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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

22 reports
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128,000 miles · Aug 21, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT IT WAS NOT CONFIRMED IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10627057

35,000 miles · Nov 29, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ABRUPTLY ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ABRUPTLY ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10437749

70,000 miles · May 17, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT BRAKE PULSATES AFTER NORMAL USE WHEN STOPPING. APPEARS THAT THERE ARE HOT SPOTS ON THE ROTORS THAT CAUSE THE THE PADS ON THE FRONT TO GRIP AND RELEASE CAUSING SEVERE FRONT SUSPENSION SHUDDER AND UNCONTROABLE STEERING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CAR IS NEW AND DEALER JUST WANTS TO SELL ME ANOTHER …

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2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT BRAKE PULSATES AFTER NORMAL USE WHEN STOPPING. APPEARS THAT THERE ARE HOT SPOTS ON THE ROTORS THAT CAUSE THE THE PADS ON THE FRONT TO GRIP AND RELEASE CAUSING SEVERE FRONT SUSPENSION SHUDDER AND UNCONTROABLE STEERING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CAR IS NEW AND DEALER JUST WANTS TO SELL ME ANOTHER BRAKE JOB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401320

38,600 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH DOWNHILL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH DOWNHILL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE HEATING UP AND THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,600.

NHTSA ODI #10394171

40,400 miles · Mar 25, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER BRAKE CYLINDAR IS LEAKING AFTER ONLY 38 MONTHS AND 40,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392932

6,000 miles · Feb 17, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE AND BRAKE ROTOR WARPING EVERY COUPLE MONTHS. SEVERE SHAKING WHILE STOPPING. WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO DOWNSHIFT INSTEAD OF BREAKING ON HILLS. DID THAT BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUES. DEALER SAYS THE BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND NOT TO DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS BECAUSE THE BRAKES OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE IS MAINLY DRIVEN ON FL…

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BRAKE AND BRAKE ROTOR WARPING EVERY COUPLE MONTHS. SEVERE SHAKING WHILE STOPPING. WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO DOWNSHIFT INSTEAD OF BREAKING ON HILLS. DID THAT BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUES. DEALER SAYS THE BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND NOT TO DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS BECAUSE THE BRAKES OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE IS MAINLY DRIVEN ON FLAT ROADS TO MY WIFE'S WORK AND THEY STILL ONLY LAST A COUPLE MONTHS. SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER 1/4 MILE OF DOWN HILL TRAVEL FOUND FORUMS ONLINE OF MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/1195/IMPALA-BRAKE-ISSUES BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE OVER HEATING AND BRAKE FAILURE, SHAKING AND FADING. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL AND UPGRADE BRAKE SYSTEM [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10383028

35,000 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE AND SHAKE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT WHEN THE ROTORS ST…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE AND SHAKE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT WHEN THE ROTORS STARTED TO HEAT UP THEY MAY CAUSE THE BRAKES TO PULSATE, AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE ROTORS WERE ROTATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10378804

28,486 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ROADS WERE SNOWY AND PARTS OF IT ICY, BUT IT WASN'T SNOWING. FROM A FAR DISTANCE I STARTED TO SLOWLY BRAKE SO I WON'T SKID. WHEN I APPLIED A BIT MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKE THE CAR MORE, THE PEDAL HIT AGAINST MY FOOT AND WOULDN'T GO DOWN WHEN I TRIED TO FORCE IT. I THINK THE ABS CAME ON BUT IT DID NOT SLOW MY CAR DOWN AT ALL. THE…

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THE ROADS WERE SNOWY AND PARTS OF IT ICY, BUT IT WASN'T SNOWING. FROM A FAR DISTANCE I STARTED TO SLOWLY BRAKE SO I WON'T SKID. WHEN I APPLIED A BIT MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKE THE CAR MORE, THE PEDAL HIT AGAINST MY FOOT AND WOULDN'T GO DOWN WHEN I TRIED TO FORCE IT. I THINK THE ABS CAME ON BUT IT DID NOT SLOW MY CAR DOWN AT ALL. THE CAR WAS STILL GOING AT THE SPEED I SLOWED IT IN EARLIER BUT MADE NO CHANGE. THERE WAS A LINE OF CARS AHEAD OF ME IN FRONT OF AN INTERSECTION, SO I PANICKED AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE.

NHTSA ODI #10371328

16,500 miles · Sep 2, 2010
Air BagsService Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #10353501

8,700 miles · Aug 5, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

VEHICLE HAS SHIMMY, VEERS TO THE RIGHT, AND FRONT HAS WHEELHOPS. DEALER HAS CHANGED BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, AND LEFT AND RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ISSUE HAS CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND WARPING ON PARTS DUE TO OVERHEATING. AFFECTS STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. SINCE PARTS HAVE BE…

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VEHICLE HAS SHIMMY, VEERS TO THE RIGHT, AND FRONT HAS WHEELHOPS. DEALER HAS CHANGED BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, AND LEFT AND RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ISSUE HAS CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND WARPING ON PARTS DUE TO OVERHEATING. AFFECTS STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. SINCE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SHIMMY, WHEELHOP AND STEERING TILL AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347423

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.