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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,805 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 1 of 7)

problem #123

Nov 142014

Impala

  • 65,510 miles

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

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting to reverse, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact continued to reverse the vehicle and felt a pulling sensation. The "Traction Control" failure light illuminated. The contact decided to move forward and park the vehicle. After several hours, the contact restarted the vehicle and the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was then able to be driven. The failure occurred several times after the tires were changed. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA ID Number: 10090054 (Vehicle Speed Control, Engine). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The vehicle was not returned to the dealer when the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and it was confirmed that the vehicle was past the 10-year coverage for NHTSA ID Number: 10090054 (Vehicle Speed Control, Engine). The failure mileage was 65,510.

- Seaford, DE, USA

problem #122

Mar 032023

Impala

  • miles
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.

- Grand Rapids, MN, USA

problem #121

Jul 312021

Impala

  • miles
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 replaced the accelerator pedal/sensor. It still is happening and when on the interstate, it is so dangerous to slow down with no warning because you can get rear ended quite easily. This first started August 2021 when my wife and I started on a vacation and had to turn around and go home and is still happening, only more frequent. This past Saturday 7/16, I was traveling on Interstate 77 and the engine power kept cutting down about every 10 minutes, so I had to pull over and cut the engine off for a while until it reset. I can't trust it to go anywhere.

- Cana, VA, USA

problem #120

Dec 262020

Impala

  • 156,000 miles

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

My car started putting an everything was dim while I was driving the brake light an check engine light both were

- Galesburg, IL, USA

problem #119

Nov 252020

Impala

  • 100,000 miles
To whom it may concern: I have a 2009 Chevy Impala with 100,000 miles on it. The 1st time this issue happened, I was driving slowly, on a side street, in July 2019. Out of the blue, the following warnings appeared: Engine power is reduced, service stabilitrak, service traction control. Immediately my car started running horribly (it didn't want to go, was chugging, and almost felt like the transmission was slipping). I parked it. Later I started it and all warnings were gone, but the engine light was on.. the next day I started it and just the engine light was on. 3rd day I started it, engine light still on. Drove it to a shop, .right before I pulled in, the light turned off! they scanned it anyway & said that nothing came up. The car has driven just fine, no warnings or lights until 11/25/2020. I was driving about 20mph, turned right on a side street and all of a sudden all of the exact messages as before came on. Vehicle immediately started running slow and "chugging"again. I parked it. When I started it again later, all the same messages were still there. It's definitely scary when this happens & since the 1st time it happened, I was nervous to drive it far because I wasn't sure when it may happen again. I went on a Chevrolet forum & read there was a recall for this issue. I was very pleased about that. I put in my VIN & it stated that there are no recalls. So I called GM this morning. The rep said they're aware of this issue, but there is not a recall for it. She then said that it would've covered by special warranty but unfortunately that was unavailable as of April 2019! her advice was to take it to a certified dealership and have it checked and fixed soon for my safety! I asked why there isn't a recall, if it's a known issue and she said I could talk to a customer experience manager at the dealership and maybe they could do something for me. Please help!

- Wyandotte, MI, USA

problem #118

Oct 012020

Impala

  • 170,000 miles
This is not the first time this has happened. On the hwy going 60mph, all of a sudden my engine power is reduced and airbag light came on. The next day the air bag light and engine light are both on. Went to my mechanic for an inspection (which I failed due to the airbag) and he informed me to contact the dealership for recall. I did, only to find out the recall is closed and I can't get this fixed unless I come up with a lot of money. I explained I never got anything from the manufacturer about the recall. How can I get my car fixed on a closed recall?

- Va Beach, VA, USA

problem #117

Apr 162019

Impala

  • 47,000 miles

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

While driving on roads and interstates, I frequently receive a dash notification "engine power reduced" and my service traction control and check engine light comes on. When this happens, my vehicle loses speed and cannot accelerate above 40mph - dangerous, especially on an interstate. The notification lights and symptoms occasionally go away after turning the engine off and on, only to come back later. I cannot find and answer to this problem.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #116

Sep 182018

Impala

  • miles
Lately, I have been having issues with the acceleration of my vehicle. Every so often, my engine light comes on and I get a "engine reduced" notification, and my vehicle slows down. Whenever I reach 40mph, my hp meter drops and my car starts shaking. There has even been a time when my car would completely shut off and display "ignition disabled". each time this has happened, the vehicle was moving on a highway. I went to a shop to get the error codes and I will upload them.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #115

Mar 202017

Impala

  • miles
Issues with the airbag and light the blinkers shorted out, the car kept dying and the key got stuck in the ignition in a parking lot. The gear shifter was getting stuck in different gears been undrivable since the beginning of August 2018 didn't know about the recalls till August but the recalls are in 2016 and 2014

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #114

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 #113

Jun 012017

Impala

  • miles

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

"takata recall " everytime I drive my vehicle 5 seconds the car jerks makes loud sound, starts beeping, messages appear flashing back and forth engine power reduced, service traction control, car slows down, car jerks and chugs, makes loud sound, beeping noise from message board, throttle something appears, steering wheel locks, car stops, can't steer car out of road, won't crank, my car sits in the road.

- Aiken, SC, USA

problem #112

Jul 142018

Impala

  • 98,000 miles
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 #111

May 232018

Impala

  • 140,000 miles
As I go down the road the engine light comes on and the stabletrek waring trackion light also comes on light and power reduce engine power light comes on but not all the time it goes off after a day or so and than no one can fine the problem.

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #110

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 #109

Sep 012017

Impala

  • 95,000 miles
Car hesitates on acceleration from a stop. Rpms go up but car goes very slow, like if it has lost a lot of power. Once it stops hesitating it bangs into gear and speeds forward. It can possibly cause a crash if driver is not aware its hesitating.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #108

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 #107

Nov 172017

Impala

  • 124,500 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. While operating the vehicle, the ABS sensor suddenly illuminated and the vehicle failed to accelerate normally. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 124,500.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #106

Aug 202017

Impala

  • 120 miles
Reduced engine power

- Kingwood, TX, USA

problem #105

May 082017

Impala

  • 150,000 miles
The contact's boyfriend owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. On several occasions, while the contact was driving her boyfriend's vehicle at normal speeds, the vehicle independently slowed down. The contact pulled over to restart the vehicle. While the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle accelerated rapidly and the traction control indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Calumet City, IL, USA

problem #104

May 082017

Impala

  • 130,000 miles
After starting my car and pressing on the accelerator car starts to jerk lights flicker and the message service traction control. The car will sometimes lose power. And does this while driving and will not accererate. I have changed the accerator petal positioning sensor as well as the battery. I do not feel safe driving this care whatsoever. And I've seen that many other Impala have had this issues. This has happened many times. I should not have to pay for repairs when this is clearly a manufacturer issue.

- Columbus, OH, USA

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