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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

What owners actually said

810 reports
62,000 miles · Aug 2, 2014
SuspensionTiresWheels

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, NOTICED SOME VIBRATION FROM REAR TIRES. CHECKED TIRES WHEN I GOT HOME. REAR TIRES HAVE EXTREME TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE. THIS WEAR IS HIDDEN BECAUSE IT IS ON THE VERY INSIDE EDGES OF THE TIRES, AND YOU DON'T NOTICE WHEN LOOKING AT THE TIRES FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. MOST OF THE TIRE YOU CAN S…

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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, NOTICED SOME VIBRATION FROM REAR TIRES. CHECKED TIRES WHEN I GOT HOME. REAR TIRES HAVE EXTREME TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE. THIS WEAR IS HIDDEN BECAUSE IT IS ON THE VERY INSIDE EDGES OF THE TIRES, AND YOU DON'T NOTICE WHEN LOOKING AT THE TIRES FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. MOST OF THE TIRE YOU CAN SEE LOOKS NORMAL. THE WEAR IS ON THE INNER MOST 5% OF THE TREAD. AND IT IS EXTREME WEAR, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE STEEL BELTS. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND A GM SERVICE BULLETIN FOR 2007-8 IMPALA TIRE WEAR AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. BUT THAT BULLETIN ONLY CALLED FOR SERVICE ON MODELS WITH POLICE SUSPENSION IN THE REAR. THE SOLUTION REQUIRED REPLACEMENT SPINDLE ARMS TO BE INSTALLED. CALLED GM AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY CONSUMER SPINDLES. BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIRE WEAR HAS CAUSED BOW OUTS AND CRASHES IF YOU LOOK AT REPORTS THAT A GOOGLE SEARCH CAN FIND. SEARCH FOR IMPALA SPINDLE AND TIRE WEAR. YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW OBVIOUS THIS DEADLY DEFECT IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618321

44,200 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Steering

CAR STARTED MAKING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. NOISE WAS SUBTLE AND INFREQUENT AT FIRST. IT HAS GRADUALLY INCREASED IN NOISE LEVEL AND FREQUENCY. I CAN ALSO FEEL THE CLUNKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617717

61,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
VisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM WAS NOT PROPERLY DEFROSTING THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS AFFECTING HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM WAS NOT PROPERLY DEFROSTING THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS AFFECTING HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD OVERHEATED AND WAS NOT CARRYING ENOUGH VOLTAGE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT WHERE THE CONNECTOR WAS LOCATED, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS SMOLDERED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617265

46,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Power TrainTires

WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR JUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP MY CAR DOESNT SEEM TO WANT TO GO WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SHUDDERS AND JERKS FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THE ROADS ARE SLIPPERY! THIS HAPPENED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT I AM GUESSING THAT IT ONLY HAD ABOUT 46,000 MILES ON THE CAR. MY DEALER SAI…

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WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR JUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP MY CAR DOESNT SEEM TO WANT TO GO WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SHUDDERS AND JERKS FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THE ROADS ARE SLIPPERY! THIS HAPPENED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT I AM GUESSING THAT IT ONLY HAD ABOUT 46,000 MILES ON THE CAR. MY DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE CAR, COULD RUN INTO ALOT OF MONEY, OR WAIT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE IN DIFFERENT IMPALA FORUMS. GM SAID ITS OUT OF WARRANTY AND BASICALLY NOT OUR PROBLEM. ALSO, ALL 4 OF MY TIRES WERE WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617099

60,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Power Train

AFTER DRIVING MY CAR TO THE STORE I PULLED UP TO PARK MY CAR. AFTER I CAME BACK TO GET INTO IT THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AT ALL. I WAS STRANDED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET IMPALA MODELS. AFTER CONTACTING GM THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE SORRY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I'M STI…

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AFTER DRIVING MY CAR TO THE STORE I PULLED UP TO PARK MY CAR. AFTER I CAME BACK TO GET INTO IT THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AT ALL. I WAS STRANDED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET IMPALA MODELS. AFTER CONTACTING GM THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE SORRY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I'M STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT TRICKS THIS CAR DOES NEXT. I NOW BELIEVE IT IS POORLY MADE AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE.. GM CANT EVEN MAKE A CUP HOLDER ROUND LIKE A CUP. SORRY I DIDN'T SEE THAT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT OR MIGHT HAVE AN ENGINEERING CLUE. ALSO BOTH MY DOOR LOCKS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CONSECUTIVELY STOPPED WORKING AND ITS NOT THE FUSES. THERE'S 200 BUCKS TO FIX THAT I DON'T HAVE AND I HAVE TO SHIFT MY CAR BY USING A SCREWDRIVER AND PUSHING THE SILVER BUTTON UNDER THE CONSOLE WHICH RELEASES THE SHIFTER. THANK GOD CHEVY HAD BACK UP FOR THAT ENGINEERING MISTAKE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THAT ONE EITHER. NOW I'M JUST GUESSING IF MY CAR SHOULD BE ON RECALL. GM TOLD ME ON THE PHONE I WOULD JUST HAVE TO WAIT. LESSON LEARNED NEVER BY A CAR JUST BECAUSE U YOU LIKE THE BODY STYLE! THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615882

94,134 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION HAD BECOME STUCK AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM TURNING OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION HAD BECOME STUCK AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM TURNING OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,134.

NHTSA ODI #10615594

65,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TH ENGINE OF MY 2008 IMPALA COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON TWO OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO AFTER HITTING A RELATIVELY LARGE POT HOLE. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON SNELL ROAD (OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, MI) BETWEEN ORION AND ROCHESTER ROAD AND HIT A LARGE POT HOLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE…

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TH ENGINE OF MY 2008 IMPALA COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON TWO OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO AFTER HITTING A RELATIVELY LARGE POT HOLE. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON SNELL ROAD (OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, MI) BETWEEN ORION AND ROCHESTER ROAD AND HIT A LARGE POT HOLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. AS I RECALL, I STEERED THE VEHICLE (MANUALLY) TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. NO OTHER CARS WERE COMING EITHER WAY. A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS LATER AS I WAS HEADING EASTBOUND ON SNELL ROAD BETWEEN MT. VERNON AND ROCHESTER ROAD. WHEN THE GM IGNITION RECALLS STARTED, I DID NOT CORRELATE THESE INCIDENTS WITH THE RECALL. HOWEVER, WHEN I READ A NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT RECENTLY OF A GM EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SITUATION WITH HER 2006 IMPALA, I REALIZED IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN IGNITION ISSUE AS WELL. I ASSUMED THE 2008 IMPALA WOULD BE RECALLED LIKE THE 2006 IMPALA BUT TO DATE, I THE 2008 IMPALA HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10615472

200,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ODI #10615051

118,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,0…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10614513

67,122 miles · Jul 16, 2014
SuspensionWheels

EXCESSIVE LEFT SIDE TIRE WEAR, ESPECIALLY LEFT REAR. LEFT SIDE TIRES NEED REPLACED EVERY 34 THOUSAND MILES. I GUESS THE LEFT REAR WOULD GO FASTER IF I DID NOT ROTATE THE TIRES TO SPREAD THE WEAR. CAR WHEN BOUGHT CAME WITH REPLACEMENT TIRES AT 34 THOUSAND MILES, I REPLACED THEM AT 67 THOUSAND AND 102 THOUSAND. PROBLEM STILL EXIS…

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EXCESSIVE LEFT SIDE TIRE WEAR, ESPECIALLY LEFT REAR. LEFT SIDE TIRES NEED REPLACED EVERY 34 THOUSAND MILES. I GUESS THE LEFT REAR WOULD GO FASTER IF I DID NOT ROTATE THE TIRES TO SPREAD THE WEAR. CAR WHEN BOUGHT CAME WITH REPLACEMENT TIRES AT 34 THOUSAND MILES, I REPLACED THEM AT 67 THOUSAND AND 102 THOUSAND. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I KEEP AN EYE ON THEM, OTHERWISE LEFT REAR TIRE WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY THIS CONDITION. AT 67K MILES FIRESTONE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRILL HOLES TO ALIGN CAR PROPERLY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE WEAR IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WHERE MOST FOLKS DON'T LOOK. I CALLED AND MAILED GM AND THEY DON'T CARE, GUESS WE NEED SOME ACCIDENTS FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611075

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.