2008 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,203 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 87/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 87,560 miles.
Below average
Where 2008 sits among all Impala years
What owners report
“While driving at about 20-25 mph, i noticed a internal fire coming from the fuse box on the passenger side of the car”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Impala
“I was driving down the road and the power reduced, its says reduced power in engine.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Impala
“While driving my car on the freeway suddenly the check traction control light came on and there was reduced engine power. I was traveling at a rate of 75 mph and quickly went down to 45 - 50 mph causing a 3 car rear collision.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Impala
“The lower control arms for my 2008 chevy impala lt were never replaced in thr recall. The recall states that if they brake while driving can cause damage ,injury or death, 2nd owner never got recall notice.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Impala
“When it rains my steering locks for 10 to 20 secondswhile driving. I could be going straight or turning it doesn't matter seems like when i go over a puddle of water.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Impala
“While driving on highway my car will reduce engine speed it will drop from 65mph to 20mph sometimes it shuts clear down . I have so far almost been in two collisions because of this.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Impala
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 976 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 75,671 miles. Half of those reports fall between 48,800 and 109,250 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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.…
Fix: 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.…
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.
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
1,000 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2008 Impala TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
The 2008 Chevrolet Impala drew 1,203 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 87/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2008 Chevrolet Impala problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala are electrical (230 complaints), engine (160), and other (136).
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Impala problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 Chevrolet Impala problems around 75,671 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 48,800 and 109,250 miles.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Impala have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 Chevrolet Impala. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.