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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.

About this comparison →

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
85,000 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10662358

100,000 miles · Dec 2, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING THE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND TRAVELED INTO A BUSY INT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING THE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND TRAVELED INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION, CRASHING INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10661580

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2014
Electrical System

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOLLOWED BY AN ADVISEMENT THE REPAIR PART(S) WERE IN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH THE BELIEF THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS GOING TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. AIRPORT CHEVROLET-MEDFORD, OREGON. ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS THE SIZE OF THE KEY RING HOLE ON THE KEYS WERE REDUCED. WAS THIS AN ACCEPTAB…

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AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOLLOWED BY AN ADVISEMENT THE REPAIR PART(S) WERE IN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH THE BELIEF THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS GOING TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. AIRPORT CHEVROLET-MEDFORD, OREGON. ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS THE SIZE OF THE KEY RING HOLE ON THE KEYS WERE REDUCED. WAS THIS AN ACCEPTABLE FIX FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM, AND IF SO, WHY WAS THAT NOT MENTIONED ON ANY OF THE TV NEWS COVERAGE LIKE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT WAS? THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10661301

45,000 miles · Nov 24, 2014
Air Bags

CHECK AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARS AND "CHECK AIR BAG" APPEARS IN DRIVER INFO CENTER SOON AFTER STARTING DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS USED, NOT INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660729

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT THE GEAR OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE OCCURED ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10660098

38,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Traction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY SHAKE. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY SHAKE. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10659230

50,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
EngineTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10659206

67,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT PARK FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT PARK FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 12/22/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. UPDATED 05/26/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10655061

40,000 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10654823

58,000 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DECREASE IN POWER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DECREASE IN POWER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10654713

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.