2009 Chevrolet IMPALA: complaints, problems and recalls

GM'S USE OF REVERSE LIGHTS AS "PERIMETER LIGHTING" IS EXTREMELY POORLY THOUGHT OUT. REVERSE LIGHTS INDICATE THAT A VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE MOTION. THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. USING THEM AS PERIMETER LIGHTING IS EXTREMELY CONFUSING TO OTHER MOTORISTS. PICTURE THIS. A VEHICLE PULLS INTO A PARKING SPACE. ONE PERSON EXISTS THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON. APPROACHING DRIVERS ARE GOING TO EXPECT THAT THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, NOT THAT THE DRIVER HAS TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND IS W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10257276 at NHTSA ↗

WE PURCHASED A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA IN APRIL . MY WIFE HAS A TAIL BONE MEDICAL ISSUE THAT NECESSITATES THAT SHE SIT ON A SPECIAL PILLOW WHILE RIDING IN A VEHICLE. THE SEAT DISPLACES HER WEIGHT EVENLY ACROSS THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE HER WEIGHT SITTING ON THE SEAT, SO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOESN'T SHOW IT IS OPERATIVE. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US TO SET A MAGAZINE UNDERNEATH HER TO MAKE THE SENSOR WORK. IT DOES ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON" BUTTON SOMETI…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269112 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269119 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN HER VEHICLE WENT HAYWIRE. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, THE HEATING UNIT WAS INOPERABLE, AND THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE SEVERAL REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE FAILURES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE AFTERMARKET ALARM SYSTEM WAS WIRED INCORRECTLY AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL …

Owner-reported narrative. 472 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277595 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, AFTER A FEW MINUTES A STRONG ODOR CAME OUT OF THE AIR VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A BUILD UP OF MOLD IN THE AIR DUCTS; HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5712. UPDATED 10/21/09.*LJ UPDATED 10/22/09.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 5,712 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284709 at NHTSA ↗

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES IN CAR POOL WHERE I WORK HAVE FRONT SEAT HEADRESTS THAT ARE HARD AS A BRICK WITHOUT ANY PADDING OVER THE STEEL CENTER FRAME. THESE HARD HEADRESTS OFFER NO PROTECTION IN A REAR END COLLISION AND WILL KILL THE FRONT OCCUPANTS. SIDES OF FRONT OF THE HEADREST ARE PADDED BUT NOT CENTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284999 at NHTSA ↗

LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON WET ROADS. BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 12,000, 22,000 & 33,000 MILES. TIRES ALSO REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON INSIDE OF BACK TIRES. CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING REAREND TO "PUSH" CAR IN WET WEATHER. DEALER CAN'T GET CAR ALIGNED PROPERLY. VEHICLE SITS AT DEALER BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE DEALER CUT ROTORS 1ST TIME REPLACED 2ND AND CUT 3RD TIME. EACH TIME THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. AT 12,000 DEALER REPLACED TIRES AFTER COMPLAINTS THAT VEHICLE ALMOST KILLED OUR ENTIRE FAMILY G…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289415 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA AND MY CAR JUST CUTS OFF WHILE IM DRIVING AND THE KEY GETS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE AFTERMARKET STEREO SO I TOOK IT OUT IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $700 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NO RESULTS WHAT IF MY CAR WOULD HAVE WENT OUT ON ME ON THE FREEWAY OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT WENT OUT LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNED THE WHOLE CAR JUST LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNED OFF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290894 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-10-06 (October 6, 2008)

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.

Consequence: 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> .

Reported: 2010-10-13 (October 13, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET IMPALAS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE FRONT SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE LAP BELT ANCHOR PRETENSIONER MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR.

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELTS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ANCHORS TO THE PRETENSIONERS AND, IF NECESSARY, REINSTALL THE ANCHORS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2012-08-03 (August 3, 2012)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)

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.

Consequence: 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.