IllustrationI HAVE DAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND THE SOLENOIDS KEEP GOING OUT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I WILL BE GETTING THEM REPLACED, I HAVE NOT HAD AN OPERATING VEHICLE FOR A WEEK NOW AND I JUST HAVE WAIT TO SAVE UP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED.
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 reportsDRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH WHEN ENGINE DIES WITH NO WARNING. DASH SHOWS FOLLOWING MESSAGES: "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" "SERIVCE TRACTION CONTROL" "SERVICE STABILITRAX" POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES STOP WORKING. WHEN CAR KEY IS TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE CODES ARE CLEARED, THE CAR STARTS UP FINE AND CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY. LU…
Read full complaint
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH WHEN ENGINE DIES WITH NO WARNING. DASH SHOWS FOLLOWING MESSAGES: "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" "SERIVCE TRACTION CONTROL" "SERVICE STABILITRAX" POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES STOP WORKING. WHEN CAR KEY IS TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE CODES ARE CLEARED, THE CAR STARTS UP FINE AND CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR (ALBEIT ON THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY), TURN IT OFF, CLEAR THE CODES, AND START IT BACK UP TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2018. AFTER THIS I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER. THEY SAID CAR WAS COVERED UNDER "WARRANTY" FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. ONE MONTH LATER SAME PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING. CAR RUNS FINE BUT THESE MESSAGES APPEAR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. TYPICALLY THE ENGINE STAYS ON AND IS ONLY LIMITED IN POWER. HOWEVER, OCCASIONALLY THE CAR WILL DIE COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD CAR BROUGHT TO CHEVY DEALER. THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS IT IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING WITH THE CAR. THEY RECOMMENDED I TAKE THE CAR AND BRING IT BACK TO THEM WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR KNOWING THE ENGINE COULD JUST SHUT DOWN AT ANY MOMENT AND THE CHEVY SPECIALIST THEMSELVES DO NOT SEEM TO EVEN HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS.
HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION
ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND WAS ACTING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. SO I PARKED MY CAR CALLED MY MECHANIC HE CAME OVER AND LOOKED AT THE CAR I SAID IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE ROCKER ARM THAT HAS GONE IN THE CAR OR I COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LI…
Read full complaint
ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND WAS ACTING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. SO I PARKED MY CAR CALLED MY MECHANIC HE CAME OVER AND LOOKED AT THE CAR I SAID IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE ROCKER ARM THAT HAS GONE IN THE CAR OR I COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON GIVING ME A CODE FOR A CAM POSITIONING SENSOR / SOLENOID. ALSO WHEN I PURCHASE THE CAR NOT TOO LONG AFTER ME DRIVING I NOTICED THERE WAS SOME NOISE COMING FROM MY BACK TIRES. I COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT FOR A WHILE UNTIL ONE DAY I LOOKED AT MY TIRES AND NOTICED THAT ON THE INSIDE THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SCRAPING GOING ON WEARING AWAY MY TREAD. IT WOULD ALWAYS SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN I GOT NEW TIRES ON THE CAR SO I THOUGHT MAYBE THE TIRES WERE TOO BIG FOR THE CAR BUT I ORDERED WHAT THE MANUFACTOR SUGGESTED THE TIRE SIZE SHOULD BE FOR THE CAR. SO I HAD A TIRE SPECIALIST LOOK AT IT AND AN ALIGNMENT SPECIALIST LOOK AT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SUSPENSION SPRINGS MAY BE CAUSING MY ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHANGE THE SIZE OF MY TIRE FOR THEM TO FIT BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS ARE CORRECT AND THE TIRES WERE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR THE CAR.
WHEN DRIVING IT STATED NOT TO PICK UP SPEED THEN INBOXES I COULDN'T GO ANYMORE I TURN IT OFF THEN BK ON AND I PUT IT ON DRIVE. AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE SO I TURNED IT OFF WAITED A LITTLE AND THEN TIERED IT BACK ON AND IT PICKED UP A LITTLE SPEED (5MPH) AND I KEPT HAVING TO TURN IT OFF N ON TILL I MADE IT HOME. AFTER I HAVEN'T DR…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING IT STATED NOT TO PICK UP SPEED THEN INBOXES I COULDN'T GO ANYMORE I TURN IT OFF THEN BK ON AND I PUT IT ON DRIVE. AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE SO I TURNED IT OFF WAITED A LITTLE AND THEN TIERED IT BACK ON AND IT PICKED UP A LITTLE SPEED (5MPH) AND I KEPT HAVING TO TURN IT OFF N ON TILL I MADE IT HOME. AFTER I HAVEN'T DROVE IT. THE ONLY GOOD THING WAS THAT IT HAPPENED ON MY BACK RODE TO MY APT. (LESS CARS)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED FORWARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREGG YOUNG CHEVROLET (17750 BURT ST, OMAHA, NE 68118, (402) 509-3028) TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED FORWARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREGG YOUNG CHEVROLET (17750 BURT ST, OMAHA, NE 68118, (402) 509-3028) TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT TURNED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. THE CRASH WAS A T-BONE COLLISION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT AND OTHER DRIVER WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUBER CADILLAC (11102 W DODGE RD, OMAHA, NE 68154, (402) 496-5400), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, AND FUEL INJECTOR (TWICE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP THE CAR HESITATES AND JERKS HARD AND SOMETIMES 10 TO 15MPH WILL QUIT ACCELERATING AND THEN JERK THEN TAKES OFF. STATE HIGHWAY.
VERY BAD KNOCKING NOISE ALSO ELECTRICAL FIRE COULD'VE CAUGHT ON FIRE
LIGHTS CAME ON DASH SERVICE THROTTLE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON 8/16/2018 GOING 55 WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO CHATTER AND I STRUGGLED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE IT WAS SO SUDDEN. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A BIT THEN IT STARTED AND I WENT ON. TODAY …
Read full complaint
LIGHTS CAME ON DASH SERVICE THROTTLE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON 8/16/2018 GOING 55 WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO CHATTER AND I STRUGGLED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE IT WAS SO SUDDEN. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A BIT THEN IT STARTED AND I WENT ON. TODAY IT DID IT AND IT STILL WONT START AFTER HOURS.
VEHICLE HESITATES THROTTLE BODY CAUSES CAR TO JERK CUT OFF NOT PICK UP SPEED ALWAYS IDLED UP SPEED SENSOR READS 107 MPH WHEN ONLY GOING 30MPH STALLS. ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.I HAVE MY CAR REGULARLY SERVICED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. MY BLENDOOR ACULATER CAUSE MY HEAT …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HESITATES THROTTLE BODY CAUSES CAR TO JERK CUT OFF NOT PICK UP SPEED ALWAYS IDLED UP SPEED SENSOR READS 107 MPH WHEN ONLY GOING 30MPH STALLS. ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.I HAVE MY CAR REGULARLY SERVICED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. MY BLENDOOR ACULATER CAUSE MY HEAT NOT TO SOMETIMES COME ON AND IT MAKES THIS LOUD CLICKING NOISE. MOST IF NO ALL IMPALA HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND GM KNOWS ABOUT ALL THE THINGS I TOLD YOU ABOUT YET THEY DONT WANNA RECALL THE VEHICLE
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.