Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
790–25K
10625–50K
14150–75K
13875–100K
148100–150K
51150K+
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
What owners actually said
824 reports
62,000 miles · Aug 14, 2015
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND PINIONS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND PINIONS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #10748772
156,830 miles · Aug 13, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN IDLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN IDLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,830.
NHTSA ODI #10748539
47,000 miles · Aug 12, 2015
StructureInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, THE HOOD LID WAS OPEN AND INADVERTENTLY CRASHED DOWN ONTO THE CONTACT'S HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN EXPER…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, THE HOOD LID WAS OPEN AND INADVERTENTLY CRASHED DOWN ONTO THE CONTACT'S HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AND REPLACED THE HINGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA ODI #10748119
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER DID NOT AGREE WITH CHEVROLET WHEN THEY STATED TO LET THE FAILURE OCCUR FIRST, THEN THEY WILL FIX IT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10746333
101,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Air Bags
THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL THEN GO OUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES. IT HAS DONE THIS REPEATEDLY.
NHTSA ODI #10746874
122,000 miles · Aug 3, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control
MY 2009 CHEVY IMPALA HAD EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT MESSAGE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" ALONG WITH "REDUCED ENGINE SPEED" SINCE AUGUST OF 2012. IT HAPPENED MAYBE 1-2 TIMES PER YEAR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE MESSAGE WOULD CLEAR ITSELF AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES. ON JULY 24TH, MY CAR EXPERIENCE THESE…
Read full complaint
MY 2009 CHEVY IMPALA HAD EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT MESSAGE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" ALONG WITH "REDUCED ENGINE SPEED" SINCE AUGUST OF 2012. IT HAPPENED MAYBE 1-2 TIMES PER YEAR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE MESSAGE WOULD CLEAR ITSELF AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES. ON JULY 24TH, MY CAR EXPERIENCE THESE SAME MESSAGES ONCE AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALL SPEEDS IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MESSAGE FINALLY STAYED AND DID NOT GO AWAY ON JULY 25TH. I SCHEDULED SERVICE AT THE LOCAL DEALER ON THURSDAY, JULY 30. THEY CHANGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT GM ISSUED A SPECIAL CONDITION ON IN APRIL 2015. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE SHOP, THE MESSAGE APPEARED AGAIN. THUS, THE CAR WAS AGAIN SERVICED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, JULY 31. BY AUGUST 1, THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT BLINKED ON AND THEN WENT OFF QUICKLY. IT DID THE SAME THING ONE TIME ON AUGUST 2ND. TODAY, AUGUST 3RD, THE LIGHT WENT OFF THREE TIMES IN A SHORT DRIVE AND IS ONCE AGAIN STUCK ON. I'M VERY WORRIED THAT THE REDUCED ENGINE SPEED WILL RETURN WHEN I AM ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GM OR THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ISSUED A SPECIAL CONDITION. THEY ONLY WILL FIX THIS UP TO 120,000 MILES. IF MY ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE MOVING AT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY, THIS WILL BE HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I'M WAITING ON THE DEALER TO CALL ME BACK TO ONCE AGAIN RETURN MY CAR FOR REPAIR. [XXX] [XXX] CLINTON, MO 64735 [XXX] [XXXXXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
NHTSA ODI #10745853
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2015
Air Bags
WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED THEN IT WOULD RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING THEN TURN BACK ON. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT JUST STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES NOW. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND UPON SEARCHING ONLINE AND SOME ONLINE FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON I…
Read full complaint
WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED THEN IT WOULD RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING THEN TURN BACK ON. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT JUST STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES NOW. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND UPON SEARCHING ONLINE AND SOME ONLINE FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH CHEVY IMPALAS FROM 2006-2013. UPDATED 9/15/15 *LN UPDATED 12/13/2017*CN ...VIDEO AVAILABLE
NHTSA ODI #10744773
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2015
Air Bags
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, BUT GOES OUT IN COLD WEATHER
NHTSA ODI #10743958
70,000 miles · Jul 23, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND REDUCE POWER SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND REDUCE POWER SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 01/25/16.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10735937
130,000 miles · Jul 22, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS PARKED FOR AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2009 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year