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2009 Chevrolet Impala Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Chevrolet Impala has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “HVAC blend door actuator clicking and heat/AC fault.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Chevrolet Impala.

Reported to NHTSA

HVAC blend door actuator clicking and heat/AC fault

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

12 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2021-04

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11412944
“A/C ACTUATOR ARM, 3RD ONE GONE BAD, FIRST 2 WERE $175 TO REPAIR, THIS ONE ALMOST $700 TO REPAIR & WE CANNOT AFFORD THAT... OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROBLEM... WHY NOT A RECALL? REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WIRING BAD & IT HAS QUIT WORKING AT ALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11004334
“2009 CHEVY IMPALA LT MALFUNCTIONS 'BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NOT TURNING CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM TO NOT WORK PROPERLY: *THE HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR WHEN IN PARK *THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11103797

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Frame and support structure rust

STRUCTURE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2024-02 → 2024-07

“the frame of the car is rusted . in places almost all the way through the frame. this was confirmed by chevy dealer. this car has always kept in a garage. I kept the car clean going through a car was with under wash”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11603038
“The support frame rusted due to water collection from rain. This has caused the entire frame to rust through and collapse when the car was jacked up, with the manufacturer supplied scissor jack, to replace a tire”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11539480

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag warning light and passenger presence sensor faults

AIR BAGS

80 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2026-06

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11645235
“CAR HAS HAD SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR YEARS PRIOR TO BEING INHERITED. 4 CODES WERE PULLED INLCUDING: 1. B0021 PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT LOOP OPEN. 2. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11373610
“GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT, WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, EXISTS IN CERTAIN 2009 ' 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FRAME IN THESE VEHICLES MAY RUB AGAINST AND DAMAGE THE WIRES OF THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR (PPS) MODULE, WHICH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11105033

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Reduced engine power warning with throttle stall

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE

45 NHTSA complaints · 2016-12 → 2025-03

“My car has started slowing down abruptly and displaying Engine Power has been Reduced at random times, but has become more frequent. I have had an independent service center tell me it was the throttle body, so they replaced it. That didn't fix it, so they”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11474660
“DISPLAYS "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11045586
“THE IMPALA DISPLAYS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL FOLLOWED BY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THROWS A CODE FOR THROTTLE BODY SENSOR, BUT THAT DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR IS ANOTHER REASON THEY SAY, WHICH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11151489

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical wiring harness burning odor, smoke, and fire risk

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

15 NHTSA complaints · 2017-05 → 2025-09

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11690540
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11589955
“SPEEDOMETER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT OUT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11206109

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering pump failure and steering wheel seizure

STEERING

4 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2023-02

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A POWER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11071977
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND LOCKED UP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11011242
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon open or closing the front driver’s side door, he heard an abnormal sound. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a howling sound”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11509359

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

On 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid every 45,000 miles — sooner if towing or off-roading. Use GM Auto-Trak II fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

338 crashes 1990–2024

How the 338 occupant deaths break down

254

driver deaths

84

passenger deaths

338

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

43

complaints mentioning a crash

9

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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