← New search

2008 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

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
64,500 miles · Mar 8, 2014
EngineTraction Control System

I PURCHASED A CHEVY 08 IMPALA IN LATE JANUARY 2013 WITH LESS THAT 55K MILE ON IT, NOW IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR IT'S AROUND 64K MILE. TODAY ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON AND THERE ARE THE MESSAGE OF TRACTION CONTROL IS ON AND ALSO THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I FELT THE SPEED OF THE CAR RE…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A CHEVY 08 IMPALA IN LATE JANUARY 2013 WITH LESS THAT 55K MILE ON IT, NOW IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR IT'S AROUND 64K MILE. TODAY ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON AND THERE ARE THE MESSAGE OF TRACTION CONTROL IS ON AND ALSO THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I FELT THE SPEED OF THE CAR REDUCED, LUCKILY I AM ON LOCAL STREET WITHOUT MANY TRAFFIC. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR I TRIED TO TESTED IT AGAIN AND ONLY THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE SPEED OF THE CAR IS NORMAL. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH CAR PROBLEMS AND ALSO IT'S MY FIRST TIME TO OWN A CAR. BUT I READ A LOT POSTS ONLINE [XXX] AND FOUND SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD LATER HAPPEN IN MY SITUATION. I AM DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT GM HASN'T RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. I HOPE I COULD FIX IT SOON. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10567954

43,000 miles · Mar 8, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE THE 08 CHEVY IMPALA THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE WAY OUT. IT DID THAT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THEN WHEN I MADE IT TO WORK IT DID THE SAME THING. CAME OUT TO GO HOME IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN OVER. SO WE HAD TO PUT IT IN MANUAL MODE TO DRIVE IT TO A SHOP. A WIRE IN THE HANDLE TO CHANGE G…

Read full complaint

EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE THE 08 CHEVY IMPALA THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE WAY OUT. IT DID THAT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THEN WHEN I MADE IT TO WORK IT DID THE SAME THING. CAME OUT TO GO HOME IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN OVER. SO WE HAD TO PUT IT IN MANUAL MODE TO DRIVE IT TO A SHOP. A WIRE IN THE HANDLE TO CHANGE GEARS BROKE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE WIRE WAS TO SHORT. NOW THIS WAS 42 OR 43 THOUSAND MILES NOW AT 82 ITS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WHY NO RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567905

40,554 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Electrical System

HAD CLICKING NOISE IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE AND ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IT WAS THE AIR RECIRCULATION DOOR ACTUATOR AND THE AIR TEMP. DOOR ACTUATOR ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10567202

49,000 miles · Feb 22, 2014
TiresWheels

JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 3 WEEKS AGO WITH BRAND NEW TIRES ON THEM, AND NOW THE REAR TIRES ARE GOING BALD ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. GOING TO DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY TO GET NEW TIRES THAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR ON THE BACK, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. VERY UNSATISFIED WITH GM PRODUCT, I WANT IN ON THAT LAWSUIT THAT IS GOI…

Read full complaint

JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 3 WEEKS AGO WITH BRAND NEW TIRES ON THEM, AND NOW THE REAR TIRES ARE GOING BALD ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. GOING TO DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY TO GET NEW TIRES THAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR ON THE BACK, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. VERY UNSATISFIED WITH GM PRODUCT, I WANT IN ON THAT LAWSUIT THAT IS GOING AGAINST GM FOR THIS FAULTY YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565443

60,000 miles · Feb 17, 2014
Steering

SLOWING FOR RED LIGHT, WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THANKFULLY I WAS STOPPING AND NOT NEEDING TO TURN. IT ONLY LASTS FOR 10-20 SECONDS, BUT IS FRIGHTENING FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL. I'M AFRAID TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT'S WET, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE DEPTH OF WATER…

Read full complaint

SLOWING FOR RED LIGHT, WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THANKFULLY I WAS STOPPING AND NOT NEEDING TO TURN. IT ONLY LASTS FOR 10-20 SECONDS, BUT IS FRIGHTENING FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL. I'M AFRAID TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT'S WET, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE DEPTH OF WATER OR JUST GETTING THE TIRES WET PERIOD. I'VE CHECKED WITH THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, BUT SINCE I KNOW OF THE PROBLEM I TRY TO AVOID ALL PUDDLES AND FREEWAY IF IT'S RAINING. I'VE READ OTHER SITES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN WITH OTHER 2008 IMPALA, SAME CONDITIONS(MOST DEALERS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM - SEEMS TO KEEP HAPPENING). WOULD BE GREAT IF GM WOULD COME FORWARD TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR RECALL THE VEHICLE ALL TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564726

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…

Read full complaint

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

68,500 miles · Feb 9, 2014
Electrical System

KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION. CAR WILL NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF, ENGINE NOT RUNNING BUT ELECTRICAL STILL ON, DRAINS BATTERY AND CAR ONLY STARTS WITH A JUMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563622

63,000 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

RECENTLY, THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS, OR I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER (BEST CHEVROLET) WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW SOME YEARS AGO. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHANGED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER, AND IT STILL DOES IT. THE POWER STEE…

Read full complaint

RECENTLY, THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS, OR I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER (BEST CHEVROLET) WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW SOME YEARS AGO. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHANGED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER, AND IT STILL DOES IT. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AND IN DEEP WATER I ALSO GET A DUMMY LIGHT ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE; BUT, I DON'T WANT TO JUST SELL IT CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE AN INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562890

128,000 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10562839

92,000 miles · Jan 31, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY TRACK AND ENGINE REDUCE POWER WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY TRACK AND ENGINE REDUCE POWER WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. . ..UPDATED 03-12-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT

NHTSA ODI #10562404

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.