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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

What owners actually said

824 reports
49,000 miles · Dec 22, 2016
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10937071

120,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10934741

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

153,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FRACTURED SOLDER DEVICE, WHICH CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FRACTURED SOLDER DEVICE, WHICH CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ODI #10930147

143,000 miles · Nov 29, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. WAS IN A COLLISION AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BUT AIRBAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON. ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK WHEN I PRESS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK EITHER. THE LIGHTS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS DO NOT LIGHT UP.

NHTSA ODI #10928628

89,000 miles · Nov 10, 2016
Air BagsTraction Control SystemCrashInjury

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.

NHTSA ODI #10925344

60,000 miles · Nov 10, 2016
Electrical System

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2009 IMPALA HOME FROM WORK AT 1230 AM WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY . GOOD THING SHE WASN'T IN THE BAD PART OF TOWN BECAUSE IT WOULDNT START FOR ABT 15 MIN. I ALWAYS BUY AMERICAN AUTOS BUT NEXT TIME IT WONT BE A CHEVROLET UNLESS WE GE…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2009 IMPALA HOME FROM WORK AT 1230 AM WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY . GOOD THING SHE WASN'T IN THE BAD PART OF TOWN BECAUSE IT WOULDNT START FOR ABT 15 MIN. I ALWAYS BUY AMERICAN AUTOS BUT NEXT TIME IT WONT BE A CHEVROLET UNLESS WE GET THE PROBLEM FIXED FREE.THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MULTIPAL TIMES

NHTSA ODI #10925326

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FRAME RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THREE DAYS AFTER PAYING A $99.00 SERVICE CHARGE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE $99 WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10924715

150,000 miles · Nov 4, 2016
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARS SOMETIMES AND THEN GOES AWAY. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT MAY BE A WIRING PROBLEM IN HE STEERING WHEEL. THE WARNING LIGHT COMES AND GOES. NO ONE THING THAT MAKES IT COME ON. COULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT WILL COME ON. SOMETIMES IT WILL COME ON AT START UP. THEN IT WILL GO AWAY FOR A WEEK OR T…

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AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARS SOMETIMES AND THEN GOES AWAY. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT MAY BE A WIRING PROBLEM IN HE STEERING WHEEL. THE WARNING LIGHT COMES AND GOES. NO ONE THING THAT MAKES IT COME ON. COULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT WILL COME ON. SOMETIMES IT WILL COME ON AT START UP. THEN IT WILL GO AWAY FOR A WEEK OR TWO. SOMETIMES IT WILL STAY ON FOR A WEEK OR TWO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10924195

90,100 miles · Oct 30, 2016
Engine

MY CAR'S ENGINE POWER WAS SEVERELY REDUCED SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 275 NORTH IN TAMPA, FL. A MESSAGE SHOWED ON THE DASH: " REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THIS HAPPENED TODAY AROUND 7 PM ON OCT 30, 2016. MY CAR IS A CHEVY IMPALA 2009. I SEARCHED ONLINE …

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MY CAR'S ENGINE POWER WAS SEVERELY REDUCED SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 275 NORTH IN TAMPA, FL. A MESSAGE SHOWED ON THE DASH: " REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THIS HAPPENED TODAY AROUND 7 PM ON OCT 30, 2016. MY CAR IS A CHEVY IMPALA 2009. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF MESSAGES ABOUT THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE OF REDUCED ENGINE POWER ON MANY MODELS OF GM CARS INCLUDING IMPALA, MALIBU, TRAILBLAZER, SILVERADO. THIS WORRIES ME VERY MUCH AS SO MANY SAME ERROR MESSAGES AND ENGINE PROBLEMS HAPPENED ON SO MANY GM CARS. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM YET. SO THIS IRRESPONSIBILITY OF GM ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE PUT THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS IN DANGER. I HOPE NHTSA LOOKS INTO THIS PROBLEM AND PRESSURE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL IF POSSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10920121

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.