TRACTION CONTROL AND THE STABILITY TRAC REDUCES THE ENGINE SPEED UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS DRASTICALLY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. BEEN ACTING UP FOR SOME TIME. DEALERS DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND DOESN'T GIVE A CODE. VERY DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING.
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.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
92 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. STATEN ISLAND BUICK GMC (1855 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305) DIAGNOSED THAT SENSORS T2135: (THROTTLE BODY) AND P2138: (ACCELERATOR PEDAL ACTUATOR)…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. STATEN ISLAND BUICK GMC (1855 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305) DIAGNOSED THAT SENSORS T2135: (THROTTLE BODY) AND P2138: (ACCELERATOR PEDAL ACTUATOR) FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT NOT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,502.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY AN INDE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND AN UNKNOWN SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD START A CASE FILE AND SEND IT OVER TO THEIR TEAM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON ICY AND SNOWY ROADS AND MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE SEVERAL MILES TO MY DESTINATION. MY CAR SAT FOR 6 HOURS. I GOT IN TO LEAVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOT THE WARNING. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT TEN MILES MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES FOUR Y…
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I WAS DRIVING ON ICY AND SNOWY ROADS AND MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE SEVERAL MILES TO MY DESTINATION. MY CAR SAT FOR 6 HOURS. I GOT IN TO LEAVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOT THE WARNING. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT TEN MILES MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES FOUR YEARS AGO AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE IT HAPPENING AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE ROADWAY IS WET. AFTER READING ONLINE, IT SEEMS THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER CHEVROLET CARS ALSO.
FIRST, THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE KEY SWITCH LOCATED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH IN D WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE, IT WON'T GO OVER 40 IN D3. NOT SURE WHY BUT THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE IMPALA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF A DIAGNOSTIC FEE WAS PAID, THE VEHICLE COULD BE COVERED UNDER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE MONEY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.
STARTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY UPON PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGES APPEARED. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THIS CAR. HAVE ENTERED PROBLEM REPORTS FOR THE 1ST 2 OCCURRENCES ON THIS SITE. REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION PEDAL SENSOR. NO…
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STARTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY UPON PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGES APPEARED. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THIS CAR. HAVE ENTERED PROBLEM REPORTS FOR THE 1ST 2 OCCURRENCES ON THIS SITE. REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION PEDAL SENSOR. NONE OF THESE 3 OCCURRENCES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS 14 MONTHS SINCE THE LAST OCCURRENCE AND WARRANTY WAS FOR 12 MONTHS.
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…
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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.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GAS PETAL AND THROTTLE BODY BREAKS DOWN CAUSING VEHICLE TO DISPLAY REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW TO 20 TO 30 MPH INSTANTLY. HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO SLOWDOWN. SHOULD BE SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE OR MYSELF GETS KILLED.
TAKATA RECALL. IT HAPPEN TO ME TWICE I GOT TWO KIDS THE CAR LOST POWER FROM 45 TO TEN. ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CODE THST COMES UP IS P2138 THIS IS NOT OK NEEDS TO GET FIXED. FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN I WAS ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME DUE TO THE ENGINE POWER LOSS.
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.
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