← New search

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 →

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.

51 crash reports10 fire reports36 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

58 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

I WAS TOLD FROM A MECHANIC THE CAR HAS EITHER PCM OR ECM PROBLEMS. THE CAR STARTS TO DIE OUT WHEN I'M DRIVING IT THEN I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF THEN RESTART IT. IT JERKS REALLY HARD WHEN DRIVING IT. THE OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE MESSAGE COMES ON. IT JUST HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE OTHER IMPALAS …

Read full complaint

I WAS TOLD FROM A MECHANIC THE CAR HAS EITHER PCM OR ECM PROBLEMS. THE CAR STARTS TO DIE OUT WHEN I'M DRIVING IT THEN I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF THEN RESTART IT. IT JERKS REALLY HARD WHEN DRIVING IT. THE OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE MESSAGE COMES ON. IT JUST HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE OTHER IMPALAS LIKE MINE ARE HAVING EITHER ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS OR SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. RECALL

NHTSA ODI #10916060

2 miles · May 3, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FOR ONLY TWO MINUTES, THE REDUCED POWER SENSOR CAME ON AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON ALSO. MY CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH. WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER AN HOUR. VERY CONCERNING IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED.WAS ON A BACK COUNTRY HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #10862748

179,000 miles · Feb 17, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR MY CAR STALLED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I STOPPED AND TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I TRIED REVERSE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. IT CRAKES UP BUT THERE ARE NO SHIFTING OF GEARS. I HAD TO REPLACE MY GAS TANK AS WELL AS MY PEDALS FOR THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10836699

118,000 miles · Feb 13, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

I STARTED SEE A WARNING LIGHT ON IN MY CAR THAT READ "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" SO I SENT GM AN EMAIL REGARDING THIS AND MAYBE A MONTH OR SO LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT SAID THE GAS THROTTLE SENSOR WILL CAUSE THIS TO APPEAR WHEN IT IS BAD. THEY ADVISED IF I FELT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM I COULD TAKE IT TO…

Read full complaint

I STARTED SEE A WARNING LIGHT ON IN MY CAR THAT READ "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" SO I SENT GM AN EMAIL REGARDING THIS AND MAYBE A MONTH OR SO LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT SAID THE GAS THROTTLE SENSOR WILL CAUSE THIS TO APPEAR WHEN IT IS BAD. THEY ADVISED IF I FELT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM I COULD TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER AND HAVE IT CHECK, BUT IF IT WASN'T THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST. I TOOK MY CAR AND TOOK MY CAR , ALONG WITH THE NOTICE TO SUNRISE PONTIAC ON 12/31/15. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A THERMOSTAT A GAS PRESSURE SENSOR. THE COST TO REPAIR THESE ITEMS WOULD RUN ME ALMOST $900 AND I COULD NOT AFFORD THAT T THIS TIME. I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN, WHICH COULD I GET AWAY WITH NOT FIXING RIGHT NOW AND HE SAID I NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT TO GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF. I HAD THAT WORK DONE AND THE LIGHT STILL WAS ON, AS WELL AS, THE WARNING LIGHTS. SO I CONTACTED GM AGAIN AND ADVISED THEM OF THE SITUATION. THEY PAID FOR ME TO GO TO SERRA CHEVROLET TO GET ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC DONE. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I NEEDED AN APP SENSOR, GAS PRESSURE SENSOR, THERMOSTAT (WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED), AND A TEMPERATURE SENSOR, ALL OF WHICH WOULD RUN ME $1300. I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT AFFORD THAT AND LEFT. I CONTACTED GM ONCE AGAIN AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME AND ASKED WHY THE SENSORS WOULD NOT BE COVERED WHEN THEY WERE APART OF THE GAS THROTTLE BODY? NOW I'M GETTING A WARNING THAT SAYS "STARTING DISABLED SERVICE THROTTLE " AND MY CAR IS LITERALLY CUTTING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MATTER THAT GM SHOULD BE WILLING TO REPAIR FOR THEIR CONSUMERS TO PREVENT ACCIDENT OR DEATH. I 'VE READ ON GOOGLE THAT SEVERAL IMPALA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. ALSO, WHILE I'M DRIVING MY GEAR CONTROL IS POPPING OUT. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ODI #10826004

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO AIR BAGS, AND IN A YEAR NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. BUT FURTHERMORE THE CAR HAS SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT I AM SHOWING AS A TREND WITH IMPALAS BEING THAT MY SISTER AND COUSIN HAVE ONE ALSO IN DIFFERENT YEARS, THE CAR MAKES A TICKING NOISE WHEN THE …

Read full complaint

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO AIR BAGS, AND IN A YEAR NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. BUT FURTHERMORE THE CAR HAS SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT I AM SHOWING AS A TREND WITH IMPALAS BEING THAT MY SISTER AND COUSIN HAVE ONE ALSO IN DIFFERENT YEARS, THE CAR MAKES A TICKING NOISE WHEN THE AIR OR HEAT IS TURNED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DELIVERS OPPOSITE TEMP AS THE DRIVER SO IF AIR IS ON THE PASSENGER WILL DELIVER HEAT AND VICE VERSA. IF THE CAR GOES OVER A SPEED BUMP THE ENGINE REDUCES POWER AND SERVICE STABILITRAK APPEARS ACROSS THE LIGHTING AS WELL AS THE CAR DROPPING OUT OF GEAR IF I GO OVER ANY BUMP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY BEING THAT MY CHILDREN AND I WERE IN THIS CAR AND IT DECIDED TO DO THIS ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT IN 70 MPH TRAFFIC. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE VEHICLE I AM SHOWING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS LISTED, AND IT BOTHERS ME THAT NONE OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RECALLED JUST AS THE AIR BAGS WERE EVEN THOUGH I THINK THE RECALL, IS JUST TO SAVE FACE BECAUSE NO ONE IS ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK TO GET THEM FIXED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THESE THINGS WERE JUST MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH AGE OF CAR BUT AFTER RESEARCH THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE IN CARS MADE IN THIS TIME FRAME AND WARRANTS A RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ODI #10822245

121,000 miles · Jan 23, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

2006-2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS TICKING NOISE, ENGINE MISFIRE AND/OR SES LIGHT. THIS MAY BE THE RESULT OF AN AFM (ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT-ON-DEMAND) LIFTER THAT UNLOCKS AS SOON AS THE ENGINE IS STARTED OR ONE THAT IS MECHANICALLY COLLAPSED/STUCK. IF AN AFM LIFTER UNLOCKS AS SOON AS THE ENGINE IS STARTED, A SES LIGH…

Read full complaint

2006-2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS TICKING NOISE, ENGINE MISFIRE AND/OR SES LIGHT. THIS MAY BE THE RESULT OF AN AFM (ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT-ON-DEMAND) LIFTER THAT UNLOCKS AS SOON AS THE ENGINE IS STARTED OR ONE THAT IS MECHANICALLY COLLAPSED/STUCK. IF AN AFM LIFTER UNLOCKS AS SOON AS THE ENGINE IS STARTED, A SES LIGHT AND DTC P0300 WILL BE EXPERIENCED WITH ENGINE MISFIRES ON CYLINDER 1, 4, 6 OR 7 BUT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY NOISE WILL BE EXPERIENCED. IF AN AFM LIFTER IS MECHANICALLY COLLAPSED/STUCK, A CONSISTENT VALVETRAIN TICK NOISE, SES LIGHT AND DTC P0300 WILL BE EXPERIENCED WITH ENGINE MISFIRES ON CYLINDER 1, 4, 6 OR 7.

NHTSA ODI #10821888

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET. SHE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND AS SHE WAS PREPARING TO ACCELERATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A WARNING MESSAGE FLASHED STATING (ENGINE POWER REDUCED). MY DAUGHTER STATED THAT THE CAR WOULD ONLY GET UP TO 40 MPH AND RPM GAUGE WOULD NOT GO PASS 2, EVEN WHEN SHE PRESSED THE…

Read full complaint

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET. SHE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND AS SHE WAS PREPARING TO ACCELERATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A WARNING MESSAGE FLASHED STATING (ENGINE POWER REDUCED). MY DAUGHTER STATED THAT THE CAR WOULD ONLY GET UP TO 40 MPH AND RPM GAUGE WOULD NOT GO PASS 2, EVEN WHEN SHE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR. SHE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR 10 MILES IN FEAR THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY STREET WHILE IN TRANSIT. SHE FINALLY MADE IT HOME. HOWEVER, THE CAR SPEED REMAINED AT 40 MPH; DESPITE HER ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE THE SPEED. AFTER 2 HOURS HAD PASSED, I STARTED THE CAR-THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND WHEN I DROVE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 40 MPH. AFTER DRIVING AROUND THE BLOCK, THE CHECK ENGINE CAME BACK ON. I CONTACTED ONSTAR FOR AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC- THE RESULT WAS THAT THE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM HAS FAILED- A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. AFTER I RECEIVED THAT MESSAGE, I CHECKED ON LINE FOR A RECALL- I DISCOVERED SEVERAL SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALAS- ONLY THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WERE RECALLED. WHY??? THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE/CONCERN/PROBLEM. WILL IT TAKE MULTIPLE TRAGIC CAR ACCIDENTS BEFORE A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM? MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000 MILES- AND IN THE COMPLAINTS, I NOTICED A COMPLAINT THAT HAD THE SAME MILEAGE DOCUMENTED. I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR ANY DISTANT AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRICE OF THE REPAIR. I RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP AT SERRA CHEVROLET IN MADISON, TN (OCT. 2015)THAT COST ME OVER $600.00. SUPPOSEDLY, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS SERVICED. I WONDERING WHY I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE 2008 MALIBU FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10807368

32,300 miles · Nov 16, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

STOPPED DURING OUT-OF-STATE TRIP AND THEN ESC SENSOR LITE CAME ON AND CAR WOULD ONLY GO 20 MPH. GM DEALER IN NASHVILLE NOT MUCH HELP. REPEATED PUSHING OF TC/ESC BUTTON FINALLY CLEARED FAULT. NOW HESITANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR. LAST GM CAR THAT I WILL EVER OWN.

NHTSA ODI #10790529

115,000 miles · Nov 15, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

(REDUCED ENGINE POWER) MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA RANDOMLY SHOWS DOWN AFTER THE DASH READS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE I WAS DOING ABOUT 60 ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR SPEED JUST DROPPED TO 20MPH I HAD TO SWERVE BECAUSE THE CAR BEHIND COULD NOT SLOW DOWN IN TIME. MY TWO YEAR OLD WAS IN THE CAR AND I HEAR THAT GM CAR…

Read full complaint

(REDUCED ENGINE POWER) MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA RANDOMLY SHOWS DOWN AFTER THE DASH READS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE I WAS DOING ABOUT 60 ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR SPEED JUST DROPPED TO 20MPH I HAD TO SWERVE BECAUSE THE CAR BEHIND COULD NOT SLOW DOWN IN TIME. MY TWO YEAR OLD WAS IN THE CAR AND I HEAR THAT GM CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. THIS IS RIDICULOUSLY DANGEROUS SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE GM DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEAL HOW TO FIX THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10790495

81,000 miles · Oct 30, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE MESSAGE APEARD ALONG WITH ABS LITE AND ENGINE REDUCTION CAUSEING MY VEHICLE TO ALMOST STALL OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10787165

Official recalls

2

14V355000 · 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

1

DP14001 · 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.