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
29,900 miles · Aug 26, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,900.
NHTSA ODI #10759385
155,928 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEARS. CAME TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I COULD NOT GO TOWARD. ENGINE JUST REVVED. HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SOLENOID BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ISSUE. HAD PART REPLACED ONLY TO FIND …
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WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEARS. CAME TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I COULD NOT GO TOWARD. ENGINE JUST REVVED. HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SOLENOID BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ISSUE. HAD PART REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THE TRANNY ITSELF WENT. DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. WHY ISN'T THIS ISSUE OR DEFECT UNDER RECALL WHEN ITS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM AND VERY COSTLY AS WELL?
NHTSA ODI #10759015
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
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
80,000 miles · Aug 11, 2015
Unknown Or Other
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ALERT SIGNAL BEEPED AND MY CONSOLE SHOWED THE ERROR MESSAGE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCING ENGINE POWER" IT DROPPED MY SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY DANGEROUSLY FAST TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. I THE FOOT PEDAL REPLACED AT A LOCAL DEALER, THEN IT HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. THE LAST TIME I WAS ON A FRONTAGE ROAD…
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DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ALERT SIGNAL BEEPED AND MY CONSOLE SHOWED THE ERROR MESSAGE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCING ENGINE POWER" IT DROPPED MY SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY DANGEROUSLY FAST TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. I THE FOOT PEDAL REPLACED AT A LOCAL DEALER, THEN IT HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. THE LAST TIME I WAS ON A FRONTAGE ROAD AND MY CAR TURNED OFF. APPARENTLY THIS IS A SENSOR ISSUE THAT IS COMMON TO THE CHEVROLET MODELS AND ESPECIALLY THE IMPALA JUDGING BY THE FORUMS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS WHEN THE CAR TURNS ITSELF OFF THE POWER STEERING , LIGHTS, EVERYTHING GOES AND IT IS SUDDEN. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED THE ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON AND 3 SECONDS LATER THE CAR TURNED OFF.
NHTSA ODI #10747978
56,000 miles · Aug 7, 2015
Steering
I WAS DRIVING ON A SMALL SIDE STREET ON THE WAY TO PICK MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL. THE STREET IS PRETTY DEEPLY POT HOLED, AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING SO IT WAS ALSO VERY MUDDY. FOR THIS REASON I WAS LUCKILY GOING SLOW. AS I MADE MY WAY THROUGH ONE PARTICULAR LARGE PUDDLE ON A RIGHT HAND CURVE I COULD SEE THAT I WAS GOING TO ALMOST IMMED…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A SMALL SIDE STREET ON THE WAY TO PICK MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL. THE STREET IS PRETTY DEEPLY POT HOLED, AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING SO IT WAS ALSO VERY MUDDY. FOR THIS REASON I WAS LUCKILY GOING SLOW. AS I MADE MY WAY THROUGH ONE PARTICULAR LARGE PUDDLE ON A RIGHT HAND CURVE I COULD SEE THAT I WAS GOING TO ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GET INTO THE LEFT LANE TO GO AROUND SOME PARKED CARS. AS SOON AS I WENT TO VEER LEFT THE CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE. IT FELT AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAD SHUT OFF. NO LIGHT CAME ON NO NEW SOUNDS WERE MADE, NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. LUCKILY WITH A FEW QUICK PULLS LEFT AND RIGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BACK I'M WORKING ORDER. VERY VERY SCARY.
NHTSA ODI #10747135
83,456 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS GOING NORTH ON SCHOOL STREET I HAD A GREEN LIGHT. I CAR GOING WEST ON ROCKTON RAN THE RED LIGHT AND HIT MY CAR CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO A TREE. I HAD A HEAD CONCUSSIONS AND 6 BROKEN RIBS.MY AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN.
NHTSA ODI #10745468
105,000 miles · Jul 29, 2015
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE VEHICLE THEY HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN THE LOCKS THROUGH THE WINDOWS OR ADJUST THE SEAT TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE VEHICLE THEY HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN THE LOCKS THROUGH THE WINDOWS OR ADJUST THE SEAT TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE LOCKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. MA 09/25 THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/28/16*JB
NHTSA ODI #10744524
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE TWO IGNITION KEYS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED ONLY ONE KEY WHEN THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE TWO IGNITION KEYS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED ONLY ONE KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10744207
75,000 miles · Jul 27, 2015
Power Train
WHEN TAKING OFF THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK INTO GEAR AFTER A SLIGHT SPUTTER. YOU HAVE TO LET THE TRANSMISSION GET FULLY HOT (RUNNING FOR 10-15 MINUTES EVEN ON A HOT DAY) FOR IT NOT TO JERK WHEN PULLING OFF OR LET IT SLIGHTLY COAST BEFORE GIVING GAS TO KEEP FROM JERKING. ONCE IT'S GOOD AND HOT I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OTHER PROBLEMS.
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.
2008 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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