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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.

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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

Steering complaints

94 reports
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78,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638971

135,463 miles · Sep 11, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,463.

NHTSA ODI #10632405

48,800 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Steering

I PARKED ON AN INCLINE, A DRIVEWAY AT A RESIDENCE AND WHEN I WAS LEAVING AND TRYING TO START THE CAR THE IGNITION WOULDN'T ENGAGE UNTIL I LIFTED THE KEY AND CENTERED IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WHEN I PARK ON ANY KIND OF A INCLINE. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RELATED TO THE RECALLS GOING ON. I JUST THOUGHT YOU OUT TO BE …

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I PARKED ON AN INCLINE, A DRIVEWAY AT A RESIDENCE AND WHEN I WAS LEAVING AND TRYING TO START THE CAR THE IGNITION WOULDN'T ENGAGE UNTIL I LIFTED THE KEY AND CENTERED IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WHEN I PARK ON ANY KIND OF A INCLINE. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RELATED TO THE RECALLS GOING ON. I JUST THOUGHT YOU OUT TO BE AWARE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAD TO WAIT FOR A RECALL TO BRING IT IN FOR NO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626104

125,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON MY WAY TO WORK ON A HIGHWAY. WITH OUT WARNING MY STEERING LOCKS UP, MY BATTERY LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHTS TURN ON. ALONG WITH THIS MY CARS TEMP GOES THROUGH THE ROOF. THIS IS HAPPENING AT 65 MPH ITS 3 AM I CAN NO LONGER SEE OR CONTROL MY VEHICLE. THANKS TO MY SKILLED DRIVING I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR …

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I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON MY WAY TO WORK ON A HIGHWAY. WITH OUT WARNING MY STEERING LOCKS UP, MY BATTERY LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHTS TURN ON. ALONG WITH THIS MY CARS TEMP GOES THROUGH THE ROOF. THIS IS HAPPENING AT 65 MPH ITS 3 AM I CAN NO LONGER SEE OR CONTROL MY VEHICLE. THANKS TO MY SKILLED DRIVING I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR I'VE HAD A PROFESSIONAL LOOK AT IT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT DO OVER THAN REPLACE PARTS AND DO TRIAL AND ERROR. IM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE EVERY TIME I DRIVE IN THE RAIN BUT ITS NOT ME THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET HURT OR KILLED DUE TO MY STEERING LOCKING UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621758

44,200 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Steering

CAR STARTED MAKING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. NOISE WAS SUBTLE AND INFREQUENT AT FIRST. IT HAS GRADUALLY INCREASED IN NOISE LEVEL AND FREQUENCY. I CAN ALSO FEEL THE CLUNKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617717

85,000 miles · May 24, 2014
Steering

IT WAS RAINING AND LOST POWER STEERING AT SPEED. THIS HAS CONTINUED EACH TIME IT HAS RAINED OR GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT TURN. THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN 50 TIMES AND THE DEALERSHIP ONLY LAUGHED AT ME WHEN I CALLED. IS CHEVY WAITING TILL MY FAMILY IS KILLED BEFORE NOTICIN…

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IT WAS RAINING AND LOST POWER STEERING AT SPEED. THIS HAS CONTINUED EACH TIME IT HAS RAINED OR GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT TURN. THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN 50 TIMES AND THE DEALERSHIP ONLY LAUGHED AT ME WHEN I CALLED. IS CHEVY WAITING TILL MY FAMILY IS KILLED BEFORE NOTICING THIS ISSUE LIKE WITH THE OTHER RECENT RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593864

121,000 miles · May 15, 2014
Steering

WHENEVER IT IS RAINING OR I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE GROUND, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER. FOR THIS REASON I DREAD DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT RAINS. IS THIS BEING RECALLED???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588599

103,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING MESSAGE REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS DISPLAYED ALONG WITH THROTTLE DISABLED MESSAGE, ENGINE SHUTS OFF, MAKING VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. CAR RESTARTS AFTER APPROX. 15 MIN AND DISPLAYS ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO WEBBS TEXACO IN LAKELAND, FL AND THEY SAY IT HAS A BAD ECM. PR…

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WHILE DRIVING MESSAGE REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS DISPLAYED ALONG WITH THROTTLE DISABLED MESSAGE, ENGINE SHUTS OFF, MAKING VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. CAR RESTARTS AFTER APPROX. 15 MIN AND DISPLAYS ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO WEBBS TEXACO IN LAKELAND, FL AND THEY SAY IT HAS A BAD ECM. PREVIOUSLY SHUT OFF AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578239

140,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Steering

AFTER GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE ON RAINY DAYS I LOOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL FOR ABOUT 10 TO 30 SECONDS. HAD SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED AND TENSIONER ADJUSTED. POWER STEERING LEVEL IS GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578209

60,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

IGNITION FAILURE AND ASSOCIATED POWER LOSS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A CROWDED EXPRESSWAY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE LEFT LANE. A VERY HEAVY KEY CHAIN WAS IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME. WITH NO SIGNALS, FLASHERS, OR POWER STEERING, USING ONLY RAPIDLY FADING INERTIA FOR POWER, I HAD TO MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND ON T…

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IGNITION FAILURE AND ASSOCIATED POWER LOSS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A CROWDED EXPRESSWAY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE LEFT LANE. A VERY HEAVY KEY CHAIN WAS IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME. WITH NO SIGNALS, FLASHERS, OR POWER STEERING, USING ONLY RAPIDLY FADING INERTIA FOR POWER, I HAD TO MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND ON TO THE SHOULDER THROUGH THICK, UNYIELDING 70 MPH TRAFFIC. TERRIFYING; COLLISION NARROWLY MISSED.

NHTSA ODI #10569004

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.