2009 Chevrolet Impala electrical system problems

Related recalls

• Recall 16V507000Jul 5, 2016289,254 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

  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.

  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. 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.

• Recall 14V355000Jun 23, 20143,141,731 vehicles
  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.

  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. 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.

What owners say

1. Filed Mar 27, 2026WVAirbagsElectrical System

   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.

   NHTSA complaint #11727490 · source
2. Filed Sep 30, 2025OHElectrical System

   Smelled an odor of burning wires when using rear defroster. Defroster then stopped working. After further troubleshooting I observed the wire pigtail under the front passenger door was charred and burned. The pin inside the harness that was burned was the rear defroster. After further research I found this is very common for the Chevy impala. However no recall existed. I feel it is a fire risk due to the fact that the wires over heated enough to melt and char the plastic…

   NHTSA complaint #11690540 · source
3. Filed Dec 31, 2024TXElectrical System

   I have a 2009 with 77000 miles 0n it I have fix the knocking noise under dash 3 times now it is a actuator there are 2 of them. I have also found by spraying Carburetor cleaner in the throttle body just remove the the big air hose and spray all around in side this stops the the speed reduction control lite from coming on saying you have no power. The problem I'm having now is while I'm driving the dash lights go out and radio light goes dim. after a while the lights come…

   NHTSA complaint #11633331 · source
4. Filed May 21, 2024222,000 miCAElectrical System

   The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact then observed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the wiring harness and observed that the wiring was exposed. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact…

   NHTSA complaint #11589955 · source
5. Filed Sep 2, 2023MIElectrical System

   Driving home one night, August 8th, 2023 (thank goodness it was night) took a turn and got a service traction control light with a ding ding ding noise (I assume to alert me that something is wrong) and then it said engine power reduced which I assume happens because if your traction control is bad, it doesn’t want you slipping. Immediately called my father and he said to just drive it home and we’ll check it out. Not 2 miles later, my engine just stopped and it went into…

   NHTSA complaint #11542239 · source
6. Filed Mar 3, 2023MNElectrical SystemOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   While driving the car it would pop up a message saying “ENGINE POWER REDUCED”. Today while driving it home it popped up with a message saying “STARTING DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE” and then the car wouldn’t drive and I had to pull over on the side of the road. For months now when I drive and accelerate at times the car would almost grind. I believe it has to do with the traction control or the transmission.

   NHTSA complaint #11510035 · source
7. Filed Jul 15, 202259,000 miNYAirbagsElectrical System

   The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the seat belt warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Passenger Presence sensor module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The…

   NHTSA complaint #11474183 · source
8. Filed Jun 18, 2021NYElectrical System

   This is a follow up on air bag heat ac controls and dash operation found gauge cluster burned out smoked blew a 1 amp fuse under hood last owners were under dashboard because screws were missing This year of car had 4 recalls airbags under the right seat wires.my car was not included because of production date there is something GM MISSED ON THIS CAR ELECTRIC AREAS CARIS DRIVEN CAREFULLY SOMETHING MADE THAT HAPPEN CAN YOU LOOK FURTHER INTO THIS MATTER ITIS COSTING ME MORE…

   NHTSA complaint #11421355 · source
9. Filed Apr 19, 202190,000 miWYElectrical System

   In approx 2013-2014 actuator affecting heating and cooling in the vehicle needed replaced, then again actuator needed replacement in 2016-17 and again now. The problem keeps occurring. This is affecting the ability to operate the vehicle during extreme temperatures we experience. Actuator making horrible clicking sound and car will not heat up or cool down as appropriate 1st occurs approximately 2013-2014 around 90,000 miles, and again approximately 2016-17 and again in 2021

   NHTSA complaint #11412944 · source
10. Filed Mar 11, 2021180,000 miPAElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / Unknown

    Gas pedal has lag to it. Almost every time you go to take off sometime it doesn't respond till your quarter way into pushing petal must push petal farther in before it will accelerate causing it to jerk hard. My friend has same car and problem also servos in dash for heater keep clicking and malfunctioning after multiple replacements, my other friends 2010 impala does this as well.

    NHTSA complaint #11402517 · source
11. Filed Mar 4, 2021100,000 miMIElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    Car continuously gets a reduced power message and goes down to 25 mph. In mid january did the same thing, but stalled on i90 ohio turnpike. Almost hit by a semi truck. Have had the car in the shop no less than 5 times for the same problem. At gm and non gm repair shops. We have had this same reduced power on city roads, and the highway, it seems always when it is wet, rainy or slushy. It really appears to be a water causes the problem. We have paid for two sets of throttle…

    NHTSA complaint #11399081 · source
12. Filed Jan 13, 2021130,000 miMIElectrical SystemSeats & Seat Belts

    I've been having crazy electrical problems with my impala 2009 when i push the button to move my chair my light flickers on and off and when i start my car it shakes in the hood also

    NHTSA complaint #11387863 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology