Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the warning message "Air Bag Malfunction" illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a used car dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's seat belt sensor had failed, causing the front passenger air bag malfunction. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) which she associated to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall as her VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the seat belt warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Passenger Presence sensor module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated with the "service air bag" message displayed on the instrument panel. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the Vin was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 121,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the driver's side air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to the local dealer and she was informed that the failure was due to a defective seat sensor wiring. The contact was given an estimate for the repair which she declined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the airbag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the warning light illuminated for a long period of time and then went away after the reset button on their instrumental panel was pressed. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
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 failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
The service airbag light comes on in the dash. Whether someone is in the passenger seat or not, the light came one and it stays on most of the time. I looked up recalls for my vin, and it wasn't included in the previous recall. (recall number 36110 passenger presence sensor and instrument cluster) But it has the same issue as all of the other 2009 Chevrolet Impalas recalled for the same exact thing. I purchased this car in December 2020 from the state of Michigan so I am the second owner. My vin should be covered under the recall. I need it fixed and it's no okay that as dealership won't cover my vehicle and it has the same issue. Why didn't Chevrolet just recall ALL of this year, regardless of vin? GM saving money at the cost of mine and my families safety is not okay!
For the last 2 years, the car willl come up saying airbag system issues. There airbag sensor under the passenger side seat will randomly throw a code for the erorr and then turn off. It does not have to be a bump, move the seat, Just goes off. We have had it professionally scanned and it is always the same sensor with the issue. We noticed certian models had recalls but our was not on the list for some reason even though it fits all the other models with same issue. The cost to get it repaired and a chevy dealer is astromical. There are too many dates to count of the light and sesnor error.
"Air Bag Malfunction light is on. There is a NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) which I am associating with the failure and it tends to happen at the 80,000 mile mark which this car is almost at. Why isn't this VIN included in the recall? It's a 2009 Chevy Impala. Shouldn't this recall capture all of the 2009 Chevy Impalas?
On 2-2-2015 vehicle was involved in a two vehicle, personal injury auto accident. Damage was incurred to the left and right front 1/4 (fender) panels, engine compartment, interior dashboard and steering wheel area along with the passenger side front door of the aforementioned vehicle and respective VIN. At the time of the accident, none of the air bags deloyed and the vehicle is equipped with driver side, passenger side, front side impact and head/curtain air bags. The vehicle has subsequnetly been totaled by the insurance company and awaits disposition at their salvage impound facility. A "hold" has been placed on the dispostion of the vehicle by the insurance company pending an investigation by general motors corporation, Chevrolet division product safety personnel. The GM assigned incident # is 805801 and was assigned on approximately 02-19 or 02-20-2015. …
Related recalls
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will double wrap the wires with anti-abrasion tape and replace damaged wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2016.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new passenger-side front air bag. The recall began on October 10, 2008. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or through their website at http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Airbag complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 232 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, 28% of the model year's 824 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-507 (occupant classification, Jul 5, 2016); NHTSA recall 08V-517 (frontal, Oct 6, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 28 crashes, 1 fire and 28 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.