Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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 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 contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon open or closing the front driver's side door, he heard an abnormal sound. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a howling sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a faulty door actuator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The traction control, ABS, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic however, a diagnostic test could not be performed due the excessive rust underneath the vehicle. The mechanic was unable to hoist the vehicle on the lift because safety and liability issues. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle from an independent mechanic, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The mechanic informed her that the vehicle was included in an unknown recall. The independent mechanic took the vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair. A month after the repair, the check engine warning light reappeared. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
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.
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.
My vehicle's ignition switch shut off, which caused me to lose steering. When I crashed, the airbag failed to deploy. I was driving in a large parking lot and went over a speed bump. I was knocked out but the police report indicated there were no signs of braking or steering. I took my Impala to the GM dealership over 12 times.
I was driving on the highway during rush hour traffic going approximately 65 per hour and the service traction control came on and then said that engine power was reduced. It also had the engine light come on and stayed on all the way home. I then got home safely that time and shut off the car about 20 minutes later went out and all lights had gone off and was back to normal. This has happened at least a dozen times since then. Then on 6/29/15 this happened again on the highway during rush hour traffic. However this time the car said throttle disabled and the car shut off completely in the middle of the highway and I had to try and get to the side of the road without incident. After about 10 or 15 minutes the car then started back up and the lights went out and I was able to drive again. …
For a few years I've had problems with the accelerator pedal. The first time was roughly two years ago when the car completely locked up and shut down on the highway just before rush hour. I received an error code to check traction control and that the engine power is being reduced. The car then looses speed dropping drastically. The first time I was in the fast lane on the highway and the vehicles computer system shut down. The steering wheel locked making it very difficult to veer off to the side of the high way. Luckily no other vehicles were directly behind me, and I was able to get the car to the side of the highway accident free. I've never been so afraid and terrified in my life. I fear this issue will cause fatalities that can be prevented. I had the car serviced at a Chevrolet dealership in ann arbor mi which was an expensive fix! …
I bought my 2009 Chevrolet Impala used in April 2015, and since then I have had the warning service traction control, followed by engine power reduced pop up about a dozen times, with varying lengths between incidents, but not until yesterday did the car respond in any way. Yesterday I was accelerating up an interstate entrance ramp when the service traction control message popped up, then engine power reduced, and I paid little attention until quickly after the second message I realized I had no power, I had the accelerator to the floor and the car wasn't responding, the engine had shut down. So I turned on my hazard flashers and tried to pull over to the berm, but had to fight the dead steering wheel to do so, the power steering had stopped working when the engine shut down. …
Engine complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 199 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, 24% of the model year's 824 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Impala engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Impala engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 88,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 2 fires and 10 injuries to engine & cooling 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.