NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
"SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & ENGINE POWER WILL BE REDUCED MESSAGE CAME ON". THE CARS SPEED DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 40MPH & WOULD HARDLY GO. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. I DID GET TO WORK SAFELY BUT I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. ME AND MY [XXX] YR OLD WAS ON A 4 LANE WHEN IT JUST CUT OFF AFTER RECEIVING THIS ERROR MESSAGE. I TRAVEL ALOT AND AND SCARED WHEN THIS MESSAGE APPEARS!! *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I WAS ON HIGHWAY ONE EVENING AND MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. MY POWER WENT OUT COMPLETELY ON THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER GATHERING MY BEARINGS, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY OIL WAS LOW (NO WARNING LIGHT). PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I WAS GOING DOWN HILL ON A LOCAL STREET WHEN MY WARNING SYSTEM CAME ON AND INDICATED THAT I HAD REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND TRACTION STABILITY CONTROL ISSUES. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY OIL WAS EXTREMELY LOW, HOWEVER NO LEAKS OR CAUSE WAS EVER FOUND. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAD TO GET MY ACCELERATOR SENSOR REPLACED BECAUSE THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING CAME ON. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO 'FIX' THE ISSUE. AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY, JUNE 16, 2014, I TURNED MY CAR ON AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED THE OIL. IT WAS LOW BUT NO WARNING LIGHT TO INDICATE THIS ISSUE CAME ON (SAME AS IN THE PAST). I FAITHFULLY GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES OR 3 MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS FIRST. MY OIL LIFE WAS AT 54% YESTERDAY AND I DID TAKE IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THIS MORNING. IT IS OBVIOUS BASED ON OTHERS EXPERIENCES, THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONGST 2009 IMPALA OWNERS. THE FACT THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE A WARNING WHEN I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE STILL IN MOTION, IS EXTREMELY SCARY AND IT TRAUMATIZED MY SON TREMENDOUSLY. I AM HOPING THAT SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATION WILL BE INITIATED BECAUSE IT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION THEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED WHETHER USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY OR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH AND THE LOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN PARKED INDOORS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 01/30/13*LJ UPDATED 1/31/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND SLOW DOWN BEFORE STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
SERVICE TRACTION ENGINE POWER REDUCE. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
THE CITY ARE WORKING ON THE ROAD AND THE PAVEMENT HAD A BIG DIP IN IT AND THE CAR BOTTOM OUT ,AND THAN THE AIR BAG LITE CAME ON AND SAYS ITS THE PASSAGE SIDE. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIRS AND THEY SAID THE PPS MODULE WENT BAD ,THE DEALER SAID NO RECALL ON IT .I THINK THIS IS NOT SAFE OR FAIR .COST TO FIX $848.00. *TR
WAS DRIVING 35 MPH,IN A 40 MPH ZONE,STEERING LOCKED UP AND HIT A CURVE..COULD NOT STEER,THEN AFTER I HIT CURVE . STEERING WENT BACK TO NORMAL..I'M NOT GOING TO DRIVE A CAR THATS UNSAFE... *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON MY 2009 IMPALA, I WAS ALREADY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CAR HAD THE REDUCED POWER ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL ENABLED DISPLAY. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I GET A MESSAGE SAYING DISABLE THROTTLE BODY AND THE STAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STOP. THE GOOD THING I WAS ON THE SLOW LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER . I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS DOING THIS AND WHY GM IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THEY PROBABLY NEED SOMEONE TO DIE SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE THIS SERIOUS. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ALL OF A SUDDEN I FEEL THE VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYS "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH AT THE TIME HOWEVER TO MAINTAIN THAT SPEED AFTER THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL FURTHER. THE STABILITRAK LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A DAYS ALSO. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY A CHECK TRACTION SYSTEM WARNING APPEARED ALONG WITH REDUCED ENGINE POWER. AFTER APPROX. 10 MILES THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART AND THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER WAITING APPROX. 3 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND WARNING SYSTEM WAS GONE HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL A. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I BRAKE I NOTICE A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR ALSO SHAKES. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING TO GOLF ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH, ON INTERSTATE I-80 HEADING WEST, MY 2009 CHEVY IMPALA ONBOARD COMPUTER STATED THE FOLLOWING, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED POWER, STARTER DISABLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL AT ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME. MY CAR COMPLETELY DIED AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OUT OF HARMS WAY AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CHECKED SOME WIRES UNDER THE HOOD AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING LOOSE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR BACK-UP, THE ONBOARD COMPUTER FLASHED, STARTER DISABLED. I SAT WITH THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND TRIED ONCE MORE. THIS TIME IT STARTED AND RAN NORMAL, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE WAS ON(STILL IS). HOW SCARY IS THIS REALLY? ENOUGH TO MAKE ME HATE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYWHERE. NOT TO MENTION I'M A SINGLE DAD OF 4, WHO NEEDS TO GET TO WORK, SCHOOL AND MANY OTHER THINGS. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON I-95 AT ABOUT 75MPH, THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH," REPAIR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM... ENGINE POWER IS REDUCING". THANKFULLY, I WAS APPROACHING A REST AREA, SO I SAFELY COASTED TO A SECURE AREA. AFTER ESCAPING A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT, I RESEARCHED THIS TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE, ONLY TO DISCOVER INNUMERABLE CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SINCE IT IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM, ONE THAT IS ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF GM AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER OR A REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V517000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 9/6/2012 USED WITH 27,479 MILES. ON 9/19/2012 WITH 27,960 MILES, I WAS ACCELERATING ON AN ONRAMP GETTING ON A HIGHWAY AND TWO MESSAGES APPEARED ON MY DASH: "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. EXPERIENCE ROUGH AND HESITANT SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND COULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 35MPH. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE HOME ON SIDE ROADS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS READING CODE P2138 AND THE THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE WAS COVERED UNDER THE DEALER'S WARRANTY AND I WAS SET TO GO. FLASH FORWARD TO 10/24/2012 WITH 29,355 MILES, I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD AND THE SAME MESSAGES CAME UP. I CALLED ON STAR AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPUTER READING CODES P2138 AND C0242. EXPERIENCED OUT OF CONTROL WHEEL SPINNING AND SENSITIVE BRAKING. TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN THE AREA I WAS CURRENTLY IN TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WITH ANY ISSUE. ALL CODES AND LIGHTS WERE NOT ENGAGED. I STILL DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE DUE TO PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATOR AND HAD TOWED TO THE PURCHASING DEALER NEAR MY HOME. THEY ALSO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WITH ANY ISSUE AS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ERROR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND A PROBLEM (ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY) WITH A POPULAR MODEL. I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM ON THIS ISSUE AND AM HOPING TO HAVE IT RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY GOING NO MORE THAN 7 MILES AN HOUR, BECAUSE I WAS FOLLOWING A CAR, WHEN I HEARD A LARGE GRIND THEN POP. I PARKED MY CAR AND KNEW IMMEDIATELY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BY THE FLUID TRAIL AND PART LEFT BEHIND. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND LUCKILY IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. A WEEK AFTER RECEIVING MY VEHICLE BACK THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF, DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT SOCKET CAUGHT FIRE, I HAVE LABORED START UP, HAVE STALLED ON THE FREEWAY! AND HAVE STABILITRAK, AIRBAG, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER ERROR CODES THAT RANDOMLY APPEAR. *TR
VEHICLE GIVES A SERVICE THROTTLE STARTING DISABLED MESSAGE AND PROMPTLY SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE. IF YOU WAIT 5 MINUTES THE CAR WILL RESTART AND PERFORM AS USUAL.....UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO RESULT IN SOMEONE BEING KILLED. BASED UPON INTERNET SEARCHES THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT GM WILL NOT PROACTIVELY FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WHEN PLACED IN PARK, WHEN USING THE UNCLOCK BUTTON OR KEY FOB. THE DOOR ALSO DOESN'T LOCK WHEN USING THE ELECTRIC BUTTON OR KEY FOB. THERE IS OFTEN THE NEED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOOR USING THE "STEM". MY CONCERN IS AND REMAINS TO BE THE NECESSITY TO QUICKLY EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY, SUCH AS A FIRE, ACCIDENT OR CAR JACKING. MOST WOULD PANIC AND NOT REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO MANUALLY DISABLE/ENGAGE THE LOCK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING AND LONG TERM PROBLEM.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLES SPEED REDUCED AFTER THE ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 4/6/15*CN
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT ROUGHLY 10-15 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AS IT WAS DISPLAYING THE MESSAGE FOR WHAT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAK, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGES CAME ON. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND CHECK FORUM AFTER FORUM ABOUT IT AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME VEHICLES. WONDERING EUGENE GM WILL BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL AND PUBLICLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE BYPASS AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER, MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON. AS I KEPT DRIVING, I LOST POWER TO MY ENGINE. FINALLY, MY ENGINE WAS DISABLED AND I COULDN'T DRIVE ANYMORE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START UP MY CAR. I REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL (BECAUSE THEY STATE A SENSOR WAS BAD IN THE PEDAL), BUT MY CAR STILL KEEPS DOING THIS. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO STATE THE THROTTLE BODY/GAS PEDAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE EVEN TRIED MULTIPLE DEALERS, BUT THEY ALL WANT TO JUST REPLACE THE SAME COMPONENT. THEY STATE THAT THEY MUST CONTINUE TO TROUBLE SHOOT UNTIL THEY CAN FIND THE TRUE PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO HELP WITH THIS. *TR
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT I PURCHASED IN 2010. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CAR BEGAN TO READ CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THEN STALLS AND JERKS WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE COMPUTER CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. I AM PLANNING O TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AND I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DASHBOARD PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKING, SMOKE AND ODORS OF ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A BUZZING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE AREA OF THE AIRBAG 4 MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. MORE RECENTLY, THE DASH BEGAN SMOKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER DECLINED DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE REMAINING COST OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 10/10/2017*JS
AFTER BRAKING TO MAKE A TURN, THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS CAME ON: REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILATRAK, AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF. PLUS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED FROM THIS AND I DID EXPERIENCE REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THESE WARNINGS REMAINED ON FROM THE ONSET UNTIL THIS MORNING, 06/25/12, WHEN I CHECKED IT AGAIN. NOW THE WARNINGS ARE NOT THERE. I STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED IT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COME BACK ON AND SO FAR, NOTHING. I HAVE READ THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES PARTICULARLY THIS MODEL. I WANT TO ADD OUR VEHICLE TO THE COMPLAINT LIST DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF DEPENDABILITY OF THE CAR AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS PROBLEM AND POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT.. I HOPE THAT WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS, A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED BY GM. *TR
HAD THE CAR IN FOR NORMAL INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED I HAD UNEVEN REAR TIRE WEAR ON REAR TIRES.. THEY HAD TO GRIND THE REAR SPINDLE TO GET PROPER FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT 2011. 12 MONTHS LATE 2012 WAS INFORMED IN 2012 INSPECTION HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRE AND FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND HAVE TWO REAR SPINDLE BOLT TO COMPLETE JOB. THERE WAS NEVER A MENTION OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR IF THE DEALER WOULD STAND HIND THE PRODUCT AND WARRANTY THE WORK DONE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S PRESENCE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V507000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I REC'D THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ALSO CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GO APPROX 50-55 MPH. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS NEAR AN EXIT. AS I WAS EXITING, A MESSAGE CAME ON TELLING ME THAT THE POWER WAS BEING TURNED OFF OR STOPPED. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT WORDS. I THEN HAD NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE, IT WAS NOT IN A SAFE PLACE AND TRAFFIC WAS GOING BY AT THE SPEED OF 55-60 MPH AND I WAS BARELY OVER THE WHITE LINE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK, AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THIS HAPPENED AT 4:15 ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MY MECHANIC DIDN'T LOOK AT IT UNTIL MONDAY AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HE DROVE IT ALL OVER AND HE CHECKED EVERYTHING HE COULD THINK OF. I TRUST THIS MECHANIC. HE DID SAY THAT HE WAS AFRAID HE WOULD HAVE TO SEND ME TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I CAME HOME, GOOGLED THE PROBLEMS AND ENDED UP AT EDMUNDS.COM IN A FORUM FOR CHEVY OWNERS WITH THIS ISSUE. WHILE NO ONE WAS HURT THIS TIME, THAT IS JUST A BLESSING. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL NEED TO BE HURT, MAIMED OR EVEN KILLED BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT IS VERY OBVIOUS. HOW MUCH MONEY AND TIME WILL I SPEND TAKING THIS TO A DEALER WHO DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WON'T DIAGNOSE IT CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME? AMERICA WANTS AMERICANS TO BUY AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS. I OWNED A FOREIGN VEHICLE FOR 9 YEARS AND IT NEVER LEFT ME STRANDED THE WAY THIS CHEVROLET IMPALA DID AFTER OWNING IT FOR 7 MONTHS! I THINK IT IS PAST TIME SOMETHING WAS DONE. FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE PROBLEM NOW AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUT THERE JUST WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO THEM. SAFETY SHOULD COME FIRST! *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THEN FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY UNTIL STALLING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
THERE IS A CONSTANT KNOCKING IN THE DASHBOARD, WHEN I ATTEMPT TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITION OR THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. THIS KNOCKING CAUSES THE HEAT TO BE PASSED THREW THE VEHICLE, IN THE SUMMER TIME I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON, THEN KEEP ADJUSTING THE AIR CONTROL UNTIL THE AIR BEGAN TO BLOW. MAJORITY OF THE TIME THE AIR DOES NOT COME ON, THERE IS JUST CONSTANT HEAT COMING FOR THE DASHBOARD AND THE FLOOR BOARD. I BEGIN TO NOTICE THAT THIS KNOCKING WOULD OCCUR WHILE I WAS NOT IN THE CAR, WHILE HITTING THE REMOTE FOR ENTRY INTO CAR AND WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. I HAD A NEIGHBOR WHOSE VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING. AS TIME WENT ON I COULD BE WALKING THREW A PARKING AND HEAR THAT SAME SOUNDS IN OTHER IMPALA MODELS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO TOLD THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
CAR STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE. MERGED CAR TO BREAK DOWN LANE WITHOUT BEING HIT. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. CAR THEN RESTARTED AND WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF. PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING REAR WINDOWS THAT WILL NOT ROLL DOWN AND DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SENSOR. *TR
I-40 EAST BOUND; 60 MPH; COMING DOWN A 4 TO 7% GRADE THROUGH THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, NORTH CAROLINA SIDE; 1ST ERROR: "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER 2ND ERROR: "STARTING DISABLE,SERVICE THROTTLE" LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE. A VERY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING EVENT HAVING NO CONTROL OF YOUR SPEED, STEERING, AND BRAKING TRYING TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF I-40 WITH THE TYPE OF GRADE, TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS THAT CAN NOT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH TO LET YOU OVER. WE WERE VERY.... VERY FORTUNATE WITH OUR OUTCOME. HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. RAN DIAGNOSTIC; ERROR CODES P2122, P2138. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPONENT: ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE A/C OR DASH AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IT CLICKS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN GOES AWAY. IF YOU TRY CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE, IT STARTS AGAIN. I HEARD MANY OTHER IMPALAS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. I HOPE CHEVY FIXES THIS, IT COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND CRASH. LUCKILY THIS HASN'T TO ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
TRS/ENGINE REDUCE POWER WILL DISPLAY. CAR HAS STOPPED WHILE DRIVING OVER 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY. WHILE VIEWING WEB PAGE EDMUND.COM IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON OVER A DOZEN CHEVY IMPALAS. DOES NOT APPEAR TO AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. GM NEED TO RECALL THE CARS,BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A GUARDRAIL AND A TREE. THE CONTACT'S TONGUE WAS SEVERED AND HE SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BRAIN, NECK, AND BACK. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500.
VEHICLE SHUTOFF AND I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
MY VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH SHUT OFF, WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE STEERING. WHEN I CRASHED, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS DRIVING IN A LARGE PARKING LOT AND WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP. I WAS KNOCKED OUT BUT THE POLICE REPORT INDICATED THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF BRAKING OR STEERING. I TOOK MY IMPALA TO THE GM DEALERSHIP OVER 12 TIMES.
TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. GM IS AWARE AND HAS IGNORED MY REQUESTS FOR TWO YEARS. A FEW MONTHS AGO, GM ATTORNEY TOLD ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE AT NO COST TO ME. I MADE HIM AWARE THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SITTING AT A GM DEALERSHIP FOR MONTHS WAITING FOR THE REPAIR AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AND WILL NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE RECALL, I HAD NUMEROUS STEERING ISSUES AND HAD TAKEN IT TO GM DEALERSHIPS JUST TO HAVE THEM RETURN IT WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, I WAS IN A BAD CRASH AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN ME GOING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.
I WOKE UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A BRAIN INJURY, TONGUE NEARLY CUT IN HALF, THORATIC SPRAIN, NECK SPRAIN, ETC. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, I WAS GOING AT LEAST 60-65 MPH WHEN I HAD MY FRONT END CRASH AND MY HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES ALREADY SUBMITTED TO CHEVY, SUCH AS THE STEERING ISSUES I HAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I LATER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN I WAS TURNING MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *TR
BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF HAVE 2009 IMPALAS. THEY BOTH HAVE ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE AND THE THROTTLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ENGINE OFF FOR A MOMENT AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
THE ACTUATORS IN ALL FOUR OF MY ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY, WHICH IS A MAJOR ISSUE SINCE THE DRIVER DOOR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL OPEN FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR WITH A KEY. WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN USING CAR SEATS WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ONE OF THE DOORS FROM THE FRONT SEAT, SINCE ONE OF THE SEATS IS REAR FACING (BY LAW). THE CHILDREN ARE NOT CAPABLE OF UNLOCKING THE DOORS ON THEIR OWN OR UNBUCKLING THEIR OWN CAR SEAT RESTRAINTS. IF WE WERE TO NEED TO EVACUATE THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY, IT WOULD TAKE ENTIRELY TOO LONG FOR ME TO HAVE TO CLIMB AROUND THE BACK SEAT TO TRY AND GET ALL OF MY CHILDREN UNRESTRAINED AND DOORS UNLOCKED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THAT IS 100% INCORRECT. THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. I HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE THE FIRST ONE THAT WENT OUT REPAIRED, BUT AM QUITE SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT ALL THREE OF THE OTHER DOORS NEED THE SAME REPAIRS. PLEASE RECONSIDER RECALLING THESE MALFUCTIONING PARTS, BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IS AT STAKE. *TR