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 2010 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The air bag warning light intermittently went on and off. The contact stated later that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a disconnected wiring harness. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall repair. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall associated with the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, she noticed the "Service Air bag System" warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the air bag seat sensor and side-impact sensor to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The manufacturer informed that contact that her VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 137,700.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted by phone however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) however, the vin was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 160,074.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check air bag and service air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon start-up of the vehicle, the airbag warning light illuminated the instrument panel. The contact called the dealer where he was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags). The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was not successful. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 155,063.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
Air Bag Service message comes up on the information panel with the air bag light on. Did a diagnostic check showed passenger air bag. I reached under the seat and shook the wires the light and message went off, however the diagnostic check still showed the passenger air bag system. Found recall Number 16V507000. The dealer says my VIN is not in the recall however it seems I have the same problem the recall describs.
recall # 36110. our car is having the same issues that are indicated with this recall but GM refuses to include our vehicle in this recall. Front passenger seat sensor is shorting out against the seat frame which is turning vital passenger airbags off. Unsure when this actually started as my daughter drives this car to work and didnt notice when it first appeared.
About a week ago I got in my car and started driving. as I started going down the road the passengers side alarm for the seatbelt kept going off and I noticed the passenger side airbag had turned on as well. I was in my car alone and had nothing sitting in the passengers seat nor a passenger in my car. That was the first time it lasted my whole drive to work (about 13 miles) but made me think of past times my vehicle had done that as well A few weeks before that the same thing happened and I had to connect the seatbelt to make it stop. I didn't think much of it at first and thought it was a one-off kinda thing till it became a pattern of sorts. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the 'service air bags' warning light illuminated. The contact stated researched failure on-line and found NHTSA campaign number: 16V507000 (air bags, electrical system), however was unaware if recall was serviced on the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA recall campaign number: 16V507000 (electrical system). The contact also indicated that the rear defroster had failed and burnt the electrical wires. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,500.
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.
Airbag complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 103 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Chevrolet Impala, 23% of the model year's 442 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-507 (occupant classification, Jul 5, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 1 fire and 8 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.