2008 Chevrolet Impala Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala.

20072009
Complaints
1,203
Crashes
80
Fires
15
Injuries
63
Fatalities
1
Recalls
2

Worst 2008 Chevrolet Impala Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1214 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:88,115 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:6
#2134 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:109,835 mi
Crash-related:3
#390 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:99,905 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala.

Electrical Faults
214
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
6
Avg Miles
88,115
Engine Problems
134
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
109,835
Steering Defects
90
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
99,905
Unintended Acceleration
88
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
100,674
Transmission / Drivetrain
85
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
88,489
Suspension Failures
78
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Avg Miles
59,541
Electronic Stability Control
58
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
98,038
Airbags
50
complaints
Crashes
31
Fires
1
Avg Miles
89,867
Latches / Locks
43
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,880
Suspension:Rear
35
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
31,859
Tire Defects
32
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,745
Wheel Issues
31
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
52,618
Engine & Cooling
20
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
65,582
Hydraulic Brakes
20
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
24,182
Traction Control System
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
83,899
Body Structure
19
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
73,735
Brakes
17
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
139,995
Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,804
Seat Belt Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
87,402
Electrical System:Ignition
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
93,016
Structure:Body:Door
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,232
Wipers & Visibility
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,311
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
72,400
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,250
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
61,076
Other Equipment
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Other
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Chevrolet Impala

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,178,144 vehicles.

14V355000Electrical System:ignition
~3,141,731 affected

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.

12V377000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~36,413 affected

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.

Other Chevrolet Impala Years

2008 Chevrolet Impala — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2008 Chevrolet Impala has 1,203 NHTSA complaints, 80 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 214 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (214 complaints, avg 88,115 mi); Engine Problems (134 complaints, avg 109,835 mi); Steering Defects (90 complaints, avg 99,905 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,635 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala include 80 crash-related reports, 15 fire reports, 63 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,178,144 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (electrical faults) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Impala reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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