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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

What owners actually said

441 reports
55,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10761113

107,000 miles · Aug 25, 2015
Unknown Or Other

WHEN YOU CRANK IT UP IT SOUNDS LOUD. AS YOU PRESS THE GAS IT HAS RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. LOSS OF POWER YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR JUST TO GET UP SOME SPEED. USING TONS OF GAS. HAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. STRONG ODOR OF GAS AND ROTTEN EGGS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT…

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WHEN YOU CRANK IT UP IT SOUNDS LOUD. AS YOU PRESS THE GAS IT HAS RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. LOSS OF POWER YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR JUST TO GET UP SOME SPEED. USING TONS OF GAS. HAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. STRONG ODOR OF GAS AND ROTTEN EGGS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT UNDERNEATH.

NHTSA ODI #10759108

60,000 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION BUT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN TO ANY POSITION. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE KEYS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BINDING IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION BUT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN TO ANY POSITION. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE KEYS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BINDING IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10749343

67,000 miles · Aug 11, 2015
Air Bags

WHEN DRIVING WITH SOMEONE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE CAR RANDOMLY SIGNALS LOSS OF AIR BAGS AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER EITHER FREEZES WHERE IT'S AT OR COMPLETELY DROPS OUT AS IF THE VEHICLE IS OFF. THE DASH SAYS SERVICE AIRBAG WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND ALSO TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG. IT DOES THIS MULTIPLE TIMES…

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WHEN DRIVING WITH SOMEONE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE CAR RANDOMLY SIGNALS LOSS OF AIR BAGS AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER EITHER FREEZES WHERE IT'S AT OR COMPLETELY DROPS OUT AS IF THE VEHICLE IS OFF. THE DASH SAYS SERVICE AIRBAG WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND ALSO TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG. IT DOES THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN DRIVING WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER.

NHTSA ODI #10747777

100,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER WAS FAULTY AND OVERHEATED. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED BUT, SIX MONTHS LATER, THE REPLACEMENT STARTER EXPERIENCED THE SAM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER WAS FAULTY AND OVERHEATED. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED BUT, SIX MONTHS LATER, THE REPLACEMENT STARTER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10745268

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER IS STUCK IN PARK AND THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO A VERY POOR ELECTRICAL DESIGN. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES ATTACHED TO THE CONNECTOR THAT OPERATES THE SOLENOID THAT UNLOCKS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BUTTON IN THE PARK POSITION AND THAT ALSO CONNECTS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND OPERAT…

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THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER IS STUCK IN PARK AND THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO A VERY POOR ELECTRICAL DESIGN. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES ATTACHED TO THE CONNECTOR THAT OPERATES THE SOLENOID THAT UNLOCKS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BUTTON IN THE PARK POSITION AND THAT ALSO CONNECTS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND OPERATES VARIOUS FUNCTIONS SUCH AS RELEASING THE IGNITION KEY AND ALLOWS THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF ,BREAKS OFF DUE TO ELECTRICAL WIRES BEING TOO SHORT AND THE BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT OF THE SHIFTER . CHECKING THE ONLINE BLOGS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON SEVERAL GM VEHICLES FOR SOME TIME WITHOUT ANY RECALLS DESPITE CONSTANT CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE VERY POOR DESIGN. SOME DEALERS HAVE SUGGESTED LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND UNLOCKING AND LOCKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB. THIS INVITES VEHICLE THEFT AND BY NOT HAVING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY TURNED OFF, THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN AS THE ACCESSORIES AND IGNITION IS STILL TURNED ON AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS LIGHTED. SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD REPEAT REOCCURRENCES AFTER HAVING THE ISSUE REPAIRED AT A COST OF BETWEEN $500 AND $600. AFTER INSPECTING THE OPERATION OF THE SHIFTER AND THE AFFECT IT HAS ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE WIRING WILL FAIL AND IN THE BLOGS AS EARLY AS WHILST UNDER WARRANTEE. I AM CONCERNED IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY OCCUR ESPECIALLY SAFETY ONES AS THERE IS 5 WIRES I DO NOT KNOW THE FUNCTION OF EACH WIRE . CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10743560

30,000 miles · Jul 22, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringUnknown Or Other

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10735879

63,000 miles · Jul 14, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT PETITIONER SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT PETITIONER SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10733986

60,700 miles · Jul 13, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LAMP AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE SPEED DECREASED TO LESS THAN 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LAMP AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE SPEED DECREASED TO LESS THAN 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WAS TO BE REPLACED IN A SPECIAL CONDITION COVERAGE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR FROM THE DEALER'S REPAIR WHICH WAS OVER A YEAR AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,700. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10733772

74,000 miles · Jul 8, 2015
Engine

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, TRACTION CONTROL WARNING CAME ON, THEN A WARNING THAT ENGINE POWER REDUCED, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN FROM 65 TO 0 IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID GETTING HIT, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AN…

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DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, TRACTION CONTROL WARNING CAME ON, THEN A WARNING THAT ENGINE POWER REDUCED, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN FROM 65 TO 0 IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID GETTING HIT, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND GET GOING AGAIN FINALLY, BUT WAS VERY NERVOUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD MY GRANDCHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME AND CARS WERE BEHIND ME. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE CAR COULD HAVE ENDED UP TRAGICALLY.

NHTSA ODI #10732653

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.