← New search

2009 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 →

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

Electrical System complaints

224 reports
Clear category filter
67,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT PARK FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT PARK FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 12/22/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. UPDATED 05/26/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10655061

58,000 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DECREASE IN POWER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DECREASE IN POWER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10654713

115,000 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

AT 55 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE STATING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL-ENGINE POWER REDUCED APPEARED. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL OR ON LEVEL GROUND, I HAD SUFFICIENT POWER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. WHEN HEADED UPHILL IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY DID SHIFT, IT SHIFTED HARD AND REALLY JERKED…

Read full complaint

AT 55 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE STATING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL-ENGINE POWER REDUCED APPEARED. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL OR ON LEVEL GROUND, I HAD SUFFICIENT POWER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. WHEN HEADED UPHILL IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY DID SHIFT, IT SHIFTED HARD AND REALLY JERKED THE CAR. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, I ROUNDED A CORNER AND BEGAN TO PICK UP SOME MOMENTUM. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STOPPED AND ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT STATING STARTING DISABLED-SERVICE THROTTLE APPEARED. I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO START THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. THE ENGINE DID NOT CRANK AND THE MESSAGE CONTINUED TO FLASH. I COMPLETELY TURNED THE KEY OFF AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES. I WAS ABOUT TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK WHEN I TRIED AGAIN. THE ENGINE STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE HOME WITH NO ISSUES. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FIRST MESSAGE I MENTIONED APPEARED (SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL-ENGINE POWER REDUCED). I WAS STILL AT WORK, SO I FOUND A PARKING SPACE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF IMMEDIATELY. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE AWAY. I GUESS I'M JUST LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE TURNPIKE OR INTERSTATE. GM HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. I GUESS THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO NEAR-MISSES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654106

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER W…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10652030

90,680 miles · Oct 31, 2014
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

CAR STATES REDUCED ENGINE POWER STALLING TO ABOUT 10MPH VERY DANGEROUS. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651687

58,000 miles · Oct 30, 2014
Electrical SystemCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POTHOLE AND THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL POWERED ON. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POTHOLE AND THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL POWERED ON. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS PERFORMED WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY FROM HITTING HIS HEAD AGAINST THE DOOR WHICH DID NOT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10651362

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL REPAIR. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2014. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT 10 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN THE RUN POSITION WHICH RESULTE…

Read full complaint

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL REPAIR. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2014. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT 10 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN THE RUN POSITION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10648106

85,000 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE LOW ENGINE POWER ILLUMINATED ON THE DISPLAY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE LOW ENGINE POWER ILLUMINATED ON THE DISPLAY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE COMPUTER WAS RESET. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10648725

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2014
Electrical SystemSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V480000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V480000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10648477

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT ONCE THE PART CAME IN, THEY WOULD BE SENDING THE KIT TO HIM AND HE DID NOT NEED TO BRING T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT ONCE THE PART CAME IN, THEY WOULD BE SENDING THE KIT TO HIM AND HE DID NOT NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10648353

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.