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2009 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

663 reports with mileage · 161 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 232 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 224 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 179 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

43 crash reports9 fire reports34 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

232 reports
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2,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Air Bags

2009 CHEVY IMPALA 2LT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE BUYING THE CAR NEW IN JANUARY 2010. CURRENTLY THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT WITH YET ANOTHER DEALER VISIT SCHEDULED. THIS WARNING LIGHT WHEN ILLUMINATED RENDERS THE REST OF THE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY USELESS SINCE THE "SERVICE A…

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2009 CHEVY IMPALA 2LT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE BUYING THE CAR NEW IN JANUARY 2010. CURRENTLY THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT WITH YET ANOTHER DEALER VISIT SCHEDULED. THIS WARNING LIGHT WHEN ILLUMINATED RENDERS THE REST OF THE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY USELESS SINCE THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" DISPLAY NEVER GOES OFF. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM SATISFACTORILY FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS DESPITE THE MULTIPLE TIMES WE HAVE HAD IT IN FOR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ISSUE. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNS AND THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FROM SEVERAL MINUTES TO WEEKS. SOME OF THE EXPLANATIONS FOR RETURNING THE CAR TO US WITHOUT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN DOWNRIGHT RIDICULOUS. WE HAVE GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH AN ONGOING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ISSUE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607122

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2014
Air Bags

THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS A "SERVICE AIR BAG" LABEL AND ALSO A ICON ASSOCIATED WITH THE WRITTEN WARNING. MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ACCORDING TO THE MY VIN NUMBER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS VEHICLE IS DISPLAYING SERVICE AIR BAG. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DISP…

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THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS A "SERVICE AIR BAG" LABEL AND ALSO A ICON ASSOCIATED WITH THE WRITTEN WARNING. MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ACCORDING TO THE MY VIN NUMBER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS VEHICLE IS DISPLAYING SERVICE AIR BAG. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DISPLAY SUCH A WARNING. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605341

144,171 miles · May 28, 2014
Air BagsEnginePower Train

WE OWN THE CAR LISTED ABOVE AND HAVE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. WE BOUGHT IT AT A DEALERSHIP IN EAST TENNESSEE. THE CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY USED AS A RENT A CAR FOR ENTERPRISE. NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE FACT I HAVE DROVE THIS CAR AND ALL ISSUES STATED FOR A REC…

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WE OWN THE CAR LISTED ABOVE AND HAVE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. WE BOUGHT IT AT A DEALERSHIP IN EAST TENNESSEE. THE CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY USED AS A RENT A CAR FOR ENTERPRISE. NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE FACT I HAVE DROVE THIS CAR AND ALL ISSUES STATED FOR A RECALL WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH. THE MOST RECENT IS THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING IT ON HIGHWAYS. IT'S IS SAYING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT MAD THAN WILL SAY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL,THAN IT WILL SHUTOFF I BEEN GOING 70 DOWN AN INTERSTATE AND IT SHUTOFF MAD ABOUT KILL US. WE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS THE PROBLEM BY WHAT TECHNICIAN SAY. I AM JUST NOW STARTING TO RESEARCH THE ISSUES WE HAVE AND FOUND NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE IN WHICH WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS LISTED ABOVE AND MORE. MAINLY THE AIRBAG STEERING CONTROL ARM AND VEHICLE JUST SHUTTING OFF. I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO SUM IT UP IS THEY SOLD US A LEMON PERHAPS BUT AFTER LOOKING AT THE RECALL LIST OUR VEHICLE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SURE. TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A NEW VEHICLE. JUST LOOKING TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE CAR INJURES US OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE HIGHWAYS. HOPE THIS DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO GET RESOLVED BECAUSE DEATHS COULD OCCUR. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME HOPE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE SOON BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. I MEAN I THOUGHT SOMETHING MAJOR WAS WRONG BUT THE AUTOMD WEBSITE REALLY ASSURED WHAT WE BEEN THINKING. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594693

92,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Air BagsEquipment Adaptive/mobility

I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 9/2013. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STARTED ILLUMINATING ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS SERVICED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT CAME ON AGAIN. THEN BACK IN FEBRUARY THE CAR STARTED MAKING A VERY ANNOYING AND EMBARRASSING CLICKING SOUND THAT COMES FROM THE AC/HEATING UN…

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I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 9/2013. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STARTED ILLUMINATING ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS SERVICED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT CAME ON AGAIN. THEN BACK IN FEBRUARY THE CAR STARTED MAKING A VERY ANNOYING AND EMBARRASSING CLICKING SOUND THAT COMES FROM THE AC/HEATING UNIT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS COMMON IN THE IMPALA AND THAT IT IS THE ACTUATOR. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT CLICKS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING AND IS LOCKED. I KNOW AT LEAST 7 PEOPLE HERE LOCALLY THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS LISTED ABOVE WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR. PLEASE TAKE A SURVEY OR DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593114

31,000 miles · May 19, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALY, THE SERVICE AIR BAG SOON WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. ..UPDATE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALY, THE SERVICE AIR BAG SOON WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF UPDATED 08/19/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592369

70,628 miles · May 16, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,628 AND TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,628 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,378.

NHTSA ODI #10588909

27,000 miles · May 7, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND HAVE NO RECOLLECTION UNTIL GAINING AWARENESS IN THE HOSPITAL. THE WRECK HAPPENED IN ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, PA AND I WAS DRIVING HOME. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD HAVE. THANKFULLY, I WAS WEARING MY INVISALIGN, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY MINIMIZED THE SHARPNESS OF MY TEETH OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE LOST …

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I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND HAVE NO RECOLLECTION UNTIL GAINING AWARENESS IN THE HOSPITAL. THE WRECK HAPPENED IN ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, PA AND I WAS DRIVING HOME. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD HAVE. THANKFULLY, I WAS WEARING MY INVISALIGN, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY MINIMIZED THE SHARPNESS OF MY TEETH OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE LOST HALF MY TONGUE. IT WAS STILL SEVERELY DAMAGED AND YOU CAN SEE THE SCAR. A MRI SHOWED THE CONCUSSION. I HAD TO SPEND $6,000 ON MY CAR TO BE FIXED. IT TOOK ME ALMOST A MONTH TO BE ABLE TO WALK ON CONRETE DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO MY BODY. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH PHYSICAL THERAPIES AND STILL HAVE NECK AND NERVE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586906

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SEAT BELT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE READINESS AIR BAG FOR THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, ONLY THE ANCHOR WAS APART OF THE RECALL, AND IT WOULD COST$400 TO REPLACE …

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2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SEAT BELT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE READINESS AIR BAG FOR THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, ONLY THE ANCHOR WAS APART OF THE RECALL, AND IT WOULD COST$400 TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10584865

41,253 miles · Apr 30, 2014
Air Bags

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RE…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,253. RG

NHTSA ODI #10585664

46,000 miles · Apr 25, 2014
Air Bags

WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON.. WHEN I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT UP ITS A LOUD TAPPING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584785

Official recalls

5

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.

08V517000 · Air Bags:frontal

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.