2009 Chevrolet Impala Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Chevrolet Impala has a Complaint Index of 100, the highest of all 16 model years, and ranks worst overall (rank 1). NHTSA lists 824 complaints, 5 recalls, 43 crashes, 9 fires and 1 death for this year, with Engine problems the top complaint area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 16 Impala years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 824
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 43
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 9
- Injuries
- 43
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 17.5 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 43 / 1
Top 2009 Chevy Impala problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine286 (35%)
- Airbags232 (28%)
- Electrical System231 (28%)
- Brakes210 (25%)
- Transmission & Powertrain68 (8%)
- Steering57 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires52 (6%)
- Structure & Body50 (6%)
- Other48 (6%)
- Seat Belts21 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report engine compartment fires, including cases where smoke and flames appeared after multiple failed start attempts.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in crashes at moderate speeds, leaving occupants without protection and resulting in injuries.
- Front driver's seat and seat belt anchorage reportedly failed to hold occupants during a crash, tied to a seat belt recall.
- Owners describe steering locking up suddenly while driving, in one case after the engine lost power going downhill.
- Electrical system complaints include smoke and fire originating from under the seat, requiring fire department response.
- Brake-related reports describe sudden loss of engine power, traction control warnings, and reduced steering assistance while driving.
2009 Chevrolet Impala recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V507000Jul 5, 2016Airbags289,254 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 14V355000Jun 23, 2014Electrical System3,141,731 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 12V377000Aug 3, 2012Suspension, Wheels & Tires36,413 vehicles
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
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.
Remedy: 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.
2009 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,025
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Impala has the highest Complaint Index (100) of any Impala model year and carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Impala years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
- NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 286 (35% of complaints), followed by Airbags (232, 28%), Electrical System (231, 28%), and Brakes (210, 25%).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala have?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2009 Impala, covering airbags, seat belts, and the electrical system, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- What year Chevrolet Impala should I avoid?
- Among the 16 model years with data, 2009 has the worst Complaint Index (100) and ranks worst overall, followed by 2007 (87) and 2008 (93), all rated Avoid.
- At what mileage do 2009 Impala problems typically show up?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 75,906 miles overall, with Engine issues reported around a median of 88,840 miles.