repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. 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.
2008 Chevrolet ImpalaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 810 owner complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Impala, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-355 the manufacturer reports only 62% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 13, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Chevrolet Impala has problems
810 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
221Electrical system13 crash/fire/injury
134Engine4 crash/fire/injury
117Suspension8 crash/fire/injury
94Steering3 crash/fire/injury
92Vehicle speed control6 crash/fire/injury
91Power train6 crash/fire/injury
58Electronic stability control (ESC)
50Air bags
48Latches/locks/linkages
24719 other systems21 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 221 | 13 |
| Engine | 134 | 4 |
| Suspension | 117 | 8 |
| Steering | 94 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 92 | 6 |
| Power train | 91 | 6 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 58 | 2 |
| Air bags | 50 | 32 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 48 | 0 |
| 19 other systems | 247 | 21 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2008 Chevrolet Impala recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Control arm: lower arm
Risk. A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
85kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 168 electrical system complaints. 63% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles106under 100k miles62100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Suspension
9 owners mentioned a cost$581median
Middle half: $350 – $1,400
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Impala year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impala median. How we score
'65'66'67'68'69'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'85'87'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Chevrolet Impala safety ratings
2008 Chevrolet Impala 4-DR in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Chevrolet Impala, and the recalls they led to.
- Passenger Air Bag OCS AlgorithmNo recall
In owners' words
What Impala owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The engine electric brakes all shut down steering wheel locked up and my daughter smashed into telephone pole on August 31 2023. Airbags didn't deploy for front and side airbags were deflated no air.no warning lights prior that I'm aware of. My daughter was injured PCS and cervical sprain
While driving at highway speeds the car will act up and the engine will shut off, I get the message on the odometer display that reads, Engine power is reduced, service throttle, starter disabled. This is not a good thing to have happen while driving.
Heating and air conditioning actuators and/or blen door getting stuck so the air will not switch from cold to hot or hot to cold without pulling the glove box out and manually turning them by hand. Heater will blow hot air and then randomly switch to cold air. When it's cold outside, I cannot…
Own a 2008 Impala?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.