The 2009 Impala with the 3.5L V6 is a solid fleet-duty sedan, but the 4T65-E transmission and Active Fuel Management (AFM) oil consumption issues dominate the problem list. Expect transmission cooler line and internal failures plus potential engine rebuild needs on higher-mileage examples.
4T65-E Transmission Failure and Cooler Line Leaks
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Delayed or harsh 2-3 shift, slipping on acceleration, Pink fluid puddles under vehicle from corroded cooler lines at radiator, Check Engine light with P0741 (torque converter clutch) or P0730 (incorrect gear ratio), Shudder during light throttle cruise between 40-50 mph
Fix: Cooler lines alone are 1.5-2 hours if caught early. Full transmission rebuild or replacement is 8-12 hours labor plus core charge. Internal failure often involves 3-4 clutch pack or pressure control solenoid issues.
Estimated cost: $400-800 for cooler lines; $2,200-3,800 for rebuild/reman unit installed
Excessive Oil Consumption from Piston Ring / Valve Seal Wear
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1 quart per 500-1,000 miles, blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs causing misfire codes (P0300-P0306), Carbon buildup on intake valves creating rough idle, Low oil pressure warning if run low between checks
Fix: Ring replacement requires engine-out teardown, 18-24 hours labor. Often find scored cylinder walls requiring bore/hone or short block. Some shops attempt piston soak treatments (4-6 hours) as temporary fix but success rate is 30% at best.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500 for proper ring job with machine work; $5,000-8,000 for reman short block
Lower Control Arm Bushing and Ball Joint Deterioration
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps or during turns, especially when cold, Steering wander and poor return to center after turns, Inner edge tire wear on front tires, Vehicle pulls to one side even after fresh alignment
Fix: GM issued recall 14311 for ball joint separation risk. Even post-recall, the rear control arm bushings fail separately. Replacement requires both lower control arms typically, 2.5-3.5 hours per side. Alignment mandatory after, add 1 hour.
Estimated cost: $600-1,100 for both arms with alignment
Ignition Lock Cylinder Failure (Recall-Related)
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Key won't turn or gets stuck in ignition, Car shuts off while driving due to cylinder rotating out of RUN position, Steering wheel locks unexpectedly during operation, Key stuck in ACC position, won't release
Fix: Covered under recall 14048 but many vehicles never got the fix. Replacement lock cylinder is 1.5-2 hours if recall parts still available through dealer. Aftermarket not recommended due to passlock security integration issues.
Estimated cost: $0 if recall applies; $350-550 out-of-pocket if not
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Heavy clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive driveline vibration at idle in gear, Visible sag of transmission tailshaft when inspected on lift, Shifter feels notchy or binding
Fix: The rear transmission mount is hydraulic-filled and fails internally. Requires subframe support and some exhaust loosening for access, 2-3 hours labor. Often done with transmission service if fluid is dark.
Estimated cost: $280-450 including mount
Fuel Pump and Fuel Level Sender Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 120,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: No start or hard starting when tank below 1/4 full, Fuel gauge reads empty or erratic, stuck on full, Engine stalls during hard cornering or acceleration, Whining noise from rear seat area during operation
Fix: Fuel pump module replacement requires dropping tank or cutting access panel through trunk floor (some techs prefer the latter). 3-4 hours labor for tank drop method. Sender can fail independently but same labor.
Estimated cost: $550-850 for pump module; $400-600 for sender only
Power Steering Pump Whine and Leak
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: High-pitched whine during cold starts, fades when warm, Fluid leak from pump body or high-pressure line connection, Heavy steering at low speeds or while parking, Groaning noise during full lock turns
Fix: Pump replacement is straightforward, 1.5-2 hours including flush and bleed. Often the pressure line o-rings fail first, which is 0.8 hours if caught early before pump damage.
Estimated cost: $180-300 for line repair; $400-650 for pump replacement
Owner tips
Check oil every 500 miles religiously on any 3.5L V6 Impala—oil consumption sneaks up and leads to bearing damage
Service transmission fluid every 50,000 miles with full flush, not just drain-and-fill—extends 4T65-E life significantly
Inspect transmission cooler lines at every oil change; catch corrosion before they rupture and contaminate transmission
Replace fuel filter at 60k and 120k intervals even though GM calls it 'lifetime'—prevents pump overwork
Buy it cheap with maintenance records or walk away—these are $3,000 cars that can surprise you with $4,000 repairs if the oil consumption or transmission wasn't monitored properly.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Side post terminals standard; battery located under hood
As an Amazon Associate, OLP earns from qualifying purchases — how we link. This never changes the specs we publish.
Every control module on the 2008-2013 Chevrolet Impala — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Electric Power Steering Control Module (EPSCM)2.8 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.4 hr▸ programming details
📍 Integrated with steering column assembly, below instrument panel
🔧 Tech 2 or GDS2/MDI with GM SPS2
⚠️ Steering column must be removed for access. VIN programming and steering angle sensor calibration required.
⚠️ Sensor ID relearn required after replacement or tire rotation. BCM stores sensor IDs.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · 16V507000
2016-07-05
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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · 14V355000
2014-06-23
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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · 12V377000
2012-08-03
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.
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE · 10V480000
2010-10-13
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.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 08V517000
2008-10-06
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.
Consequence: DURING A PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR TUBE COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
19mpg
Highway
29mpg
Combined
23mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Large Cars
Wiper blades
9th generation (2006-2013). Sedan body style, no rear wiper.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala 3.5L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.