Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,179 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 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 2 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #114

May 152018

Impala

  • 80,000 miles

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

The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. On several occasions, the vehicle failed to start and the reduced power warning indicator illuminated. Additionally, while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and fault code: P-2135 was retrieved. The mechanic replaced the ECM, throttle body, accelerator pedal mechanism, and the wiring harness between the ECM and throttle body; however, the failure recurred. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Oolitic, IN, USA

problem #113

Oct 052018

Impala

  • 144,250 miles
My vehicle experiences an 'engine power is reduced' message in addition to losing capability of driving faster than 40 mph likely as a result of a common fault by the manufacturer.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #112

May 192018

Impala

  • 59,502 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 60 mph, the reduced engine power and the service stability control indicators illuminated as the vehicle decelerated. Staten island Buick GMC (1855 hylan blvd, staten island, NY 10305) diagnosed that sensors T2135: (throttle body) and P2138: (accelerator pedal actuator) failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer offered to assist with the replacement of the throttle body, but not the accelerator pedal. The failure mileage was 59,502.

- Staen Island, NY, USA

problem #111

Aug 022017

Impala

  • 100,000 miles

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

When my Impala is in motion within the minutes it states engine power reduced and it slows down the car. If I drive 60 mph or more when engine power is reduced then it says service shuttling down and the car will completely shut down it's a big safety hazard especially when I'm on the freeway.

- Chaparral, NM, USA

problem #110

Dec 282017

Impala

  • 57,000 miles
Leaking and can't identify if front engine cover oil is leaking, or engine oil filter adapter gasket, or head gasket oil leak. Help! I was having my oil changed.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #109

Jul 192017

Impala

  • miles
First, the key will not come out of the ignition without pressing the release key switch located under the steering wheel. Then the car won't accelerate over 20 mph in D while driving anywhere, it won't go over 40 in D3. Not sure why but this is what is happening with the Impala.

- Hewitt, TX, USA

problem #108

Aug 202017

Impala

  • 160,000 miles

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

Engime power reduced seevice tractuon control. While driving power is cut to near nothing. About 20 mph. After shutting the car off and starting a few hours later it's fine. A couple days later it happens again. Faulty equipment from GM.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #107

May 032017

Impala

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 40 mph, the engine reduced power indicator illuminated and the vehicle began to reduce in speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the throttle positioning sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was called and informed the contact that if a diagnostic fee was paid, the vehicle could be covered under a technical service bulletin. The contact stated that he did not have money for a diagnostic fee. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

- Daytona Beach, FL, USA

problem #106

Nov 152016

Impala

  • 161,000 miles
I was driving in traffic around 5:30pm cst on us 59 N and rankin rd Tuesday 11/15/16 when my vehicle lost engine power. I was unable to accelerate or steer and the only light that came on in the car was the service tire monitor system. I managed, somehow, to steer the vehicle to the left shoulder of the freeway and put it in park. I turned off the vehicle and when I went start it again, after releasing the key, it made a stuttering to start sound over and over again even though I was no longer touching the key. When I tried to start it again it turn on and then back off and continued to do this at least 3 more times. I eventually had it towed to my home and after reading online today at forums.edmonds.com many people have been having this issue with Impala's and Suburban's from GM for at least 4 years now, first post is back in 2012. GM needs to put a recall on these vehicles and fix the issue before it more fatalities, as proven in their earlier 2014-2015 recall. They just did a recall about a year ago for Impala's having an issue where the ignition switch would then switch into the off position while driving if you hit a bump too hard and had too much weight on your keys. I got my vehicle serviced for that recall issue but it seems like their fix for that was incorrect and not the issue seeing as my vehicle, and several others, still shuts down while driving and the ignition is still in the on (not off) position, you lose acceleration and steering. This is extremely dangerous and will cause more deaths, injuries, and accidents. Please get this to GM and have them correct this issue in all their models with sensor throttle body's instead of wired ones. They also need to fix the issue of door and A/C accuators in their models, as its been described to me as a common issue in GM models. This is a very unsafe issue for all drivers GM or not. More accidents will follow.

- New Caney, TX, USA

problem #105

Jul 012016

Impala

  • 105,000 miles
Two different outcomes but stem from the same issue. While trying to start my vehicle I get a click and care won't start at all. Sometimes after several tries it does fire up. Also when it does start it will sometimes stall. Most recently while traveling didn't the interstate it stalled going 75mph leaving me to coast and disrupt 4 lanes of traffic.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #104

Jun 292016

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. As soon as the vehicle was started, the reduce engine power and service traction control warning indicators illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle for approximately 6 miles at 25 mph before the vehicle stalled. The engine powered off and the starter disabled warning indicators illuminated. The contact had to coast the vehicle to the side of the road to a complete stop. After a few minutes, the vehicle restarted and operated normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000. Updated 08/30/16

- Clairton, PA, USA

problem #103

May 212016

Impala

  • 13,200 miles
Takata recall. It happen to me twice I got two kids the car lost power from 45 to ten. Engine light is on. The code thst comes up is P2138 this is not ok needs to get fixed. First time it happen I was on a highway the car behind me almost hit me due to the engine power loss.

- Los Alamos, NM, USA

problem #102

Feb 282016

Impala

  • 124,000 miles
I got a jump after the engine light came on. Took it to get ichecked they say its my ECM. What is that and is it related to that electrical recall. I was in park

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #101

May 012014

Impala

  • miles
This vehicle has been recalled due to air bags, and in a year no one has been able to get the repairs done to the vehicle. But furthermore the car has several other mechanical issues that I am showing as a trend with Impala being that my sister and cousin have one also in different years, the car makes a ticking noise when the air or heat is turned on the passenger side delivers opposite temp as the driver so if air is on the passenger will deliver heat and vice versa. If the car goes over a speed bump the engine reduces power and service stabilitrak appears across the lighting as well as the car dropping out of gear if I go over any bump. This is very dangerous especially being that my children and I were in this car and it decided to do this on the interstate at night in 70 mph traffic. After doing research on the vehicle I am showing that I am not the only person with all of these problems listed, and it bothers me that none of these issues have been recalled just as the air bags were even though I think the recall, is just to save face because no one is actually doing the work to get them fixed. At first I thought these things were just mechanical problems with age of car but after research these are issues that are in cars made in this time frame and warrants a recall for the safety of consumers.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #100

Jan 072016

Impala

  • 121,000 miles
2006-2009 Chevrolet Impala ss ticking noise, engine misfire and/or ses light. This may be the result of an afm (active fuel management for displacement-on-demand) lifter that unlocks as soon as the engine is started or one that is mechanically collapsed/stuck. If an afm lifter unlocks as soon as the engine is started, a ses light and dtc P0300 will be experienced with engine misfires on cylinder 1, 4, 6 or 7 but it is unlikely that any noise will be experienced. If an afm lifter is mechanically collapsed/stuck, a consistent valvetrain tick noise, ses light and dtc P0300 will be experienced with engine misfires on cylinder 1, 4, 6 or 7.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #99

Nov 132012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 128,834 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle lost power and the speed reduced to 35 mph. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,834. Updated 04/26/16

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #98

Oct 022015

Impala

  • 60,000 miles
Engine oil leaks, valve cover gaskets, head gaskets, oil pan gasket. Can smell burning oil when driving & parked. After driving.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #97

Nov 112015

Impala

  • 5 miles
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. I am most concerned with the car cutting out while driving due to the reduced engine power however we also have locks that don't open/lock with remote which has been going on for the last 3 years and since last winter heater only blows cold air until you accelerate the car. This month we had car repaired for a knocking noise coming from under glove box while car was running or shut off. Mechanic diagnosed as a new actuator and did repair. This however did not repair the blowing of cold air and also this is when the reduced engine power warning started. I am a former gmac employee and have had GM vehicles for the last 15 years. I am so disappointed that there are so many problems with this make/model and that GM has not issued a recall on these.

- Breinigsville, PA, USA

problem #96

Nov 112015

Impala

  • 5 miles
Reduced engine power message. This message came up after have car at mechanics for a repair on actuator. We took back to mechanic and he cleared message however message has appeared after a week of driving car less than 10 miles per day. Mechanic said possible fix resulting in another $300 repair. The message came up while doing local driving around town less than 5 miles before it will appear

- Breinigsville, PA, USA

problem #95

Sep 132015

Impala

  • 115,000 miles
(reduced engine power) my 2008 Chevy Impala randomly shows down after the dash reads reduced engine power. I am lucky to be alive I was doing about 60 on the expressway and the car speed just dropped to 20mph I had to swerve because the car behind could not slow down in time. My two year old was in the car and I hear that GM cars have this problem all the time. This is ridiculously dangerous someone has to do something about it. The GM dealership has no ideal how to fix this.

- East Chicago, IN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?