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#BS-2009-CHEIMP-7A56

2009 Chevrolet ImpalaProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,368 owners and 5 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,368
Crashes
89
Fires
15
Recalls
5
TSBs
1,064
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,368 complaints, 89 crashes, 15 fires, and 5 recalls. Complaint rate is 11.2x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

noise in the dash

42 complaints • Severity 6.9/10

$X,XXX
2

door locks stop working

25 complaints • Severity 7/10

$X,XXX
3

air bag light staying on after start up

20 complaints • Severity 6.9/10

$X,XXX
4

engine power reduced

13 complaints • Severity 8.6/10

$X,XXX
5

transmission failure

10 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

230 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 80K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

141
0–30K
212
30–60K
307
60–90K
233
90–120K
137
120–150K
87
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (307 reports) • Median: 80K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (230 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags230 (17%)
Electrical216 (16%)
Engine198 (14%)
Speed Control123 (9%)
Stability Control108 (8%)
Brakes72 (5%)
Drivetrain65 (5%)
Steering55 (4%)

2009 Chevrolet Impala: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, with 230 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 80,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 80K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, with 216 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, with 198 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, with 123 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

10
09
44
10
45
11
65
12
160
13
347
14
210
15
159
16
76
17
82
18
54
19
45
20
27
21
6
22
17
23
14
24
4
25
3
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (5 recalls)

08V517000Oct 2008

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.

10V480000Nov 2010

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

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.

12V377000Aug 2012

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.

14V355000Sep 2014

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.

16V507000Aug 2016

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

The worst model year for the Chevrolet Impala is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

2009 Chevrolet Impala vs. Class Average (Large Cars)

This vehicle

1,368

Class avg

122

11.2x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical large cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,368 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 5 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Chevrolet Impala Model Years

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199619951994199319921991198519831982198119801979197819771976197419731972197119691968196719661965
View all Chevrolet Impala years →

2009 Chevrolet Impala: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2009 Chevrolet Impala is related to the airbags, with 230 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
The 2009 Chevrolet Impala has 1,368 complaints, 89 crash reports, and 15 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 11.2x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2009 Chevrolet Impala problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes, the 2009 Chevrolet Impala has 5 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet Impala problems start?
Based on 1117 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 80,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2009 Chevrolet Impala data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,368 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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