2009 Chevrolet Impala Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet Impala most often describe warning messages such as "Engine Power Reduced" and "Service Traction Control," with the vehicle slowing or losing power while driving, and air bag or "Service Air Bag" warnings that dealers frequently link to the seat occupant sensor in the front passenger seat. Many complaints are filed at well over 70,000 miles, so these are largely higher-mileage, repeated problems rather than early failures. Misleading in their sudden appearance, however, the power-loss messages often clear on restart and recur later, which makes diagnosis difficult.

1. 1
   Electronic stability control

   Reduced engine power / service traction control message

   • 296 complaints (36%)
   • median 87,150 mi at 5.8 yrs old (266 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $450 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2024

   Complaints describe "Engine Power Reduced," "Service Traction Control," and sometimes "Service Stabilitrak" messages appearing while driving, with the car slowing, hesitating, or refusing to accelerate and occasionally stalling. Many owners report the messages clearing after a restart and returning later, sometimes when driving in rain or on bumpy roads. Some had throttle bodies, throttle position sensors, and wiring replaced without a lasting fix, and dealers have variously blamed the throttle body or sensor. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 170,000 miles, with several owners noting it in wet or rainy conditions.

   Recall 14V3550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body and pedal/throttle sensor have been cleaned or replaced and whether any stored codes were read. During a test drive, watch for these messages and note whether the car hesitates or drops power.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving alone on the highway and noticed that the rmp gauges was going up and down, then suddenly a message on the dash read, service traction control, then a few seconds later another message read, engine power reduced and the car would not pick up any speed. This was very scary and confusing because the next day I had no isses but has now it did the same thing today. Please help.”

   NHTSA complaint #11111433, filed 2018-07, 98,000 miles

   “Power reduces in heavy traffic. If I slow because of traffic it jerks like brakes are still engaged. Acts like transmission going out. This can cause someone to get run into from behind. There was a recall earlier this year. The mileage was not enough to cover my vechile. There should be no mileage limit.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328494, filed 2020-06, 150,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag / service air bag warning light

   • 204 complaints (25%)
   • median 80,200 mi at 6.8 yrs old (157 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $715 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2026

   Owners describe the air bag warning light or a "Service Air Bag" message appearing, often intermittently at first and then staying on. Dealers commonly attribute it to the passenger presence sensor module or seat wiring, sometimes quoting a substantial repair, and several owners say the warning returned or would not be repaired under an expired recall. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 47,000 to over 150,000 miles.

   Recall 16V507000Recall 08V517000

   What to check: Confirm by VIN whether recall 16V507000 was performed and whether the seat occupant sensor was replaced. Check that the air bag light comes on at startup and goes out, and ask for any repair records for the sensor or wiring.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased vehicle and the following day the right front headlight went out and had to be taken in for electrical problem. Later about 4 months after purchase the air bag in the front passenger seat started to make a knocking sound and then stopped. Just recently it began making the knocking sound again when I open my car door, as well as close it. It lasts about 3 minutes and then stops.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351154, filed 2020-08, 134,355 miles

   “This same problem occurred on our previous 2009 chev Impala, in that the service air bag message started showing on the dic intermittently, then constantly. I am finding multiple cases of Chevrolet vehicles doing this on online forums, with high bills from chevy dealers, but the problem is not solved. I am attaching a photo of the damage from hitting a deer that did not deploy airbags on our previous 2009 was totaled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11298571, filed 2020-01, 146,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Blend door actuator clicking and heater/AC faults

   • 40 complaints (5%)
   • median 82,731 mi at 6.5 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2024

   Complaints describe a loud clicking or tapping from the dashboard, sometimes starting when the doors are unlocked or a door is closed, along with heating or AC that blows the wrong temperature. Owners report repeated actuator replacements, sometimes several times, with the noise and climate problems returning. Appears from low mileage on, in some cases under 5,000 miles, and continues at higher mileage with repeat failures.

   What to check: Turn the climate controls through hot and cold and listen for clicking from the dash. Ask how many times the blend door actuator has been replaced and whether the noise came back.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Gas pedal has lag to it. Almost every time you go to take off sometime it doesn't respond till your quarter way into pushing petal must push petal farther in before it will accelerate causing it to jerk hard. My friend has same car and problem also servos in dash for heater keep clicking and malfunctioning after multiple replacements, my other friends 2010 Impala does this as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #11402517, filed 2021-03, 180,000 miles

   “While driving oil pressure low stop engine comes on in my dic even though my oil is perfectly fine my rear turning signal is not flashing but is lit and working for everything else my temperature gauge shorts out at times even after I replaced the sensor passenger air bag off even with passenger inside NHTSA recall number 16v507 NHTSA recall number 14v355 I believe the true problem is the bcm the door actuators are faulty”

   NHTSA complaint #11321868, filed 2020-04, 131,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine oil leaks and check engine light

   • 95 complaints (12%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (88 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $445 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2024

   Complaints describe oil leaking from the engine, in one case onto the exhaust manifold, and check engine lights appearing with codes related to the air injection solenoid or other engine faults. Owners also mention coolant or antifreeze smells entering the cabin from leaking gaskets and lines. Typically reported between about 55,000 and 160,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for oil residue under the hood and on the ground, and check whether the check engine light is on. Ask for maintenance records on air injection and gasket repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “One day before I was to take a vacation from missouri to texas, my check engine light came on. My mechanic told me the code had something to do with a fuel canister, but it shouldn't pose a problem. As I was driving 75 MPH on the highway inside the texas state line, after 7 hours of driving, mostly in rain all day, the car started doing a jerking type action & then my traction control light came on, w/a warning msg saying, service traction control; engine power reduced. Going 75 MPH I lost all control! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10606740, filed 2014-06, 106,000 miles

   “Turned car on and the check engine light came on. Took to mechanic who said it was the air injection solenoid valve and that it is such a common part replacement on these models that they keep the exact part in stock! They want over $400 to repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10504127, filed 2013-03, 25,886 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical and starting problems

   • 158 complaints (19%)
   • median 77,303 mi at 6.0 yrs old (121 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2024

   Owners report intermittent no-crank or stall conditions, lights flickering, gauges cutting out, accessory and security light issues, and in one case a wiring harness failure with smoke from the engine compartment. Some mention the ignition key releasing or the car stalling, and dealers have diagnosed electrical faults without a clear lasting repair. Mostly in vehicles above 80,000 miles, with a few reports at lower mileage.

   Recall 14V3550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition recall 14V355000 was completed and whether the key ring has been kept light. Check that all interior and exterior lights work and note any flickering or warning lights on the dash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I've been having crazy electrical problems with my Impala 2009 when I push the button to move my chair my light flickers on and off and when I start my car it shakes in the hood also”

   NHTSA complaint #11387863, filed 2021-01, 130,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after it was parked for an hour. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10735790, filed 2015-07, 130,000 miles

Buying note. A 2009 Impala is an inexpensive car, but check the recall history by VIN and test-drive it at highway and stop-and-go speeds to see whether the reduced-power or traction-control messages appear. Ask for records on the throttle body, seat occupant sensor, and blend door actuators before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.