WHENEVER THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS WET CONDITIONS SUCH AS RAIN OR GOING THRU A PUDDLE, THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED OR WHEEL POSITION. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BUT NO INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED YET.
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.
Steering complaints
94 reportsWHEN DRIVING OVER WATER OR A VERY WET ROAD MY POWER STEERING QUITS, I OFTEN GET "ALTERNATOR FAILURE" WARNING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS I PASS OVER THE POOLED WATER SPOT IN THE ROAD. I HAD THE ENGINE BELT CHANGED AND IT STILL DOES THIS WHEN DRIVING OVER A POOLED OR LOW SPOT IN A ROADWAY OR PARKING LOT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT LOW…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING OVER WATER OR A VERY WET ROAD MY POWER STEERING QUITS, I OFTEN GET "ALTERNATOR FAILURE" WARNING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS I PASS OVER THE POOLED WATER SPOT IN THE ROAD. I HAD THE ENGINE BELT CHANGED AND IT STILL DOES THIS WHEN DRIVING OVER A POOLED OR LOW SPOT IN A ROADWAY OR PARKING LOT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY, STREET OR PARKING LOT AND/OR GRAVEL AREA WITH POOLED WATER BUT NOT IN A "FLOOD" SITUATION. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER (EDD ROGERS CHEVROLET BUICK, 674-W. BOCKMAN WAY, SPARTA, TN 38583) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICL…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER (EDD ROGERS CHEVROLET BUICK, 674-W. BOCKMAN WAY, SPARTA, TN 38583) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.
THE FRONT WHEELS OF MY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING LEFT AND RIGHT. STARTED HEARING A CLANGING NOISE WHEN L WOULD TURN. LOWER CONTROL ARMS BROKE, MY POWER STEERING IS GOING BECAUSE OF IT. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I SAW THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME JUST NOT MY VIN#. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST STARTED TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. MERGING ONTO THE HIGH…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT WHEELS OF MY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING LEFT AND RIGHT. STARTED HEARING A CLANGING NOISE WHEN L WOULD TURN. LOWER CONTROL ARMS BROKE, MY POWER STEERING IS GOING BECAUSE OF IT. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I SAW THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME JUST NOT MY VIN#. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST STARTED TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY .
WHEN IT RAINS MY STEERING LOCKS FOR 10 TO 20 SECONDSWHILE DRIVING. I COULD BE GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING IT DOESN'T MATTER SEEMS LIKE WHEN I GO OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER.
I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AROUND 5:30PM CST ON US 59 N AND RANKIN RD TUESDAY 11/15/16 WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OR STEER AND THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON IN THE CAR WAS THE SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM. I MANAGED, SOMEHOW, TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY AND PUT IT IN PAR…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AROUND 5:30PM CST ON US 59 N AND RANKIN RD TUESDAY 11/15/16 WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OR STEER AND THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON IN THE CAR WAS THE SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM. I MANAGED, SOMEHOW, TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY AND PUT IT IN PARK. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I WENT START IT AGAIN, AFTER RELEASING THE KEY, IT MADE A STUTTERING TO START SOUND OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVEN THOUGH I WAS NO LONGER TOUCHING THE KEY. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN IT TURN ON AND THEN BACK OFF AND CONTINUED TO DO THIS AT LEAST 3 MORE TIMES. I EVENTUALLY HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME AND AFTER READING ONLINE TODAY AT FORUMS.EDMONDS.COM MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH IMPALA'S AND SUBURBAN'S FROM GM FOR AT LEAST 4 YEARS NOW, FIRST POST IS BACK IN 2012. GM NEEDS TO PUT A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE ISSUE BEFORE IT MORE FATALITIES, AS PROVEN IN THEIR EARLIER 2014-2015 RECALL. THEY JUST DID A RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR IMPALA'S HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD THEN SWITCH INTO THE OFF POSITION WHILE DRIVING IF YOU HIT A BUMP TOO HARD AND HAD TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON YOUR KEYS. I GOT MY VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THAT RECALL ISSUE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEIR FIX FOR THAT WAS INCORRECT AND NOT THE ISSUE SEEING AS MY VEHICLE, AND SEVERAL OTHERS, STILL SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND THE IGNITION IS STILL IN THE ON (NOT OFF) POSITION, YOU LOSE ACCELERATION AND STEERING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WILL CAUSE MORE DEATHS, INJURIES, AND ACCIDENTS. PLEASE GET THIS TO GM AND HAVE THEM CORRECT THIS ISSUE IN ALL THEIR MODELS WITH SENSOR THROTTLE BODY'S INSTEAD OF WIRED ONES. THEY ALSO NEED TO FIX THE ISSUE OF DOOR AND A/C ACCUATORS IN THEIR MODELS, AS ITS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME AS A COMMON ISSUE IN GM MODELS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE ISSUE FOR ALL DRIVERS GM OR NOT. MORE ACCIDENTS WILL FOLLOW.
MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS TRYING TO PARK, AND THE WHEEL DID NOT WANT TO MOVE. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD I PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING FLUID. I PUT SOME IN, THAT LASTED FOR A DAY, AND MY CAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I TURN, IT MAK…
Read full complaint
MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS TRYING TO PARK, AND THE WHEEL DID NOT WANT TO MOVE. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD I PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING FLUID. I PUT SOME IN, THAT LASTED FOR A DAY, AND MY CAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I TURN, IT MAKES THE SAME NOISE. TWO OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MY BUILDING HAVE 2007, 2008 IMPALAS, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THEIR POWER STEERING BOX. SEEMS TO ME THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. THIS MAKES ME VERY SCARED. I WAS NOT GOING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THEN. WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TIME. ##
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,372.
I PURCHASED A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ FROM A REPUTABLE CERTIFIED USED CAR DEALERSHIP (MERROLIS CHEVROLET 9 MILE AND GRATIOT). I ALSO HAD A WARRANTY. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS I HAD A SERVICE INVOICE FOR OVER 1300.00 THE CAR NEEDED A AIRBAG COIL REPLACEMENT (477.00) STEERING DIFFICULTIES. ALSO. THE CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT (877.…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ FROM A REPUTABLE CERTIFIED USED CAR DEALERSHIP (MERROLIS CHEVROLET 9 MILE AND GRATIOT). I ALSO HAD A WARRANTY. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS I HAD A SERVICE INVOICE FOR OVER 1300.00 THE CAR NEEDED A AIRBAG COIL REPLACEMENT (477.00) STEERING DIFFICULTIES. ALSO. THE CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT (877.00). THIS MAKES THE CAR SOUND LIKE IT NEEDS A NEW MUFFLER. I COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER IN SERVICE AND I'M AWAITING A RESPONSE 11-13-15. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME BACK ON FRIDAY 11-13-15 BUT DID NOT.
THIS HAPPEN A FEW MONTHS AGO 2 TIMES AND AGAIN TODAY WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP THIS IS VERY SCARY AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT. DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
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.
Illustration