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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

What owners actually said

824 reports
82,463 miles · May 20, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

I HAVE OWNED MY IMPALA SINCE MARCH 2010 AND WHILE IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE CAR, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES. FIRST MONTH A SENSOR GOES OUT IN THE ACCELERATION, $230 TO REPLACE, IN THE LAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE HAD AN ANNOYING TICKING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER. SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE SAYS THAT …

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I HAVE OWNED MY IMPALA SINCE MARCH 2010 AND WHILE IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE CAR, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES. FIRST MONTH A SENSOR GOES OUT IN THE ACCELERATION, $230 TO REPLACE, IN THE LAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE HAD AN ANNOYING TICKING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER. SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE SAYS THAT IT IS COMMON IN IMPALAS BUT YET I HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL. I DON'T HAVE THE $450 TO FIX AND IT IS RATHER EMBARRASSING WHEN YOU CAR POOL AS IT IS VERY LOUD AND LAST APPROXIMATELY 30SECONDS TO 45 SECONDS. I HAVE ALSO HAD LEAKS EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR WE GO TO THE CAR WASH. WATER SEEMS TO BE COMING IN FROM THE FRAME BY THE WINDSHIELD ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER ROOF AREA. IT RUNS DOWN AND COMES OUT BY THE BRAKE ON DRIVER SIDE AND FUSE BOX ON PASSENGER SIDE. I THOUGHT THIS WATER WAS AFFECTING MY POWER LOCKS AS IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE HAD ISSUE WITH OUR DOOR LOCKS NOT OPENING. THEY TAKE TURNS, NOT UNLOCKING BUT AFTER READING COMMENTS ON THIS WEB PAGE SEEMS LIKE OTHERS ARE ALSO HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH LOCKS, YET NO RECALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT DOWN TO BE LOOKED AT BUT THEY SAY THEY DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES THEY CAN PIN POINT. DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO PUT INTO THIS VEHICLE. I LIKE MY CAR BUT IT HAS ISSUES. I WILL DO MY HOME WORK BEFORE I PURCHASE MY NEXT CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592794

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

150,000 miles · May 13, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,220. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI #10588071

48,287 miles · May 10, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

I'M TRIED OF MY DOORS NOT LOCKING WITH KEY FOB AND BOTH REAR DOORS AND SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT LOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN OCCURRING SINCE APRIL 2013 AND TODAY MAY 2014 IT'S STILL HAPPENING.I ATTEMPTED TO LOCK FROM INSIDE VEHICLE AND WOULD STILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. I HAVE TO MANEUVER WALK AROUND THE CAR AND LOCK THE …

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I'M TRIED OF MY DOORS NOT LOCKING WITH KEY FOB AND BOTH REAR DOORS AND SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT LOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN OCCURRING SINCE APRIL 2013 AND TODAY MAY 2014 IT'S STILL HAPPENING.I ATTEMPTED TO LOCK FROM INSIDE VEHICLE AND WOULD STILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. I HAVE TO MANEUVER WALK AROUND THE CAR AND LOCK THE DOORS INDIVIDUAL. EACH TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED PART. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THEY CLAIMED THEY CONDUCTED A FULL VEHICLE CHECK. I THINK THEY LIED AND THEY CAR WAS NEVER CHECKED. WHY DO US AS CUSTOMER BUY WARRANTS AND THE WARRANT DON?T COVER ELECTRICAL POWER. IS THIS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587564

48,287 miles · May 10, 2014
Electrical SystemTraction Control System

IN APRIL 2013, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON, IN MY 2009 IMPALA, WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON MORE FREQUENTLY AND WOULD STAY ON FOR LONGER TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE…

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IN APRIL 2013, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON, IN MY 2009 IMPALA, WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON MORE FREQUENTLY AND WOULD STAY ON FOR LONGER TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE.THE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXING BY THE DEALER. BUT THEY KEEP CHARGING ME $100 PER VISIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587562

92,929 miles · May 8, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteeringInjury

IT'S APPARENTLY THE STANDARD IMPALA ISSUE OF THE CAR'S DASH READING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND MY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN RUSH HOUR WHEN THE DASH READ ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED MY HUSBAND. HE INSISTED THAT I GET IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BE PREPARED FOR THE CAR TO DIE. MY H…

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IT'S APPARENTLY THE STANDARD IMPALA ISSUE OF THE CAR'S DASH READING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND MY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN RUSH HOUR WHEN THE DASH READ ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED MY HUSBAND. HE INSISTED THAT I GET IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BE PREPARED FOR THE CAR TO DIE. MY HUSBAND THEN MISTAKENLY TOLD ME TO DRIVE TO A SPECIFIC EXIT OUT OF THE INNER CITY BEFORE EXITING THE HIGHWAY. NEXT THE CHECK STABILITY MESSAGE CAME ON. HE WAS LIKE OK THAT'S WEIRD BUT LETS GET YOU HOME. THEN THE CAR DECIDED TO LOSE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. MY HANDS ARE LITERALLY BLISTERED GETTING IT OFF THE ROAD. I GUIDED IT OF THE HIGHWAY AS HE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE. FINDING HUNDREDS OF THESE SAME ACCOUNTS HE TOLD ME TO HOLD ON A BIT AND RESTART THE CAR. IT WORKED AND I DROVE IT HOME. HAD MY HUSBAND NOT INSISTED I MOVE OVER AND BE PREPARED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587319

58,725 miles · May 8, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN FEBRUARY 2014,THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON, IN MY 2009 IMPALA, WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON MORE FREQUENTLY AND WOULD STAY ON FOR LONGER TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LEFT HUB. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN THE TRACTION CON…

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IN FEBRUARY 2014,THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON, IN MY 2009 IMPALA, WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON MORE FREQUENTLY AND WOULD STAY ON FOR LONGER TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LEFT HUB. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN APPEARING AGAIN. EACH TIME THE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON FOR A LONGER TIME. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587290

48,000 miles · May 7, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DISPLAYED "POWER REDUCE". THEN THE CAR SLOWED DOWN BY ITSELF. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR LOST POWER. TODAY, THE CAR IS STATING THE SAME THING AND SIGNAL TURN THEMSELVES ON, AND ONCE THE CAR IS OFF THE DOORS WANT LOCK YOU HAVE TO MANUAL LOCK THE DOORS. THE CAR HAVE BEEN JERKING WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A FUNNY NOI…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DISPLAYED "POWER REDUCE". THEN THE CAR SLOWED DOWN BY ITSELF. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR LOST POWER. TODAY, THE CAR IS STATING THE SAME THING AND SIGNAL TURN THEMSELVES ON, AND ONCE THE CAR IS OFF THE DOORS WANT LOCK YOU HAVE TO MANUAL LOCK THE DOORS. THE CAR HAVE BEEN JERKING WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A FUNNY NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587037

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

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.