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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
45,085 miles · May 6, 2014
Electrical System

THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE A/C OR DASH AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IT CLICKS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN GOES AWAY. IF YOU TRY CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE, IT STARTS AGAIN. I HEARD MANY OTHER IMPALAS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. I HOPE CHEVY FIXES THIS, IT COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND CRASH. LUCKIL…

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THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE A/C OR DASH AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IT CLICKS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN GOES AWAY. IF YOU TRY CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE, IT STARTS AGAIN. I HEARD MANY OTHER IMPALAS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. I HOPE CHEVY FIXES THIS, IT COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND CRASH. LUCKILY THIS HASN'T TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586860

99,780 miles · May 6, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

CAR TURNED OFF BY ITS SELF WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PARK IT. WHEN I STOPPED I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. I CONTACT MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THIS WAS A SAFETY RECALL. IT WAS NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL. HAVING Y…

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CAR TURNED OFF BY ITS SELF WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PARK IT. WHEN I STOPPED I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. I CONTACT MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THIS WAS A SAFETY RECALL. IT WAS NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL. HAVING YOUR CAR STOP WHILE DRIVING IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. CONSIDERING THAT MY POWERSTEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT ON ME. I CAME OUT OF THIS WITHOUT INJURY BUT I WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE OR DRIVING IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. I REALLY HOPE CHEVY TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND RECALL OR IN MY CASE REIMBURSE OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586859

8,337 miles · May 6, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE REDUCED ENGINE AND THE SERVICE TRACTION STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE REDUCED ENGINE AND THE SERVICE TRACTION STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,337.

NHTSA ODI #10586777

110,223 miles · May 2, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON THEN I LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING AT A SPEED OF 70MPH. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND HAD COMING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL POWER ALMOST REAR ENDED AND TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY OVER CUT…

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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON THEN I LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING AT A SPEED OF 70MPH. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND HAD COMING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL POWER ALMOST REAR ENDED AND TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY OVER CUTTING IN FRONT OF CARS SO THAT I WOULD NOT BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO MAKE OVER TO THE MEDIAN AND THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. SO THEN I WAITED THERE FOR 20 MIN UNTIL MY FRIEND ARRIVED TO HELP ME AND THE CAR CRANKED UP AND DROVE LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. SO I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND WITHIN 45 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAITED A FEW MINS AND IT CRANKED UP. ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE. I DON'T MAKE MUCH MONEY AND DON'T HAVE IT TO TAKE TO A MECHANIC AND ITS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS A RECALL. I HAVE SEEN AND READ THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER CARS IM WONDERING IF THEY MISSED A YEAR OR SOMETHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586118

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SEAT BELT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE READINESS AIR BAG FOR THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, ONLY THE ANCHOR WAS APART OF THE RECALL, AND IT WOULD COST$400 TO REPLACE …

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2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SEAT BELT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE READINESS AIR BAG FOR THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, ONLY THE ANCHOR WAS APART OF THE RECALL, AND IT WOULD COST$400 TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10584865

41,253 miles · Apr 30, 2014
Air Bags

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RE…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,253. RG

NHTSA ODI #10585664

46,000 miles · Apr 25, 2014
Air Bags

WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON.. WHEN I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT UP ITS A LOUD TAPPING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584785

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

97,000 miles · Apr 21, 2014
Electrical System

MY KEY KEEP GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. AFTER A COUPLE OF TRIES OF WIGGLING IT OUT, IT CAME OUT. BUT WHEN I'D GONE HOME FOR THEN END OF THE DAY MY KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT AT ALL ! I HAD TO LEAVE MY KEY PARTIALLY STARTED BECAUSE THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO MY BAD DIES, ALARM NOT WORKING AND NOT TO MENTION I WAS 4MTHS PREGNANT …

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MY KEY KEEP GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. AFTER A COUPLE OF TRIES OF WIGGLING IT OUT, IT CAME OUT. BUT WHEN I'D GONE HOME FOR THEN END OF THE DAY MY KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT AT ALL ! I HAD TO LEAVE MY KEY PARTIALLY STARTED BECAUSE THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO MY BAD DIES, ALARM NOT WORKING AND NOT TO MENTION I WAS 4MTHS PREGNANT AND I KEPT DRIVING AROUND AS I SPOKE WITH A GM REP AND ONSTAR REP HOPING EVENTUALLY THE KEY WILL COME OUT BUT IT DIDN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583858

65,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN I DRIVE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH A REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING AND A MESSAGE TO CHECK STABILTRACK. AFTER THREE OR FOUR SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT GOES OFF FROM ANYWHERE TO 3 OR 4 DAYS TO MAYBE A MONTH OR SO. IT IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER SAYS IT HAS NEVER HEARD OF THAT…

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WHEN I DRIVE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH A REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING AND A MESSAGE TO CHECK STABILTRACK. AFTER THREE OR FOUR SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT GOES OFF FROM ANYWHERE TO 3 OR 4 DAYS TO MAYBE A MONTH OR SO. IT IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER SAYS IT HAS NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT. MY CAR HASN'T STALLED AS OF YET BUT I AM CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF.

NHTSA ODI #10583320

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.