SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, CAN'T PINPOINT WHAT WOULD TRIGGER THIS. OCCURS EVERY WEEK SINCE APRIL 2013. SEEMS TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
2008 Chevrolet Impala
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
665 reports with mileage · 145 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 221 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 117 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
50 reportsINVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION, AND NEITHER SEATBELT DEPLOYED OR AIRBAGS. *TR
CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROX/ 50-55 MILES PER HOUR HEADING SOUTH WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST OF THE CAR. THEIR WAS A SLIGHT TURN IN THE ROAD AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR LEFT 116 FT OF SOLID SKID MARKS BEFORE ENTERING IN THE EAST DITCH AND THEN BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD …
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CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROX/ 50-55 MILES PER HOUR HEADING SOUTH WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST OF THE CAR. THEIR WAS A SLIGHT TURN IN THE ROAD AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR LEFT 116 FT OF SOLID SKID MARKS BEFORE ENTERING IN THE EAST DITCH AND THEN BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN HELP ARRIVED. WITH THE CAR BEING AIR BORNE REGARDLESS OF IT NOT BEING A HEAD ON COLLISION THOSE AIR BAGS SHOULD OF BEEN DEPLOYED TO HELP HOLD THE DRIVER IN. THEIR WAS A SEAT BELT WORN AS WELL. THE SEATBELT IS WHAT SAVED THE DRIVERS LIFE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH AND THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE EMBANKMENT, IT ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND THE ROLLOVER BAR POPPED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW POPPED OUT AS WELL. THE CONT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH AND THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE EMBANKMENT, IT ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND THE ROLLOVER BAR POPPED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW POPPED OUT AS WELL. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT NONE OF THE SENSORS WERE HIT AND THAT WAS WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60000.
CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM INDICATOR KEPT COMING ON IN MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE I HAD OVER 36,000 MILES IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT , BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR THE S…
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CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM INDICATOR KEPT COMING ON IN MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE I HAD OVER 36,000 MILES IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT , BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR THE SAME DAY. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TROUBLE WAS WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR, WHICH WAS COMMON, AND THAT IT DISABLED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THE ROTORS TO FAIL. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THE ROTORS TO FAIL. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,500. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 01/03/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL, SECONDS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD FOLLOWED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL, SECONDS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD FOLLOWED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WIRING WAS REPLACED IN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, WRIST, AND NECK. MISSOURI STATE POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER 06030800534. THE FAILURE AND CURREN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, WRIST, AND NECK. MISSOURI STATE POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER 06030800534. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,951.
VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW AND NEVER DAMAGED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, A "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND THE CHIME SOUNDED (999 MILES ON THE ODOMETER). THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO A DEALER IMMEDIATELY IF THE MESSAGE WAS DIS…
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VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW AND NEVER DAMAGED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, A "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND THE CHIME SOUNDED (999 MILES ON THE ODOMETER). THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO A DEALER IMMEDIATELY IF THE MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. INSPECTION BY THE SELLING DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND THE WIRING FOR AN AIRBAG SENSOR (TERMINAL "C") HAD TO BE REPAIRED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HIS 100 LBS WIFE IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN SHE IS SEATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HIS 100 LBS WIFE IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN SHE IS SEATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Official recalls
214V355000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jun 23, 2014
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 & remedy
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.
12V377000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Aug 3, 2012
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP14001 · Passenger Air Bag Ocs Algorithm
Opened Jul 22, 2014 · Closed Mar 7, 2017
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
The Agency received a petition on November 14, 2013 requesting an investigation into the operation of the passenger air bag Occupant Classification System (OCS) software logic and algorithm.The petitioner states that due to this alleged defect, the passenger air bag may be suppressed at point of impact and not provided the occupant protection as needed in a crash.On July 22, 2014, NHTSA opened DP14-001 to further review the crash event and perform a more comprehensive search and analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).The Agency also collected manufacturers reports on the alleged OCS issue on the subject Impala vehicles and other GM and non-GM peer vehicles.After examination of the petition and available data relating to the subject vehicle's OCS and the specific crash incident where the OCS allegedly failed to operate properly, NHTSA did not identify an issue with the MY2008 Impala involved in the subject crash, nor has it identified a safety-related defect trend existing in the OCS used in the MY 2006-2008 Impala vehicles, in GM peer vehicles or in other non-GM peer vehicles.NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances. The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this defect petition.The single complaint and crash noted in the Failure Report above is the petitioner's VOQ (10568388) and can be reviewed online at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10568388.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
The Agency received a petition on November 14, 2013 requesting an investigation into the operation of the passenger air bag Occupant Classification System (OCS) software logic and algorithm.The petitioner states that due to this alleged defect, the passenger air bag may be suppressed at point of impact and not provided the occupant protection as needed in a crash.On July 22, 2014, NHTSA opened DP14-001 to further review the crash event and perform a more comprehensive search and analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).The Agency also collected manufacturers reports on the alleged OCS issue on the subject Impala vehicles and other GM and non-GM peer vehicles.After examination of the petition and available data relating to the subject vehicle's OCS and the specific crash incident where the OCS allegedly failed to operate properly, NHTSA did not identify an issue with the MY2008 Impala involved in the subject crash, nor has it identified a safety-related defect trend existing in the OCS used in the MY 2006-2008 Impala vehicles, in GM peer vehicles or in other non-GM peer vehicles.NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances. The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this defect petition.The single complaint and crash noted in the Failure Report above is the petitioner's VOQ (10568388) and can be reviewed online at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10568388.
Air Bags
The Agency received a petition on November 14, 2013 requesting an investigation into the operation of the passenger air bag Occupant Classification System (OCS) software logic and algorithm.The petitioner states that due to this alleged defect, the passenger air bag may be suppressed at point of impact and not provided the occupant protection as needed in a crash.On July 22, 2014, NHTSA opened DP14-001 to further review the crash event and perform a more comprehensive search and analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).The Agency also collected manufacturers reports on the alleged OCS issue on the subject Impala vehicles and other GM and non-GM peer vehicles.After examination of the petition and available data relating to the subject vehicle's OCS and the specific crash incident where the OCS allegedly failed to operate properly, NHTSA did not identify an issue with the MY2008 Impala involved in the subject crash, nor has it identified a safety-related defect trend existing in the OCS used in the MY 2006-2008 Impala vehicles, in GM peer vehicles or in other non-GM peer vehicles.NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances. The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this defect petition.The single complaint and crash noted in the Failure Report above is the petitioner's VOQ (10568388) and can be reviewed online at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10568388.
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