2009 Chevrolet Impala Interior & seats Problems

The driver seat power motor caught fire underneath the seat while driving my vehicle. It started smoking really bad. Out of no where.

NHTSA ID

11541043

Incident

Aug 27, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11509359

Incident

Feb 27, 2023

Mileage

102,000 mi

I'VE BEEN HAVING CRAZY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY IMPALA 2009 WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO MOVE MY CHAIR MY LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND WHEN I START MY CAR IT SHAKES IN THE HOOD ALSO

NHTSA ID

11387863

Incident

Jan 13, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE LAST RECALL FOR THE PASSANGER AIR BAG SENSOR IT DID NOT TURN THE LIGHT OFF AND THE DEALER SAYS THER IS A DIFFERANT ISSUE WITH IT AND THAT'S WHY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY DID AS FAR AS TAPING THE WIRES OR REPLACING THE SENSOR. BUT I FEEL LIKE THEY DID NOTHING NOW THEY TELL ME THE PART IS 433.00 AND LABOR AND PROGRAMING IS ALMOST 1000.00. I SEE MANY CARS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE PASSANGER PRESENCE SENSOR MODULE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON KEEPS ME FROM GETTING THE CAR INSPECTED. BASICALLY IF YOU SIT IN MY PASSANGER SIDE FRONT SEAT IT CAN'T RECOGNIZE ANYONE SITTING THERE. ANY HELP WOULD BE WELCOME ON THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11219364

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,577. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11131129

Incident

Sep 6, 2018

Mileage

105,577 mi

AT AROUND 140,000 MILES I NOTICED MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF. OVERTIME IT CONTINUED TURNING ON AND OFF STAYING ON MORE FREQUENT THAN BEING OFF. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL THAT AFFECTED THE AIRBAGS. THEY TOLD ME THEY JUST HAD TO WRAP SOME WIRES THAT GO UNDERNEATH THE SEAT AND THAT WAS IT. HOWEVER THIS DID NOT TURN MY AIRBAG LIGHT OFF AND I HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM ANY DEALERSHIP OR ONLINE FORUMS. I BELIEVE CHEVY SHOULD RECALL THIS AS MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH IMPALAS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. AS TO THE SEAT PROBLEM. WHERE MY SEAT COMES TOGETHER AT THE LOW BACK, IT SHIFTS AND MOVES AROUND. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD FIX IT AT $900. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND A NEW SEAT AND THEN PUT MY CUSHIONS AND UPHOLSTERY ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11016017

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

10937071

Incident

Feb 8, 2016

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ALL THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY. IN ADDITION, ALL THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN MANUALLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOORS UNLOCKED RANDOMLY. UPDATED 10/25/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10894167

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

AIRBAG SERVICE MESSAGE AND AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. PAID 269.36 4/22/2016 SO IT WOULD PASS STATE INSPECTION. LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, NOW IT IS GIVING US THE SAME PROBLEM. RETURNED TO DEALER, SAID COST TO REPAIR WITH NEW HARNESS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD BE AROUND 250.00 MORE. THE GENERAL HAS A HUGE PROBLEM HERE.

NHTSA ID

10891697

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER SHIFTING INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AFTER MANUALLY UNLOCKING THE DOORS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10873959

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY.

NHTSA ID

10820365

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10783355

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR KEY FOB FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WEEKS LATER, THE BOTH REAR DOORS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSES AS DIS-FUNCTIONAL LOCK ACTUATORS. UPDATED 06/18/15

NHTSA ID

10712402

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

Mileage

42,000 mi

AT FIRST IT WAS JUST THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK THAT WOULD NOT UNLOCK ALL THE TIME AND THEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LOCK STARTED TO BE INTERMITTENT BUT AS OF FEBRUARY 2015, NEITHER WILL AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK EVEN USING THE DOOR HANDLE. WE HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AND UNLOCK. ONCE UNLOCKED THEY THEN RARELY LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM, IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE NOR WOULD FIRST RESPONDERS BE ABLE TO QUICKLY EXTRICATE ANY PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT. THIS WORRIES US AS WE DO TAKE PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT. IF THERE WAS A CHILD OR INFANT, IT WOULD BE HORRIFIC WE HAVE FRIENDS WITH A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND THEIR REAR LOCKS ARE INTERMITTENT AND ONE IS GETTING WORSE. I WILL BET THERE A NUMBER OF CARS JUST LIKE OURS. I HAVE HAD CARS AS LONG AS 15YRS AND NEVER HAD A DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CAR THAT IS 31 YRS OLD AND THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT FAIL - AND IT IS A CHEVROLET ALSO. THE DEALER HAS TOLD US OUR CAR IS NOW ALMOST 6 YRS OLD AND THAT WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SUCK IT UP AND PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. WE THINK IT IS A DEFICIT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE DOOR LOCKS AND THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD PAY FOR IT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOME CHILD GETS KILLED OR ADULTS GET TRAPPED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704556

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A USED 2009 CHEVY IMPALA AROUND FEBRUARY 2014. WITHIN A WEEK OF DRIVING IT WE STARTED HEARING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE ANYTIME WE UNLOCKED THE DOORS OR CUT ON THE HEAT BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE SO WE JUST DEALT WITH NOISE. I DID LOOK ONLINE ONLY TO FIND TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I ALSO HAD MULTIPLE FRIENDS WHO SAID NEARLY EVERY IMPALA LIKE MINE THEY HAD BEEN IN MADE THAT SAME NOISE, WOW! SERIOUSLY? BUT ME BEING THE CHEVY LOVER, I JUST SAW IT AS A MINOR ISSUE MAYBE MISSED IN PRODUCTION BUT NOT REALLY A SAFETY HAZARD. THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THAT SEEMS TO HAVE WENT AWAY BUT NOW IT TAKES ABOUT 2 MINUTES TO GET THE AC TO SWITCH FROM DEFROST TO BLOWING OUT OF THE DASH VENTS. YOU CAN STILL HEAR IT ON, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY START BLOWING FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. STILL, NOT A BIG DEAL. THEN I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15MPH(NEAR A SCHOOL) WHEN A LOW OIL PRESSURE POWER OFF ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF QUICKLY, I PULLED OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, NO MORE ISSUES. A FEW DAYS LATER MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON RANDOMLY, HMM, SO IF THAT LIGHT IS ON WILL MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY IF NEEDED? NOT SURE... THEN I GET ALARMS THAT SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT BUCKLED IN, BUT THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEN MY CAR STARTS CUTTING OFF RANDOMLY WHILE I'M DRIVING. THIS MORNING I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND IT JUST CUT OFF LEAVING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR A FEW MINUTES WITH NO WAY FOR OTHER CARS TO GET AROUND ME.... IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE IF I WAS PULLING OUT AND ANOTHER CAR SPED AROUND THE CORNER. THEN THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ME STATING I SHOULD REMOVE EVERYTHING FROM MY KEY DUE TO IGNITION FAILURE RECALL. I SAW ON CBS YOU COULD REQUEST A FREE LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL PARTS CAME IN BUT THE DEALER ONLY OFFERED ME A RENTAL AT 300/WK.WOW, THANKS GM FOR CARING ABOUT OUR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641768

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES HE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE DOOR LOCK ACTIVATOR. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS.

NHTSA ID

10638945

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGERS HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THEIR DOORS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $300.00 PER DOOR. UPDATED 5/5/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10639963

Incident

Jun 30, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE METAL LATCH PINCHED HER FINGER. THE REAR PASSENGER REAR WINDOW SQUEALED WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE WINDOW UPWARD OR DOWNWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SIGNAL BLINKER GENERATED FALSE COMMANDS INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURES OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10632124

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

36,000 mi

MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK WITH KEY.. AND NOW PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT WHERE MY 2 YRS OLD SETS., THE LOCK ON HER SIDE SOMETIMES DOESN'T LOCK AND SHE CAN OPEN THE DOOR.. ALSO WHEN IT DOES LOCK I HAFTA CRAWL THRU FRONT SEAT INTO BACK AND PULL THE LATCH UP TO UNLOCK DOOR... ALSO I HAVE TO USE A SCREWDRIVER TO PUSH IN SOME SOLENOID ON MY SHIFTER TO GET MY CAR INTO GEAR.. IT SUCKS BIG TIME! *TR

NHTSA ID

10609744

Incident

Jan 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID

10609012

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

24,000 mi

THE ACTUATORS IN ALL FOUR OF MY ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY, WHICH IS A MAJOR ISSUE SINCE THE DRIVER DOOR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL OPEN FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR WITH A KEY. WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN USING CAR SEATS WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ONE OF THE DOORS FROM THE FRONT SEAT, SINCE ONE OF THE SEATS IS REAR FACING (BY LAW). THE CHILDREN ARE NOT CAPABLE OF UNLOCKING THE DOORS ON THEIR OWN OR UNBUCKLING THEIR OWN CAR SEAT RESTRAINTS. IF WE WERE TO NEED TO EVACUATE THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY, IT WOULD TAKE ENTIRELY TOO LONG FOR ME TO HAVE TO CLIMB AROUND THE BACK SEAT TO TRY AND GET ALL OF MY CHILDREN UNRESTRAINED AND DOORS UNLOCKED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THAT IS 100% INCORRECT. THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. I HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE THE FIRST ONE THAT WENT OUT REPAIRED, BUT AM QUITE SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT ALL THREE OF THE OTHER DOORS NEED THE SAME REPAIRS. PLEASE RECONSIDER RECALLING THESE MALFUCTIONING PARTS, BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IS AT STAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10608109

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB INTERMITTENTLY. DRIVER DOOR ALSO DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN CAR IS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND MUST BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY BY PULLING ON THE LOCK. THIS DOES POSE A SAFETY CONCERN WITH AN EVENT THAT WOULD CAUSE A NEED TO QUICKLY EVACUATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607671

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

TRIED TO LOCK DOORS WITH KEY FOB AND BOTH REAR DOORS AND SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT LOCK. ATTEMPTED TO LOCK FROM INSIDE VEHICLE AND WOULD STILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574224

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

74,800 mi

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING UP FROM UNDER MY SEAT, I PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO A SAFE SPACE AND BY THAT TIME VISIBLE FIRE WAS COMING UP FROM AROUND THE EDGES OF THE SEAT I HIT THE ONSTAR BOTTON TOLD THEM MY CARE WAS ON FIRE THEY DISPATCHED POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT APPEARED TO THEM THAT THE WIRING FROM THE SEAT MOTOR AT SHORTED OUT AND BURNED THROUGH THE WIRE CASING WHICH THEN CAUGHT THE SEAT I WAS SITTING IN ON FIRE. THE AUTO BODY ALSO STATED THAT THAT APPEARED TO BE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514472

Incident

May 28, 2013

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THEN FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513372

Incident

May 15, 2012

Mileage

22,000 mi