Is the 2009 Chevrolet Impala a bad year?
824 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 199, 9.5× a quiet Impala year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 65k–115k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Impala owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 89,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 232 (28%) | 50k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 224 (27%) | 60k–113k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 199 (24%) | 65k–115k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 130 (16%) | 67k–119k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 108 (13%) | 64k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Traction controlSTANDS OUT | 46 (6%) | 50k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 75 (9%) | 24k–92k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 68 (8%) | 62k–112k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Seat belts | 21 (3%) | 40k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 19 (2%) | 38k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 19 (2%) | 70k–123k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 57 (7%) | 40k–81k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 25 (3%) | 23k–76k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Latches and locks | 22 (3%) | 40k–71k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 89,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 824 complaints: 43 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 34 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Bad solenoid in transmission causes car to jerk upon acceleration. Transmission slips. Usually happens taking off from a stop with a slow acceleration.
I was on highway one evening and my cruise control was engaged. My power went out completely on the car. I immediately noticed that the car shut down and I was able to coast to the side of the highway.
At 55 MPH, a warning message stating service traction control-engine power reduced appeared. While driving downhill or on level ground, I had sufficient power to continue driving.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 89,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala: 5
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.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. 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.
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.
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.
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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 346
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Neighbouring years
2008 Impala: 809 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2010 Impala: 442 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Chevrolet Impala year
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Questions
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Impala a bad year?
824 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 199, 9.5× a quiet Impala year. At 89,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 65k–115k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (232), electrical system (224), engine (199), speed control (130), stability control (108). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 65k–115k miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Impala have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 16V-507), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-355), Suspension (NHTSA 12V-377), Seat belts (NHTSA 10V-480) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.