Car Record Book

2009 Chevrolet Impala recalls & problems

The 2009 Chevrolet Impala has 5 safety recalls and 824 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (233 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls
Complaints824filed by owners
Crashes · fires43 · 9reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths43 · 1reported in complaints
2009 Chevrolet Impala in an NHTSA crash test
2009 Chevrolet Impala in an NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification

NHTSA recall 16V507000 · Jul 5, 2016 · 289,254 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Components: Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification; Electrical system › Wiring

Electrical system › Ignition

NHTSA recall 14V355000 · Jun 23, 2014 · 3,141,731 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

NHTSA recall 12V377000 · Aug 3, 2012 · 36,413 vehicles

Problem: 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

NHTSA recall 10V480000 · Oct 13, 2010 · 303,100 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 08V517000 · Oct 6, 2008 · 79 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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> .

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2009 Chevrolet Impala NHTSA side crash test
NHTSA side barrier crash test

2009 Chevrolet Impala 4-DR w/SAB

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Impala FFV

23mpg combined
City / highway19 / 29 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Impala

22mpg combined
City / highway18 / 29 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Impala FFV

21mpg combined
City / highway17 / 27 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Impala

19mpg combined
City / highway16 / 24 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem areaComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesTypical mileage*
Air bags
Frontal; Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
2332912878,000 mi
Electrical system
Ignition; Wiring
22584882,463 mi
Engine
179811089,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
Accelerator pedal; Throttle › Throttle position sensor (tps)
13220090,100 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)
10861287,300 mi
Power train
Automatic transmission
6831297,000 mi
Steering
Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm; Linkages › Tie rod assembly
581411554,400 mi
Traction control system
4620172,735 mi
Unknown or other
4410087,891 mi
Service brakes
3981676,953 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
Foundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Abs warning light
3500019,408 mi
Suspension
Front; Front › Wheel bearing
2510039,312 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.