10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,339 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #7

Dec 262020

Impala

  • 156,000 miles
My car started putting an everything was dim while I was driving the brake light an check engine light both were

- Galesburg, IL, USA

problem #6

Mar 072017

Impala

  • miles
The problem with our vehicle is our key fab and the front-door button will not unlock our back doors; as well as having our doors lock automatically when you shift to drive, they will not open afterwards. My wife has to climb the back seats to unlock them manually buy lifting them or rolling down the windows.

- Sault Ste. Marie, MI, USA

problem #5

Jan 052016

Impala 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The dash board on my car is cracked around where the front passenger air bag comes out. I feel it is a huge safety hazard for when the air bag needs to deploy. I feel the cracked dash board may turn into a shard of hard plastic that could either pierce the air bag or hurt the corresponding passenger. I have done research and seen that this issue is prevalent in general motor vehicle model years 2007-2013. Numerous reports have been made to General Motors in regards to this cracking. General Motors has declined to comment to each and every claim but have offered some customers a hefty discount to replace their dash. The main call to action here is safety. Dashes that are cracked in places around the passenger airbag can become flying projectiles in the event of an accident where the passenger or side impact airbag deploys. Previously stated, General Motors obviously recognizes this as a problem being that it has offered persistent customers, who bring up the validity of safety concerns, a replacement for $200 to free. Please help me bring this issue to light by making this an active recall item. Thank you.

- Shaw Afb, SC, USA

problem #4

Mar 102015

Impala 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
I began making a left turn, when the vehicle lost control. The acceleration picked up and I lost control of the ability to steer. The brake would not press down and the vehicle picked up speed faster before hitting a tree.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

problem #3

Jun 262014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 71,407 miles
I was involved in a violent, jarring collision on June 26, 2014 with an SUV in las vegas, nv. I was rear-ended by a Toyota rav 4. I sustained significant injuries, & my car suffered substantial damage, which resulted in my vehicle being deemed a total loss. The engine automatically shut off & the vehicle airbags did not deploy because the ignition switch moved out of the run position, turning off the engine. The GM provided remedy was not made available until September 2014.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #2

Jan 082013

Impala

  • 82,463 miles
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 Impala 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.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #1

Jun 082011

Impala

  • 38,500 miles
The rear power door lock actuators have failed. The rear passenger door lock failed first, then a few thousand miles later the driver side actuator failed. The problem is intermittent but with a 90%+ occurrence of failure. One or both will fail for weeks at a time, but may occasionally surprise you and work once or twice. The failure is in both the lock and unlock modes. The failure is unrelated to using keyless entry or the manual switch or having child safety locks on or off. It is virtually impossible to reach the rear door top manual latch post from the front seat. On one occasion I was trying to manually unlock the rear passenger side door from the front seat. My head/neck became trapped between the side of the front passenger seat and the door pillar. I was unable to remove my neck until I was able to reach the seat adjusting mechanism and move the seat forward. In the process of that I aggravated a chronic back condition pulling a muscle in my back. An internet search or discussion with repair shops will quickly reveal that this is a widespread issue for many 2008-2009 Chevrolet Impala, Tahoe, Malibu and Silverado owners. Due to the approximate $365 per door repair cost, the defective latches are not being replaced by many owners. Chevrolet is well aware of the problem and offers no repair assistance. In a crash situation the crash computer sequence cannot be relied on actuate the defective lock actuators. The position of the manual lock post does not facilitate manual operation without extreme contortion of the body. In a fire, crash or emergency it would be difficult to access children or passengers from the rear seat for extraction. My son has told me that it is common knowledge that the rear doors on this genre of vehicle are commonly unlocked and a target of thieves and potentially carjackers.

- Marengo, OH, USA