2009 Chevrolet Impala problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (133) · Vehicle Speed Control (121) · Electrical System (105)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Impala model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
662 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2016-07-05 · campaign 16V507000 · 289,254 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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:ignition 2014-06-23 · campaign 14V355000 · 3,141,731 vehicles
Defect: 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 af
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2012-08-03 · campaign 12V377000 · 36,413 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Seat Belts:front:anchorage 2010-10-13 · campaign 10V480000 · 303,100 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (1,063)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,063 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-08 · Air Bags“for the last 2 years, the car willl come up saying airbag system issues. there airbag sensor under the passenger side seat will randomly throw a code for the erorr and then turn off. it does not have to be a bump, move the seat, just goes off. we have had it professionally scanned and it is always the same sensor with the issue. we noticed certian …”
2026-03-27 · Electrical System“i believe the passenger seat occupant sensing and airbag issues from recall 16v507 have not been fixed. i am still having issues related to it, even though i had it fixed.…”
2025-09-30 · Electrical System“smelled an odor of burning wires when using rear defroster. defroster then stopped working. after further troubleshooting i observed the wire pigtail under the front passenger door was charred and burned. the pin inside the harness that was burned was the rear defroster. after further research i found this is very common for the chevy impala. howev…”
2025-02-27 · Air Bags · 101,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet impala. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. the dealer was contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 101,000.…”
2025-02-03 · Engine“it rumbles when i start my car …”
2024-12-31 · Electrical System“i have a 2009 with 77000 miles 0n it i have fix the knocking noise under dash 3 times now it is a actuator there are 2 of them. i have also found by spraying carburetor cleaner in the throttle body just remove the the big air hose and spray all around in side this stops the the speed reduction control lite from coming on saying you have no power. …”
2024-10-20 · Power Train · 💥 crash“a piece broke off and had fallen off of transmission when stopped at a redlight when put in gear car didn't want to move had to manually shift to get off the road and towed it home. the piece that broke fell into pan when changing transmission fluid. believe it's off flywheel possibly forward band. …”
2024-07-17 · Structure:body“the frame of the car is rusted . in places almost all the way through the frame. this was confirmed by chevy dealer. this car has always kept in a garage. i kept the car clean going through a car was with under wash.…”
2024-05-21 · Electrical System · 222,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. the contact then observed smoke coming from the engine compartment. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the wiring…”
2024-02-06 · Structure:frame And Members · 81,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet impala. the contact stated while driving 60 mph, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. the traction control, abs, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic however, a diagnostic test could not be performed due the excessive rust underneath …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.