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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,749 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 11 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Oct 062009

Impala

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the battery would continuously fail and need recharging. The contact took the vehicle to a local auto parts store where they advised that there was nothing wrong with the battery. The contact also stated that the rear-defroster was inoperable. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer was unable to duplicate or locate a failure within the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Wayne, WV, USA

problem #11

Nov 032011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 32,000 miles
The rear door locks will not operate via the electrical. This I believe causes a hazard for a rear seat passenger especially an infant or young child. They could be trapped by the in-ability of the driver to activate the rear door locks to evacuate the rear seat passengers in an emergency.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #10

Oct 272011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 54,000 miles
Failure of power door locks. This is a safety issue. In order to keep the vehicle secure, the doors must be locked. If a child, infant or disabled person would be in the back seat and needed to get out in an emergency, the door cannot be opened from the outside without someone first climbing through the seats from the front and reaching way back to the back of the door to unlock it manually or breaking the window. This takes time and could result in serious injury or death to a passenger. This problem is known by GM as they have made modification to the part for the rear driver side door but have not yet modified the part for the rear passenger door. Some drivers are now reporting that the front doors are also affected by this defect. Each part is approximately $175 or $700 for all doors affected and probably that much again in labor costs. Other complaints and incidents can be found by searching the subject on the internet.

- Richfield, MN, USA

problem #9

Nov 042011

Impala

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

For a few days I have been smelling a burning smell in my car. I noticed that my rear window defroster had stopped functioning. After a google search I came up on a posting at the naioa website with many people having a connection burn up in the passenger kick panel with pictures posted. I went and looked at my car and the connector was burnt and melted just like everyone else's in the forum posting. This is a connector with many wires in it, and I think could be a fire hazard or safety hazard on the vehicle if the other wires burned or shorted.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #8

Jun 012011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
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.

- Kitts Hill, OH, USA

problem #7

Dec 102010

Impala 6-cyl

  • 63,164 miles
2008 Chevrolet Impala gearshift could not be moved from "park". towed to don brown Chevrolet (after tow driver disconnected shift linkage). Diagnosed as "test and trace ground circuit to broken wire in center console". talked to service manager who reported that technician stated wires moved when the shifter was moved which likely caused wire to break separate. Potential for driver to be "stuck" in park in a risky / unsafe situation exists.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA

problem #6

Aug 232010

Impala

  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. The vehicle was parked and shut off. He attempted to unlock the vehicle using the electronic fob. The vehicle would not unlock using the fob so he had to manually unlock the vehicle. Upon opening the door he noticed black smoke within the vehicle and a flame ignited in the center of the dashboard. He closed the door and the flame extinguished itself. The fire department appeared on the scene and he was informed there was an electrical fire so the battery was disconnected. The police did not appear on the scene but a fire report was filed. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where it was in the process of being examined for the cause of failure. The failure and current mileages were 28,000.

- Niota, TN, USA

problem #5

Jun 052010

Impala

  • 71,662 miles
My 2008 Chevrolet Impala was recently totaled, on star had diagnosed a problem with the app sensor, this was confirmed with the dealership and repairs were not covered by the warranty, the car is now in possession of my insurance company I had called previously and was told to call Chevy, the dealership is the only number I have. They are to dispose of this car, there is too much data here to not have turned over to Chevy and or nhtsb, especially since onstar also recorded the cross and the driver only had a knee injury.

- Lacygne, KS, USA

problem #4

Apr 092010

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. While the contact was driving approximately 25 mph, she began reducing speed as she approached a stop signal. The "check traction control" and the check engine warning light indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated there was a significant reduction in the engine power to the point of almost stalling. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the failure was contributed to the ads sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had continued to occur. The vehicle was taken a second time to the dealer where the technician performed a diagnostic testing which indicated that the failure was related to the wiring harness and not the ads sensor. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 54,000. Updated 8/2/10 the consumer also stated the rear door lock didn't work. Updated 08/09/10

- Surgoinsville, TN, USA

problem #3

Jun 152008

Impala

  • miles
My vehicle I purchases fro the dealer was supposedly in excellent shape. Not until I moved to los angeles, ca. I realized that the engine was not performing correctly. The engine is to drop down from a 8cycl to a 6cycl when it is in overdrive (60+mph). (this is called 'active fuel management system.) my engine would not due that. I took it to several dealers but they refused to fix the problem. Dealer said "it wasn't their fault. We bought this car from an auction". I feel their was something wrong with the car. Dealer inspection checklist was dated 3/26/2008. The car was a rental vehicle prior to me purchasing it as a used vehicle. The odometer reading was 12410 on 5/17/2008. I feel their was a problem with the engine "safety".

- Clifton,, CO, USA

problem #2

Aug 212009

Impala

  • 40 miles
08 Chevrolet Impala has cracked and broken wires in the engine wring harness.

- Morganfield, KY, USA

problem #1

Dec 142008

Impala

  • 6,000 miles
Whenever the outside temperature drops below approx 20 degrees F and the vehicle is parked overnight, the factory remote starter and the keyless entry systems don't function unless I hold the transmitter directly above the hood of the vehicle. In warmer weather, the system works from distances greater than 50 feet. It has been to the dealer 3 times for the problem already and the problem still exists. Thus far, the 2 transmitters and the receiver have been replaced.

- Randolph, MA, USA

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