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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
92,320 miles · Apr 12, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 CHEVY IMPALA TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH WHEN THE "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE CAME UP FOLLOWED BY "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL". THE CAR THEN BECAME SLUGGISH AND SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 15-20 MPH. IT THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 CHEVY IMPALA TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH WHEN THE "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE CAME UP FOLLOWED BY "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL". THE CAR THEN BECAME SLUGGISH AND SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 15-20 MPH. IT THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THANK GOD TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT BECAUSE WITH THAT HAPPENING IT WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR FOR A FEW YEARS AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL YET. IS GM WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO PINPOINT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT SOMEONE HAS TO PAY MONEY TO FIX WHAT MAY BE A PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. I SEE A LOT OF IMPALAS IN MY TOWN AND IT'S SCARY TO THINK THAT AT ANY TIME THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANY ONE OF THOSE CARS, MINE INCLUDED, AND SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILL SOMEONE. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO INVESTED THEIR MONEY IN THE GM BRAND.

NHTSA ODI #10584829

82,000 miles · Apr 12, 2014
Electrical System

NEWLY PURCHASED CAR AND CHILD LOCKED HIMSELF IN CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCK CAR WITH KEY FOB DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT A LOT OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING WITH THE ACTUATOR. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE TONS OF THESE CARS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED WITH …

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NEWLY PURCHASED CAR AND CHILD LOCKED HIMSELF IN CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCK CAR WITH KEY FOB DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT A LOT OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING WITH THE ACTUATOR. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE TONS OF THESE CARS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY BUT THEN HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO GET THE BACK DOOR UNLOCKED... GOD FORBID I HAD TO RELY ON MY KEY FOB TO SAVE MY LIFE SOMEDAY! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579402

60,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. DEALER SAYS THE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BAD SENSOR IN IT. I WAS TOLD THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM A LOT ON THIS MODEL. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THE BAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT UNLESS THIS IS FIXED. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578174

70,000 miles · Apr 4, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED 20 MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE ACCELERA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED 20 MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR CONNECTOR, AND FUEL VENT SOLENOID WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10577343

26,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Steering

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2011 USED WITH 23,000 MILES ON I HAVE HAD TO HAVE TWO NEW RACKET PINION STEERING MOTORS/(UNITS) REPLACED AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN IT APPEARS A THIRD IS ON IT'S WAY.. THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS IS A FLAW THAT COULD ALSO CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576408

135,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASH. TOLD IT WAS A WEIGHT SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CHEVY SAME THING IS HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576275

40,000 miles · Mar 27, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER, MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON. AS I KEPT DRIVING, I LOST POWER TO MY ENGINE. FINALLY, MY ENGINE WAS DISABLED AND I COULDN'T DRIVE ANYMORE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START UP MY C…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER, MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON. AS I KEPT DRIVING, I LOST POWER TO MY ENGINE. FINALLY, MY ENGINE WAS DISABLED AND I COULDN'T DRIVE ANYMORE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START UP MY CAR. I REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT MY CAR STILL KEEPS DOING THIS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL ITS CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575068

74,800 miles · Mar 23, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

TRIED TO LOCK DOORS WITH KEY FOB AND BOTH REAR DOORS AND SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT LOCK. ATTEMPTED TO LOCK FROM INSIDE VEHICLE AND WOULD STILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574224

74,500 miles · Mar 23, 2014
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WITH IT SAYING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ON DISPLAY. ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE CAR BEGAN TO START SLOWING DOWN AND I LOST ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING EASILY AS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WITH IT SAYING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ON DISPLAY. ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE CAR BEGAN TO START SLOWING DOWN AND I LOST ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING EASILY AS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES FOR THE PROBLEM TO CLEAR UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574223

66,000 miles · Mar 21, 2014
Electrical System

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE. REPAIRED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. GM HAS INTERNAL KNOWLEDGE OF ISSUE WITH PROPOSED WORKAROUND WHICH DOES NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN. FREE STANDING CABLE IN SHIFT COLUMN MOVES AND BECOMES PINCHED OR SOLDER CO…

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KEY STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE. REPAIRED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. GM HAS INTERNAL KNOWLEDGE OF ISSUE WITH PROPOSED WORKAROUND WHICH DOES NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN. FREE STANDING CABLE IN SHIFT COLUMN MOVES AND BECOMES PINCHED OR SOLDER COMES LOOSE FROM HARNESS NOT ALLOW KEY TO BE RELEASED. VEHICLE CANNOT BE UNATTENDED DOORS CANNOT BE LOCKED LEFT STRANDED. VEHICLE IS NOW AT DEALER AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TERRIBLE DESIGN BY GM. NOW FORCED TO PAY FOR A REPAIR WHICH WILL NOT HOLD UP AND THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED TWICE WELL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573951

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.