Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Impala air bags problems

232 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Impala cite air bags, 28% of all 824 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
232
28% of all complaints
Crashes
28
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2026Air bagsODI 11742721
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2026Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11727490
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2025Air bagsODI 11645235
“"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?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2023Air bagsODI 11522029
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2022Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11474183
“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!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2022Air bagsODI 11467498

Showing 6 of 232 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: occupant classification

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jul 5, 2016NHTSA 16V507000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

GM IS RECALLING 79 MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG INFLATOR THAT COULD FRACTURE AT AN INFLATOR TUBE DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Air bagsReported Oct 6, 2008NHTSA 08V517000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.