IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,785.
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
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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SPEED UP WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP. IT WILL THEN SUDDENLY REV UP AND TAKE OFF OR THE WHEELS WILL SPIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN A DAY AND THEN BE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS. IT WORKS FINE IF SHIFTED MANUALLY. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS AND NOT KNOWING IF…
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THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SPEED UP WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP. IT WILL THEN SUDDENLY REV UP AND TAKE OFF OR THE WHEELS WILL SPIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN A DAY AND THEN BE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS. IT WORKS FINE IF SHIFTED MANUALLY. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS AND NOT KNOWING IF THERE WILL BE ANY POWER TO ACCELERATE. THE SUDDEN JERK IS HARD TO DEAL WITH IN THE WISCONSIN SLIPPERY WEATHER CONDITIONS. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILUR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF DUE TO THE IGNITION KEY STICKING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHAFT WIRES WERE S…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF DUE TO THE IGNITION KEY STICKING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHAFT WIRES WERE SENDING THE INCORRECT SIGNAL CAUSING THE SOLENOID TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND UPON INSPECTION BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ON JANUARY 15, 2015, TWO DIFFERENT VISIBLE LEAKS WERE FOUND AS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AFTER ONLY APPROX. 73,000 MILES. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT INFERIOR GASKETS/SEALS IN THE 1) ENGINES INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND 2) THE RA…
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VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND UPON INSPECTION BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ON JANUARY 15, 2015, TWO DIFFERENT VISIBLE LEAKS WERE FOUND AS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AFTER ONLY APPROX. 73,000 MILES. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT INFERIOR GASKETS/SEALS IN THE 1) ENGINES INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND 2) THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM CAUSED PREMATURE LEAKS TO OCCUR IN THE MODELS. REPAIR COSTS ARE ESTIMATED AT APPROX. $2,000. *TR
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.
I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY ENGINE WENT INTO POWER REDUCE MODE WITHOUT WARNING AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BAD WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME. I DID GET TAPPED FROM BEHIND BUT REALLY NOTHING MAJOR BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT. MIND YOU I JUST PICKED MY CAR…
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I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY ENGINE WENT INTO POWER REDUCE MODE WITHOUT WARNING AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BAD WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME. I DID GET TAPPED FROM BEHIND BUT REALLY NOTHING MAJOR BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT. MIND YOU I JUST PICKED MY CAR UP THAT FRIDAY FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THEY CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS THE BATTERY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE I'M HAVING AND IT SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND INNOCENT PEOPLES LIVES ARE GETTING PUT IN DANGER FOR NO REASON..... PLEASE HELP.....THANK YOU *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED…
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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 PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,635.
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.