IllustrationWHEN BRAKING AT 50 MPH AND UP, BRAKES PULSATE AND STEERING SHUTTERS. I AM WORRIED BRAKES WILL FAIL. IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT HAS BEEN GOING ON SEVERAL MONTHS. *TR
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
890–25K
11125–50K
14950–75K
11675–100K
141100–150K
59150K+
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 reportsVEHICLE 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
HIT A DEER ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER FENDER AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, SPUN AND UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR, WAS UNABLE TO MOVE CAR, STALLED ON HIGHWAY FOR 1 HOUR. CAR ENGINE STARTED BUT UNABLE TO MOVE. ALMOST HIT A TRUCK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DUE TO INABILITY TO STOP AND USE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY DESPITE HAVING AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE EVERY THREE MONTHS. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING AN ALIGNMENT ANNUALLY AND ROTATING THE TIRES EVERY 6,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY DESPITE HAVING AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE EVERY THREE MONTHS. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING AN ALIGNMENT ANNUALLY AND ROTATING THE TIRES EVERY 6,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 31,900.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS COMPLETLY WHEN TURNING HAPPENS AT LEAST EVERY TWO WEEKS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE STREET. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE 74 MILES AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PULLING OU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE STREET. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE 74 MILES AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR WHEN SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER YIELDING OR STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED AND MAKING A LEFT TURN WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45946. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50993.
POWER STEERING DIES WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET. DEALER IS NEVER AVAILABLE FOR AN APPOINTMENT WHEN IT HAPPENS. MY MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE BELT AND CLEANED EVERYTHING. IT WORKS FOR A SHORT WHILE THEN STARTS AGAIN. IS ANY HELP AVAILABLE? *TR
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ, PURCHASED ON 7-4-08 FORM A GM DEALERSHIP IN YUKON, OK. THE CAR HAD 3670 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED. IT WAS DRIVEN, ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, BY THE AREA FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR GM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHENEVER YOU DRIVE THROUGH STANDING WATER OR WET SNOW, YOU CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DO…
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I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ, PURCHASED ON 7-4-08 FORM A GM DEALERSHIP IN YUKON, OK. THE CAR HAD 3670 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED. IT WAS DRIVEN, ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, BY THE AREA FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR GM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHENEVER YOU DRIVE THROUGH STANDING WATER OR WET SNOW, YOU CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO MUCH WATER, JUST A WATERHOLE WHERE RUN OFF FROM A SPRINKLER SYSTEM HAS RUN OFF THE DRIVEWAY. ONE TIME, IT WAS LEFT IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE OVER NIGHT AND THE DRIVER THE NEXT MORNING JUST ABOUT HIT A PARKED VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY COULD TURN THE THE STERRING WHEEL. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO TWO LOCAL GM DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. GM SAFETY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE AN ANSWER FOR THE PROBLEM EITHER. THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE FEEL THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT FIXED. SO FAR, MOST OF THE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED HAS BEEN IN TOWN AND AND AT LESS THAN 35 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, NOR PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, NOR PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/30/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, THE VEHICLE TRACKS PROPERLY ON ICE. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT AND REAR CAMBER AND TOE WAS OUT OF SPECS. UPDATED 12/31/09. *JB
EARLY MORNING START /DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4-8 MINUTES. TURNED INTO PARKING LOT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK (3/4 TURN) WHEN THE STEERING FROZE. STOPPED THE CAR AND THE STEERING SEEMED TO RETURN. PARKED CAR AND ROTATED WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL FROZE ONCE AGAIN. TURNED CAR OFF AND NO CONTINUED ISSUE ON RESTA…
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EARLY MORNING START /DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4-8 MINUTES. TURNED INTO PARKING LOT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK (3/4 TURN) WHEN THE STEERING FROZE. STOPPED THE CAR AND THE STEERING SEEMED TO RETURN. PARKED CAR AND ROTATED WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL FROZE ONCE AGAIN. TURNED CAR OFF AND NO CONTINUED ISSUE ON RESTART. IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND AWAITING A DECISION ON WHAT OCCURRED. DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING VEHICLE UNTIL DEALER CAN REPAIR ISSUE. *TR
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.