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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

Wheels complaints

31 reports
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20,000 miles · Oct 7, 2018
SteeringSuspensionWheels

2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ -- I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE REAR INNER TIRES WEARING DOWN TO THE CHORDS JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE. I KNOW IT'S NOT THE TIRE BRAND, ETC. AS I'VE HAD A REPUTABLE MECHANIC PUT ON TWO SETS OF TIRES. I FOUND ARTICLES ON A LAWSUIT AND THE FACT THAT GM WILL FIX THE POLICE CARS WITH THIS ISSU…

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2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ -- I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE REAR INNER TIRES WEARING DOWN TO THE CHORDS JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE. I KNOW IT'S NOT THE TIRE BRAND, ETC. AS I'VE HAD A REPUTABLE MECHANIC PUT ON TWO SETS OF TIRES. I FOUND ARTICLES ON A LAWSUIT AND THE FACT THAT GM WILL FIX THE POLICE CARS WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A COMMUTER CAR FOR MY SONS THAT WILL BE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND I NEED IT TO LAST. I WANT A COPY OF THE TSB #08032A THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED SO THAT I DON'T KEEP BLOWING THROUGH SETS OF TIRES IT IS GETTING RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. MY LAST SET WAS SUPPOSED TO WEAR OUT AT 60,000 AND ONLY LASTED 20,000. I AM ACTUALLY ON MY SECOND SET, SO BASICALLY $1600 INTO TIRES ALONE, NOT TO MENTION WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST ME FOR THE SPINDLE/CAMBOR/REAR TIE RODS THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TSB MENTIONED ABOVE. GM SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS AND IT SHOULD BE A MASSIVE RECALL. THESE CARS ARE PROLIFIC IN SOCIETY. LOL....WE BAILED THEM OUT IN 2008, AND THEY WERE CRANKING OUT LEMONS THE SAME YEAR....IRONIC!! GM REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #11138930

75,000 miles · Oct 25, 2017
StructureSuspensionWheelsCrashInjury

WHILE IN MOTION, CAR WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH, HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER AND A FENCE AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. HE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT

NHTSA ODI #11039657

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2017
SteeringWheels

THE FRONT WHEELS OF MY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING LEFT AND RIGHT. STARTED HEARING A CLANGING NOISE WHEN L WOULD TURN. LOWER CONTROL ARMS BROKE, MY POWER STEERING IS GOING BECAUSE OF IT. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I SAW THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME JUST NOT MY VIN#. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST STARTED TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. MERGING ONTO THE HIGH…

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THE FRONT WHEELS OF MY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING LEFT AND RIGHT. STARTED HEARING A CLANGING NOISE WHEN L WOULD TURN. LOWER CONTROL ARMS BROKE, MY POWER STEERING IS GOING BECAUSE OF IT. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I SAW THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME JUST NOT MY VIN#. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST STARTED TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY .

NHTSA ODI #11004787

77,500 miles · Jan 12, 2016
Wheels

INSIDE OF REAR TIRES HAVE ABNORMAL WEAR. I WAS INFORMED BY THE TIRE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY THAT MY COOPER TIRES THAT I PUT ON IN MARCH OF 2014 HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ARE BALD ON THE INSIDE. I HAVE DRIVEN LESS 18,000 MILES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT IT IS AN ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL. GM HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM ON POLICE…

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INSIDE OF REAR TIRES HAVE ABNORMAL WEAR. I WAS INFORMED BY THE TIRE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY THAT MY COOPER TIRES THAT I PUT ON IN MARCH OF 2014 HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ARE BALD ON THE INSIDE. I HAVE DRIVEN LESS 18,000 MILES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT IT IS AN ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL. GM HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM ON POLICE ISSUED MODELS.

NHTSA ODI #10819666

50,000 miles · Aug 19, 2015
Wheels

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY WHEELS AT LEAST EVERY 6-8 MONTHS. THE WHEELS ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE IN THE REAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A FULL ALIGNMENT DONE MORE THAN ONCE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED AND FIXED BUT ONLY IN POLICE VEHICLES NOT IN CIVILIAN VEHICLES! I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON TIRES AND ALIG…

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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY WHEELS AT LEAST EVERY 6-8 MONTHS. THE WHEELS ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE IN THE REAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A FULL ALIGNMENT DONE MORE THAN ONCE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED AND FIXED BUT ONLY IN POLICE VEHICLES NOT IN CIVILIAN VEHICLES! I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON TIRES AND ALIGNMENTS! THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. NOT A ONE-TIME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10749737

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2015
SteeringSuspensionTires

SUBJECT: 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA REAR TIRE WEAR. CASE # [XXX]VIN # IS [XXX] WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. OUR REAR TIRES ARE WEARING OUT TWICE AS FAST AS THE FRONT TIRES. I WENT TO COSTCO YESTERDAY TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED, AFTER LOOKING AT THE REAR TIRES WE HAD TO BUY NEW ONES BECAUSE THE BACK TIRES …

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SUBJECT: 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA REAR TIRE WEAR. CASE # [XXX]VIN # IS [XXX] WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. OUR REAR TIRES ARE WEARING OUT TWICE AS FAST AS THE FRONT TIRES. I WENT TO COSTCO YESTERDAY TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED, AFTER LOOKING AT THE REAR TIRES WE HAD TO BUY NEW ONES BECAUSE THE BACK TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL BACKING, THE FRONT TIRES WERE STILL GOOD. ONLY ONE HALF OF THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN USED. THE TIRES WERE MICHELIN X-RADIAL DT MICH PASSENGER S/T P225/60R16 BW MSPN 17457 TIRES WITH AN 80,000 MILE WARRANTY. WE ENDED UP BUYING FOUR NEW MICHELIN TIRES FOR AROUND $600.00. THE COSTCO GUY THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER I GOT HOME I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AS TO WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 AND 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN #08032A SENT OUT IN 2011 TO REPLACE THE SPINDLE RODS ON ALL THE 2007 AND 2008 IMPALA'S THAT WERE SOLD AS POLICE CARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING WITH REAR TIRE WEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDED ALL THE OTHER 2007 AND 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE SPINDLE ROD IS THE SAME ON ALL 2008 IMPALAS, POLICE OR NON POLICE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, YOU JUST DON'T EXPECT THE TIRES TO WEAR OUT SO FAST. WE HAD JUST FINISHED A TRIP WERE WE DROVE FREEWAY SPEEDS UP TO 75 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER SEEING OUR TIRES I DON'T KNOW HOW WE KEEP FROM HAVING A BLOW OUT ON THE BACK TIRES. I THINK THAT LOTS OF ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED WITH THESE 2007 AND 2008 CHEVY IMPALAS WITH TIRES BLOWING OUT BECAUSE REAR TIRE WEAR BECAUSE THE SPINDLE BOLTS ARE ENGINEERED WRONG AND EVERY ONE THINKS ITS THE TIRES FAULT.. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE FOUR SPINDLE BOLTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705993

103,084 miles · Apr 11, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SuspensionWheels

CASE # [XXX] OUR REAR TIRES ARE WEARING OUT TWICE AS FAST AS THE FRONT TIRES. I WENT TO COSTCO YESTERDAY TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED, AFTER LOOKING AT THE REAR TIRES WE HAD TO BUY NEW ONES BECAUSE THE BACK TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL BACKING. . THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT IN 2011 TO REPLACE THE SPINDLE RO…

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CASE # [XXX] OUR REAR TIRES ARE WEARING OUT TWICE AS FAST AS THE FRONT TIRES. I WENT TO COSTCO YESTERDAY TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED, AFTER LOOKING AT THE REAR TIRES WE HAD TO BUY NEW ONES BECAUSE THE BACK TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL BACKING. . THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT IN 2011 TO REPLACE THE SPINDLE RODS ON ALL THE 2007 AND 2008 IMPALA'S THAT WERE SOLD AS POLICE CARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING WITH REAR TIRE WEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDED ALL THE OTHER 2007 AND 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED YOU JUST DON'T EXPECT THE TIRES TO WEAR OUT SO FAST. WE HAD JUST FINISHED A TRIP WERE WE DROVE FREEWAY SPEEDS UP TO 75 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER SEEING OUR TIRES I DON'T KNOW HOW WE KEEP FROM HAVING A BLOW OUT ON THE BACK TIRES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705136

67,818 miles · Mar 16, 2015
SuspensionWheels

UNEVEN REAR TIRE WEAR. JUST HAVE 24000 MILES ON NEW TIRES. DISCOVERED PROBLEM WITH SPINDLE, REAR TIRE ALIGNMENT BY CHEVY FROM 2007 AND 2008 MODELS POLICE MODELS ONLY BY SEARCHING ON LINE. CONTACTED DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT PROBLEMS OR RECALLS AND STATED NO PROBLEMS, JUST NEED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694700

60,000 miles · Feb 17, 2015
SteeringSuspensionWheels

OWN SNOW THE REAR END SLIDES ALL OVER THE PLACE YOU HAVE NO CONTROL,I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES EXTRACTION TIRES ON REAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683782

80,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
StructureSuspensionWheelsCrash

WE HAD OVER $10,000 IN INSURANCE REPAIRS ON 2008 IMPALA WITH BLUE BOOK AROUND $12,800. OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPT RULES SAID CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD TO GO TO A 2ND SHOP TO CONTINUE REPAIRS AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER WAS FIRED. CARFAX IS NOW SHOWING VEHICLE WITH FRAME DAMAGE ETC.. AND INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO AS…

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WE HAD OVER $10,000 IN INSURANCE REPAIRS ON 2008 IMPALA WITH BLUE BOOK AROUND $12,800. OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPT RULES SAID CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD TO GO TO A 2ND SHOP TO CONTINUE REPAIRS AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER WAS FIRED. CARFAX IS NOW SHOWING VEHICLE WITH FRAME DAMAGE ETC.. AND INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO ASSIST. WE WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD MORE DOCUMENTATION FOR ASSISTANCE AS FTC IS TELLING US YOU CAN ASSIST HOLD FOWLER CHEVROLET OF TULSA OKLAHOMA ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ALSO IF THEY ARE REPAIRING CARS THAT SHOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS BESIDES COMPENSATING US FOR THE FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670866

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.