repaired · 2017 Q4
Sensor: occupant classification
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.
2009 Chevrolet ImpalaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 824 owner complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-507 the manufacturer reports only 51% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 8, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Chevrolet Impala has problems
824 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
232Air bags29 crash/fire/injury
224Electrical system12 crash/fire/injury
179Engine10 crash/fire/injury
130Vehicle speed control2 crash/fire/injury
108Electronic stability control (ESC)7 crash/fire/injury
68Power train
57Steering
46Traction control system
39Service brakes
23619 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 232 | 29 |
| Electrical system | 224 | 12 |
| Engine | 179 | 10 |
| Vehicle speed control | 130 | 2 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 108 | 7 |
| Power train | 68 | 4 |
| Steering | 57 | 15 |
| Traction control system | 46 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 39 | 9 |
| 19 other systems | 236 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2009 Chevrolet Impala recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
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.
no report yet
Control arm: lower arm
Risk. A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Front: anchorage
Risk. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Air bags: frontal
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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
78kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 173 air bags complaints. 70% were reported before 100,000 miles.
16under 30k miles121under 100k miles52100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
21 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $180 – $800
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Impala year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impala median. How we score
'65'66'67'68'69'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'85'87'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Chevrolet Impala safety ratings
2009 Chevrolet Impala 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Impala owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
For the last 2 years, the car willl come up saying airbag system issues. There airbag sensor under the passenger side seat will randomly throw a code for the erorr and then turn off. It does not have to be a bump, move the seat, Just goes off. We have had it professionally scanned and it is always…
I believe the passenger seat occupant sensing and airbag issues from recall 16V507 have not been fixed. I am still having issues related to it, even though I had it fixed.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately…
Own a 2009 Impala?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.