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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into a deer and sustained significant front end damage. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained a neck injury. In addition, while driving various speeds, the traction control sensor illuminated prior to the stalling. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was towed and not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000.
I woke up in the hospital with a brain injury, tongue nearly cut in half, thoratic sprain, neck sprain, etc. From what I have been told, I was going at least 60-65 MPH when I had my front end crash and my head went through the windshield. I had numerous issues already submitted to Chevy, such as the steering issues I had. The air bags did not deploy. I later was driving down the road and when I was turning my vehicle shut off.
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.
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. …
Tires: are constantly needing replaced have had three sets of 60K goodyears tires in addition to a set of perillis with about 40 % tread since febraury 2015. Brakes: three sets of brakes on vehicle since February 2015. Everytime vehicle goes to mechanic they state that rotors are severely warped. Electrical: having issues with ABS traction control. This is causing reduced engine power when turning. When crossing a main intersections the car coasts across oncoming traffic. Actuators and wiring to many vehicle components having ongoing issues. Air conditioner, doors, door locks, relays the main issue I am having is non operational doors locks in vehicle. I have to craw through the car to open the door locks. I have young children and my daughter was standing out of the car awaiting me to unlock the door. Another vehicle pulling into a parking spot nearly hit my child. …
ABS and traction control lights intermittently come on causing car to jerk with acceleration, or occasionally, to slip during braking. Wheel hub assemblies have been replaced multiple times and the same faulty issue keeps reoccurring. Low quality wiring and position and tautness going into the harness are a recipe for disaster. Sensors can be set off with as little effort as gently rocking the car, definitely going off if there are any bumps or potholes in the road. Also had other annoying although less dangerous issues: door lock actuators and heating/ac actuator, causing door locks to not respond and causing a horrible clicking noise in the car, respectively. I have walked away from the car thinking I had locked it only to find one or more of the doors did not lock. Actually had items taken from the car. …
While driving on the highway at approximately 70 MPH the car began to lose acceleration and dropped all the way down to 40 MPH. The check engine light, service traction control, service stabilitrak, and reduced engine power message displayed as well. The car began shaking and would not accelerate. I had to pull off to the side of the highway and turn the car off to try and get the issue to subside. Once back on the road, not more than 3 miles later the issue surfaced again. I ended up having to get off the highway and drive (very slowly) back to my house. Not sure if it will be safe to drive back to the dealership to be addressed. I have replaced the wheel hubs and throttle pedal sensor in the past few years in an attempt to correct. This was an intermittent issue until recently and even after having it fixed by a certified Chevrolet dealership, the issue occurred again. …
I was on the interstate, going the speed limit. I had the cruise control on when the car alerted me that the engine power reduced and service traction control. I continued to drive as these messages have appeared on my car before. I traveled another 40 miles along the interstate and was about a mile from my exit. I was passing an over-sized tractor trailer going up hill when the car displayed starting disabled throttle service and the car shut off. I was in the left lane and had to initiate my emergency lights and wait for the tractor trailer to pass me so I could move the car over to the right shoulder. As the car was completely shutoff and was just coasting, I had to fight the steering wheel to control the car. …
Traction Control complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 146 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, 18% of the model year's 824 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Impala traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control 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 traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to stability & traction control 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.