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Chevrolet Impala airbag light comes on

372 of the 10,418 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Impala describe airbag warning light, most of them for the 2009 model year.

owner complaints
372
worst model year
2009
typical repair cost reported
$638
typical mileage
70,912
Is there a fix? There are 8 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Check engine light 20Stalling 14Loss of power 12Won't start 11ABS 10No deployment 8Knocking 5Seat belt 4

Trouble codes mentioned

B0021 2C0755 1B3060 1B3031 1B1325 1B0223 1B0074 1B0044 1B0043 1B0041 1

What owners say

Filed Oct 23, 2026 · Airbags · MS

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated unexpectedly.

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Airbags · 22,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The air bag warning light intermittently went on and off. The contact stated later that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a disconnected wiring harness. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall repair. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall associated with the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

Filed Oct 2, 2026 · Airbags, Brakes · CA

Car has turned off 3 times while sitting at a light and took hours to turn back on, car shudders when breaking sometimes and abs/traction control/air bag lights will come on, and will shudder and turn off while driving.

Filed Jun 30, 2026 · Airbags · GA

No one sits in the passenger seat 99% of the time. The passenger airbag warning light is illuminated, and I am uncertain about its proper deployment in a critical situation. The issue remains unverified by a dealership or any other individual. The component has not been subject to any inspection. I do not recall the specific warning message displayed on the dashboard.

Filed Feb 6, 2026 · Airbags, Electrical · 58,000 miles · TX

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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Feb 2, 2026 · Airbags, Brakes · 120,547 miles · HI

The contact owned a 2014 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. Additionally, the brake pads were partially dragging against the rotors while driving. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 15V085000 (PARKING BRAKE) and 15V465000 (AIR BAGS); as a possible cause for the failures; however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,547.

Filed Sep 16, 2025 · Airbags · VA

On 11/20/2024, the Chevrolet dealership diagnosed the problem as a short in the passenger presence sensor airbag module under the passenger seat. For more than a year, the airbag warning light has almost always been on. On just a few occasions in the past year or two, the airbag light has turned off, usually corresponding with a change in the humidity. I understand that there was a recall for this very same (moisture-related) airbag problem in other GM vehicles some years ago. I think we have the exact same problem here, and that my car should be included in the recall. Note well, this year there was an airbag recall covering a 2007 Nissan Versa, a much older car. It seems that airbag recalls can apply to cars 18 years old.

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · Airbags · 116,000 miles · ME

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that recently, the driver’s side air bag deployed while the vehicle was parked and unattended overnight. Prior to the failure, the air bag warning light had illuminated while driving. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

Filed Feb 27, 2025 · Airbags · 101,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Nov 16, 2024 · Airbags, Engine · IN

I was sold a used car w/ undisclosed accidents. Had many issues within first few weeks. Had transmission cooler lines replaced after they burst. Radiator, compressor, condenser, and much more. Then the Airbag light came on. Dealership said connectors were bad. Fixed it. Light came on again.took it in to dealership. They had it for over two weeks. The GM for all the dealerships Told me the vehicle was not unsafe and told me lies. But the service girl confessed she no longer had access to my vehicle or my file and her boss and the Gm had taken over working on it. She then told me they pulled Ford model air bags from my Chevy Impala. Now the light has come on again. I do not feel safe or rust the dealership to fix it properly.

Related recalls

Air bags: sensor: occupant classificationReported July 5, 2016 · 289,254 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
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.

Recall number 16V507000 · Recall details

Air bagsReported July 24, 2015 · 5,493 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 15, 2013, to June 19, 2015, equipped with front vented-heated passenger seats. Accordingly, the Automatic Occupant Sensing (AOS) system may fail to suppress the front passenger air bag if a child seat is in the front passenger seat. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
If the front passenger air bag deploys with a child seat in the front passenger seat, it increases the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will correct the calibration-learning error by preconditioning the empty seat, and also resetting the ECU to a seat zero-value, free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 15400.

Recall number 15V465000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactiveReported August 28, 2014 · 5 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013. The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode."
Risk
In manufacturing mode, the vehicle's air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers are to reprogram the SDM to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 14532.

Recall number 14V518000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported October 6, 2008 · 79 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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 http://www.gmownercenter.com .

Recall number 08V517000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported February 14, 2003 · 130 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Risk
This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300, cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006, chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 03V051000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported August 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Risk
Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300, cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006, chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 02V222000 · Recall details

Air bags: side/windowReported November 13, 2000 · 12 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the driver side impact air bag inflator separates from the air bag module during deployment.
Risk
If the inflator separates, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection would be reduced. If is also possible that a separated inflator could be propelled downward and could result in injury to a rear seat passenger whose foot is positioned approximately under the inflator module.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the side impact air bag module.

Recall number 00V371000 · Recall details

Air bagsReported August 29, 2000 · 580 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensing and diagnostic modules (sdm) could experience a memory error resulting in the air bags not deploying in a crash situation.
Risk
In a crash, a front seat occupant may receive more serious injuries.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the sensing and diagnostic module.

Recall number 00V244000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Impala airbag light

Why does the airbag light come on in the Chevrolet Impala?

Owners who report it most often also describe check engine light, engine stalls while driving and sudden loss of power, and the codes they mention most are B0021, C0755 and B3060.

Which Chevrolet Impala years have airbag warning light problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2009 (136 complaints), 2010 (51 complaints) and 2000 (46 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix airbag warning light on the Chevrolet Impala?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $638 (median of 36 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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