2009 Chevrolet Impala
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 241 of 824 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Suspension, Wheels & Tires include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 810 in 2008 to 824 in 2009.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | vs. 2009 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–4,100 | 2,850–4,100 | 2,700–3,300 | 2,850–2,950 | 2,700–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–22 | 19–22 | 19–23 | 21–22 | 21–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–18 / 24–28 | 16–18 / 24–29 | 16–19 / 24–29 | 17–18 / 27–29 | 17–19 / 26–29 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 404–468 | 404–468 | 386–468 | 404–423 | 386–423 | |
| Complaints filed | 627 | 810 | 824 | 441 | 505 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 52 | 51 | 43 | 18 | 22 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 10 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 56 | 44 | 43 | 12 | 25 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
Airbags & Restraints: 241 of 824 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala get?
EPA rates it 19–23 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
EPA estimates $2,700–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 18 mpg | 29 mpg (high) | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 5.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Large Cars | 19 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.9L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Large Cars | 17 mpg | 27 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 199 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 68 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 224 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Brakes | 210 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| Steering | 57 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 52 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 241 | 29 | 1 | 29 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 131 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 50 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · Campaign 16V507000 · Jul 5, 2016
Defect: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 14V355000 · Jun 23, 2014
Defect: 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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · Campaign 12V377000 · Aug 3, 2012
Defect: 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE · Campaign 10V480000 · Oct 13, 2010
Defect: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 08V517000 · Oct 6, 2008
Defect: 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> .