NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
22 reportsClear category filter38,500 miles · Jul 24, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH FRONT BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ON STEEP OR LONG GRADES, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS A VERY BAD SHUTTERING WHICH GETS WORSE IF THE GRADE IS LONGER. IT HAS BECOME A VERY BAD PROBLEM AND ALMOST COST ME A SPEEDING TICKET IN THAT I HAD TO LAY OFF THE BRAKE WHICH CAU…
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MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH FRONT BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ON STEEP OR LONG GRADES, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS A VERY BAD SHUTTERING WHICH GETS WORSE IF THE GRADE IS LONGER. IT HAS BECOME A VERY BAD PROBLEM AND ALMOST COST ME A SPEEDING TICKET IN THAT I HAD TO LAY OFF THE BRAKE WHICH CAUSED ME TO GO ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE I RAN THRU RADAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEVROLET OWNERS AS WELL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10345066
10,000 miles · May 4, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ROTORS WERE BUFFED AND RE-FACED TWICE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWNHILL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SUPPOSED TO …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ROTORS WERE BUFFED AND RE-FACED TWICE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWNHILL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION THAT WAY. THE BRAKES WERE UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR THE FAILURE AFTER IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,500
NHTSA ODI #10328760
20,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
OVERHEATING AND DANGEROUS, QUICK PULSATION OF BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONSTANT AND STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE WHEN DRIVING IN HILLY, MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2001 IMPALA. GM HAS GOT TO ADDRESS THIS INHERENT WEAKNESS IN THE IMPALA'S BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325339
36,429 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1. 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA, WHILE DRIVING DOWN INCLINES THE FRONT DISC BRAKES HEAT UP AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE DISK ARE TOO SMALL TO DISSIPATE THE HEAT. 2. CONDITION OCCURS WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILLS. 3. GM DEALER TURNED DISC 1 TIME UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD ME TO SHIFT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO A LOWER GEAR GOING DOWN HILL. T…
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1. 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA, WHILE DRIVING DOWN INCLINES THE FRONT DISC BRAKES HEAT UP AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE DISK ARE TOO SMALL TO DISSIPATE THE HEAT. 2. CONDITION OCCURS WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILLS. 3. GM DEALER TURNED DISC 1 TIME UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD ME TO SHIFT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO A LOWER GEAR GOING DOWN HILL. THERE IS MUCH INFORMATION FROM OWNERS OF GM VEHICLES ON THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. THE IMPALA IS NOT THE ONLY GM PRODUCT WITH THIS PROBLEM DUE TO DISK TOO SMALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10314811
16,514 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND BAD PULSATIONS IN HARD SPEED STOPS. BOTH FRONT ROTORS EXHIBITED SEVERE HEAT SPOTS AND WERE WARPED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED WITH HEAVY DUTY BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND BAD PULSATIONS IN HARD SPEED STOPS. BOTH FRONT ROTORS EXHIBITED SEVERE HEAT SPOTS AND WERE WARPED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED WITH HEAVY DUTY BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE OWNER BUT WITHIN 10,000 MILES THE BRAKES BEGAN TO EXHIBIT THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DOWN SHIFT ON HILLS TO PREVENT THE VIBRATION IN THE BRAKES. NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,514 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,952. UPDATED 03/24/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BRAKES WERE SAFE AND NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10313691
24,900 miles · Aug 29, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHEN DRIVING 2008 CHEVROLET 4 DOOR LOST CONTROL AT THE TOP OF A HILL ON A HIGHWAY. I BRAKED TO MISS A STOPPED CAR. NO SPEEDING AND NO TICKET. THIS CAR A SAFETY ISSUE WITH STEERING AND THE BRAKES. I HAVE A 2009 IMPALA LT *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282278
17,000 miles · Aug 29, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FEEL VIBRATION FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT FROM THE FRONT OR BACK, I FEEL THE VIBRATION AT 25 + MPH. I HAVE A 2009 IMPALA LT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282275
28,000 miles · Jun 15, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273906
1,732 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ROTORS. THE TECHNICIAN RESURFACED AND DEGLAZED THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES FOR THE FAILURES. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU MANDATED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE DEFECT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AND IS AWAITING TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,732 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,006.
NHTSA ODI #10246139
1,200 miles · Sep 23, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES GET DIRT ON THEM AND START GRINDING AT THE ROTORS ESPECIALLY THE BACK BRAKES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243235
Defect 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.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
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