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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

92 reports
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140,000 miles · Aug 27, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 10 MPH AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL MODULE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 10 MPH AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10759670

107,500 miles · Aug 19, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY SUDDENLY THE CHECK TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 75 MPH AND QUICKLY WENT DOWN TO 45 - 50 MPH CAUSING A 3 CAR REAR COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #10749767

123,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 81 IN CNY WHEN MY DASH LIT UP AND SAID "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCE ENGINE POWER" AT THAT POINT MY CAR WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT TO ACCELERATE. ABOUT 15 MILES DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR SAID "SERVICE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR", AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF!!! I WAS JUST COMING OUT OF A HUGE WORK ZONE AND I LOST P…

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I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 81 IN CNY WHEN MY DASH LIT UP AND SAID "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCE ENGINE POWER" AT THAT POINT MY CAR WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT TO ACCELERATE. ABOUT 15 MILES DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR SAID "SERVICE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR", AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF!!! I WAS JUST COMING OUT OF A HUGE WORK ZONE AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. I MADE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER AS SAFELY AS I COULD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART MY CAR FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES!!!!!! 3 DAYS LATER IT DID IT ALL OVER AGAIN ON A COUNTRY ROAD THANKFULLY!!. I REMEMBER THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL HAD ACTED UP ONCE BEFORE IN 2012 RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONES ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THEY ARE GOING FASTER THAN 45!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10733595

109,000 miles · Jun 14, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID ENGINE REDUCED POWER. THE CAR SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT HAVE POWER. IF I CAME TO A STOP AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN, THE CAR BARELY ACCELERATED AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKED EVERY SINGLE TIME IT SHIFTED. I HAD EVERY CAR GOING AROUND ME DOWN THE BUSY …

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID ENGINE REDUCED POWER. THE CAR SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT HAVE POWER. IF I CAME TO A STOP AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN, THE CAR BARELY ACCELERATED AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKED EVERY SINGLE TIME IT SHIFTED. I HAD EVERY CAR GOING AROUND ME DOWN THE BUSY STREET, BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD BARELY GO. I WAS WORRIED I WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE IT HOME AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE ENGINE AS IT JERKED ROUGHLY WITH EVERY GEAR CHANGE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AT A WORSE TIME, AS I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO, HAVE MY FIRST CHILD ON THE WAY, AND JUST GOT A HOUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10725134

98,000 miles · May 29, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

I STARTED MY CAR AND THE RPM'S WENT TO 0. MESSAGE STATED "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED". WHEN I LOOKED UP INFORMATION ONLINE I NOTICED MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CHEVY/GM CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10722241

140,000 miles · Apr 15, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE THAT SAID SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND MY CAR CAME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES NOW AND HAVE CAUSED VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM WILL…

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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE THAT SAID SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND MY CAR CAME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES NOW AND HAVE CAUSED VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR A FEW HOURS BUT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN OUT OF NO WHERE I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THIS FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AD THERE IS NO FIX! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705954

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT WHO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HER 2008 IMPALA, SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS SHE BELIEVES WERE ALL PART OF A RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON APRIL 1, 2014, SHE HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON …

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LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT WHO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HER 2008 IMPALA, SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS SHE BELIEVES WERE ALL PART OF A RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON APRIL 1, 2014, SHE HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH THAT READ THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. ON APRIL 19, 2014. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RE-START, ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER WAS RE-PROGRAMMED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10682289

75,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN IDLE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY HESITATED AND JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN IDLE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY HESITATED AND JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE HIGHER THEN 5 MPH. THE CHECK STABILITY TRACT AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10678212

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

87,660 miles · Dec 1, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE APPEARED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. DURING MY DRIVE TO WORK I COULD NOT GO BEYOND 40MPH OR 2RPM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10661419

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.