← 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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

35 reports
Clear category filter
24,430 miles · Aug 6, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS IN OUR 2009 CHEVY IMPALA WHEN WE CAME UPON A STEEP GRADE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO PREVENT FROM ACCELERATING TOO FAST DOWNHILL. ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHOOK AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE LONGER I APPLIED THEM, THE WORSE THE VIBRATION. IF I WERE IN AN EMERGENC…

Read full complaint

WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS IN OUR 2009 CHEVY IMPALA WHEN WE CAME UPON A STEEP GRADE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO PREVENT FROM ACCELERATING TOO FAST DOWNHILL. ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHOOK AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE LONGER I APPLIED THEM, THE WORSE THE VIBRATION. IF I WERE IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION, I KNOW THAT MY STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD BE SEVERELY AFFECTED. LUCKILY, I WASN'T PUT IN THAT SITUATION THIS TIME, BUT NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE THAT FORTUNATE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOTHING NEW FOR CHEVY - I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1995 CHEVY CAVALIER I OWNED SOME YEARS AGO. IT APPEARS CHEVY HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON ITS VEHICLES. WHY DID MY TAX DOLLARS GO TO THIS CAR COMPANY?!? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347598

8,143 miles · Jul 26, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD PULSATE ABNORMALLY. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE SIMILAR TO SCRAPING METAL WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD PULSATE ABNORMALLY. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE SIMILAR TO SCRAPING METAL WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK; THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,143 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,009.

NHTSA ODI #10345267

14,000 miles · Jul 8, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 60 MPH DOWN A MOUNTAIN, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MOUNTAINS. HE STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ROTORS. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 60 MPH DOWN A MOUNTAIN, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MOUNTAINS. HE STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ROTORS. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 08/24/10.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD HEAT UP ON LONG DOWNHILL GRADES. UPDATED 08/25/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10341976

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS AND THEY SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER SHIFT THE V…

Read full complaint

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS AND THEY SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN 3RD GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10323178

12,000 miles · Oct 22, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON WET ROADS. BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 12,000, 22,000 & 33,000 MILES. TIRES ALSO REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON INSIDE OF BACK TIRES. CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING REAREND TO "PUSH" CAR IN WET WEATHER. DEALER CAN'T GET CAR ALIGNED PROPERLY. VEHICLE SITS AT DEALER BECAUSE IT IS UNSA…

Read full complaint

LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON WET ROADS. BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 12,000, 22,000 & 33,000 MILES. TIRES ALSO REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON INSIDE OF BACK TIRES. CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING REAREND TO "PUSH" CAR IN WET WEATHER. DEALER CAN'T GET CAR ALIGNED PROPERLY. VEHICLE SITS AT DEALER BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE DEALER CUT ROTORS 1ST TIME REPLACED 2ND AND CUT 3RD TIME. EACH TIME THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. AT 12,000 DEALER REPLACED TIRES AFTER COMPLAINTS THAT VEHICLE ALMOST KILLED OUR ENTIRE FAMILY GOING 35 MPH ON INTERSTATE 80 IN RAIN. GM RECALLED POLICE IMPALAS FOR SAME ISSUE BUT REFUSE TO RECALL CONSUMER IMPALAS PLEASE HELP BEFORE MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289415

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.