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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

Engine complaints

134 reports
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114,000 miles · Apr 24, 2015
Engine

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN , THEN THE REDUCED SPEED LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENGINE POWER IS VERY SLOW ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT TO THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, WHY HASN'T CHEVY RECALLED ANY YET . THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712688

140,000 miles · Apr 15, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE THAT SAID SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND MY CAR CAME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES NOW AND HAVE CAUSED VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM WILL…

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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR FLASHED A MESSAGE THAT SAID SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND MY CAR CAME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES NOW AND HAVE CAUSED VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR A FEW HOURS BUT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN OUT OF NO WHERE I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THIS FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AD THERE IS NO FIX! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705954

120,309 miles · Apr 7, 2015
Engine

THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE IT WILL SLOW YOUR VEHICLE DOWN IF YOUR GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704302

100,500 miles · Apr 7, 2015
Engine

"REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AND THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 20 MPH. HAD THIS BEEN THE HIGHWAY WE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO VARIOUS BLOGS ON THE INTERNET GM IS IGNORING THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. I WOULD PAY FOR A FIX BUT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ONE AT THIS TIME. I WILL GIVE A CHEVY DEALER A …

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"REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AND THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 20 MPH. HAD THIS BEEN THE HIGHWAY WE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO VARIOUS BLOGS ON THE INTERNET GM IS IGNORING THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. I WOULD PAY FOR A FIX BUT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ONE AT THIS TIME. I WILL GIVE A CHEVY DEALER A CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT BUT AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704186

90,000 miles · Mar 27, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE LOSING POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE LOSING POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10702227

129,000 miles · Mar 18, 2015
EngineTraction Control System

THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE APPEARS. THE ENTIRE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME, HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MONTH…

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THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE APPEARS. THE ENTIRE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME, HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MONTH(MARCH). TAKING TO CHEVY DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695059

69,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015
EnginePower Train

I LET ME 2008 CHEVY IMPALA WARM UP AS THE WINDCHILL IS AROUND -35 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. I STARTED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY MESSAGE DISPLAY SAID "REDUCING ENGINE SPEED", THEN IT SAID "SERVICE DISABLED, DISABLED SERVICE THROTTLE". THEN THE VEH CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A PA…

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I LET ME 2008 CHEVY IMPALA WARM UP AS THE WINDCHILL IS AROUND -35 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. I STARTED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY MESSAGE DISPLAY SAID "REDUCING ENGINE SPEED", THEN IT SAID "SERVICE DISABLED, DISABLED SERVICE THROTTLE". THEN THE VEH CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT! THERE ARE NO TOWERS AVAILABLE AT ALL TILL TOMORROW MORNING EITHER. TRIED JUMPING STARTING THE VEHICLE - BUT TO NO AVAIL. CALLED A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10690141

147,000 miles · Feb 9, 2015
Engine

VEHICLE OUT OF THE BLUE SAYS "REDUCING ENGINE SPEED" AND THEN CAR SLOWS DOWN AND CAN NOT SPEED UP IN TRAFFIC CARS ABOUT TO RUN OVER ME WONDER WILL THIS HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682371

733,781 miles · Jan 25, 2015
EngineSteering

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND UPON INSPECTION BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ON JANUARY 15, 2015, TWO DIFFERENT VISIBLE LEAKS WERE FOUND AS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AFTER ONLY APPROX. 73,000 MILES. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT INFERIOR GASKETS/SEALS IN THE 1) ENGINES INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND 2) THE RA…

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VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND UPON INSPECTION BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ON JANUARY 15, 2015, TWO DIFFERENT VISIBLE LEAKS WERE FOUND AS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AFTER ONLY APPROX. 73,000 MILES. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT INFERIOR GASKETS/SEALS IN THE 1) ENGINES INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND 2) THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM CAUSED PREMATURE LEAKS TO OCCUR IN THE MODELS. REPAIR COSTS ARE ESTIMATED AT APPROX. $2,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678807

122,000 miles · Jan 18, 2015
Engine

I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY ENGINE WENT INTO POWER REDUCE MODE WITHOUT WARNING AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BAD WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME. I DID GET TAPPED FROM BEHIND BUT REALLY NOTHING MAJOR BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT. MIND YOU I JUST PICKED MY CAR…

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I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY ENGINE WENT INTO POWER REDUCE MODE WITHOUT WARNING AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BAD WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME. I DID GET TAPPED FROM BEHIND BUT REALLY NOTHING MAJOR BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT. MIND YOU I JUST PICKED MY CAR UP THAT FRIDAY FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THEY CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS THE BATTERY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE I'M HAVING AND IT SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND INNOCENT PEOPLES LIVES ARE GETTING PUT IN DANGER FOR NO REASON..... PLEASE HELP.....THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676352

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.