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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
1,732 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ROTORS. THE TECHNICIAN RESURFACED AND DEGLAZED THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES FOR THE FAILURES. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU MANDATED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE DEFECT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AND IS AWAITING TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,732 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,006.

NHTSA ODI #10246139

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR COMPANY OWNS A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA THAT WILL SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES, AFTER THE DRIVER PUTS THE CAR INTO 'DRIVE' OR 'REVERSE' FROM PARK THE ENGINE RPMS SURGE, THE RADIO GETS LOUDER AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. IT HAS SURGED AND THEN DIED WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50+ MILES PER HOUR. IT HAS DIED WHILE IN DRIVE BUT STO…

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OUR COMPANY OWNS A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA THAT WILL SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES, AFTER THE DRIVER PUTS THE CAR INTO 'DRIVE' OR 'REVERSE' FROM PARK THE ENGINE RPMS SURGE, THE RADIO GETS LOUDER AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. IT HAS SURGED AND THEN DIED WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50+ MILES PER HOUR. IT HAS DIED WHILE IN DRIVE BUT STOPPED A STOP LIGHT/SIGN. THE DRIVER HAS TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO PARK AND THE CAR STARTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. IT IS A SERIOUS HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246097

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT TAKE E85 FUEL. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I'VE FILLED UP WITH E85 AND DRIVEN OUT THE ENTIRE TANK OF E85 FUEL, THEN SWITCHED BACK TO 87 OCTANE. WITH DRIVING 10 - 20 MILES, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I'M DIRECTED BY MY ONSTAR SERVICE TO REPORT THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME ON…

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I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT TAKE E85 FUEL. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I'VE FILLED UP WITH E85 AND DRIVEN OUT THE ENTIRE TANK OF E85 FUEL, THEN SWITCHED BACK TO 87 OCTANE. WITH DRIVING 10 - 20 MILES, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I'M DIRECTED BY MY ONSTAR SERVICE TO REPORT THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THAT MY FUEL SYSTEM DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE CHANGE IN ALCOHOL LEVELS BETWEEN THE E85 AND 87 OCTANE; THE REASON FOR THE ALERT. THE FUEL SYSTEM IS NOT ABLE TO TELL THAT I'VE SWITCHED FROM E85 TO 87 AND REPORTS A FAILURE IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THIS CAUSE MY REMOTE START TO NOT WORK. I HAVE TO REPORT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO MANUALLY RESET THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT MONITORS THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245085

5,000 miles · Oct 7, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THIS HAPPENS 1-2 TIMES A WEEK. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I AM LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH A SUDDENLY INOPERATIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD A STALL OUT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I HAVE HAD A STALL OUT WHILE MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY!! MOST RECENTLY I HAD…

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WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THIS HAPPENS 1-2 TIMES A WEEK. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I AM LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH A SUDDENLY INOPERATIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD A STALL OUT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I HAVE HAD A STALL OUT WHILE MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY!! MOST RECENTLY I HAD A STALL OUT THAT REQUIRED IMMEDIATE RECOVERY AND EVASIVE ACTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN WHICH RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID A POSSIBLE COLLISION. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE SO FAR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT) AND THERE WAS NO CODE SHOWING. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO ASSIST ME AND WERE RUDE AND DISCOURTEOUS AND IMPLIED THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET A FREE REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP IS SUNDANCE CHEVROLET IN GRAND LEDGE MI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244613

1,200 miles · Sep 23, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES GET DIRT ON THEM AND START GRINDING AT THE ROTORS ESPECIALLY THE BACK BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243235

1,471 miles · Sep 19, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AT 60 MPH WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE TO APPROXIMATELY 85-90 MPH. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUES UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,471. UPDATED 10/21…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AT 60 MPH WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE TO APPROXIMATELY 85-90 MPH. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUES UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,471. UPDATED 10/21/08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10242907

10,000 miles · Sep 15, 2008
Fuel System, OtherPower Train

GM ADVERTISES THAT MILEAGE FOR AVERAGE HIGHWAY DRIVING IS 28 MPG. THE CAR DOES NOT MEET OR EVEN COME CLOSE TO THIS STANDARD. I HAVE TESTED MILEAGE WITH 100% HIGHWAY DRIVING AND THE MAX MPG IS 23. WITH SOME MINIMAL OFF HIGHWAY DRIVING (TO AND FROM HIGHWAY) THE MPG AVERAGES 21 TO 22. OFF HIGHWAY MPG AVERAGES 19. MY INVESTIGAT…

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GM ADVERTISES THAT MILEAGE FOR AVERAGE HIGHWAY DRIVING IS 28 MPG. THE CAR DOES NOT MEET OR EVEN COME CLOSE TO THIS STANDARD. I HAVE TESTED MILEAGE WITH 100% HIGHWAY DRIVING AND THE MAX MPG IS 23. WITH SOME MINIMAL OFF HIGHWAY DRIVING (TO AND FROM HIGHWAY) THE MPG AVERAGES 21 TO 22. OFF HIGHWAY MPG AVERAGES 19. MY INVESTIGATIONS HAVE FOUND THAT GM HAS CHANGED THE FINAL DRIVE RATIO. AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE RPM IS 2,300. THAT IS 300 RPM MORE THAT PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242316

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2008
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicTires

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW IMPALA, YEAR 2008. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10K MILES I EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION IN THE REAR WHEN BRAKING. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO RADLEY CHEVROLET IN FREDERICKSBURG, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND IT WAS MY FAULT AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE WAS NOT CORRECT AND…

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I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW IMPALA, YEAR 2008. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10K MILES I EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION IN THE REAR WHEN BRAKING. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO RADLEY CHEVROLET IN FREDERICKSBURG, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND IT WAS MY FAULT AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE WAS NOT CORRECT AND UNEVEN. I NEVER TOUCHED THE LUG NUTS OR ROTATED THE TIRES AS THE TORQUE ISSUE WAS REAR ONLY AND TREAD WEAR PROVED THERE HAD BEEN NO ROTATION. I WENT TO CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO STATED THE RADLEY SERVICE MANAGER WAS SUCH A GREAT GUY AND HE BELIEVED THE SERVICE MANAGER. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT THE TREAD WEAR PROVED THE TIRES WERE NOT ROTATED HE THEN TOLD ME THAT NOT ROTATING THE TIRES WAS A MAINTENANCE VIOLATION ALSO. I ASKED HIM THAT NOW YOU ARE CLAIMING THE UNEVEN TORQUE WAS DUE TO ME NOT ROTATING THE TIRES. I AM FRUSTRATED AS I AM RIGHT AND NEVER TOUCHED THOSE TIRES OR NUTS. I AM NOT EVEN SURE WHERE THE WRENCH IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242184

29,511 miles · Sep 11, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE DRIVES THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE AND WHEN SHE GIVES IT GAS IT CUTS OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND TURNE OFF THE CONTACT TRIES TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND IT DOES NOT COME BACK ON. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT …

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THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE DRIVES THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE AND WHEN SHE GIVES IT GAS IT CUTS OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND TURNE OFF THE CONTACT TRIES TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND IT DOES NOT COME BACK ON. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ANDCURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29511.

NHTSA ODI #10241909

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2008
Structure

AIR WHISTLING IN DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW OR DOOR. DEALER AND GM STATE THIS IS NORMAL THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241575

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.