2010 CHEVY IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE CUT OFF, AND THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HE RE-STARTED THE ENGINE.
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
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.
What owners actually said
441 reportsTHE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY. RECENTLY IT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS THEN TURNED OFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN CAME BACK ON. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, REDUCE POWER IN ENGINE. CHECK STABILITY TRAC, AND LOST ACCELERATION. THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. RESTARED AFTER A 10 MINUTE WAIT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, BUT NOW OFF. *TR HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME.
DURING A ROAD TRIP, STOPPED FOR LUNCH. UPON CONTINUING THE DRIVE TO HOME, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FADED AWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD - WE FOUND A PARKING LOT AND PULLED IN AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, WE DISCOVER THE TOP OF THE MOTOR WAS COVERED WITH BRAKE FLUID. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO O…
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DURING A ROAD TRIP, STOPPED FOR LUNCH. UPON CONTINUING THE DRIVE TO HOME, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FADED AWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD - WE FOUND A PARKING LOT AND PULLED IN AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, WE DISCOVER THE TOP OF THE MOTOR WAS COVERED WITH BRAKE FLUID. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME TOWN - 100 MILES AWAY - AT A COST OF $650.00 - THEN DELIVERED TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY - TODAY THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT WE HAVE NO WARRANTY LEFT AND THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUBBED ON A PART NEXT TO IT CAUSING THE LEAK. FURTHER MORE - THE REQUIRED PART FOR REPAIR IS ON A MINIMUM 2 WEEK BACK ORDER - INDICATING THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED JUST A FEW MILES UP THE ROAD, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE NARROWS OF HIGHWAY 101 IN THE CURVES WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OFF!! THE BRAKES WENT OFF LINE WITH NO WARNING - WHERE IS THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE????? LESS THAN 10,000 MILES - ONLY CHOICE LEFT WILL BE TO DUMP THIS CAR AS SOON AS IT IS REPAIRED - IF!?! *TR
I OWN A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I HAVE HAD MY HOUSING GEAR REPLACED AND OTHER SUSPENSION ITEMS IN THE LAST YEAR. SINCE MY LAST MAJOR JOB (HOUSING GEAR), THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A CLICK WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND WHEN GOING UP HILL. WHEN THE CAR IS GOING UPHILL AND SHIFTING GEARS IT MAKE A CLICK/POP SOUND. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR …
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I OWN A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I HAVE HAD MY HOUSING GEAR REPLACED AND OTHER SUSPENSION ITEMS IN THE LAST YEAR. SINCE MY LAST MAJOR JOB (HOUSING GEAR), THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A CLICK WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND WHEN GOING UP HILL. WHEN THE CAR IS GOING UPHILL AND SHIFTING GEARS IT MAKE A CLICK/POP SOUND. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THEY CONSTANTLY ACT AS THOUGH THEY CAN NOT HEAR THE SOUND, WHICH MAKES IT SO EASY FOR THEM TO NOT REPAIR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR THIS OVER 5 TIMES AND LEAVE WITH THE PROBLEM STILL BEING. ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS THEY FOUND OTHER ISSUES WHICH RESULTED IN THE WARRANTY PAYING FOR THE PROBLEMS. MY WARRANTY INCLUDES A $100 DEDUCTIBLE. SO I HAVE PAID A DEDUCTIBLE TO GET ONE PROBLEM FIXED AND IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO DATE. I AM TRULY FRUSTARTAED, AS I AM NOT A MECHANIC AND NEED MY CAR FIXED. I DRIVE A TODDLER AROUND DAILY. I FEEL INSECURE WITH MY CARS DRIVEABILITY. MY CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
2010, CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON A ROUTINE TRIP TO THE BANK, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE INTO A DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE, BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I TOOK THE CONSOLE AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER APART AND FOUND A SNAPPED WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE I…
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2010, CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON A ROUTINE TRIP TO THE BANK, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE INTO A DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE, BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I TOOK THE CONSOLE AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER APART AND FOUND A SNAPPED WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE IMPALA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AT LEAST SINCE 2006. THE ISSUE IS ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY THE CONSTANT MOVEMENT OF THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER, CAUSING ONE OR MORE OF THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS TO BREAK. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE COSTLY REPAIR AND ON-GOING ISSUE FROM CHEVROLET IS IN ORDER.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LIGHTS START FLASHING ON DASH BOARD SAYING TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE PERFORMANCE REDUCED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING!!!! BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY GETS HURT OR WORSE. WENT TO AUTO SHOP AND THEY SAID IT I…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LIGHTS START FLASHING ON DASH BOARD SAYING TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE PERFORMANCE REDUCED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING!!!! BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY GETS HURT OR WORSE. WENT TO AUTO SHOP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR GONE BAD ALREADY AT 56,103 ? I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR, AND ONLY HAD IT FOR 1 YEAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING GM MAKES OR RECOMMENDED THERE VEHICLES TO FAMILY OR FRIENDS THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY DO NOT. PLEASE DO A RECALL AND SAVE A LIFE !!!!! *JB
TRYING TO PULL INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND HAD TO LET OFF ACCELERATOR TO GET TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT. THIS LEFT ME HALF WAY OUT INTO TRAFFIC FOR JUST A SECOND. *TT
WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE GLOVE BOX. SOUNDS LIKE THE AIR DOOR ACTUATOR. IT WAS THE SAME THING WITH MY 2003 CHEVY IMPALA. CHECK ON YOUTUBE. THERE MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART. JUST PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON JULY 24, 2013 AT A DEALERSHIP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE PINION NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE PINION NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 1/13/15*CN *TR
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.
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