MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON PREVENTING ME FROM GETTING MY INSPECTION. IT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER A RECALL WAS PERFORMED FOR A SENSOR THAT CONTROLLED ABS/TC AND ENGINE LOSING POWER
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.
What owners actually said
824 reportsSERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AT 64000 MILES. LOOKS LIKE CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS THINGS.KEEP GETTING TOLD TO COME BACK IT COULD BE THIS ONE OTHER THING.
INTERMEDIATE LIGHT AND READOUT OF SERVICE AIRBAG. THIS LIGHT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT IT AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY AND OR DEATH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE RAIL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A NECK AND HIP INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE RAIL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A NECK AND HIP INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY CAR STARTED JERKING THE ESC CAME ON ENGINE LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM PULLED OVER ALMOST GOT HIT BY TWO OTHER CARS . ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHTS BEEN ON THE SENSORS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AND NEW FRONT AIRBAGS.
SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. INTERMITTENT SOME TIMES, THEN STAYS ON FOR WEEKS. 63,000 MILES.
THIS PROBLEM STARTED 2 YEARS AGO. MY CAR WOULD GIVE ME A WARNING "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. ENGINE POWER REDUCED." THEN THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE FIXED A SENSOR. THAT WAS AROUND A YEAR AGO. I TRAVEL A LOT FOR MY JOB AND TODAY I ARRIVED IN PORTLAND OREGON HAD PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE TO…
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THIS PROBLEM STARTED 2 YEARS AGO. MY CAR WOULD GIVE ME A WARNING "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. ENGINE POWER REDUCED." THEN THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE FIXED A SENSOR. THAT WAS AROUND A YEAR AGO. I TRAVEL A LOT FOR MY JOB AND TODAY I ARRIVED IN PORTLAND OREGON HAD PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE TO GET FUEL, AND ONCE I PULLED OUT TO THE EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION MY CAR DID THIS AGAIN! I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND ONCE IT TURNED GREEN BOOM CAR DIED DUE TO TRACTION CONTROL. SO NOW I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY ROAD WITH TRAFFIC GOING AROUND 45 MPH ALMOST REAR ENDING ME. I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION FOR ABOUT 45 SECONDS AND TRED STARTING IT WHICH WORKED. FOOLISHLY I THOUGHT I COULD AT LEAST MAKE IT TO THIS PARKING LOT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET WHEN I WENT ABOUT 500 FEET IT DID IT AGAIN, IN AN EVEN WORSE SPOT. I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AGAIN FOR 45 SECONDS STARTED THE CAR AND GOT INTO THE PARKING LOT WHICH WAS NOW 50 FEET FROM ME. I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS AND THAT'S WHERE I FOUND AT LEAST 50 OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND TRYING TO GET GM TO HELP. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO MY JOB IF I CAN NOT GET FROM PLACE TO PLACE SAFELY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO KILL PEOPLE.
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 OWNED A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED IT DESTROYED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED IT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRASH, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,233.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE REMEDY WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE REMEDY WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.
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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