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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

What owners actually said

810 reports
35,000 miles · Nov 29, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ABRUPTLY ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ABRUPTLY ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10437749

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2011
Tires

I OWN THE IMPALA LTZ...REAR INNER TIRE THREADS ARE WORN. I PURCHASED THE CARE APPROX. 3 MOS AGO. NOW I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIRES. I DO HAVE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE SO I AM GOING TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN HOPES THAT IT WILL BE REPAIRED. READING THE ISSUES ON HERE... I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437392

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

SAFETY ISSUE - VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND CONTROL. THE SERVICE STABILTRAK AND NO POWER TO THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR AND THE CAR LOOSES CONTROL AND POWER WHILE DRIVING... MULTIPLE INCIDENTS GM DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY/FIX. THIS RECURRING ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE SNOW LOOSING POWER AND …

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SAFETY ISSUE - VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND CONTROL. THE SERVICE STABILTRAK AND NO POWER TO THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR AND THE CAR LOOSES CONTROL AND POWER WHILE DRIVING... MULTIPLE INCIDENTS GM DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY/FIX. THIS RECURRING ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE SNOW LOOSING POWER AND CONTROL WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS/INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437351

32,000 miles · Nov 23, 2011
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE VIA THE ELECTRICAL. THIS I BELIEVE CAUSES A HAZARD FOR A REAR SEAT PASSENGER ESPECIALLY AN INFANT OR YOUNG CHILD. THEY COULD BE TRAPPED BY THE IN-ABILITY OF THE DRIVER TO ACTIVATE THE REAR DOOR LOCKS TO EVACUATE THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436920

73,500 miles · Nov 21, 2011
SteeringSuspensionWheels

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ATTRIBUTED TO FAULTY RODS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION LINKAGE SUSPENSION DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436528

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2011
Suspension

NEW TIRES INSTALLED JANUARY 2011 WITH PROPER ROTATION EVERY 6000-7500 MILES. INSIDE TREAD OF REAR TIRES ARE PREMATURELY WEARING. I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES TO AND FROM WORK, ABOUT 150 MILES A DAY ROUND TRIP. I HAVE TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED AGAIN TODAY AS INSIDE TREAD IS WEARING AND BELTS ARE STARTING TO SHOW. I HAVE SEEN M…

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NEW TIRES INSTALLED JANUARY 2011 WITH PROPER ROTATION EVERY 6000-7500 MILES. INSIDE TREAD OF REAR TIRES ARE PREMATURELY WEARING. I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES TO AND FROM WORK, ABOUT 150 MILES A DAY ROUND TRIP. I HAVE TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED AGAIN TODAY AS INSIDE TREAD IS WEARING AND BELTS ARE STARTING TO SHOW. I HAVE SEEN MANY CONSUMER REPORTS AND CLAIMS REGARDING THE REAR SPINDLES AS BEING BAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE ANY RECALLS ON THIS MATTER BUT KEPT LOCATING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE REAR SPINDLES OF THE IMPALA I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE TO PUT NEW TIRES ON THE CAR EVERY YEAR LET ALONE 2 OR MORE TIMES A YEAR. AFTER LOOKING INTO THE REPAIR COST OF REPLACING THE REAR SPINDLES IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CONSUMER TO TAKE ON WHEN IT APPEARS GM SHOULD RECALL FOR THE CARS FOR THE FIX AS THEY DID FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436226

54,000 miles · Nov 11, 2011
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCKS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SECURE, THE DOORS MUST BE LOCKED. IF A CHILD, INFANT OR DISABLED PERSON WOULD BE IN THE BACK SEAT AND NEEDED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITHOUT SOMEONE FIRST CLIMBING THROUGH THE SEATS FROM THE FRONT AND …

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FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCKS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SECURE, THE DOORS MUST BE LOCKED. IF A CHILD, INFANT OR DISABLED PERSON WOULD BE IN THE BACK SEAT AND NEEDED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITHOUT SOMEONE FIRST CLIMBING THROUGH THE SEATS FROM THE FRONT AND REACHING WAY BACK TO THE BACK OF THE DOOR TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY OR BREAKING THE WINDOW. THIS TAKES TIME AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO A PASSENGER. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY GM AS THEY HAVE MADE MODIFICATION TO THE PART FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT HAVE NOT YET MODIFIED THE PART FOR THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. SOME DRIVERS ARE NOW REPORTING THAT THE FRONT DOORS ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT. EACH PART IS APPROXIMATELY $175.00 OR $700 FOR ALL DOORS AFFECTED AND PROBABLY THAT MUCH AGAIN IN LABOR COSTS. OTHER COMPLAINTS AND INCIDENTS CAN BE FOUND BY SEARCHING THE SUBJECT ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435291

6,000 miles · Nov 8, 2011
Unknown Or Other

*THE DATES AND MILEAGE IS ESTIMATED AS LISTED ABOVE* I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW IMPALA IN APRIL OF 2008. I WAS ADVISED AT MY FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 3000 MILES THAT MY TIRES NEEDED TO BE ROTATED BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARING DUE TO MILEAGE. I DID NOT DO THIS BECAUSE I COULD NOT BELIEVE A BRAND NEW CAR AT 3000 MILES NEEDED A TIRE ROTATION. …

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*THE DATES AND MILEAGE IS ESTIMATED AS LISTED ABOVE* I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW IMPALA IN APRIL OF 2008. I WAS ADVISED AT MY FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 3000 MILES THAT MY TIRES NEEDED TO BE ROTATED BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARING DUE TO MILEAGE. I DID NOT DO THIS BECAUSE I COULD NOT BELIEVE A BRAND NEW CAR AT 3000 MILES NEEDED A TIRE ROTATION. I WAS ALSO STARTING TO NOTICE THAT THE BACK END WAS SLIDING AND FELT LIKE IT WAS "ROLLING", ESPECIALLY IN ICE AND SNOW. I WAS ADVISED AT MY SECOND OIL CHANGE (6000 MILES) THAT MY TIRES WERE ALMOST "SHOT" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THIS WAS BECAUSE I HAD FAILED TO ROTATE MY TIRES. A FRIEND WHO IS A MASTER MECHANIC FELT THAT I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE CAR. HE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HAVE EVERYTHING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN MAY OF 2009, AT APPROXIMATE 6K-7K MILES, I TOOK THE CAR TO ART MOEHN. THEY ADVISED THAT I VOIDED MY TIRE WARRANTY BY NOT HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED. A MONTH LATER I HAD A BLOWOUT ON ONE OF MY TIRES. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED, AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE ON THE CAR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES PUT ON. IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BY 2011 AT ABOUT 50K MILES, I WAS ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES AND HAD HAD MY CAR ALIGNED TWO TIMES. WE THEN FOUND OUT THAT GM HAD ISSUES WITH SOME OF THESE 2008 IMPALAS - WITH VERY SIMILAR STORIES OF WHAT I HAD BEEN THRU. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASK FOR HELP WITH THIS CAR - REQUESTING THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY INSISTED I HAVE YET ANOTHER ALIGNMENT AND ASSESSMENT "AT MY COST" AT THEIR SPECIFIED DEALER. IMAGINE MY FRUSTRATION WHEN THIS ALIGNMENT (LESS THAN 3 MOS FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE) YIELDED RESULTS THAT THE CAR WAS ALREADY OUT OF ALIGNMENT!!! GM OFFERED ME A $1000 GIFT CERT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER NEW GM VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD & NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10435749

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

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2011
Suspension

WHEN THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACING ON THE CAR, I SPENT $1100.00 ON A SET OF PREMIUM TIRES, AFTER 10,000 MILES I NOTICED A ROARING SOUND FROM THE TIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TIRE DEALER. HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVEN, I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES, I TOOK THE…

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WHEN THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACING ON THE CAR, I SPENT $1100.00 ON A SET OF PREMIUM TIRES, AFTER 10,000 MILES I NOTICED A ROARING SOUND FROM THE TIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TIRE DEALER. HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVEN, I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES, I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO MY CHEVY. DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE STRUTS WOULD HAVE TO BE GROUND OFF AND THE CAR REALIGNED AND THE COST WOULD BE MINE. I WORRY ABOUT THIS KIND OF REPAIR WHEN YOU ALTER THE PART BY MIS-SHAPING THE PART. THE COST TO ME WAS $197.00 AFTER HEARING ABOUT OTHER OWNERS WITH THE PROBLEM. I WORRY ABOUT TAKING ROAD TRIPS WITH MY VEHICLE. I THINK THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND THE PROPER FIX DONE TO THE VEHICLES FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CAR OWNERS. I LIKE THE CAR FINE, EXCEPT FOR THE WORRY OF OUR SAFETY WHILE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10433428

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.