With 5 recalls and 822 complaints, the 2009 Chevrolet Impala rates as high on the safety concern scale. Always run the VIN through NHTSA's lookup tool before signing.

Recalls

822

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

14V3550002014-23-06

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

16V5070002016-05-07

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

12V3770002012-03-08

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.

A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

View all 5 recalls

10V4800002010-13-10

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.

THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

View at NHTSA

08V5170002008-06-10

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2009 Chevrolet Impala's biggest weak point? AIR BAGS. It leads 822 total complaints spanning 1 years. Budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially in that area.

01Air Bags132

02Electrical System80

03Engine45

04Vehicle Speed Control34

05Electrical System,air Bags33

822 total across 1 model years (2009–2009)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Chevrolet Impala Fuel Economy

19–23mpg combined

16-18city

24-29hwy

$2,000-$2,300/yr

Fuel economy for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala ranges from 19 to 23 MPG combined across 4 setups. The table below breaks it down by trim so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

By Trim

Impala - Automatic 4-spd

22mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

18 city29 hwy~$2,000/yr-1/10 Poor

Impala - Automatic 4-spd

21mpg

3.9L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

17 city27 hwy~$2,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Impala - Automatic 4-spd

19mpg

5.3L 8-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

16 city24 hwy~$2,300/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2009 Chevrolet Impala

38States

24%in top 3

The biggest cluster of inventory is in Texas (9%), but the remaining listings are spread across 37 other states nationwide.

TXTexas

999%

MIMichigan

918%

FLFlorida

777%

DCWashington DC

706%

ILIllinois

666%

MDMaryland

565%

INIndiana

535%

PAPennsylvania

525%

OHOhio

393%

MOMissouri

373%

GAGeorgia

323%

CACalifornia

323%

DEDelaware

313%

NCNorth Carolina

282%

MNMinnesota

252%

WAWashington

252%

AZ24

WI23

NE21

IA17

TN17

NY17

OR14

AL13

VA13

NJ13

OK13

CO12

KY12

UT9

NH9

HI8

ND8

NV8

SC8

ID6

SD6

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2009.

2009 Chevrolet Impala Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 2009 Chevrolet Impala a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala. There are 5 recalls to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?

NHTSA shows 5 recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?

You'll get between 19 and 23 MPG combined from the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, depending on engine and drivetrain. That's a meaningful difference over time. The fuel economy table shows exactly which configs get what.

What are common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?

AIR BAGS problems top the list with 822 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.