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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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43,000 miles · Mar 8, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE THE 08 CHEVY IMPALA THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE WAY OUT. IT DID THAT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THEN WHEN I MADE IT TO WORK IT DID THE SAME THING. CAME OUT TO GO HOME IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN OVER. SO WE HAD TO PUT IT IN MANUAL MODE TO DRIVE IT TO A SHOP. A WIRE IN THE HANDLE TO CHANGE G…

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EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE THE 08 CHEVY IMPALA THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE WAY OUT. IT DID THAT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THEN WHEN I MADE IT TO WORK IT DID THE SAME THING. CAME OUT TO GO HOME IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN OVER. SO WE HAD TO PUT IT IN MANUAL MODE TO DRIVE IT TO A SHOP. A WIRE IN THE HANDLE TO CHANGE GEARS BROKE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE WIRE WAS TO SHORT. NOW THIS WAS 42 OR 43 THOUSAND MILES NOW AT 82 ITS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WHY NO RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567905

60,000 miles · Feb 17, 2014
Steering

SLOWING FOR RED LIGHT, WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THANKFULLY I WAS STOPPING AND NOT NEEDING TO TURN. IT ONLY LASTS FOR 10-20 SECONDS, BUT IS FRIGHTENING FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL. I'M AFRAID TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT'S WET, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE DEPTH OF WATER…

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SLOWING FOR RED LIGHT, WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THANKFULLY I WAS STOPPING AND NOT NEEDING TO TURN. IT ONLY LASTS FOR 10-20 SECONDS, BUT IS FRIGHTENING FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL. I'M AFRAID TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT'S WET, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE DEPTH OF WATER OR JUST GETTING THE TIRES WET PERIOD. I'VE CHECKED WITH THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, BUT SINCE I KNOW OF THE PROBLEM I TRY TO AVOID ALL PUDDLES AND FREEWAY IF IT'S RAINING. I'VE READ OTHER SITES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN WITH OTHER 2008 IMPALA, SAME CONDITIONS(MOST DEALERS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM - SEEMS TO KEEP HAPPENING). WOULD BE GREAT IF GM WOULD COME FORWARD TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR RECALL THE VEHICLE ALL TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564726

63,000 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

RECENTLY, THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS, OR I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER (BEST CHEVROLET) WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW SOME YEARS AGO. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHANGED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER, AND IT STILL DOES IT. THE POWER STEE…

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RECENTLY, THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS, OR I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER (BEST CHEVROLET) WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW SOME YEARS AGO. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHANGED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER, AND IT STILL DOES IT. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AND IN DEEP WATER I ALSO GET A DUMMY LIGHT ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE; BUT, I DON'T WANT TO JUST SELL IT CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE AN INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562890

107,122 miles · Dec 28, 2013
EngineService BrakesSteering

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH THE ENTIRE CAR SYSTEM SHUT OFF , NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME, I ROLLED INTO A DIRT PARKING LOT, AND TURNED THE KEY OFF, SAT THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN CONTINUE TO WORK, HAD TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTE, DIDN'T KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN LATER THAT AFTERNOON, WHILE AUTOZONE TEC…

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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH THE ENTIRE CAR SYSTEM SHUT OFF , NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME, I ROLLED INTO A DIRT PARKING LOT, AND TURNED THE KEY OFF, SAT THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN CONTINUE TO WORK, HAD TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTE, DIDN'T KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN LATER THAT AFTERNOON, WHILE AUTOZONE TECH WAS CHECKING MY BATTERY. IT WAS FRIGHTENING, THANK GOD!! TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT.I LIVE WHERE A LOT OF BIG RIGS COME AND GO, I MOSTLY DRIVE FREEWAYS, BUT THAT DAY I HAD TO CHANGE MY ROUTE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557525

62,000 miles · Dec 9, 2013
Steering

I HAVE OWNED MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA SINCE JUNE 2011 AFTER TWO WINTERS AND HEADING INTO A THIRD I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS CAR CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED IN ANY SNOWY CONDITION. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY WINTER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UNDER CONTROL. OTHER …

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I HAVE OWNED MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA SINCE JUNE 2011 AFTER TWO WINTERS AND HEADING INTO A THIRD I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS CAR CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED IN ANY SNOWY CONDITION. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY WINTER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UNDER CONTROL. OTHER CARS PASS BY ME AND STARE AT ME AS IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME BUT IT IS THE CAR, I CAN BARELY GO 25 MPH WHILE OTHER CARS ARE DOING 40MPH+ WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM, I HAVE ALSO HAD THE NOTORIOUS TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE ONLY PROBLEM TOO. EVEN AFTER BRAND NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT THE CAR HAVE ZERO IMPROVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING IN THE SNOW. WHEN TRYING TO GO ANYTHING FASTER THAN 25 MPH IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WONT STOP BLINKING AS IF THE CAR CANT GRAB ON TO ANYTHING AND IS DRIFTING AROUND FREELY. THIS IS REALLY A PROBLEM AND CAN BE LIFE THREATENING IF THEIR IS NO SOLUTION OFFERED, I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE NOR SAFE WHILE DRIVING IT AND THAT IS AN ISSUE WHEN YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO. IF ANY ONE KNOWS A FIX TO THIS PROBLEM I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT OR I GUESS I WILL JUST HAVE TO BORROW SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR WHEN IT SNOWS AND I HAVE TO BE SOMEWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555341

80,000 miles · Oct 31, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

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. I'VE CONCLUDED THAT THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF SERPENTINE BELT ISSUE AS A LOT OF COMPONENTS ARE AFFECTED AT ONCE SUCH AS ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING ETC. THIS IS EXTREMELY …

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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. I'VE CONCLUDED THAT THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF SERPENTINE BELT ISSUE AS A LOT OF COMPONENTS ARE AFFECTED AT ONCE SUCH AS ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING ETC. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION AS ONSET IS UNPREDICTABLE ESPECIALLY IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS SUCH AS RAINING AND FOR THIS REASON I DREAD DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT RAINS. PLEASE SOMEONE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550413

128,080 miles · Oct 30, 2013
Steering

DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE I LOST MY POWER STEERING ,HAPPENS EVERYTIME I HIT WATER, IT HAS ALSO LOCKED UP ON ME A COUPLE TIMES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550257

63,000 miles · Oct 10, 2013
Steering

WHEN APPLYING BRAKE STEERING WHEEL CLUNKS. ALSO WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL YOU FEEL A CLUNK. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS ISSUE HAVE HAD CAR LOOKED AT AND PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERIFIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547560

126,000 miles · Oct 7, 2013
EquipmentSteering

DRIVING MY CAR OVER A WATER PUDDLE THE STEERING QUIT WORKING FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 SECONDS , THIS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547148

50,000 miles · Sep 13, 2013
Steering

THIS SITUATION HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH THIS CAR WHEN IT RAINS AND THE GROUND IS WET. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IN THE RAINY WEATHER. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE CAR GETS WET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. T…

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THIS SITUATION HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH THIS CAR WHEN IT RAINS AND THE GROUND IS WET. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IN THE RAINY WEATHER. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE CAR GETS WET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE BELT WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSIST. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, ESPECIALLY, WHEN IT RAINS. I'M AFRAID THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START LOCKING WHEN DRIVING IN DRY WEATHER TOO! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543411

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.