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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

26 reports
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85,000 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AFTER IT WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AFTER IT WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525097

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO CONSTANT SENSOR FAILURES. THE FIRST WAS A FAULTY OIL SENSOR. THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO START OR RUN DO TO A SERVICE STABILITRAK CODE. BECAUSE OF THEBOTH ISSUES WE WERE UNABLE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CAR AND ITS CONTENTS. THE BREAKDOWN ALSO CAUSE US TO BE STRANDED IN EXTREMELY COLD …

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO CONSTANT SENSOR FAILURES. THE FIRST WAS A FAULTY OIL SENSOR. THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO START OR RUN DO TO A SERVICE STABILITRAK CODE. BECAUSE OF THEBOTH ISSUES WE WERE UNABLE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CAR AND ITS CONTENTS. THE BREAKDOWN ALSO CAUSE US TO BE STRANDED IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492388

91,000 miles · Jun 27, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

REDUCE POWER LIGHT COMES ON. CARS SPEED DRASTICALLY REDUCES. IF YOU PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND RESTART THE CAR,IT RESETS ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463246

116,000 miles · Oct 13, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

ON 10/5/11 I TRIED MY 08 IMPALA FOR FIRST TIME IN RAIN SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED 4 MONTHS EARLIER, THE CAR IS A POLICE VERSION WITH THE 3.9 FLEX FUEL ENGINE. WAS EXCITED TO TRY OUT NEW TIRES IN RAIN . , I WENT THRU A FEW PUDDLES IT SEEMED OK,IT WASN'T EVEN RAINING HARD, WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME, I ALSO STOPPED WHEN I…

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ON 10/5/11 I TRIED MY 08 IMPALA FOR FIRST TIME IN RAIN SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED 4 MONTHS EARLIER, THE CAR IS A POLICE VERSION WITH THE 3.9 FLEX FUEL ENGINE. WAS EXCITED TO TRY OUT NEW TIRES IN RAIN . , I WENT THRU A FEW PUDDLES IT SEEMED OK,IT WASN'T EVEN RAINING HARD, WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME, I ALSO STOPPED WHEN I TRIED TO TURN LEFT TO GO AROUND THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL JUST FROZE,I HAD ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 1 MILE .AFTER FEW SECONDS IT WAS OK, ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. I JUST DROVE IT BACK HOME DISAPPOINTED KNOWING I WONT BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT DURING RAINING PERIODS . FOUND OUT THRU INTERNET THAT MANY CUSTOMERS HAVING SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR . GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS REALLY HURT DRIVING THIS DANGEROUS VEHICLE ! HOPEFULLY NOT TO LATE!!!!!! WAS LUCKY THIS PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHILE CAR WAS STOPPED AND NOT ON HIGHWAY.. CHECKED FLUID, BELTS, ALL GOOD . . FROM LOS ANGELES *TR

NHTSA ODI #10429992

38,000 miles · Feb 15, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE FAILURE RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE FAILURE RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND RESEARCHED THE FAILURE. A DISTRICT MANAGER RETURNED THE CONTACTS CALL AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED; YET, THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,048.

NHTSA ODI #10382778

51,757 miles · Jan 12, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL DEVICES CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER AND THE CAR SLOWED CONSIDERABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED …

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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL DEVICES CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER AND THE CAR SLOWED CONSIDERABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AND THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE. THE FAILURE WAS AT 51757 MILES AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY RESULTING IN A $400 BILL THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376353

54,000 miles · Nov 30, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingTraction Control System

2008 IMPALA HAS BAD GAS PEDAL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE TRACTION LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON YOU LOSE A LOT OF THE ENGINE POWER UNTIL THE TRACTION LIGHT GOES OFF THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CALLED GMC AND TOOK IT TO A DEALER THEY PUT IT ON THE MACHINE FIRST I WAS TOLD IT WAS SENSOR IN THE PEDAL. NEXT I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WIRI…

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2008 IMPALA HAS BAD GAS PEDAL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE TRACTION LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON YOU LOSE A LOT OF THE ENGINE POWER UNTIL THE TRACTION LIGHT GOES OFF THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CALLED GMC AND TOOK IT TO A DEALER THEY PUT IT ON THE MACHINE FIRST I WAS TOLD IT WAS SENSOR IN THE PEDAL. NEXT I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. BY THE SAME DEALER NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I THINK SOMETHING DANGEROUS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE DEALER BUT THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368456

54,000 miles · Jun 22, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH , SHE BEGAN REDUCING SPEED AS SHE APPROACHED A STOP SIGNAL. THE "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL" AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH , SHE BEGAN REDUCING SPEED AS SHE APPROACHED A STOP SIGNAL. THE "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL" AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER TO THE POINT OF ALMOST STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ADS SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAD CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A SECOND TIME TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND NOT THE ADS SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 8/2/10 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE REAR DOOR LOCK DIDN'T WORK. UPDATED 08/09/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10339483

45,000 miles · May 29, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2008 WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P2444) WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL THE EMISSIONS TEST. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR IT AND STATES THE WARRANTY IS ONLY VALID FOR 3 YEARS OR…

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I OWN A 2008 WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P2444) WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL THE EMISSIONS TEST. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR IT AND STATES THE WARRANTY IS ONLY VALID FOR 3 YEARS OR 30,000 MILES. I CANNOT GET THE VEHICLE INSPECTED UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT A CAR ONLY 2 YEARS OLD CAN HAVE SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THE REPAIRS WILL COST $1600 TO $2000 BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. I TRIED TO GET THE CODE RESET ONLY TO HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10333846

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringCrash

HIT A DEER ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER FENDER AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, SPUN AND UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR, WAS UNABLE TO MOVE CAR, STALLED ON HIGHWAY FOR 1 HOUR. CAR ENGINE STARTED BUT UNABLE TO MOVE. ALMOST HIT A TRUCK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DUE TO INABILITY TO STOP AND USE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331608

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.