YearToAvoid

2009 Chevrolet Impala Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 232 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, 28% of all 824 complaints for this model year. That is the highest airbag complaint count among 16 Impala model years. These complaints report 28 crashes, 1 fire, and 28 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 78,000 miles.

Airbags complaints
232
28% of 824
Crashes reported
28
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
28
Median mileage
78,000 mi
Related recalls
2

When 2009 Chevrolet Impala airbag complaints were filed

First complaint May 18, 2009, latest Jun 8, 2026.

2009 Chevrolet Impala airbags complaints: complaints filed per quarter212009 Q22012 Q42014 Q42016 Q32018 Q22020 Q12022 Q22025 Q1
232 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2016 Q3 (21).

Airbags recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 08V517000Oct 6, 2008Airbags79 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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.

    Remedy: 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> .

Airbags complaints by Impala model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200533 (5%)
  2. 200647 (9%)
  3. 200749 (8%)
  4. 200850 (6%)
  5. 2009232 (28%)
  6. 2010102 (23%)
  7. 201137 (7%)
  8. 201220 (8%)
  9. 201319 (7%)
  10. 201443 (7%)
  11. 201529 (10%)
  12. 201616 (14%)
  13. 201717 (15%)
  14. 20186 (10%)
  15. 20195 (18%)
  16. 20202 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 232 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, 28% of all complaints for this model year, including 28 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 78,000 miles.
Which Chevrolet Impala year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2009 Chevrolet Impala has the most airbag complaints (232), compared with 232 for the 2009.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala concern the airbag: 16V507000 and 08V517000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.