2008 Chevrolet Impala Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Impala most often describe sudden loss of engine power accompanied by "service traction control" or "engine power reduced" messages, along with door locks that stop working and power steering that becomes hard to turn, at times in wet weather. Many reports come in between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles, and complaints describe these faults as intermittent, with dealers often unable to reproduce them. Other recurring themes are coolant and oil leaks, premature tire wear tied to front-end alignment, and air bags that did not deploy in crashes.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Reduced engine power / stabilitrak warning, loss of

   • 204 complaints (25%)
   • median 99,660 mi at 6.7 yrs old (176 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Complaints describe the dash lighting up with "service traction control" or "engine power reduced" while driving, followed by the car slowing or refusing to accelerate. Some owners say the engine shut off and had to be restarted after a short wait. Several report that dealers reset codes, replaced the throttle body or accelerator pedal sensor, or could not duplicate the problem, and that the warning returned afterward. Reported from about 50,000 miles upward, mostly between 75,000 and 150,000 miles, and several owners note it happening in rain or on wet roads.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any stored codes and whether the throttle body or accelerator pedal sensor has been replaced. On a test drive, watch for the traction-control or reduced-power message and any hesitation when accelerating.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Randomly I receive the message service traction control - engine power reduced - there is no rhyme or reason. It happens on nice days, rainy days, whether or not I am going uphill, downhill or on flat surfaces. On at least one occasion while driving on the highway, the engine shut off and I had to coast from lane 2 to the shoulder. After 20 minutes, it restarted.”

   NHTSA complaint #11325516, filed 2020-05, 150,000 miles

   “I was driving on the interstate and the dash lit up service traction system and engine power reduced. I was currently using cruise control so it shocked me when my car went from 75 to 40 quick. I was in five o'clock traffic and almost rear ended. Check engine light came on as well. I'm planning on getting it looked at.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390726, filed 2021-01, 160,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering hard to turn or briefly locking up

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn or locking for a few seconds, sometimes while turning at speed. Many connect it to rain, puddles or a car wash, and one notes a growling power steering pump. Complaints say dealers often could not replicate the condition, and some owners were told their vehicle was not covered by a recall. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 150,000 miles, frequently after driving through water or in wet weather.

   Recall 14V355000

   What to check: Check power steering fluid level and listen for pump noise at idle, and if possible drive the car after a car wash or in rain. Ask whether the ignition switch recall 14V355000 was completed, since the recall notice describes loss of power steering if the key moves out of run.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It was raining and lost power steering at speed. This has continued each time it has rained or going through a car wash. Very dangerous because the car will not turn. This type of incident has occurred more than 50 times and the dealership only laughed at me when I called. Is chevy waiting till my family is killed before noticing this issue like with the other recent recalls.”

   NHTSA complaint #10593864, filed 2014-05, 85,000 miles

   “My wife and I purchased the chevy Impala to be our first vehicle together after getting married. Bought this vehicle brand new only 102 miles on it before we drove it off the lot. Little did we know it was going to be 4 years of nightmares and headaches. At the time read many review about the Impala, nothing too major was found. After the first week, the power steering seemed to be failing, especially during rain. Took it back to the dealer and they could not replicate the incident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10510475, filed 2013-05, 5,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Door locks fail to lock or unlock

   • 83 complaints (10%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (73 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2022

   Complaints describe power door locks that work only intermittently, on the remote or the door buttons, and rear doors that will not unlock from outside. Owners say dealers diagnosed faulty lock actuators or a door module needing replacement. Some also mention the wiring in the center console and gear shift lever issues. Reported across a wide range, from under 15,000 miles to about 85,000 miles, and often described as gradually spreading from one door to another.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test every door with both the fob and the interior buttons, and ask whether any lock actuators have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Reduced engine power message, faulty back door locks, heating actuator repairs. This is a revised complaint to one I also made for just the reduced engine power message. After reading numerous complaints on here I have found that my car has several of the issues not just reduced engine power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10807443, filed 2015-11, 5 miles

   “Using fob or lock/unlock buttons, the door locks randomly do not lock or unlock. It was checked, but no solution offered. With the back door locks being at the back of the door, this is a major inconvenience and can be a safety hazard for elderly and disabled individuals. It is also a safety issue when you assume the doors are locked (or unlocked), but they aren't. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10458791, filed 2012-05, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Premature tire wear and front-end alignment

   • 116 complaints (14%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (95 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners report tires wearing out quickly, especially on the inner and outer edges of the front tires, with several sets replaced in a short period. Some say alignment and cam bolts were needed, and a few describe vibration or a fractured front lower control arm. Complaints say dealers attributed the wear to driving habits rather than a mechanical cause. Often reported under 25,000 miles on the original tires, with some vibration reports at higher mileage.

   Recall 12V3770003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect tire wear patterns and ask for a recent alignment printout. Note that recall 12V377000 covers front lower control arms only on police-package Impalas, not regular retail cars.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2008 Chevrolet Impala that has 40,000 miles on the vehicle. I will now be putting a 3rd set of tires on the car as well as getting the front end aligned once again. The car wears the tires on the front inner and outer sides. The middle of the tire looks new. The car handles horribly in wet conditions as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10324429, filed 2010-04, 20,000 miles

   “Needed 4 new tires & cam bolts on 3 wheels due to excessive wear (down to thread) after only 22,348 miles. I was (at first) told it was because most of my driving was around town & that I made a lot of turns! Tires had been rotated regularly since 2008...dlr. Never mentioned known problem w/camber. (mechanic said he sees all the time for this make/model.) saw that this model was recalled for police dept. Purchasers but not for the rest of us. My last chevy!”

   NHTSA complaint #10507420, filed 2013-04, 22,348 miles

Buying note. A 2008 Impala can be a reasonably priced used car, but check the steering in wet conditions, scan for stored throttle and traction-control codes, and test the door locks before buying. Confirm whether the ignition switch recall was completed and budget for possible suspension and alignment work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.