR HAVING AN ISSUE BUT WHEN I DID SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT IT'S ALOT OF IMPALAS ON OTHER IMPALAS AS WELL EVEN BY WORD OF MOUTH PEOPLE HEAR THE NOISE AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE STATED THAT THEIR CAR USE TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638605

36,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Exterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE METAL LATCH PINCHED HER FINGER. THE REAR PASSENGER REAR WINDOW SQUEALED WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE WINDOW UPWARD OR DOWNWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SIGNAL BLINKER GENERATED FALSE COMMANDS INTE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE METAL LATCH PINCHED HER FINGER. THE REAR PASSENGER REAR WINDOW SQUEALED WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE WINDOW UPWARD OR DOWNWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SIGNAL BLINKER GENERATED FALSE COMMANDS INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURES OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #10632124

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2014
Visibility

ACTUATORS THAT CONTROL THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER WHICH OR SEVERAL UNDER THE RADIO AND UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THEY ARE TICKING LOUDLY AND ONE SIDE BLOWS HEAT AND THE OTHER SIDE BLOWS COOL. I KNOW OF MAY WHO OWN THIS YEAR AND MODEL IMPALA THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. *T…

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ACTUATORS THAT CONTROL THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER WHICH OR SEVERAL UNDER THE RADIO AND UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THEY ARE TICKING LOUDLY AND ONE SIDE BLOWS HEAT AND THE OTHER SIDE BLOWS COOL. I KNOW OF MAY WHO OWN THIS YEAR AND MODEL IMPALA THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627962

75,000 miles · Jun 17, 2014
Visibility

MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE GLOVE BOX AREA OF THE VEHICLE WHICH I FOUND OUT TO BE THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART FAILING IN IMPALAS WITH NOT THAT MANY MILES ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598724

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

I TOO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE ACHING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT, THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE IMPALAS. MY IMPALA WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK AND I WAS TOLD THE REASON THAT IT TOOK SO LONG WAS THAT THERE ARE THREE ACTUATORS AND THEY H…

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I TOO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE ACHING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT, THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE IMPALAS. MY IMPALA WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK AND I WAS TOLD THE REASON THAT IT TOOK SO LONG WAS THAT THERE ARE THREE ACTUATORS AND THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IT WAS OR CHARGE ME TO FIX ALL THREE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T MAKE OUT WHICH ONE IT WAS. I PAID TO GET THE ONE FIX AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MAYBE THEY FIXED THE WRONG ONE AND I COULD PAY TO GET THE OTHER TWO FIXED. THIS IS A $40 PART THAT I PAID $238.00 TO GET FIXED. I DECLINED AND FOUND NUMEROUS YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND BLOGS REPORTING MODELS AS EARLY AS 2006 WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD OR HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE "KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE DASH BOARD". I AM VERY SURPRISED AND DISHEARTENED THAT THIS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS AND YET GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. HOPEFULLY, I CAN GET OTHERS TO SPEAK OUT ON THIS ISSUE AND FILE COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593909

60,000 miles · Apr 22, 2014
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DEFOGGER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT SUPPLIES POWER TO THE REAR DEFOGGER WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DEFOGGER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT SUPPLIES POWER TO THE REAR DEFOGGER WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10584203

16,000 miles · Jul 18, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD ONLY BLOW AIR FROM THE WINDSHIELD VENT, AND AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WOULD FREEZE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO REMAIN OPEN, AND WOULD SOMETIMES CLOSE ON HER LEG. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD ONLY BLOW AIR FROM THE WINDSHIELD VENT, AND AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WOULD FREEZE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO REMAIN OPEN, AND WOULD SOMETIMES CLOSE ON HER LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURES DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10413426

49,000 miles · Aug 17, 2010
VisibilityInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER HAD HER HAND OUT THE WINDOW WHEN THE WINDOW BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY CLOSE. THE WINDOW CLOSED WITH THE PASSENGERS RING FINGER CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW AND SEVERED THE END JOINT OF HER FINGER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NOT A SENSOR THAT WOULD …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER HAD HER HAND OUT THE WINDOW WHEN THE WINDOW BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY CLOSE. THE WINDOW CLOSED WITH THE PASSENGERS RING FINGER CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW AND SEVERED THE END JOINT OF HER FINGER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NOT A SENSOR THAT WOULD STOP THE WINDOW FROM CLOSING WHEN OBSTRUCTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10350068

Official recalls

5

16V507000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.