NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
824 reports26,765 miles · Feb 16, 2013
Seats
NOTICED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT APPEARED TO BE LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING WAS DISCOVERED '" SEAT FRAME BOLTS IN THE REAR AND SLIDES INTO SLOTS IN THE FRONT FOUND METAL FATIGUED ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE SLIGHTLY". SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COV…
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NOTICED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT APPEARED TO BE LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING WAS DISCOVERED '" SEAT FRAME BOLTS IN THE REAR AND SLIDES INTO SLOTS IN THE FRONT FOUND METAL FATIGUED ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE SLIGHTLY". SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE VEHICLE TO A AUTO BODY SHOP TO SEE IF A PIECE OF METAL CAN BE WELDED ONTO THE AREA WHERE THE FRONT OF THE SEAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE MAIN CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. HOW THE METAL CAN FATIGUE IN A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD MAKES NO SENSE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND ADVISE. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498358
83,434 miles · Feb 14, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineTraction Control System
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA LT & WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 50MPH DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & ENGINE POWER WILL BE REDUCED MESSAGE CAME ON". THE CARS SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 40MPH & WOULD HARDLY GO. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT REALLY …
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I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA LT & WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 50MPH DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & ENGINE POWER WILL BE REDUCED MESSAGE CAME ON". THE CARS SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 40MPH & WOULD HARDLY GO. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. I DID GET TO WORK SAFELY BUT I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I SEARCHED MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET & CAME ACROSS 297 MESSAGES FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN GM VEHICLES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE SAID THEIR CARS ACTUALLY CUT OFF ON THEM WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. ONE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM FROM WHAT I HAVE READ HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR OR THROTTLE BODY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THIS. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE POSTED THAT THEIR LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP COVERED THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEIR CARS WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS MYSELF. TO ME, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I COULD HAVE A WRECK & GET KILLED OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A COMPANY WOULD CLEARLY KNOW ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I THINK THAT GM SHOULD COVER THE REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE AND TO ANY OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498119
40,000 miles · Jan 4, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT I PURCHASED IN 2010. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CAR BEGAN TO READ CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THEN STALLS AND JERKS WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE COMPUTER CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL …
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I HAVE A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT I PURCHASED IN 2010. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CAR BEGAN TO READ CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THEN STALLS AND JERKS WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE COMPUTER CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. I AM PLANNING O TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AND I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10491436
80,000 miles · Jan 4, 2013
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10491016
27,000 miles · Dec 17, 2012
Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED WHETHER USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY OR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH AND THE LOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN PARKED INDOORS. THE FAILURE AND THE C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED WHETHER USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY OR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH AND THE LOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN PARKED INDOORS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 01/30/13*LJ UPDATED 1/31/2013 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10488951
125,000 miles · Dec 2, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
VEHICLE GIVES A SERVICE THROTTLE STARTING DISABLED MESSAGE AND PROMPTLY SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE. IF YOU WAIT 5 MINUTES THE CAR WILL RESTART AND PERFORM AS USUAL.....UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO RESULT IN SOMEONE BEING KILLED. BASED UPON INTERNET SEARCHES …
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VEHICLE GIVES A SERVICE THROTTLE STARTING DISABLED MESSAGE AND PROMPTLY SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE. IF YOU WAIT 5 MINUTES THE CAR WILL RESTART AND PERFORM AS USUAL.....UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO RESULT IN SOMEONE BEING KILLED. BASED UPON INTERNET SEARCHES THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT GM WILL NOT PROACTIVELY FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486732
65,650 miles · Nov 24, 2012
Air Bags
THE CITY ARE WORKING ON THE ROAD AND THE PAVEMENT HAD A BIG DIP IN IT AND THE CAR BOTTOM OUT ,AND THAN THE AIR BAG LITE CAME ON AND SAYS ITS THE PASSAGE SIDE. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIRS AND THEY SAID THE PPS MODULE WENT BAD ,THE DEALER SAID NO RECALL ON IT .I THINK THIS IS NOT SAFE OR FAIR .COST TO FIX $848…
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THE CITY ARE WORKING ON THE ROAD AND THE PAVEMENT HAD A BIG DIP IN IT AND THE CAR BOTTOM OUT ,AND THAN THE AIR BAG LITE CAME ON AND SAYS ITS THE PASSAGE SIDE. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIRS AND THEY SAID THE PPS MODULE WENT BAD ,THE DEALER SAID NO RECALL ON IT .I THINK THIS IS NOT SAFE OR FAIR .COST TO FIX $848.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10485885
46,000 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Service BrakesSteeringWheelsCrash
WAS DRIVING 35 MPH,IN A 40 MPH ZONE,STEERING LOCKED UP AND HIT A CURVE..COULD NOT STEER,THEN AFTER I HIT CURVE . STEERING WENT BACK TO NORMAL..I'M NOT GOING TO DRIVE A CAR THATS UNSAFE... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10484864
27,960 miles · Oct 27, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 9/6/2012 USED WITH 27,479 MILES. ON 9/19/2012 WITH 27,960 MILES, I WAS ACCELERATING ON AN ONRAMP GETTING ON A HIGHWAY AND TWO MESSAGES APPEARED ON MY DASH: "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. EXPERIENCE ROUGH AND HESITANT SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND COULD NO…
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PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 9/6/2012 USED WITH 27,479 MILES. ON 9/19/2012 WITH 27,960 MILES, I WAS ACCELERATING ON AN ONRAMP GETTING ON A HIGHWAY AND TWO MESSAGES APPEARED ON MY DASH: "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. EXPERIENCE ROUGH AND HESITANT SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND COULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 35MPH. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE HOME ON SIDE ROADS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS READING CODE P2138 AND THE THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE WAS COVERED UNDER THE DEALER'S WARRANTY AND I WAS SET TO GO. FLASH FORWARD TO 10/24/2012 WITH 29,355 MILES, I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD AND THE SAME MESSAGES CAME UP. I CALLED ON STAR AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPUTER READING CODES P2138 AND C0242. EXPERIENCED OUT OF CONTROL WHEEL SPINNING AND SENSITIVE BRAKING. TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN THE AREA I WAS CURRENTLY IN TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WITH ANY ISSUE. ALL CODES AND LIGHTS WERE NOT ENGAGED. I STILL DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE DUE TO PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATOR AND HAD TOWED TO THE PURCHASING DEALER NEAR MY HOME. THEY ALSO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WITH ANY ISSUE AS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ERROR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND A PROBLEM (ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY) WITH A POPULAR MODEL. I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM ON THIS ISSUE AND AM HOPING TO HAVE IT RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10482428
170,000 miles · Oct 20, 2012
Engine
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY A CHECK TRACTION SYSTEM WARNING APPEARED ALONG WITH REDUCED ENGINE POWER. AFTER APPROX. 10 MILES THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART AND THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER WAITING APPROX. 3 MINUTES I WAS ABLE …
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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY A CHECK TRACTION SYSTEM WARNING APPEARED ALONG WITH REDUCED ENGINE POWER. AFTER APPROX. 10 MILES THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART AND THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER WAITING APPROX. 3 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND WARNING SYSTEM WAS GONE HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10481224
Official recalls
5Jul 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗