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
What owners actually said
810 reports
92,149 miles · Jan 4, 2016
Electrical System
ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE SO FAR. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED FOLLOWED BY REDUCED ENGINE POWER. 1ST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WOULD NOT RUN. WAS ON A SMALL SIDE STREET AND ONLY DOING ABOUT 15 MPH. I LET THE CAR SIT AFTER CALLING FOR A RIDE. CAR RESTARTED AND DROVE TO DEALER 2 MILES…
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ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE SO FAR. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED FOLLOWED BY REDUCED ENGINE POWER. 1ST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WOULD NOT RUN. WAS ON A SMALL SIDE STREET AND ONLY DOING ABOUT 15 MPH. I LET THE CAR SIT AFTER CALLING FOR A RIDE. CAR RESTARTED AND DROVE TO DEALER 2 MILES AWAY. 2ND TIME SAME SET OF ERROR MESSAGES, CAR WAS DOING 70 ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME AND DROPPED TO BELOW 50 MPH. DROVE TO DEALER. BOTH TIMES, REPAIR WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING A DEFECTIVE ACCLERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. 2ND TIME VEHICLE HAD 92149 MILES ON IT. DO NOT HAVE THE RECORD FOR THE MILEAGE FOR THE 1ST TIME BUT IT WAS ABOUT 1 YEAR PRIOR WITH ESTIMATED MILEAGE OF 77000.
NHTSA ODI #10817741
104,372 miles · Jan 4, 2016
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,372.
NHTSA ODI #10817514
65,000 miles · Jan 1, 2016
Power Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS VEHICLE JERKS HARD AFTER COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS SAFETY ISSUES CAN BE A DANGER IF VEHICLE IS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND HAS A ISSUES ON MOST CHEVROLET IMPALAS. THIS PROBLEM HAS ACCORD IN MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM A…
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TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS VEHICLE JERKS HARD AFTER COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS SAFETY ISSUES CAN BE A DANGER IF VEHICLE IS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND HAS A ISSUES ON MOST CHEVROLET IMPALAS. THIS PROBLEM HAS ACCORD IN MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM ACCORD THE SECOND MONTH AFTER VEHICLE WAS BOUT FROM DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON VEHICLE
NHTSA ODI #10817302
81,000 miles · Dec 31, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED SEVERELY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED RECONNECTING A VACUUM HOSE AFTER OBSERVING THAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED SEVERELY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED RECONNECTING A VACUUM HOSE AFTER OBSERVING THAT IT WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE POWER BOOSTER. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES BECAME RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE MORE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 03/04/16*LJ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10817206
125,000 miles · Dec 27, 2015
Electrical System
DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. DOOR LOCKS HAVE QUIT WORKING ONE BY ONE. FRONT DRIVER DOOR ONLY DOOR WITH KEY LOCKABLE UNLOCKABLE FEATURE. THEREFORE, DOORS CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED BY UNLOCKING DRIVER DOOR AND CRAWLING INTO CAR AND MANUALLY UNLOCKING ALL OTHER DOORS. I HAVE OWNED NO OTHER CAR THAT HAD THIS FEATURE WHERE OUT …
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DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. DOOR LOCKS HAVE QUIT WORKING ONE BY ONE. FRONT DRIVER DOOR ONLY DOOR WITH KEY LOCKABLE UNLOCKABLE FEATURE. THEREFORE, DOORS CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED BY UNLOCKING DRIVER DOOR AND CRAWLING INTO CAR AND MANUALLY UNLOCKING ALL OTHER DOORS. I HAVE OWNED NO OTHER CAR THAT HAD THIS FEATURE WHERE OUT IN LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK/LOCK DOORS. THE LOCKS DON'T WORK WHETHER CAR STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
NHTSA ODI #10816315
140,000 miles · Dec 23, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 02/18/16*LJ UPDATED 05/14/18*JB *CN
NHTSA ODI #10811868
136,000 miles · Dec 15, 2015
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEY USED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE OR TWO REAR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TWO REAR WINDOWS DOWN TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEY USED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE OR TWO REAR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TWO REAR WINDOWS DOWN TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
NHTSA ODI #10810518
60,000 miles · Dec 5, 2015
Engine
ENGINE OIL LEAKS, VALVE COVER GASKETS, HEAD GASKETS, OIL PAN GASKET. CAN SMELL BURNING OIL WHEN DRIVING & PARKED. AFTER DRIVING.
NHTSA ODI #10808604
5 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE, FAULTY BACK DOOR LOCKS, HEATING ACTUATOR REPAIRS. THIS IS A REVISED COMPLAINT TO ONE I ALSO MADE FOR JUST THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. AFTER READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON HERE I HAVE FOUND THAT MY CAR HAS SEVERAL OF THE ISSUES NOT JUST REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I AM MOST CONCERNED WITH THE CAR CUT…
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REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE, FAULTY BACK DOOR LOCKS, HEATING ACTUATOR REPAIRS. THIS IS A REVISED COMPLAINT TO ONE I ALSO MADE FOR JUST THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. AFTER READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON HERE I HAVE FOUND THAT MY CAR HAS SEVERAL OF THE ISSUES NOT JUST REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I AM MOST CONCERNED WITH THE CAR CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER HOWEVER WE ALSO HAVE LOCKS THAT DON'T OPEN/LOCK WITH REMOTE WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS AND SINCE LAST WINTER HEATER ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR UNTIL YOU ACCELERATE THE CAR. THIS MONTH WE HAD CAR REPAIRED FOR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER GLOVE BOX WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING OR SHUT OFF. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS A NEW ACTUATOR AND DID REPAIR. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT REPAIR THE BLOWING OF COLD AIR AND ALSO THIS IS WHEN THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING STARTED. I AM A FORMER GMAC EMPLOYEE AND HAVE HAD GM VEHICLES FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL AND THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE.
NHTSA ODI #10807443
5 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control
REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. THIS MESSAGE CAME UP AFTER HAVE CAR AT MECHANICS FOR A REPAIR ON ACTUATOR. WE TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC AND HE CLEARED MESSAGE HOWEVER MESSAGE HAS APPEARED AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES PER DAY. MECHANIC SAID POSSIBLE FIX RESULTING IN ANOTHER $300 REPAIR. THE MESSAGE CAME UP WHILE DOING…
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REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. THIS MESSAGE CAME UP AFTER HAVE CAR AT MECHANICS FOR A REPAIR ON ACTUATOR. WE TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC AND HE CLEARED MESSAGE HOWEVER MESSAGE HAS APPEARED AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES PER DAY. MECHANIC SAID POSSIBLE FIX RESULTING IN ANOTHER $300 REPAIR. THE MESSAGE CAME UP WHILE DOING LOCAL DRIVING AROUND TOWN LESS THAN 5 MILES BEFORE IT WILL APPEAR
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.
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.
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