2010 Chevrolet Impala problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (69) · Air Bags (54) · Vehicle Speed Control (46)
🧭 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
350 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 (1,185)
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 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of general motors technical assistance center. if va
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,185 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-07 · Air Bags · 22,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. the air bag warning light intermittently went on and off. the contact stated later that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. the vehic…”
2026-02-06 · Electrical System · 58,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check air bag and service air bag warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. the contact researched online and related the failure to nhtsa campaign number: 16v507000 (…”
2025-10-08 · Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields“the unibody of this vehicle has become completely rusted/rotted to where the car is undriveable. this has been inspected by a service center, and i was told it is dangerous and beyond repair. i am sick about this, as there are many other makes of vehicles older than mine that do not have this issue.…”
2025-09-25 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“i bought a used car as is for $6700.00 and was told that the car was nothing wrong with it but within the first month 07/02/25 the car has been to 3 different shops and in the shop 5 different times all due to brake problems since i bought the car i have had to replace both front calipers and rotors brake pads wheel bearings and on the back both br…”
2025-06-18 · Electrical System · 188,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and unattended in a parking lot. after about ten minutes, the contact was unlocking the vehicle and noticed fire inside the vehicle near the front of the vehicle near the radio and heater. the contact used a water bottle from the back seat to attempt …”
2024-10-18 · Vehicle Speed Control“i started my vehicle in the morning to let it warm up. i come back out to get myself and my son in the vehicle to go to work and take him to school. my dash upon entry had a check engine light on, and the message it displayed was "engine power reduced." i put my car into reverse, having no choice but to drive it and the traction control went out. m…”
2024-06-04 · Electrical System · 77,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound while starting and while driving. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact stated that the grinding sound persisted after turning off the vehicle on several occasions. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where unkno…”
2023-08-10 · Seats“recall # 36110. our car is having the same issues that are indicated with this recall but gm refuses to include our vehicle in this recall. front passenger seat sensor is shorting out against the seat frame which is turning vital passenger airbags off. unsure when this actually started as my daughter drives this car to work and didnt notice when …”
2023-03-06 · Air Bags · 148,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 148,000. …”
2022-10-18 · Seats“about a week ago i got in my car and started driving. as i started going down the road the passengers side alarm for the seatbelt kept going off and i noticed the passenger side airbag had turned on as well. i was in my car alone and had nothing sitting in the passengers seat nor a passenger in my car. that was the first time it lasted my whole dri…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.