Problems · by component
2009 Chevrolet Impala vehicle speed control problems
130 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Impala cite vehicle speed control, 16% of all 824 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
130
16% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting to reverse, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact continued to reverse the vehicle and felt a pulling sensation. The "Traction Control" failure light illuminated. The contact decided to move forward and park the vehicle. After several hours, the contact restarted the vehicle and the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was then able to be driven. The failure occurred several times after the tires were changed. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA ID Number: 10090054 (Vehicle Speed Control, Engine). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The vehicle was not returned to the dealer when the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and it was confirmed that the vehicle was past the 10-year coverage for NHTSA ID Number: 10090054 (Vehicle Speed Control, Engine). The failure mileage was 65,510.”
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on separate occasions, the messages “Reduce Engine Power” and "Service Traction Control" were displayed on the instrument cluster, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving on a bumpy road surface and while turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the throttle position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that her father used an OBD reader and retrieved codes indicating that the throttle position sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, who informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.”
“While driving the car it would pop up a message saying “ENGINE POWER REDUCED”. Today while driving it home it popped up with a message saying “STARTING DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE” and then the car wouldn’t drive and I had to pull over on the side of the road. For months now when I drive and accelerate at times the car would almost grind. I believe it has to do with the traction control or the transmission.”
“My car has started slowing down abruptly and displaying Engine Power has been Reduced at random times, but has become more frequent. I have had an independent service center tell me it was the throttle body, so they replaced it. That didn't fix it, so they replaced the accelerator pedal/sensor. It still is happening and when on the interstate, it is so dangerous to slow down with no warning because you can get rear ended quite easily. This first started August 2021 when my wife and I started on a vacation and had to turn around and go home and is still happening, only more frequent. This past Saturday 7/16, I was traveling on Interstate 77 and the engine power kept cutting down about every 10 minutes, so I had to pull over and cut the engine off for a while until it reset. I can't trust it to go anywhere.”
“TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE 1ST TIME THIS ISSUE HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY, ON A SIDE STREET, IN JULY 2019. OUT OF THE BLUE, THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS APPEARED: ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. IMMEDIATELY MY CAR STARTED RUNNING HORRIBLY (IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO, WAS CHUGGING, AND ALMOST FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING). I PARKED IT. LATER I STARTED IT AND ALL WARNINGS WERE GONE, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. . THE NEXT DAY I STARTED IT AND JUST THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. 3RD DAY I STARTED IT, ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. DROVE IT TO A SHOP,.RIGHT BEFORE I PULLED IN, THE LIGHT TURNED OFF! THEY SCANNED IT ANYWAY & SAID THAT NOTHING CAME UP. THE CAR HAS DRIVEN JUST FINE, NO WARNINGS OR LIGHTS UNTIL 11/25/2020. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH, TURNED RIGHT ON A SIDE STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL OF THE EXACT MESSAGES AS BEFORE CAME ON. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RUNNING SLOW AND "CHUGGING"AGAIN. I PARKED IT. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN LATER, ALL THE SAME MESSAGES WERE STILL THERE. IT'S DEFINITELY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS & SINCE THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS NERVOUS TO DRIVE IT FAR…”
“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?”
Showing 6 of 130 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.