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
76,330 miles · Sep 26, 2013
Power Train
I TURNED MY CAR ON, PUT ON MY SEAT BELT, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND TRIED TO SHIFT MY CAR OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. I COULD NOT PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER IN, AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A QUICK RELEASE BUTTON UNDERNEATH THE CENTER CONSOLE ON THE PASSENGE…
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I TURNED MY CAR ON, PUT ON MY SEAT BELT, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND TRIED TO SHIFT MY CAR OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. I COULD NOT PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER IN, AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A QUICK RELEASE BUTTON UNDERNEATH THE CENTER CONSOLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, TURN ON MY CAR, HAVE SOMEONE REACH UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TO PRESS THE BUTTON, AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE WHILE THEY HELD THE BUTTON. I STILL AM UNABLE TO SHIFT MY CAR OUT OF PARK UNLESS SOMEONE IS HOLDING THAT BUTTON. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10545582
80,600 miles · Sep 26, 2013
Suspension
IT'S MAKING A HUMMING NOSIE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10545562
45,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Latches/locks/linkages
THE REAR POWER DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE OR WHEN USING DRIVER MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. PROBLEM BEGAN SOON AFTER PURCHASE. HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. KNOWN ISSUE WITH LUBRICATION GREASE ENTERING ACTUATOR MOTOR AND SHORTING MOTOR CONNECTIONS. VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH 07 08…
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THE REAR POWER DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE OR WHEN USING DRIVER MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. PROBLEM BEGAN SOON AFTER PURCHASE. HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. KNOWN ISSUE WITH LUBRICATION GREASE ENTERING ACTUATOR MOTOR AND SHORTING MOTOR CONNECTIONS. VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH 07 08 IMPALAS, ALSO SIMILAR YEAR MALIBUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10544512
103,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK CONTINUES TO FAIL UPON DEPRESSION OF UNLOCK BUTTON ON FOB OR INSIDE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10544496
103,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Power Train
SHIFTER IS LOCKED - AGAIN - AND WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10544495
97,322 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Power Train
SHIFTER LOCKED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. SERVICE FOUND BROKEN WIRE AT TRANSMISSION SHIFTER. THEY REMOVED CENTER CONSOLE AND REPAIRED WIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10544494
50,000 miles · Sep 13, 2013
Steering
THIS SITUATION HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH THIS CAR WHEN IT RAINS AND THE GROUND IS WET. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IN THE RAINY WEATHER. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE CAR GETS WET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. T…
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THIS SITUATION HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH THIS CAR WHEN IT RAINS AND THE GROUND IS WET. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IN THE RAINY WEATHER. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE CAR GETS WET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE BELT WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSIST. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, ESPECIALLY, WHEN IT RAINS. I'M AFRAID THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START LOCKING WHEN DRIVING IN DRY WEATHER TOO! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10543411
67,124 miles · Sep 12, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
REAR DOOR PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. THEY LOCK IS ALSO POSITIONED WAY TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE DOOR MAKING IT VERY TROUBLESOME TO UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10543366
90,000 miles · Sep 12, 2013
Traction Control System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AB…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10543355
69,000 miles · Sep 10, 2013
Power TrainCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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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