IllustrationENGINE POWER REDUCED...CAR SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.
2010 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
260–25K
6725–50K
8750–75K
6375–100K
74100–150K
34150K+
351 reports with mileage · 90 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
74 reportsPECKING SOUND STARTS WHEN DOOR IS OPEN AND GET FASTER WHEN CAR IS STARTED BUT QUITS SHORTLY AFTER. WILL START PECKING SOMETIMES WHEN ITS JUST SETTING NOT IN USE.
CAR READS STABILIZING TRACK AND CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE AND HAS CUT OFF. ON GOING PROBLEM. IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING. ON HIGHWAY OR STREET.
MESSAGE SAYS "SERVICE STABILITRAK" ENGINE POWERING DOWN". HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN FIRST STARTING. MANY GM CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME ISSUE ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS AND MAKES INCLUDING THE TRAVERSE.
I HAVE HAD 3 SPECIAL COVERAGE ORDERS LETTERS IN THE PASS YEAR ON MY CAR. !. STABILITRAK LIGHT TC. 2.HARNESSTHROTTLE BODY. 3. IGNITION KEY.I'M ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY SUSPENSION .AND POWER STEERING.I CALL GM AND HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR BY GM REQUIRE AND THE SERVICES REPAIR MEN SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND NO CODES ON THEIR SCANN.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ABOUT 45 MILES AN HR WHEN IT BEGAN TO SUDDENLY LOSE SPEED ONCE IT STOPPED I WAS ABLE TO COAST IT TO THE LIGHT. I CUT THE CAR OFF AN IT STARTED BACK UP. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT DID THAT SO I PROCEEDED TO FIND A NEAR GAS STATION.. IT STARTED TO RUN AGAIN AND I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN …
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ABOUT 45 MILES AN HR WHEN IT BEGAN TO SUDDENLY LOSE SPEED ONCE IT STOPPED I WAS ABLE TO COAST IT TO THE LIGHT. I CUT THE CAR OFF AN IT STARTED BACK UP. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT DID THAT SO I PROCEEDED TO FIND A NEAR GAS STATION.. IT STARTED TO RUN AGAIN AND I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN (LOST SPEED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING) STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS HAD THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY CHECKED AND BOTH ARE FINE.. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS!
AS I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE ROUTE, ALERTS APPEARED FOR "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" AND THEN "SERVICE STABILITRAK" FOLLOWED BY "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITING A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. THE MESSAGES STOPPED, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I DROVE A FEW MO…
Read full complaint
AS I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE ROUTE, ALERTS APPEARED FOR "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" AND THEN "SERVICE STABILITRAK" FOLLOWED BY "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITING A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. THE MESSAGES STOPPED, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND APPROACHED THE ON-RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. AS I ACCELERATED TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE SAME ALERTS CAME BACK ON IN ADDITION TO "STARTING DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY CAR BECAME COMPLETELY DISABLED AND SHUT DOWN AS I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE- THE ENGINE CUT OFF, NO POWER STEERING, NO ACCELERATION!! THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP AND SEEMS TO RUN FINE AT THE REPAIR SHOP. WORRIED WHEN AND WHERE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
AT FIRST IT WAS WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING SHARP. THE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE WOULD COME ON AND A GRINDING LIKE SOUND FROM THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL AREA. LATER IT INCLUDED THE ABS WARNING AND WOULD ALSO OCCUR AFTER BACKING WITH TURN AND GOING FORWARD AT THAT MOMENT. NOW RANDOMLY WHEN PULLING OUT AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT …
Read full complaint
AT FIRST IT WAS WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING SHARP. THE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE WOULD COME ON AND A GRINDING LIKE SOUND FROM THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL AREA. LATER IT INCLUDED THE ABS WARNING AND WOULD ALSO OCCUR AFTER BACKING WITH TURN AND GOING FORWARD AT THAT MOMENT. NOW RANDOMLY WHEN PULLING OUT AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. RECENTLY ALSO THE OIL PRESSURE LOW MESSAGE AND DUMMY LIGHT COME ON 3-4 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING (AND YES THE OIL PRESSURE IS GOOD WITH CORRECT OIL, TIRES, PRESSURE, BRAKES, SENSORS ALL CHECK GOOD). BEST GUESS DIAGNOSTICS IS SHORTING IN WIRING HARNESS THAT CAN NOT BE LOCATED UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY. HOWEVER WITH GRABBING WITH TRACTION CONTROL WHEN PULLING OUT AND AIR BAG PROBLEMS IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
MY STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STEERED TO THE LEFT. STEERING WAS DIFFICULT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL/ CAR SHOOK AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF STEERING NOISE AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. DEALER DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANY ISSUE. RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AT 50,000 BY MECHANIC. RACK AND PINION SNAPPED AT …
Read full complaint
MY STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STEERED TO THE LEFT. STEERING WAS DIFFICULT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL/ CAR SHOOK AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF STEERING NOISE AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. DEALER DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANY ISSUE. RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AT 50,000 BY MECHANIC. RACK AND PINION SNAPPED AT 90,000 LEAVING NO STEERING ABILITY IN VEHICLE. DEALER AND GM INFORMED AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
LATELY AS I AM DRIVING A MESSAGE POPS UP ON THE DASH. IT SAYS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST. ALSO THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE NO TRACTION LIGHT IS ON. THE REASON I AM REPORTING THIS IS BECAUSE I AM HEARING PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME MODEL BUT DIFFERENT YEAR SAY THEY ARE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Official recalls
416V507000 · 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.
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.