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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

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2008 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 6 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #34

Feb 032014

Impala

  • 128,000 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 while driving 65 mph, the reduce engine power warning message illuminated and the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 128,000.

- Salem, NH, USA

problem #33

Dec 082013

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the traction control, stability track and engine reduce power warning lamp illuminated. After the warning lamps illuminated, the vehicle suddenly decelerated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 92,000....updated 03-12-14 the consumer stated the problem was intermittent

- Monroe, NY, USA

problem #32

Jan 092014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
My engine power reduced light keeps coming on and the power is significantly affected. I can set my cruise and then without warning the light comes on, cruise stops working and car slows down. This is a hazard in fast moving traffic. It appears that this is a very common problem among 2008 model Impala.

- Sawyer, KS, USA

problem #31

Dec 292013

Impala

  • 100,500 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 while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle service traction control and engine power reduced lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 100,500.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #30

Dec 272013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 107,122 miles
I was driving about 35 mph the entire car system shut off, no warning lights came, I rolled into a dirt parking lot, and turned the key off, sat there for a little while then continue to work, had to take alternate route, didn't know when or if it would happen again. It did happen again later that afternoon, while autozone tech was checking my battery. It was frightening, thank god!! traffic was light.I live where a lot of big rigs come and go, I mostly drive freeways, but that day I had to change my route.

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #29

Dec 022013

Impala

  • 98,000 miles
I have a 2008 Chevrolet Impala ltz. I have had several occasions now when my car has started flashing "service stabilitrak" "engine power reduced" "service airbags" and then all the corresponding lights come on. One of the times the vehicle flashed all of those warnings, the lights came on and the car died, while I was driving. It lost all power and it took everything I had to steer the vehicle off the road. I had my [xxx] year old with me that time and was scared I was not going to be able to get us to a safe spot to sit and wait for help. The most recent incident happened last evening on my way home from work. I was driving on the freeway going about 75mph, the warnings flashed and then my car lost power and felt as though it was not handling the road as well as it should. I live in mn and we are in the middle of winter now. I need my car to be safe and I rely on this car to get my son and I to where we need to go safely! this is the only vehicle I have and cannot afford for something to happen to it. I have been reading several forums about others that this is happening to and can't help but feel there has to be something more to the situation. I would feel horrible if something ever happened to my family or anyone else because of my faulty vehicle!! this needs to be figured out and taken care of. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Dayton, MN, USA

problem #28

Dec 082013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 108,000 miles

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

In June 2012 I had this problem error message read: "engine power reduced " as I was driving 55 mph on highway mph fell below to 40 I had to get off highway. I had this problem fixed so I thought it cost me about 360 dollars. Same exact recurring problem same error message today 12/09/13. This is ridiculous GM has to know this is not safe. Dealership will not repair again at their own expense. Too much money for me to continue paying over N over again. They need to recall this car it's outrageous! can someone please help us?!

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #27

Sep 052013

Impala

  • 90,000 miles
I was driving down the road and the power reduced, its says reduced power in engine.

- Twinlake, MI, USA

problem #26

Jun 052013

Impala

  • 87,500 miles
I was driving about 50 miles an hour and "service traction control" and "reduced engine power" lights came on. I slowed down to 40 and was trying to merge into traffic and the car downshifted really hard and died. Right as it died another light came on, something about the throttle. I was on a 4 lane bridge during rush hour. Had the car towed to the local Chevy dealer. When they got it, it started right up, but the check engine light was on. They had the car for 3 days and could find nothing wrong with it. Since then it has happened 5 more times.

- New Bloomfield, MO, USA

problem #25

Aug 132013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 56,310 miles
Yesterday on my way home from work.. I exit off of 55 onto 1st avenue. Got to odgen avenue and suddenly the car went into a slow motion. Message appeared reduce engine and transaction control. I was not able to go pass 20 miles. I pulled over at a walgreens. Shut off the car and started again. Same message. I finally made it home ( 1-1/2 ), usually 20-25 minutes. I looked on line last night and saw numerous calls and complaints regarding the same issue. I called GMC this morning and of course no recalls for this problem.. this is a serious issue and I or someone else could have been hurt..

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #24

Aug 102013

Impala

  • 138,000 miles

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

I had just started my 2008 Chevrolet Impala ltz and was leaving when the service stabilitrak warning came on and engine power was reduced warning came on. The vehicle lost power and began to jerk as it shifted gears. Unfortunately, it occurred at a time when the local Chevrolet dealer's service department was closed and on the weekend. I'm hoping to get this problem resolved on Monday as this is my only mode of transportation and I'm 8 weeks from graduating from college!! it would suck if I have spend all this time and money in getting my education only to fail due to a vehicle breakdown that seems to be an issue with this very make and model. This could be a very dangerous situation for anyone having this problem with their Impala. It shouldn't take a loss of life or injury, fire or crash to make the manufacturer place a recall on the faulty part that is causing this.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #23

Aug 012013

Impala

  • 133,566 miles
This is the third time I had to fix this passlock thing on my Impala and im getting so sick and tired of

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #22

Jul 312013

Impala

  • 139,423 miles
I was just driving and the check engine light popped on. In the message box it said engine power reduced, and the traction control light also came on. I have no idea what's going on. I couldn't pick up speed, when I tried to it would jerk. I've never had any problems out of my car until now.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #21

Jul 132013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
A few months ago, while driving my vehicle the service stabilitrak warning came on and engine power was reduced causing a safety hazard on a busy road. Following instructions from GM, my mechanic cleaned connections on the pedal relay. The same problem occurred this past Saturday while driving on the highway, nearly causing a collision. I have been told the repairs to fix this issue will run close to $1,000. I have also read many forums on the internet indicating this is a consistent problem with Impala's. it is my belief that this should be addressed with a safety recall.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #20

Jun 222013

Impala

  • 135,007 miles
On June 22, 2012 as I was driving approximately 40 mph, the reduced engine power and traction control message popped up on the dash. I know my car slowed down a lot and then picked up speed again. I notice that each time I pressed on the petal to stop at a light or stop sign the car would jerk forward. I did not think too much of it until my husband then drove it and said the same thing happened to him and the car was driving really rough. I did some research and see that lots of Chevy owners have been experiencing the same problem. Please enforce a recall as this is not safe especially when you are driving on a freeway.

- Duncanville, TX, USA

problem #19

Jun 182013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 157,991 miles
As I was driving, all of a sudden the service traction control light came on and then engine power reduced light came on. This caused my car to slow down without warning which could have been a dangerous situation had I been on a busy highway which fortunately I wasn't. I read up on this and noticed that this is happening quite often and this should really be remedied before an unfortunate death or injury occurs from this.

- Coleman, GA, USA

problem #18

May 102013

Impala

  • 60,000 miles
I have a 2008 Chevy Impala. Starting last month (May 2013) the service traction light and reduce engine power lights started coming on. I took it back to the place where I purchased the vehicle and it came back that it was the accelerator pedal. It was replaced and 5 days later the lights were back on again. I called the shop and they told me to bring it back to them on Monday because they were closed Saturday and Sunday. I took the car back to the shop and the lights weren't on. They told me that they could not get a reading on the car and to come pick it up. I drove off the lot and 3 days later the lights were back on. This has happened every week since they replaced the accelerator pedal. When I took it in initially they said it was either the accelerator pedal or the throttle. On Friday June 14th the car stopped the service traction system light, reduced engine power light and starting disabled service/check throttle light came on and the car stopped. It was still running but when I pressed the accelerator pedal it would not move. I cut it off and sat for about 10 minutes. I started it and drove straight to the lot it was Friday at 4:45 pm they closed at 5:00 the guy said bring it back Monday (wow really). I parked the car again all weekend didn't start it until Monday. The lights were off when I got in it on Monday as soon as I backed out of my drive way the lights popped back on and it would only go 40 mph. Luckily the place is about 3 miles from my house when I got there they weren't open yet so I sat there. When they finally opened I drove in and told the guy who I was. The drove the car around several times and could not get the lights to come back on. It is now Tuesday and I still don't have my car back. They say that they took it to the dealership to have them look at it. I'm not sure what to do at this point I need my car to get back and forth to work.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #17

Jun 172013

Impala

  • 78,006 miles
I was making a left hand turn. I slowed to turn. A car was coming but far away. The "reduced engine power" light came on and I had minimal power to complete the turn and was nearly struck in the side. I had the decreased power, only after completing my turn did I stop and notice the light had come on. My car has significantly decreased power and acceleration. It is intermittent. I had a very unsafe drive back home. I wish I would have had it towed because it was intermittent decrease of power.

- Zanesville, OH, USA

problem #16

May 312013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Out of nowhere my door lock actuators for all three passenger doors are not working neither is my trunk opening and to make it worse im sitting in my job parking lot with the A/C on waiting for my break to be over and all of a sudden my car starts blowing air from the outside inside the car and I looked at my dash and my temp level was rising to in between 1/2 and 3/4 got out check coolant was fine and everything else checked fine but now everytime I sit in my car with the engine running and my A/C on it only stays on for about 20 mins, then the A/C cut off, starts blowing hot air, and the A/C nor the recirculation will engage it blinks. And to make it worse I smell fuel on my oil dipstick and my car is drinking fuel like water someone please help me.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #15

Apr 282013

Impala

  • 71,500 miles
On 4/28/13, while turning into church parking lot, traction control and check engine lights came on. Computer check the next day showed code 2127. The computer was cleared and this problem code did not reappear. On 5/28/13, while driving on a flat country road at about 50 mph, traction control and check engine lights again came on. I had to drive approx. 20 miles to get back to my mechanic. Part of the computer response during the this time was to reduce engine power. This was noticeable on any minor hill. Again, my mechanic checked the computer diagnostic and said code 2127. I took my car to my dealer 5/29/13 and they replaced the accelerator pedal assembly.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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