THERE WAS NO INCIDENT. THE REAR TIRES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO GM'S AKNOWLEDGED REAR SPINDLE ROD DEFECT. EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. GM DEALER (GRAFF CHEVROLET OKEMOS MICHIGAN) REFUSED TO REPAIR EVEN AT MY EXPENSE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
810 reportsMY FAMILY WAS TRAVELING TO A FUNERAL DRIVING A 2008 IMPALA AT 75MPH. TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND VISUALLY CHECKED FOR WEAR BY GENERAL OBSERVATION.TIRES APPEARED TO HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD AND NO CUPPING. LEFT REAR TIRE DETONATED SENDING TIRE TREAD/BELTS/DEBRIS INTO WHEEL WELL AREA. THIS RIPPED FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY LOOSE AND SE…
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MY FAMILY WAS TRAVELING TO A FUNERAL DRIVING A 2008 IMPALA AT 75MPH. TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND VISUALLY CHECKED FOR WEAR BY GENERAL OBSERVATION.TIRES APPEARED TO HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD AND NO CUPPING. LEFT REAR TIRE DETONATED SENDING TIRE TREAD/BELTS/DEBRIS INTO WHEEL WELL AREA. THIS RIPPED FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY LOOSE AND SENT IT BELOW CAR WHERE IT TRAILED WITH NO REMAINING FUEL CAP AND FRAYED SENSOR WIRES EXPOSED. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP BESIDE INTERSTATE. WHEN TRYING TO MAKE TEMPORARY REPAIRS IT WAS NOTICED THAT OPPOSITE REAR TIRE HAD WEAR DOWN TO STEEL BELTS ON INSIDE TWO INCHES. THE REMAINING TIRE APPEARED ALMOST NEW FROM EXTERIOR VIEW. IT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH BLOWN TIRE AS THIS TIRE WAS JUST AS DEADLY. REPAIR BY INSURANCE EXCEEDED $4,000. CONTACTED CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SERVICE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SO THAT REPAIRS TO REAR SUSPENSION CAN BE MADE. MOST PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND TOTALLY UNAWARE THAT THEIR TIRES ONLY APPEAR SAFE. UNLESS THE CAR IS PUT ON A LIFT RACK THE WEAR ISSUE IS NOT OBVIOUS TO THE AVERAGE AUTOMOBILE OWNER. *TR
2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES SEVERE PROBLEM WITH TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SPENT MORE THAN $588.54 ON WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKS AND NEW TIRES, NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE SPINDLE ROD PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED SEVERE AND DANGEROUS UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. THE CONSUMER FINALLY REPLACED ALL THE TIRES. *JB
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA AND I AM HAVING A WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEM MY TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVEN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 9830 MILES ON IT .I HAVE HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE ON THE CAR AND A TIRE ROTATION DONE AT 8961 MILES . BUT THAT DID NOT HELP MY TIRES ARE STILL WEARING UNEVEN.ADVANTAGE CHEVROLET CHECKED THE CARS ALIGNMENT ON 7…
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I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA AND I AM HAVING A WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEM MY TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVEN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 9830 MILES ON IT .I HAVE HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE ON THE CAR AND A TIRE ROTATION DONE AT 8961 MILES . BUT THAT DID NOT HELP MY TIRES ARE STILL WEARING UNEVEN.ADVANTAGE CHEVROLET CHECKED THE CARS ALIGNMENT ON 7/25/2011 THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR .MY TIRES ARE WEARING OUT IN 9000 MILES. *TR
PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT IN 10/2009 GM OFFERED $1000 VOUCHER FOR THE PROBLEM. TURNED VEHICLE INTO DEALER IN SEPT 2009. TOLD GM THAT I WOULD MAKE PAYMENTS UNTIL JAN 2010 AND TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO MAKING OUR 2008 IMPALA SAFE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY. THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR SAT AT DEALERS UNTIL MAY 2010…
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PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT IN 10/2009 GM OFFERED $1000 VOUCHER FOR THE PROBLEM. TURNED VEHICLE INTO DEALER IN SEPT 2009. TOLD GM THAT I WOULD MAKE PAYMENTS UNTIL JAN 2010 AND TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO MAKING OUR 2008 IMPALA SAFE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY. THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR SAT AT DEALERS UNTIL MAY 2010 WHEN A COLLECTION COMPANY CALLED MY HOME AND I TOLD THEM THE STORY. THEY ASKED WHERE THE CAR WAS AND I TOLD THEM. THEY PUT ME ON HOLD AND CALLED THE DEALER TO CONFIRM. THAT DAY THEY WENT AND PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND STARTED SENDING COLLECTION NOTICES. I TOLD THEM CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY SOLD AT AUCTION AND SENT ME TO A COLLECTION AGENCY FOR THE BALANCE OF $9700. THE CAR RESOLD TO AN UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER IN NH. GM IS STILL TRYING TO COLLECT THE BALANCE AND HAS OFFERED A COMPROMISE $4800. THESE VEHICLES HAVE KILLED UNSUSPECTING CONSUMERS BUT DOCUMENTATION DOES NOT EXIST?? I AM SURE IF A STUDY WAS DONE ON ALL HIGHWAY /ACCIDENTS/DEATHS CONNECTED TO 2007 & 2008 IMPALAS, REAR TIRE WEAR WOULD BE WELL REPRESENTED. GM SHOULD SMELL THE COFFEE AND RECALL THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES. IT APPEARS TO BE A SPECIFIC FRAME RUN AND NOT EVERY CHEVY AND BUICK FRAME MANUFACTURERS IN THOSE YEARS. ALL POLICE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND RETROFITTED TO CORRECT THE REAR ALIGNMENT ISSUE PLEASE HELP PROTECT AMERICAN CONSUMERS AND FORCE GM TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM RIGHT! *TR
ALL 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAVE GONE OUT, WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER, WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE, AFTER 3 YEARS THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, AFTER DEALING WITH GM FOR OVER A WEEK, THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR HALF. BUT COME ON WHY SHOULD I GIVE THEM 450$ TO REPAIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT WHICH ARE A SAFE…
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ALL 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAVE GONE OUT, WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER, WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE, AFTER 3 YEARS THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, AFTER DEALING WITH GM FOR OVER A WEEK, THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR HALF. BUT COME ON WHY SHOULD I GIVE THEM 450$ TO REPAIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT WHICH ARE A SAFETY CONCERN, MY CHILD SAFETY LOCKS DO NOT WORK, I CAN NOT LOCK MY CAR WHEN I GO IN PLACES FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IN, THESE DOORS WERE NOT MISTREATED TO CAUSE THIS AND AFTER RESEARCHING THIS THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM, I WAS EVEN TOLD THIS BY A GM CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST, THIS SHOULD NOT BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE WARRANTY OR NOT, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS SO I HAVE TO PRAY THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO MY KIDS WHILE I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. *TT
WE OWN A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK TIRES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 18000 MILES ON IT AND THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY WORE TO THE STEEL BELTS ON THE INSIDE 3 TREADS AT 24000 MILES ON IT. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ITS SCHEDULED 6000 ROTATION ONLY TO DISCOVER THE TIRES WERE …
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WE OWN A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK TIRES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 18000 MILES ON IT AND THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY WORE TO THE STEEL BELTS ON THE INSIDE 3 TREADS AT 24000 MILES ON IT. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ITS SCHEDULED 6000 ROTATION ONLY TO DISCOVER THE TIRES WERE SHOT. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR REPLACING THE TIRE AND MENTIONED NO REASONABLE SOLUTION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CAR THOROUGHLY AND HAVE DISCOVERED DISTURBING FACTS ABOUT THE IMPALAS SPINDLE RODS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DOCUMENTED CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 2007 AND 2008 IMPALAS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FIND A CLASS ACTION SUIT HAS BEEN FILED AND GM HAS BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET. THEY RECALLED POLICE CARS, BUT NOT CARS BELONGING TO CITIZENS. ANY IMPALA THAT IS SHOWING COMMON WEAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. I CAN DEAL WITH A DEFECT, BUT MY FAMILY WAS AT RISK AS WE TRAVELED IN THE CAR TOGETHER 1200 MILES CROSS COUNTRY AND HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE DEFECT. TIRES SHOULD NOT BE WORN TO THE STEEL AFTER LESS THAN 6000 MILES. GM IS PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH THEIR PATRONS. *KB
I BOUGHT A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA, AND HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES 3 TIMES I CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN TO MY CHEVY DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS . I FINALLY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TRADE MY CAR ONLY AFTER IT WAS THREE YEARS OLD BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO BUY MY FORTH SET OF TIRES. I STILL HAVE MY RECEIPTS FROM ALL THE TIR…
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I BOUGHT A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA, AND HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES 3 TIMES I CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN TO MY CHEVY DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS . I FINALLY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TRADE MY CAR ONLY AFTER IT WAS THREE YEARS OLD BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO BUY MY FORTH SET OF TIRES. I STILL HAVE MY RECEIPTS FROM ALL THE TIRES I BOUGHT I AM FURIOS I WANT TO BE PART OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM. *KB
2008 CHEVY IMPALA HAS PREMATURE LOSS OF TREAD ON BOTH REAR TIRES FRONT TIRES DO NOT SHOW ANY NOTICEABLE TREAD WEAR BUT REAR TIRES HAVE LOST ALL OF INBOARD TREAD. THIS IS A DEFECT IN EITHER THE WHEEL MOUNTING OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAUSING UNSAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Official recalls
214V355000 · 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
1DP14001 · 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.
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