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2009 Chevrolet Impala Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
232
Latest Jun 8, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
28%
of 824 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
29
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
28

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 232 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 232, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jun 8, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID
11742721
Incident
Jun 6, 2026
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 27, 2026

I believe the passenger seat occupant sensing and airbag issues from recall 16V507 have not been fixed. I am still having issues related to it, even though I had it fixed.

NHTSA ID
11727490
Incident
Mar 27, 2026
Airbags
Filed Feb 27, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID
11645235
Incident
Feb 27, 2025
Mileage
101,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSuspension
Filed Aug 16, 2024

None

NHTSA ID
11608911
Incident
Aug 16, 2024
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2024

Unknown SRS light comes on and stays on I'm afraid the system will not work properly in an accident.

NHTSA ID
11564368
Incident
Jan 9, 2024
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jul 4, 2023

2009 Chevy impala Airbag light comes on and off when it wants to bought it from a use dealer ship in 2022

NHTSA ID
11530351
Incident
Oct 28, 2022
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2023

"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?

NHTSA ID
11522029
Incident
May 12, 2023
Airbags
Filed Feb 5, 2023

We bought a vehicle as is from a dealer and when we drove away the air bag comes on and off

NHTSA ID
11505625
Incident
Jan 28, 2023
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jul 15, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID
11474183
Incident
Jun 12, 2022
Mileage
59,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 4, 2022

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!

NHTSA ID
11467498
Incident
May 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Apr 8, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID
11460130
Incident
Mar 22, 2022
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 16, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID
11433230
Incident
Sep 2, 2020
Mileage
102,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 30, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID
11427138
Incident
Jul 1, 2021
Mileage
47,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 20, 2021

I have taken my vehicle to Lannon-Woburn several time and they fix the airbag issue but it always turns back on????? Clearly there is an issue here.

NHTSA ID
11425682
Incident
Dec 20, 2020
Airbags
Filed Jun 10, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID
11420450
Incident
Jun 9, 2021
Mileage
121,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2021

On and off air bag light on speedometer area also service air bag will not stay on long enough to diagnose

NHTSA ID
11420227
Incident
Apr 1, 2021
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Apr 19, 2021

MY DASHBOARD SAYS MY SEATBELT IS OFF IT SAYS MY AIRBAG IS OFF IT HAS ABS AND TRACKING THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD EVERYTHING COMES ON AND GOES OFF YOU HAVE TO SEE IT IN ORDER TO BELIEVE WHAT I'M SAYING BECAUSE I DIDN'T TOOK IT TO EVERYONE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR AND THE OTHER SENSORS COULD BE ANYTHING

NHTSA ID
11412763
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 21, 2021

SAFTEY AIR BAG ...LIGHT COME ON AND STAYS ON

NHTSA ID
11404083
Incident
Jan 4, 2021
Airbags
Filed Feb 9, 2021

I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED BUT I SEE THAT MY VEHICLE ISN'T UNDER RECALL. I HAD TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE PRETENSIONERS ASSEMBLY REPLACED. THIS LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AND STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ID
11395383
Incident
Jan 29, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jan 19, 2021

THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON

NHTSA ID
11388896
Incident
Jan 14, 2021
Mileage
80,200 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 11, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON 1/2/2021 I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HAD A FRONT END CRASH AT 60 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF.

NHTSA ID
11387481
Incident
Jan 2, 2021
Airbags
Filed Nov 7, 2020

CAR HAS HAD SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR YEARS PRIOR TO BEING INHERITED. 4 CODES WERE PULLED INLCUDING: 1. B0021 PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT LOOP OPEN. 2. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 OPEN. 3. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 HIGH RESISTANCE 4. B001B PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT LOOP 2 HIGH RESISTANCE IT APPEARS SOME 2009 IMPALAS WERE RECALLED REGARDING THE SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAG WIRING AND THIS ONE MAY BE RELATED.

NHTSA ID
11373610
Incident
Nov 7, 2020
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 13, 2020

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. ON THE HWY GOING 60MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE BOTH ON. WENT TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION (WHICH I FAILED DUE TO THE AIRBAG) AND HE INFORMED ME TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL. I DID, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE RECALL IS CLOSED AND I CAN'T GET THIS FIXED UNLESS I COME UP WITH A LOT OF MONEY. I EXPLAINED I NEVER GOT ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE RECALL. HOW CAN I GET MY CAR FIXED ON A CLOSED RECALL?

NHTSA ID
11364060
Incident
Oct 1, 2020
Mileage
170,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Aug 25, 2020

PURCHASED VEHICLE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. LATER ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE AIR BAG IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND AND THEN STOPPED. JUST RECENTLY IT BEGAN MAKING THE KNOCKING SOUND AGAIN WHEN I OPEN MY CAR DOOR, AS WELL AS CLOSE IT. IT LASTS ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND THEN STOPS.

NHTSA ID
11351154
Incident
Jun 2, 2020
Mileage
134,355 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 10, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
11344300
Incident
Jul 29, 2020
Mileage
135,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .