CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2010 Chevrolet Impala

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

441

Complaints

18

Crashes

3

Fires

12

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2010 Chevrolet Impala have filed 441 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2009 and February 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 132 of them (30%). The typical failure was reported at 74,000 miles, the median across the 351 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

16V507000 · July 5, 2016

The defect
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.
The risk
If the wires are damaged, the passenger presence sensory system may fail to recognize that the passenger seat is occupied, disabling the air bag. Damage may also cause the air bag fuse to short resulting in a loss of all air bags and seat belt pretensions. Both conditions increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The 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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 36110.

General Motors LLC · up to 289,254 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

14V355000 · June 23, 2014

The defect
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
The risk
If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,141,731 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

12V377000 · August 3, 2012

The defect
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
The risk
A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 36,413 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

10V480000 · October 13, 2010

The defect
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET IMPALAS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE FRONT SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE LAP BELT ANCHOR PRETENSIONER MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR.
The risk
THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELTS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ANCHORS TO THE PRETENSIONERS AND, IF NECESSARY, REINSTALL THE ANCHORS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · up to 303,100 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 441.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 132 30%
AIR BAGS 102 23%
ENGINE 88 20%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 74 17%
POWER TRAIN 67 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 47 11%
STEERING 42 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 21 5%
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 21 5%
SUSPENSION 18 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 122.

2009 2014 2026
2009 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · 80,000 miles

CAR WAS HIT ON FRONT DRIVERS CORNER AND FRONT END. CAR SHUT OFF AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10638340. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · fire · 39,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITION UNIT CAUGHT FIRE AND THE FLAMES EMITTED THROUGH THE VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE ARMS AND KNEES. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA complaint 10630756. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · crash · towed · 92,000 miles

AUTO TOTALED SEPT 8, 2020. LOST CONSCIENCE WITH TAILPIPE LOOSE AT BACK OF CAT CONVERTER. DIAGNOSED WITH LOW BLOOD SUGAR AT HOSPITAL. SEVERE INJURIES: SPINAL, RIGHT ARM, LEFT LEG. DO NOT REMEMBER ACCIDENT, EVEN TODAY. TOOK DOWN ELECTRIC POLE AND PINE TREE. DO NOT REMEMBER IF WINDOWS OPEN OR CLOSED THAT DAY. MAY HAVE BEEN COMBINATION OF CO FROM EXHAUST AND BLOOD SUGAR. RURAL STREET, TOWN IN MAINE.

NHTSA complaint 11416540. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 26,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND PUSHED THE CONTACT INTO A BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND BACK PAINS. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA complaint 10584960. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

58,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11716297. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
The unibody of this vehicle has become completely rusted/rotted to where the car is undriveable. This has been inspected by a service center, and I was told it is dangerous and beyond repair. I am sick about this, as there are MANY other makes of vehicles older than mine that do not have this issue.

NHTSA complaint 11692216. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed

I bought a used car as is for $6700.00 and was told that the car was nothing wrong with it but within the first month 07/02/25 the car has been to 3 different shops and in the shop 5 different times all due to brake problems since I bought the car I have had to replace both front calipers and rotors brake pads wheel bearings and on the back both brake pads plus new tires and it's still not fixed the ABS traction and stability lights are on i could of caused a wreck I only drive it to the store with the money I had paid for the car putting it in a shop I shouldn't of had to do they sold me a dangerous car

NHTSA complaint 11689600. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · towed · 188,000 miles

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and unattended in a parking lot. After about ten minutes, the contact was unlocking the vehicle and noticed fire inside the vehicle near the front of the vehicle near the radio and heater. The contact used a water bottle from the back seat to attempt to extinguish the fire. The fire was extinguished by a bystander using a fire extinguisher. There were no warning lights prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed, airbag deployment, or crash involved. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not

NHTSA complaint 11667688, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I started my vehicle in the morning to let it warm up. I come back out to get myself and my son in the vehicle to go to work and take him to school. My dash upon entry had a check engine light on, and the message it displayed was "engine power reduced." I put my car into reverse, having no choice but to drive it and the traction control went out. My father in law pulled the code and it said something about the accelerator sensor. This is a known issue and recall in other models and I wanted to report it is also happening in my model.

NHTSA complaint 11620617. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

77,000 miles

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound while starting and while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the grinding sound persisted after turning off the vehicle on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where unknown actuators located behind the dashboard were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA complaint 11592334. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Impala

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 28 1
2018 59 1
2017 116 0
2016 111 0
2015 300 3
2014 632 12
2013 270 1
2012 258 3
2011 505 2

Other 2010 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst