2010 Chevrolet Impala problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Impala, most often about airbags. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
44
Recalls
4
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Median mileage
110,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Airbags is the most-reported problem area, named in 20 of 44 complaints (45%).
  • Electrical System (13) and engine (8) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 110,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury.
  • The 2010 Chevrolet Impala has 4 recalls on file.
  • It ranks 9th of 16 Chevrolet Impala model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 39% fewer complaints than the 2009 model year (72).

2010 Chevrolet Impala problems by category

  • Airbags · 1 crash
    20 complaints
  • Electrical System
    13 complaints
  • Engine · 1 crash
    8 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    8 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control · 1 crash
    5 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    4 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    3 complaints
  • Brakes · 1 crash
    3 complaints
  • Suspension
    2 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    2 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    2 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    2 complaints
  • Steering
    1 complaints
  • Lighting
    1 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    1 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Air bags19
Electrical system13
Engine8
Power train7
Vehicle speed control5
Seats3
Service brakes3
Electronic stability control (esc)2

When problems happen (mileage)

1Under 10k110k–30k230k–60k760k–100k8100k–150k6150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2010 Chevrolet Impala complaints that list mileage.

2010 Chevrolet Impala recalls (4)

  • 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.

  • Recall 12V377000Aug 3, 201236,413 vehicles
    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.

    Risk: 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.

  • Recall 10V480000Oct 13, 2010303,100 vehicles
    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.

    Risk: 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.

Recent 2010 Chevrolet Impala complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Oct 7, 202622,000 miCTAirbags
    The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The air bag warning light intermittently went on and off. The contact stated later that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a disconnected wiring harness. The vehicle was…
    NHTSA complaint #11769544 · source
  2. Filed Feb 6, 202658,000 miTXAirbagsElectrical System
    The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check air bag and service air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure.…
    NHTSA complaint #11716297 · source
  3. Filed Oct 8, 2025OHBody & Structure
    The unibody of this vehicle has become completely rusted/rotted to where the car is undriveable. This has been inspected by a service center, and I was told it is dangerous and beyond repair. I am sick about this, as there are MANY other makes of vehicles older than mine that do not have this issue.
    NHTSA complaint #11692216 · source
  4. Filed Sep 25, 2025NECrashTowedBrakesAcceleration & Cruise Control
    I bought a used car as is for $6700.00 and was told that the car was nothing wrong with it but within the first month 07/02/25 the car has been to 3 different shops and in the shop 5 different times all due to brake problems since I bought the car I have had to replace both front calipers and rotors brake pads wheel bearings and on the back both brake pads plus new tires and it's still not fixed the ABS traction and stability lights are on i could of caused a wreck I only…
    NHTSA complaint #11689600 · source
  5. Filed Jun 18, 2025188,000 miCAFireTowedElectrical System
    The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and unattended in a parking lot. After about ten minutes, the contact was unlocking the vehicle and noticed fire inside the vehicle near the front of the vehicle near the radio and heater. The contact used a water bottle from the back seat to attempt to extinguish the fire. The fire was extinguished by a bystander using a fire extinguisher. There were no warning lights prior to…
    NHTSA complaint #11667688 · source
  6. Filed Oct 18, 2024MOEngineOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control
    I started my vehicle in the morning to let it warm up. I come back out to get myself and my son in the vehicle to go to work and take him to school. My dash upon entry had a check engine light on, and the message it displayed was "engine power reduced." I put my car into reverse, having no choice but to drive it and the traction control went out. My father in law pulled the code and it said something about the accelerator sensor. This is a known issue and recall in other…
    NHTSA complaint #11620617 · source
  7. Filed Jun 4, 202477,000 miOHElectrical System
    The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound while starting and while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the grinding sound persisted after turning off the vehicle on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where unknown actuators located behind the dashboard were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer…
    NHTSA complaint #11592334 · source
  8. Filed Aug 10, 2023MOAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts
    recall # 36110. our car is having the same issues that are indicated with this recall but GM refuses to include our vehicle in this recall. Front passenger seat sensor is shorting out against the seat frame which is turning vital passenger airbags off. Unsure when this actually started as my daughter drives this car to work and didnt notice when it first appeared.
    NHTSA complaint #11537669 · source

Compare the 2010 Chevrolet Impala with another vehicle →

Other 2010 Chevrolet models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. 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