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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

Traction Control System complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2017
Electrical SystemTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES INDICATING TRACTION OFF. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN, PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES INDICATING TRACTION OFF. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN, PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11010718

78,000 miles · May 17, 2016
Electrical SystemTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10865509

128,000 miles · Oct 2, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM FAILURE WITH THE SERVICE STABILITY LINK AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FREQUENTLY FOLLOWED BY A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM FAILURE WITH THE SERVICE STABILITY LINK AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FREQUENTLY FOLLOWED BY A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TO RESET THE COMPUTER, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10779414

118,000 miles · May 11, 2015
EngineTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AS THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE SPEED REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AS THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE SPEED REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10715583

101,526 miles · May 6, 2015
EngineTraction Control System

I HAVE HAD THIS REDUCED ENGINE POWER/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE BEFORE WITH THIS CAR. A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD IT CUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIDE STREET. THANKFULLY IT WASN'T A BUSY STREET. BUT I'VE NEVER FELT THREATENED UNTIL THIS MORNING. I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN I GOT THE MESSAGE. I NEEDED T…

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I HAVE HAD THIS REDUCED ENGINE POWER/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE BEFORE WITH THIS CAR. A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD IT CUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIDE STREET. THANKFULLY IT WASN'T A BUSY STREET. BUT I'VE NEVER FELT THREATENED UNTIL THIS MORNING. I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN I GOT THE MESSAGE. I NEEDED TO CROSS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE. AS I BEGAN TO CROSS I WAS IN THE CROSS-HAIRS OF A TRASH TRUCK ON ONE SIDE AND A CAR ON THE OTHER. I TRIED TO FLOOR IT BUT MY CAR DIDN'T RESPOND AS NORMAL. IT TRULY WAS REDUCED! THANKFULLY ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES PERFORMED AS THEY SHOULD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714862

129,000 miles · Mar 18, 2015
EngineTraction Control System

THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE APPEARS. THE ENTIRE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME, HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MONTH…

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THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE APPEARS. THE ENTIRE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME, HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MONTH(MARCH). TAKING TO CHEVY DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695059

101,205 miles · Dec 19, 2014
Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY 526 IN SC, OUR 2008 CHEVY IMPALA EXPERIENCED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND A TRACTION CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND I WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED . WE HAVE NOW SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BUT WITH NO SOLUTION IN …

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WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY 526 IN SC, OUR 2008 CHEVY IMPALA EXPERIENCED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND A TRACTION CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND I WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED . WE HAVE NOW SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BUT WITH NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667232

64,500 miles · Mar 8, 2014
EngineTraction Control System

I PURCHASED A CHEVY 08 IMPALA IN LATE JANUARY 2013 WITH LESS THAT 55K MILE ON IT, NOW IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR IT'S AROUND 64K MILE. TODAY ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON AND THERE ARE THE MESSAGE OF TRACTION CONTROL IS ON AND ALSO THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I FELT THE SPEED OF THE CAR RE…

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I PURCHASED A CHEVY 08 IMPALA IN LATE JANUARY 2013 WITH LESS THAT 55K MILE ON IT, NOW IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR IT'S AROUND 64K MILE. TODAY ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON AND THERE ARE THE MESSAGE OF TRACTION CONTROL IS ON AND ALSO THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I FELT THE SPEED OF THE CAR REDUCED, LUCKILY I AM ON LOCAL STREET WITHOUT MANY TRAFFIC. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR I TRIED TO TESTED IT AGAIN AND ONLY THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE SPEED OF THE CAR IS NORMAL. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH CAR PROBLEMS AND ALSO IT'S MY FIRST TIME TO OWN A CAR. BUT I READ A LOT POSTS ONLINE [XXX] AND FOUND SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD LATER HAPPEN IN MY SITUATION. I AM DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT GM HASN'T RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. I HOPE I COULD FIX IT SOON. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10567954

72,424 miles · Dec 16, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60 MPH) ON A TWO LANE ROAD. TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW FREEZING, NO ICE OR SNOW. SUDDENLY A BELL SOUNDED, THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" BLINKED ON THE DISPLAY, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED POWER, AND "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" DISPLAYED ALTERNATELY WITH THE "SERVICE …

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I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60 MPH) ON A TWO LANE ROAD. TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW FREEZING, NO ICE OR SNOW. SUDDENLY A BELL SOUNDED, THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" BLINKED ON THE DISPLAY, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED POWER, AND "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" DISPLAYED ALTERNATELY WITH THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING. I WAS SCARED, BUT HAD ABOUT 8 MILES TO DRIVE TO MY HOME TOWN. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AT ABOUT 40 MPH, TURNED ON MY FLASHERS, AND CONTINUED ON TO MY HOME. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WITH ICE ON THE ROAD, AS THERE HAD BEEN THAT MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, A CRASH WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE OCCURRED AS THESE ROADS ARE VERY SLIPPERY IN WINTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556167

5,200 miles · Nov 28, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesTraction Control System

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CARS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SO DOES THE ABS BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT. THE CAR THEN REDUCES POWER TO NO MORE THEN 35-40 MPH AND THAT'S WITH THE GAS PEDAL FLOORED. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW. I HAVE CHANGED OUT THE HARNESS, AND WHEEL HUB AND IT STILL HAPPENS, SOMETIMES IN VERY DANGEROU…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CARS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SO DOES THE ABS BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT. THE CAR THEN REDUCES POWER TO NO MORE THEN 35-40 MPH AND THAT'S WITH THE GAS PEDAL FLOORED. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW. I HAVE CHANGED OUT THE HARNESS, AND WHEEL HUB AND IT STILL HAPPENS, SOMETIMES IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS LIKE WHILE DRIVING ON A HWY WITH A TRUCK BEHIND YOU AND THE CAR GOES FROM 60 MPH TO 40 MPH IN A HEART BEAT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID ITS A COMMON ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH GM CARS IN 2006-2009. THE ONLY PART LEFT TO CHANGE WOULD BE THE COMPUTER MODULATOR, HOWEVER TALKING TO OTHER GM OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554066

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.