2009 Chevrolet Impala: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala: 5 recalls, 824 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #08V517000 · 2008 · 79 vehicles
What's wrong: Some of these vehicles have a passenger-side front air bag inflator that could fracture at an inflator tube during a deployment.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will install a new passenger-side front air bag. The recall began on October 10, 2008.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #10V480000 · 2010 · 303,100 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: The safety belt May not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, which could result in injury to the occupant.
The fix: 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.
Suspension Vehicle recall #12V377000 · 2012 · 36,413 vehicles
What's wrong: This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet impala vehicles.
Why it matters: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V355000 · 2014 · 3,141,731 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Airbags, Electrical Vehicle recall #16V507000 · 2016 · 289,254 vehicles
What's wrong: The front passenger seat frame May contact and damage the wires of the passenger presence sensor module.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 9 mention a fire, 43 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (232): the most common themes are warning light on (91), fails to deploy (26).
- Electrical (224): the most common themes are electrical failure (80), warning light on (64), door / lock issues (54).
- Engine (179): the most common themes are warning light on (86), stalls / loses power (66).
- Speed control / throttle (130): the most common themes are warning light on (60), stalls / loses power (33).
The 2009 Chevrolet Impala has 824 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 28 Impala model years for complaints (2.2× the average Impala year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (204 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 75,468 miles. Neighboring years: 2008 (810 complaints, 2 recalls), 2010 (442 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 29 | 23 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 29 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.9 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 27 | 21 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala.
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FAQ
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2009 Chevrolet Impala problems?
Owners have filed 824 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (232), electrical (224), engine (179).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2009 Chevrolet Impala repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.