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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
3,000 miles · May 7, 2009
Structure

EXCESS WHISTLING NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. DEALER NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH OTHER IMPALAS. TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY ADJUST THE WINDOW BUT DO NOT REPLACE ANY WEATHER STRIPPING OR WINDOW MECHANISMS BECAUSE GM WILL ONLY COVER THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIV…

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EXCESS WHISTLING NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. DEALER NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH OTHER IMPALAS. TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY ADJUST THE WINDOW BUT DO NOT REPLACE ANY WEATHER STRIPPING OR WINDOW MECHANISMS BECAUSE GM WILL ONLY COVER THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267987

850 miles · Mar 16, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD BEFORE MOVING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD BEFORE MOVING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 850. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/09/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10262011

6,000 miles · Feb 16, 2009
Electrical System

WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW APPROX 20 DEGREES F AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OVERNIGHT, THE FACTORY REMOTE STARTER AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEMS DON'T FUNCTION UNLESS I HOLD THE TRANSMITTER DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. IN WARMER WEATHER, THE SYSTEM WORKS FROM DISTANCES GREATER THAN 50 FEET. IT HAS BEEN T…

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WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW APPROX 20 DEGREES F AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OVERNIGHT, THE FACTORY REMOTE STARTER AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEMS DON'T FUNCTION UNLESS I HOLD THE TRANSMITTER DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. IN WARMER WEATHER, THE SYSTEM WORKS FROM DISTANCES GREATER THAN 50 FEET. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM ALREADY AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THUS FAR, THE 2 TRANSMITTERS AND THE RECEIVER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258736

12,395 miles · Jan 4, 2009
Seat Belts

ON TWO OCCASIONS THIS DECEMBER I RENTED VEHICLES FROM BOTH ALAMO AND ENTERPRISE IN BOSTON, MA AND MINNEAPOLIS, MN RESPECTIVELY AT AIRPORT LOCATIONS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I RENTED A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. IN BOSTON THE WIPER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, AND IN MINNEAPOLIS THE ABS SYSTEM WAS EITHER NOT INCLUDED OR NON-OPERATING. IN SUNNY…

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ON TWO OCCASIONS THIS DECEMBER I RENTED VEHICLES FROM BOTH ALAMO AND ENTERPRISE IN BOSTON, MA AND MINNEAPOLIS, MN RESPECTIVELY AT AIRPORT LOCATIONS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I RENTED A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. IN BOSTON THE WIPER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, AND IN MINNEAPOLIS THE ABS SYSTEM WAS EITHER NOT INCLUDED OR NON-OPERATING. IN SUNNY WEATHER, NO ONE WOULD HAVE NOTICED EITHER PROBLEM. BUT WHAT I DID NOTICE IS. ON BOTH CARS THE SAFETY BELTS FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGERS DID NOT TENSION PROPERLY DURING LOW SPEED BRAKING, AND MEDIUM SPEED EMERGENCY BRAKING, WHEREBY OCCUPANTS WHERE THROWN FORWARD INTO WHATEVER WAS IN FRONT OF THEM. IN MY CASE IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN A FEW TIMES, AND WITH OTHERS SEATS, AND/OR DASHBOARD. I THINK THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. BOTH WERE LS MODELS, THOUGH THEY VARIED INSIDE AS TO THE CONTROLS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253766

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2009
Fuel System, Other

GM ADVERTISES THAT THE 3.9 LITER ENGINE IS SUPPOSED TO GET 28MPG AND WE CAN'T GET MORE THAN 25MPG IN EITHER OF OUR IMPALAS EQUIPPED WITH THIS ENGINE AND BOTH CARS HAVE OVER 10,000 MILES ON THEM WHICH ACCORDING TO THE DEALER MEANS THEY SHOULD BE BROKEN IN. I'VE TALKED TO GM TWICE ABOUT IT AND THEY BLAME THE EPA FOR THE ADVERTISED…

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GM ADVERTISES THAT THE 3.9 LITER ENGINE IS SUPPOSED TO GET 28MPG AND WE CAN'T GET MORE THAN 25MPG IN EITHER OF OUR IMPALAS EQUIPPED WITH THIS ENGINE AND BOTH CARS HAVE OVER 10,000 MILES ON THEM WHICH ACCORDING TO THE DEALER MEANS THEY SHOULD BE BROKEN IN. I'VE TALKED TO GM TWICE ABOUT IT AND THEY BLAME THE EPA FOR THE ADVERTISED NUMBERS ON THE WINDOW STICKER SO IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THAT ENGINE HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL. WHO DOES THE TESTING ON THE CARS TO GET THE FUEL MILEAGE NUMBERS THAT ARE ON THE WINDOW STICKERS? I THOUGHT THE NEW NUMBERS FOR 2008 WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MORE ACCURATE THEN IN THE PAST. WE'VE HAD FOUR OTHER NEW IMPALAS (01,02,04,04) AND THEY ALL GOT THE FUEL MILEAGE ADVERTISED SO WHY DO THE 08'S WITH THE 3.9 DO SO POORLY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253442

14,000 miles · Dec 24, 2008
Wheels

AT 12K MILES INSIDE OF REAR TIRES WERE WORN SMOOTH. CHEVROLET ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES THIS ON THE 2007-2008 IMPALA POLICE CARS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2008 IMPALA LTZ AND IT HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252716

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2008
Exterior Lighting

I RENTED A CAR AND IT WAS A CHEVY IMPALA WHERE I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, SEPTEMBER IN PHOENIX. I DID A AAA DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE TODAY IN NY AND LEARNED THAT THE PUSH IS TO CONVINCE EVERYONE THEY ARE SAFER IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IF ONLY THEY'D TURN THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON -- AND THAT THIS IS BEING PROMOTED FOR LEGISLATION.…

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I RENTED A CAR AND IT WAS A CHEVY IMPALA WHERE I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, SEPTEMBER IN PHOENIX. I DID A AAA DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE TODAY IN NY AND LEARNED THAT THE PUSH IS TO CONVINCE EVERYONE THEY ARE SAFER IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IF ONLY THEY'D TURN THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON -- AND THAT THIS IS BEING PROMOTED FOR LEGISLATION. IT IS INFURIATING NOT TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS IN PLACES WHERE IT IS RUDE TO KEEP THEM ON -- WAITING IN A PARKING LOT, WATCHING THE VIEW WITH THE HEATER ON, MY DRIVEWAY WHILE YOU'RE PARKED AND TALKING. I AM ANGRILY OPPOSED TO THE NOTION THAT I SHOULD EVER BY LAW BE REQUIRED TO KEEP HEADLIGHTS ON ALL DAY -- AND I AM DISTURBED BY THE NOTION THAT ONE DAY I MAY NEED TO BUY A CAR WHERE THERE IS NO LONGER THE OPTION TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. THE CONSTANT HEADLIGHTS IDEA WAS A CUTE SAFETY PROMOTION THING, BUT IT IS PREPOSTEROUS AND IGNORANT AS EITHER A LAW OR A MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENT. I PERSONALLY AM AGGRAVATED BY THE EXCESSIVE LIGHTS AND LIGHTING ON ROADS AND ROADSIGNS AND OVER-POWERED HEADLIGHTS ON CARS AND ROOF-LEVEL HEADLIGHTS ON SUVS -- I AM RELIEVED THAT THIS AGGRAVATION AND DANGEROUS DISTRACTION GOES AWAY WITH ITS NECESSITY AT DAWN. I DON'T EVER WANT TO GET STUCK WITH ANOTHER CAR WHERE I CANNOT TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS: IT'S RUDE, IT'S PERCEIVED AS AN INVASION OF PRIVACY, IT'S PERCEIVED AS AN ACT OF AGGRESSION, IT BLINDS PEOPLE WITH GLARE AND A SPOTLIGHT EFFECT AND IT IS UNNECESSARY UNLESS VISIBILITY IS COMPROMISED AND YOU ARE ACTUALLY DRIVING. I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AAA DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE PUSH FOR CONSTANT HEADLIGHTS WHICH I SEE AS AGGRAVATING LIGHT POLLUTION AND WASTE OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES; AND I'M COMPLAINING THAT CHEVROLET CAN PUT A CAR INTO PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE OPTION TO TURN OFF IT'S HEADLIGHTS. ADDITIONALLY, I SHOULD COMPLAIN THAT THE SUPER-BRIGHT LUXURY CAR AND GIANT SUV HEADLIGHTS BOTH CREATE HAZARDS FOR ME WHILE DRIVING. I DON'T WEAR GLASSES AND DON'T HAVE VISION PROBLEMS - COMMON SENSE, AGE 40. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251682

20 miles · Nov 11, 2008
Suspension

I GOT THIS 2008 IMPALA IN NOV.2007. IT HAS A VIBRATION THAT STARTS ABOUT 37MPH THROUGH 47MPH. AND AT 75MPH IT IS WORST. THE DEALER REBALANCED THE TIRES, I WENT BACK AND THE TIRES WERE REBALANCED AGAIN. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY ALL HAVE THIS VIBRATION. I CALLED CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION,TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE,THE LA…

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I GOT THIS 2008 IMPALA IN NOV.2007. IT HAS A VIBRATION THAT STARTS ABOUT 37MPH THROUGH 47MPH. AND AT 75MPH IT IS WORST. THE DEALER REBALANCED THE TIRES, I WENT BACK AND THE TIRES WERE REBALANCED AGAIN. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY ALL HAVE THIS VIBRATION. I CALLED CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION,TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE,THE LAST PERSON SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE TIRES,AND IT WAS NORMAL OF THAT CAR. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY CAR. THIS CAR 2,300 MILES ON IT. I WANT THIS FIXED,AND I'M STUCK WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248415

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2008
Suspension

GM ISSUED A LETTER TO 2007 AND 2008 IMPALA POLICE VEHICLE OWNERS CONCERNING A CONDITION THAT LEADS TO REAR WHEEL MISALIGNMENT, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE TIRES. MY 2008 IMPALA SS IS EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT GM WILL ONLY FIX POLICE VEHICLES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PROBLEM EFFECTS MORE TH…

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GM ISSUED A LETTER TO 2007 AND 2008 IMPALA POLICE VEHICLE OWNERS CONCERNING A CONDITION THAT LEADS TO REAR WHEEL MISALIGNMENT, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE TIRES. MY 2008 IMPALA SS IS EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT GM WILL ONLY FIX POLICE VEHICLES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PROBLEM EFFECTS MORE THAT JUST THE POLICE VEHICLES BECAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSIONS AND SETUPS ARE IDENTICAL. GM SHOULD FIX ANY IMPALA EXPERIENCE THE ALIGNMENT ISSUES BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER RIGHT TO BEGIN WITH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248299

26,000 miles · Oct 28, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,437.

NHTSA ODI #10246937

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.