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2010 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

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

Engine complaints

88 reports
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65,143 miles · Feb 6, 2013
Engine

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AD THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON : CHECK STABILITY TRACKER, REDUCE POWER, AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496664

130,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013
Engine

I OWN A 2010 IMPALA WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG IT SEEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE IMPALA. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE T…

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I OWN A 2010 IMPALA WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG IT SEEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE IMPALA. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT SHUTS OFF, IT JUST DIES RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FIRST THE TRACTION LIGHT WILL COME ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN YOUR CAR WILL SAY SOMETHING LIKE SHUTTING DOWN, THEN IT WILL JUST TURN OFF. THIS IS VERY SCARY. IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, ISN'T IT A MATTER THAT CHEVY SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL? I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO MOST CARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THEY SEEM TO HAVE A FEATURE THAT SHUTS DOWN THE POWER IF THE CAR THINGS IT IS LOSING CONTROL OF THE TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THE TIRES ARE FINE BUT THE SENSOR IS MESSED UP. I HAVE READ MANY POSTS COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME ISSUE. IT CAN'T BE SAFE TO HAVE CARS JUST SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ALMOST HIT! MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR. I WAS BARLEY IN THE SHOULDER AS IT SHUT DOWN RIGHT AS I WAS PULLING ONTO IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496515

45,570 miles · Jan 8, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING HOME FRIDAY NIGHT 12/26/12 ON CRUISE SET AT 65, BANG, CAR DROPPED POWER DRASTICALLY, KICKED OFF CRUISE, AND THE THREE ROTATING MESSAGES APPEARED ON DASH, 1)SERVICE STABILITRAK, 2)SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, & 3)ENGINE POWER REDUCED. BOTH ORANGE PLACARDS LIT UP ON DASH, SERVICE ENGINE AND TRACTION. PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND…

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DRIVING HOME FRIDAY NIGHT 12/26/12 ON CRUISE SET AT 65, BANG, CAR DROPPED POWER DRASTICALLY, KICKED OFF CRUISE, AND THE THREE ROTATING MESSAGES APPEARED ON DASH, 1)SERVICE STABILITRAK, 2)SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, & 3)ENGINE POWER REDUCED. BOTH ORANGE PLACARDS LIT UP ON DASH, SERVICE ENGINE AND TRACTION. PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND RE STARTED THE CAR. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEEDS BUT CODES STILL ROTATING AND PLACARDS STILL LIT. COULDN'T GET IT INTO THE SHOP UNTIL MONDAY 12/31/12. WHEN I STARTED IT UP TO TAKE IT IN, CODES WERE ALL CLEARED AND CAR RAN JUST FINE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THE PEDAL SENSOR AND WOULD COST ME $275 TO REPAIR. HOW CAN WE GET GM TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ON GOING ISSUE? THIS IS A 2010 CHEVY IMPALA LT WITH 45000 ON IT. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD IT IS NOT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS SAME SENSOR FAILING AT ABOUT 45000 MILES. A SUDDEN DROP IN POWER TO A SPEED OF 25 WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT IS AMAZING WITH AS MANY FAILURES AS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO GM ON JUST THE EDMUNDS CAR FORM SITE ALONE THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY SERIOUS CRASHES. PLEASE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND SEE IF YOU CAN'T GET GM TO RECALL THESE SENSORS AND GET THEM REPLACED WITH BETTER ONES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491882

87,500 miles · Jan 3, 2013
EnginePower TrainSteering

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, NEARLY AT THE END OF A 50 MILE TRIP, THE CAR WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY WITH NO ABNORMAL NOISES OR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS. I DROVE THE CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT AND WAS MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR SCREECHED TO AN IMMEDIATE HALT AND STALLED THE ENGINE. THE SUDD…

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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, NEARLY AT THE END OF A 50 MILE TRIP, THE CAR WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY WITH NO ABNORMAL NOISES OR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS. I DROVE THE CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT AND WAS MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR SCREECHED TO AN IMMEDIATE HALT AND STALLED THE ENGINE. THE SUDDEN STOP WAS VIOLENT AND THREW ME AGAINST MY SEATBELT. I MOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER FROM DRIVE TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTH AND WITHOUT ANY UNUSUAL NOISE. I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE AND IT MADE LOUD GRINDING AND CLUNKING SOUNDS. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BUT STILL IT WOULD NOT MOVE AND AGAIN MADE LOUD NOISES. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND A FRIEND CAME OVER TO HELP ME PUSH THE CAR TO A MORE SAFE AREA, BUT STILL THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. APPARENTLY THE DRIVETRAIN WAS LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE, NO MATTER WHAT GEAR POSITION THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN. THE CAR WAS LATER DRAGGED ON TO A FLATBED TRUCK AND TAKEN TO MY LOCAL AUTO SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO BE FIXED UNDER THE GM 100,000MI/5 YEAR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I AM VERY SHAKEN UP BY THIS INCIDENT AND FEAR WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN IF THE VEHICLES FRONT WHEELS WOULD HAVE VIOLENTLY LOCKED UP LIKE THIS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I FEAR THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. I HOPE GM AND THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT AND FIND THE CAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490867

104,000 miles · Dec 12, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes

THE 2010 IMPALA WAS AT HWY SPEEDS AT APPROX 65MPH. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAY WAS FLASHING TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON. IT ALSO SAID ENGINE AT REDUCED SPEEDS . THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILED AT HWY SPEEDS WHICH LEFT ME COASTING TO REDUCED SPEEDS AND THEN …

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THE 2010 IMPALA WAS AT HWY SPEEDS AT APPROX 65MPH. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAY WAS FLASHING TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON. IT ALSO SAID ENGINE AT REDUCED SPEEDS . THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILED AT HWY SPEEDS WHICH LEFT ME COASTING TO REDUCED SPEEDS AND THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF AT 20 MPH WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT OFF THE SERVICE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10488094

35,600 miles · Sep 21, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineTraction Control System

I HAVE A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. I HAVE REMAINED CURRENT ON ALL OF MY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CAR RECENTLY HAD THE WARNINGS: SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I HAVE LOOKED ON MULTIPLE OUTLETS AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE SOLUTION THAT THE DEALER GIVES IS VARIED AND COINCIDENTALL…

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I HAVE A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. I HAVE REMAINED CURRENT ON ALL OF MY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CAR RECENTLY HAD THE WARNINGS: SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I HAVE LOOKED ON MULTIPLE OUTLETS AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE SOLUTION THAT THE DEALER GIVES IS VARIED AND COINCIDENTALLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476655

52,000 miles · Jul 13, 2012
EngineTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE TRAC STABILITY AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TWENTY MINUTES AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WHEN DRIVING EXTENDED DISTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE TRAC STABILITY AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TWENTY MINUTES AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WHEN DRIVING EXTENDED DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #10465560

53,108 miles · Jun 13, 2012
EngineSteering

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. NO BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING.....I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN PARK, TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, PUT IT BACK IN AND THE CAR STARTED. NOW I AM SCARED TO PUT MY 5 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461421

Official recalls

4

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.

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.