← 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
11,000 miles · Mar 1, 2013
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED INTERMITTINGLY. THE DOOR WOULD NOT ALWAYS LOCK AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE DOORS WERE LOCKED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE F…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED INTERMITTINGLY. THE DOOR WOULD NOT ALWAYS LOCK AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE DOORS WERE LOCKED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #10500961

80,000 miles · Feb 21, 2013
EngineSuspensionWheels

EXCESSIVE WEAR ON MY REAR TIRES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY AND THAT EXCESSIVE REPAIR WORK HAD TO BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS. I HAD TO CALL AAA ON ONE OCCASSION BECAUSE ONE OF MY REAR TIRES BLEW OUT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NO INJURIES AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ON THE HIG…

Read full complaint

EXCESSIVE WEAR ON MY REAR TIRES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY AND THAT EXCESSIVE REPAIR WORK HAD TO BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS. I HAD TO CALL AAA ON ONE OCCASSION BECAUSE ONE OF MY REAR TIRES BLEW OUT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NO INJURIES AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ON THE HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE TO MYSELF AND POSSIBLY TO OTHERS AROUND ME. MY CAR BURNS THRU OIL SO SUPER FAST. IT BURNS A QUART OF OIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 750 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499601

100,000 miles · Feb 8, 2013
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL FOUR DOOR LOCKS WERE INDEPENDENTLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE ALL FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO USE THE KEY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS I…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL FOUR DOOR LOCKS WERE INDEPENDENTLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE ALL FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO USE THE KEY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATORS AND COMPUTERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10496867

90,000 miles · Feb 4, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN TO LOCK POSITION. THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. I "GOOGLED" COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING AND THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS. CHEVROLET DESIGNED THE WIRING HARNESS TO DRAG ACROSS THE FLOOR W…

Read full complaint

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN TO LOCK POSITION. THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. I "GOOGLED" COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING AND THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS. CHEVROLET DESIGNED THE WIRING HARNESS TO DRAG ACROSS THE FLOOR WHILE MOVING THE SHIFTER LEVER FROM GEAR TO GEAR. THIS EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE WIRES TO BREAK. DEPENDING ON WHICH OF THE FIVE WIRES BREAK CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH (CAR WON'T START, TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT, STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK, KEY WON'T COME OUT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS). AS I STATED THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND FEEL TO ISSUE A RECALL BY CHEVROLET WOULD BE INLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496342

33,300 miles · Feb 2, 2013
SuspensionWheels

PREMATURE TIRES WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE REAR WHEELS. THIS IS CAUSING STEERING ISSUES AT HIGH SPEED. NOT NOTICEABLE UNTIL REAR TIRES ARE ROTATED TO FRONT, THEN THERE IS A SHAKE. THERE IS A PENDING LAWSUIT FOR THIS OCCURRENCE ON THE 07 AND 08 IMPALAS. APPARENTLY THE REAR SPINDLES ARE TO BLAME DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496210

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesSuspension

WE ARE GETTING READY TO HAVE TO REPLACE OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES. WE BOUGHT OUR IMPALA NEW AND REPLACED OUR FIRST SET OF TIRES AT FEB. 2010 (38,000 MILES). REPLACED AGAIN AT 54,000 MILES DEC. 2011. REPLACED AGAIN AT 65,000 NOV. OF 2012 AND IT IS IN NEED OT NEW REAR TIRES AGAIN AT 72,000. CAR SHAKES AND BACK END SLIDES IN BAD W…

Read full complaint

WE ARE GETTING READY TO HAVE TO REPLACE OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES. WE BOUGHT OUR IMPALA NEW AND REPLACED OUR FIRST SET OF TIRES AT FEB. 2010 (38,000 MILES). REPLACED AGAIN AT 54,000 MILES DEC. 2011. REPLACED AGAIN AT 65,000 NOV. OF 2012 AND IT IS IN NEED OT NEW REAR TIRES AGAIN AT 72,000. CAR SHAKES AND BACK END SLIDES IN BAD WEATHER. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THAT IT NEEDS A CAMBOR KIT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHEVROLET PRODUCED A FAULTY SUSPENSION ROD AND RECALLED "POLICE OWNED" VEHICLES BUT NOT CONSUMER VEHICLES. DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE OR ALLOWING MY 16 YEAR OLD TO DRIVE IT. MY CAR IS ALIGNED AND TIRES ROTATED AND SERVICED FREQUENTLY! TIRES WEAR DOWN TO METAL STICKING OUT OF TIRES AND INNER WEAR IS INCREDIBLE. LEFT TIRE BEHIND THE DRIVER IS THE QUICKEST TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND BEGIN TO CAUSE CAR TO SHAKE. SECONDLY, REAR DOOR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS QUITE WORKING AFTER 2 YEARS OF OWNING CAR. HOW DO I BECOME PART OF THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496162

148,000 miles · Feb 1, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS STARTING THE CAR UP AND THE ENGINE WAS GOING IN AND OUT. I NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND IT STAYED ON. THE STABILI-TRAC LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. THE PANEL ALSO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER. THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 8 DAYS. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT OFF. CRANKED IT BACK UP AND THE…

Read full complaint

I WAS STARTING THE CAR UP AND THE ENGINE WAS GOING IN AND OUT. I NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND IT STAYED ON. THE STABILI-TRAC LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. THE PANEL ALSO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER. THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 8 DAYS. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT OFF. CRANKED IT BACK UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. TOOK IT TO THE CAR DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496107

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…

Read full complaint

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

60,000 miles · Jan 16, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER DECELERATING TO A STOP OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR AND START TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER DECELERATING TO A STOP OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR AND START TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE ANY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10493162

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 …

Read full complaint

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

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.