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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 →
810Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
609
2005524
2006627
2007810
2008824
2009441
2010505
2011
Compare all Impala years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
221Engine
134Suspension
117Steering
94Vehicle Speed Control
92
All reported categories
Power Train
91Electronic Stability Control (esc)
58Air Bags
50Latches/locks/linkages
48Unknown Or Other
41Tires
36Structure
31Wheels
31Engine And Engine Cooling
26Service Brakes, Hydraulic
22Traction Control System
20Service Brakes
17Fuel/propulsion System
12Equipment
10Seat Belts
10Visibility
10Visibility/wiper
7Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Other
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

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.

51 crash reports10 fire reports36 injury reports

Power Train complaints

91 reports
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83,300 miles · Jun 1, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY NEAR TO MY HOME, AND FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW THE VEHICLE HAS COME UP WITH AN ERROR STATING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SIMPLY STALLED ITSELF, COMING UP WITH A MESSAGE THAT STATED "STARTING DISABLED/SERVICE THROTTLE". I WAS TRAVELING UPHILL AT 40MPH, NOW WITH NO POWER BRAKES, NO…

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY NEAR TO MY HOME, AND FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW THE VEHICLE HAS COME UP WITH AN ERROR STATING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SIMPLY STALLED ITSELF, COMING UP WITH A MESSAGE THAT STATED "STARTING DISABLED/SERVICE THROTTLE". I WAS TRAVELING UPHILL AT 40MPH, NOW WITH NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND UNABLE TO RESTART. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT IT TO RESTART IT. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY ON OR OFF RAMP? OR ON A CORNER? OR WITH A VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND ME? I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLE THAT WILL JUST RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF OFF DUE TO A PART THAT HAS HAD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE JUST READ ONLINE IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN ON AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS. I READ ONLINE THAT THIS WAS A PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, AND I HOPE I GET INJURED BECAUSE OF IT SO I CAN SUE GM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460288

39,211 miles · Feb 13, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,211. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10447814

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

SAFETY ISSUE - VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND CONTROL. THE SERVICE STABILTRAK AND NO POWER TO THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR AND THE CAR LOOSES CONTROL AND POWER WHILE DRIVING... MULTIPLE INCIDENTS GM DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY/FIX. THIS RECURRING ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE SNOW LOOSING POWER AND …

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SAFETY ISSUE - VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND CONTROL. THE SERVICE STABILTRAK AND NO POWER TO THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR AND THE CAR LOOSES CONTROL AND POWER WHILE DRIVING... MULTIPLE INCIDENTS GM DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY/FIX. THIS RECURRING ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE SNOW LOOSING POWER AND CONTROL WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS/INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437351

50,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10413698

68,000 miles · Jun 21, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING AND WO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING AND WOULD JERK IN VARIOUS GEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10407683

83,000 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, GRINDING/ RATTLING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405305

50,000 miles · Mar 6, 2011
Power Train

2008 IMPALA, EACH TIME I DRIVE THROUGH WATER AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP AND THE BATTERY ERROR SIGNAL ILLUMINATES. THE CAR DOES NOT HANDLE WHATSOEVER AND THERE HAVE BEEN NEAR MISSES ON THREE OCCASIONS. THIS HAS NOT PROVEN TO BE AN ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON ROADS AT HIGHER SPEEDS OVER 25 MPH. I INQUIRED AT THE DE…

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2008 IMPALA, EACH TIME I DRIVE THROUGH WATER AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP AND THE BATTERY ERROR SIGNAL ILLUMINATES. THE CAR DOES NOT HANDLE WHATSOEVER AND THERE HAVE BEEN NEAR MISSES ON THREE OCCASIONS. THIS HAS NOT PROVEN TO BE AN ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON ROADS AT HIGHER SPEEDS OVER 25 MPH. I INQUIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AS THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386586

63,164 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE MOVED FROM "PARK". TOWED TO DON BROWN CHEVROLET (AFTER TOW DRIVER DISCONNECTED SHIFT LINKAGE). DIAGNOSED AS "TEST AND TRACE GROUND CIRCUIT TO BROKEN WIRE IN CENTER CONSOLE". TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGER WHO REPORTED THAT TECHNICIAN STATED WIRES MOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS MOVED WHICH LIK…

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2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE MOVED FROM "PARK". TOWED TO DON BROWN CHEVROLET (AFTER TOW DRIVER DISCONNECTED SHIFT LINKAGE). DIAGNOSED AS "TEST AND TRACE GROUND CIRCUIT TO BROKEN WIRE IN CENTER CONSOLE". TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGER WHO REPORTED THAT TECHNICIAN STATED WIRES MOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS MOVED WHICH LIKELY CAUSED WIRE TO BREAK SEPARATE. POTENTIAL FOR DRIVER TO BE "STUCK" IN PARK IN A RISKY / UNSAFE SITUATION EXISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370441

54,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Power Train

YESTERDAY, MY CHEVY 08 IMPALA WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I CONTACTED AAA WHO WAS UNABLE TO HELP ME. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CAR MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE WIRESUNDER THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAD COME UNATTACHED. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH CHEVY WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND MY …

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YESTERDAY, MY CHEVY 08 IMPALA WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I CONTACTED AAA WHO WAS UNABLE TO HELP ME. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CAR MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE WIRESUNDER THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAD COME UNATTACHED. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH CHEVY WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND MY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WAS OVER AT 36, 000 MILES. I HAD TO PAY $ 91 TO HAVE THE WIRES RECONNECTED BACK INTO THE PIECE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WIRES ARE TO SHORT TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT IS WHY THEY CAN BECOME TANGLED AND TEAR OUT OF THE CONNECTING PIECE. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS FAIR FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350494

850 miles · Mar 16, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD BEFORE MOVING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD BEFORE MOVING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 850. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/09/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10262011

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.