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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,630 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Chevrolet Impala engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 2 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #157

Jul 062018

Impala

  • 101,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The engine will shut off. Then the stereo will turn off for a second then come back on and display service stabilitrak. The vehicle was stationary at a stoplight. The engine has always come back on when trying to restart it with the key.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #156

Aug 012018

Impala

  • 130,000 miles
I started my car and the check engine light and service traction control lights both came on. I got on the highway and tried to accelerate to merge into the lane and my car would not accelerate and the steering wheel locked. Luckily I was able to get into the emergency lane before my car shut off, but I was very close to being blasted by an oncoming semi truck. This could've been fatal to me if I had not gotten over in time.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #155

Jul 222018

Impala

  • 89,000 miles
Bad solenoid in transmission causes car to jerk upon acceleration. Transmission slips. Usually happens taking off from a stop with a slow acceleration. Feels like being rear ended and can cause sluggish acceleration. Problem needs to be addressed with a recall as many other Impala drivers have experienced this same issue. Issue has happened at least 9 times within a 6 week period.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #154

Jul 142018

Impala

  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving alone on the highway and noticed that the rmp gauges was going up and down, then suddenly a message on the dash read, service traction control, then a few seconds later another message read, engine power reduced and the car would not pick up any speed. This was very scary and confusing because the next day I had no isses but has now it did the same thing today. Please help.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #153

Jun 072018

Impala

  • 140,000 miles
"low oil pressure light, shut off engine" keeps coming on. Oil is full. So far I have air bag light, traction control light, engine light, engine speed reduced light all on! how are these auto's not being recalled! I will never own a Chevy again! unsafe piece's of junk!

- Washburn, IL, USA

problem #152

May 312018

Impala

  • 140,000 miles
While driving on the interstate at 70mph, air bag light, engine light as well as traction control light came on. Felt as if brakes were on. Dash read "service traction control" & "engine speed reduced". 140,000 miles

- Washburn, IL, USA

problem #151

Feb 222018

Impala

  • 98,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine suddenly died while I was driving. I pulled over to the side of the road and it almost caused an accident because power steering went out. I was able to start the engine back up no problem. I had a check engine light on because of the oil pressure sensor. I had just replaced it the day before. I suspect it had something to do with that, but im not sure. If I was on the highway im pretty sure I would have gotten in an accident. This isnt the first time this car has almost caused an accident because of faulty car parts, this car is dangerous.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #150

Jan 122018

Impala

  • 120,000 miles
What has to happen before something is done about this problem ? traction control light and reduce engine power light comes on going down the interstate and the car shuts down and you have to try and get car pulled over to the side of the road without hitting someone or getting hit. This is a very common problem with this vehicle and nothing is being done about it. I would really like a response on this problem. This happens a lot so your date you want incident happening is really not right.

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #149

Jan 092018

Impala

  • 160,000 miles
While the vehicle was in motion on dry pavement, the traction control light came on, followed by the check engine light then the car stalled and had to be be eased off the highway. Tried to restart the vehicle several times. After it sat for a couple of minutes tried one more time and the car restarted and drove home perfectly. Researched the issue online, and there are entire forums in edmunds dedicated to this very problem. Definitely a safety issue with this vehicle.

- Desoto, MO, USA

problem #148

Dec 132017

Impala

  • miles
TL- contact owns a 2009 Chevy Impala lt... transmission shut off while driving down main road... transmission started having problems back in June of 2017. Transmission reduced power and shut off completely...contact was on main road when vehicle shut off vehicle shut off after a second time of the beltway.......vehicle started back up after thirty minutes.... TR..... received tk holdings notice traction control system light comes on.... contact called Chevy and airbags were replaced already.... 0 recalls associated with this VIN

- Ruffin, SC, USA

problem #147

Dec 102017

Impala

  • 67,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My traction light comes on. With my check engine light then my power is redued light comes on at same time car has no power cant hardly get it to move cant accelerate to get out of way of cars. Light is coming and going stay on for a while go off then come back in day or

- Wendell, NC, USA

problem #146

Nov 132017

Impala

  • 88,000 miles
Displays "reduced engine power" on the dashboard and the engine light is

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #145

Feb 092011

Impala

  • 88,223 miles
Engine light comes on and reduce power warning comes on then engine shuts off.

- Dickinson, TX, USA

problem #144

May 152016

Impala

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "service traction control module: Engine power reduced by 50%" warning message displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning on several occasions. Montgomery Chevrolet of louisville, Kentucky was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall and that there would be no service provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Shepherdsville, KY, USA

problem #143

Jun 142013

Impala

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. While driving on the highway, the vehicle experienced reduced engine power and stalled. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact also mentioned that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact experienced a similar failure three years ago. The vehicle was taken to mcdermott Chevrolet where it was diagnosed that the failure was attributed to NHTSA campaign number: 14V355000 (electrical system). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact also took the vehicle to the same dealer because the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact believed that the indicator was illuminated due to NHTSA campaign number: 16V507000 (air bags, electrical system). The technician informed the contact that the failure was not due to the recall and refused to pay for the repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

- Hamden, CT, USA

problem #142

Nov 292016

Impala

  • 223,300 miles
Vehicle serviced by Firestone complete auto care, November, December 2016 vehicle was in motion, on a city street vehicle exhibited reduced engine power, ran rough, triggered engine error alarm. Diagnostic by Firestone revealed a pedal position sensor error, error code ' P2122, resulted in replacement of accelerator pedal assembly, removal & replacement of throttle position sensor. Vehicle was in motion, on a city street upon return of the vehicle to the owner, replacement of accelerator pedal throttle position sensor resulted in intermittent, dangerously uncontrolled vehicle acceleration, vehicle was towed back to Firestone repair shop. Uncontrolled vehicle acceleration was resolved by replacement of throttle body assembly. The conditions initially described, reduced engine power, rough idle was predicted in a letter, dated November 2015 as received by owner from General Motors Chevrolet division regarding a do not return to dealer order, all in bold letters and under lined. Further instruction clearly communicated that the issue would not be addressed unless the issue actually occurred and had to be within strict time cut off related to when vehicle was placed in to service or under 120,000 miles. Any possible repairs once approved for the conditions described were covered under a special coverage program. The issue created a clear and obvious dangerous safety issue and should have been managed as a safety recall not a do not return to deal order and managed as a special coverage program. Owners of vehicles with the issue or the potential for this issue to occur, victims resulting from this issue should be compensated for all repair fees and liability claims resulting from this issue as reported here today.

- Dighton, MA, USA

problem #141

Jan 082017

Impala 4WD 6-cyl

  • 121,225 miles
For the last two days, I have driven my vehicle. Every time I would drive over 40 mph, the engine would lock up. The vehicle would jerk back and forth. The car would do this every time I would try and drive over 40 mph, no matter the roadway or stop at an intersection. Whenever this happened, the check engine light would stay on. A month before this problem started, my father had been driving the car and had an auto accident.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #140

Jan 082017

Impala 6-cyl

  • 121 miles
For the last two days, I have driven my vehicle. Every time I would drive over 40 mph, the engine would lock up. The vehicle would jerk and shake back and forth. The car would do this every time I went over 40 mph, no matter if I was driving on a highway or road or coming to a stop at a red traffic light. Whenever this happened, the check engine light and the traction control light would stay on. This problem started weeks after I had an auto accident.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #139

Oct 302016

Impala

  • 90,100 miles
My car's engine power was severely reduced suddenly when I was driving on interstate highway 275 North in tampa, fl. A message showed on the dash: " reduced engine power, service traction control" and the check engine light was on. This happened today around 7 pm on Oct 30, 2016. My car is a Chevy Impala 2009. I searched online and found thousands of messages about the same error message of reduced engine power on many models of GM cars including Impala, Malibu, trailblazer, Silverado. This worries me very much as so many same error messages and engine problems happened on so many GM cars. My research shows that GM has done nothing to resolve this problem yet. So this irresponsibility of GM on this specific issue put the lives of hundreds of thousands of drivers in danger. I hope NHTSA looks into this problem and pressure GM to issue a recall if possible to take care of this serious problem. Thank you!

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #138

May 122016

Impala

  • 112,000 miles
While driving the check engine light and traction control light comes on and reduce engine power reads across the screen. Car slows to 45 miles an hour and turns off. I have had the throttle replaced and the throttle body replaced. The problem still on going....?

- Conyers, GA, USA

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