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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

Visibility complaints

10 reports
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83,000 miles · Jan 5, 2017
EquipmentVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONVERTER WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONVERTER WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10939812

39,227 miles · Nov 18, 2014
StructureVisibility

I STARTED GETTING THIS CLICKING NOISE BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE TEMP DOOR ACTUATOR AND THE AIR INLET DOOR ACTUATOR. THEY REPLACED BOTH AND THE CLICKING NOISE WENT AWAY AND CONTROLS WORKED FINE AGAIN. NOW IN NOVEMBER, 2014, THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING.…

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I STARTED GETTING THIS CLICKING NOISE BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE TEMP DOOR ACTUATOR AND THE AIR INLET DOOR ACTUATOR. THEY REPLACED BOTH AND THE CLICKING NOISE WENT AWAY AND CONTROLS WORKED FINE AGAIN. NOW IN NOVEMBER, 2014, THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. FROM ALL THAT I HAVE READ THE ACTUATORS ARE MANUFACTURED WITH CHEAP PLASTIC GEARS THAT DON'T LAST. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE ON LINE. IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA, AIR CONDITIONING IN THE CAR IS A ABSOLUTE NECESSITY AND IT GETS VERY EXPENSIVE TO CONTINUE TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS PROBLEM WILL CERTAINLY BE A DETERMINING FACTOR WHEN I DECIDE TO BUY ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10658938

123,700 miles · Aug 15, 2014
VisibilityVisibility/wiper

I'VE HAD MY 2008 IMPALA SINCE MARCH 2014, AND I'VE YET TO HAVE MY REAR DEFROST IN WORKING CONDITION. I FEEL LIKE THIS A CONSTANT COMPLAINT SO THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS WHEN THERE IS OVER 400 COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE OUT YOUR REAR WINDOW CAUSE OF FROST A…

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I'VE HAD MY 2008 IMPALA SINCE MARCH 2014, AND I'VE YET TO HAVE MY REAR DEFROST IN WORKING CONDITION. I FEEL LIKE THIS A CONSTANT COMPLAINT SO THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS WHEN THERE IS OVER 400 COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE OUT YOUR REAR WINDOW CAUSE OF FROST AND WHEN YOU WIPE IT WITH A CLOTH THAT IS NO HELP NEITHER BECAUSE IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO BEING FOGY. HELP *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622446

61,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
VisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM WAS NOT PROPERLY DEFROSTING THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS AFFECTING HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM WAS NOT PROPERLY DEFROSTING THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS AFFECTING HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD OVERHEATED AND WAS NOT CARRYING ENOUGH VOLTAGE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT WHERE THE CONNECTOR WAS LOCATED, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS SMOLDERED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617265

76,000 miles · Feb 11, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED REAR WINDOW WAS STILL COVERED WITH ICE,THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH WAS ON AND LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED,AFTER THAT I SEARCHED INTERNET SITES AND FOUND THAT A CONNECTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS COMMONLY BURNT UP SO I CHECKED MINE AND SURE ENOUGH IT IS,ANOTHER GUY AT WORK HAS THE SAM…

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WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED REAR WINDOW WAS STILL COVERED WITH ICE,THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH WAS ON AND LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED,AFTER THAT I SEARCHED INTERNET SITES AND FOUND THAT A CONNECTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS COMMONLY BURNT UP SO I CHECKED MINE AND SURE ENOUGH IT IS,ANOTHER GUY AT WORK HAS THE SAME THING ON HIS IMPALA,CURRENTLY CAR IS AT DEALER BEING INSP BUT THEY HAVE SAID SO FAR THEY WON'T COVER REPAIR,THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563846

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2013
Visibility

2008 CHEVY IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WINDOW DEFOGGER MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE CHECKED THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE DEFOGGER RELAY TO BE WORKING. THE FUSE BLOCK DID NOT HAVE A FUSE FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND AFTER HOURS OF INVESTIGATI…

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2008 CHEVY IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WINDOW DEFOGGER MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE CHECKED THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE DEFOGGER RELAY TO BE WORKING. THE FUSE BLOCK DID NOT HAVE A FUSE FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND AFTER HOURS OF INVESTIGATING AND TESTING, THE DOOR TRIM UNDER THE IP FUSE BOX WAS REMOVED AND A 30 AMP FUSE AND HOLDER WAS FOUND HIDDEN UNDER THE TRIM. THE HOLDER AND FUSE WERE REPLACED. LAST DECEMBER THE DEFOGGER STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE DOOR TRIM HAD TO BE REMOVED AND THE FUSE HOLDER WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10494202

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2012
Visibility

THE A/C ACTUATOR IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHICH PREVENTS THE DEFROST SYSTEM FROM WORKING PROPERLY. IT STARTS TO CLICK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM OUTSIDE BUT IT DOESN'T DO IT IN THE COOL TEMPERATURES. DURING COOLER TEMPERATURES, THE CAR MAKES A REVVING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448106

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2011
Electrical SystemVisibility

FOR A FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN SMELLING A BURNING SMELL IN MY CAR. I NOTICED THAT MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH I CAME UP ON A POSTING AT THE NAIOA WEBSITE WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING A CONNECTION BURN UP IN THE PASSENGER KICK PANEL WITH PICTURES POSTED. I WENT AND LOOKED AT MY CAR AND THE CO…

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FOR A FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN SMELLING A BURNING SMELL IN MY CAR. I NOTICED THAT MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH I CAME UP ON A POSTING AT THE NAIOA WEBSITE WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING A CONNECTION BURN UP IN THE PASSENGER KICK PANEL WITH PICTURES POSTED. I WENT AND LOOKED AT MY CAR AND THE CONNECTOR WAS BURNT AND MELTED JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S IN THE FORUM POSTING. THIS IS A CONNECTOR WITH MANY WIRES IN IT, AND I THINK COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD OR SAFETY HAZARD ON THE VEHICLE IF THE OTHER WIRES BURNED OR SHORTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434805

49,000 miles · Aug 15, 2011
VisibilityInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT CLOSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND DID NOT NOTICE THE PASSENGERS FINGER WAS IN THE WINDOW WHILE IT CLOSED. THE PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND LOST THE PINKY FINGER ON THE RIGHT HAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT CLOSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND DID NOT NOTICE THE PASSENGERS FINGER WAS IN THE WINDOW WHILE IT CLOSED. THE PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND LOST THE PINKY FINGER ON THE RIGHT HAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY WOULD RETURN THE CONTACTS CALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10419539

24,000 miles · Jun 5, 2010
StructureVisibility

I DROVE TO WORK AT 8 AM, SAT IN MY CAR AT LUNCH AROUND NOON, AND WHEN I LEFT WORK AT 5 PM, SAW AN 8-12 INCH CRACK ON THE BOTTOM DRIVER SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. ONCE RETURNING HOME AND GETTING A BETTER LOOK AT THE CRACK, THERE IS NO SIGN OF IMPACT OR CHIP FROM ANY ROCK. THE CRACK IS SMOOTH AND SEEMS TO STEM FROM THE EDGE OF MY WI…

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I DROVE TO WORK AT 8 AM, SAT IN MY CAR AT LUNCH AROUND NOON, AND WHEN I LEFT WORK AT 5 PM, SAW AN 8-12 INCH CRACK ON THE BOTTOM DRIVER SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. ONCE RETURNING HOME AND GETTING A BETTER LOOK AT THE CRACK, THERE IS NO SIGN OF IMPACT OR CHIP FROM ANY ROCK. THE CRACK IS SMOOTH AND SEEMS TO STEM FROM THE EDGE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND THERE IS ANOTHER MARK WITHIN THE GLASS THAT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER CRACK MAY BE COMING. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, ONE OF THE PEOPLE TRIED TO PASS IT OFF AS A CHIP FROM A ROCK THAT SPREAD, BUT THERE IS NO MARK FROM A ROCK IN THE AREA AND IT'S ALSO VERY LOW DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD-HARD TO BELIEVE A ROCK COULD HIT AT THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND NOT LEAVE A MARK. I AM CURRENTLY IN TALKS WITH CHEVY AND THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS MATTER TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAUSED, BUT RATHER SOMETHING WITH MY WINDSHIELD I BELIEVE AS DO OTHERS WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THE WINDOW. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON THE 2008 IMPALA'S WINDSHIELD INDICATING THAT STRESS CRACKS MAY OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334721

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.