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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 7 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

May 172013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 99,320 miles

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

On Friday 5/17/2013 I was driving home from work as I usually do and I made a stop at a red light. When the light turned green and I stepped on the gas to drive, I felt the car jerk and then the engine light came on and a message popped up and said engine power reduced. The car struggled to accelerate often feeling like it was going to cut off. I was able to make it to a parking lot where I felt safe in see the car broke down and I turned the car off an sat there for about 10 min and restarted the car. I was able to make it home by taking the highway since that is the only way I can make it home. When I got home the light turned off and I drove the car again and it appears to be driving normal. Then again today 5/19/2013, the same thing happened but this time the engine light did not shut off. I have no choice but to take the highway home and the car was very dangerous to drive because it does not accelerate the way it should. His poses as a danger to my life as well as others. After further research online I discovers that many people with Chevy Impala have reported and complained out the same issue that it can possibly be a sensor in the gas pedal which apparently isn't covered under the warranty and its costly consumers hundreds of dollars to correct. This vehicle definitely needs to be recalled as it is a safety threat.

- Vallejo, CA, USA

problem #13

Apr 012009

Impala

  • miles
I was driving my sales route and over a few days time, my car would have the engine picture lit and a message of reduced power would appear and I could not drive any faster than 50 and my foot was to the floorboard. This was very scary in that if you are on the highway the cars behind you do not know you are having a problem before you are able to exit off. Even starting from a stop light is dangerous because you can't get your speed up very fast. There were a few times where the car lost total power and I had to coast over to the side of the road. After letting the car sit for a few minutes, it started again but still had the engine icon lit and he same message appeared. I did have a part replaced at my expense of $200+ and for a very short time it did fix the problem but then very shortly it started doing it again. I was laid off my job so was not doing the route sales any longer and was using the car just for personal running so didn't pay to much attention to getting it looked at and my wife had her car to use for trips. It recently has been to where the light and message will not go off and it is constantly in the reduced power made. This is a very dangerous situation and due to the number of complaints this must be taken care of. I did take it to the Chevy dealership this week to see if I had missed a recall. The mechanic was well aware of the problem and said there was a recall for trucks not cars and he did not understand that. Nor do we. Now if you know this is a potential and is very common on these cars as we are told, then it needs fixed now. Fixing this, since you know the severity and possible problems would sure be better than a lawsuit I would think. I await your timely response. I will kick this up higher but wanted to start here. Compensation is due on this matter. I have my receipts.

- Mustang, OK, USA

problem #12

Aug 252008

Impala

  • 5,000 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. They told us they could not find anything wrong and to bring it back if the problem continued. It didn't take long and we were back at the dealer with the same problem. Dealer said they checked the belts and the fluid all working properly. After a few other times of the power steering failing took the vehicle to another dealer and they too could not find anything wrong with the ps. So, after several trips back to dealer we decided to just deal with it. Which brings me to my next complaint about the 2008 Impala, at just over 10,000 noted abnormal wear on tires, and wires peeking through on the inside. Took it in to dealer and they accused us of abusive driving behavior and neglect, which was a new on to me. Anyway, they refused to replace the tires sitting the warranty only covers defects and normal driving conditions. So, by this time we are starting to regret the purchase of this vehicle. We had to replace all 4 tires @ $98 each. About year later at 28,000 miles began to have this problem once again. After many hours of debates and phone calls they agree to "check out our problem" with no cost to us. Low and behold wouldn't you know it, they found nothing wrong with the vehicle and advised us to purchase better brand tires. The last time I looked Michelin was a top brand tire. On top of everything else, main seal in motor began to leak. This was the last straw!

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #11

Mar 012013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles

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

While driving, fast or slow, my car will slow down abruptly and a "engine power is reduced" warning comes up on the lcd dash. This has also happened while I've been standing idle at traffic lights. I am afraid that one day my car will stop completely while I'm on the highway, resulting in a crash of some sort.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #10

Mar 162013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 89,998 miles
When my Impala first started to display the engine power reduce message. I was told that it was the accelerator pedal position sensor. So I change the gas pedal the engine light when off for about two weeks. Then my car cut off one day as I was on my way to work. When I went to get it check they told me it might be the alternator and then it was the throttle body. Then there was nothing wrong with it but my car is now park and refuse to stay running. It will start only to cut off a mile or so into driving.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #9

Oct 012012

Impala 8-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala ss. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he noticed a warning that stated engine power reduced. Immediately after, the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was later taken to dealer. After inspection, they advised him that they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. The current mileage was approximately 75,500.

- Hewitt, TX, USA

problem #8

Apr 042012

Impala

  • 98,000 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 while driving at various speeds, the driver noticed a warning that stated engine power reduced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. After inspection, they advised her that they were unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000. The current mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Hewitt, TX, USA

problem #7

Mar 202013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
I was driving on the highway at approximately 60 mph and my check engine and traction control light came on. Additionally, the dash alternately flashed between "service traction control" and "reduced engine power." My car slowed down, but never cut off. My acceleration wasn't what it normally is. I was able to make it to my destination, but was not a fun experience.

- Odenton, MD, USA

problem #6

Dec 202012

Impala 8-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
When taking off from a start the transmission doesn't engage causing the engine to rev, then it slams into gear eventually. Have also noticed a decrease in power somewhat. Have had it in the dealer for service 3 times and of course they say they cant find anything wrong with it. Kinda crappy since the warranty just went out on the drive train about a month ago. Problem only seems to be getting worse. I have read on forums of this issue on numerous vehicles that use the 4T65-hd transmission and that GM refuses to acknowledge that there is a flaw in these transmissions.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 012010

Impala

  • 80,000 miles
Excessive wear on my rear tires. I have been told that the suspension is faulty and that excessive repair work had to be done to remedy this. I had to call aaa on one occassion because one of my rear tires blew out because of this problem. No injuries and I was lucky that I was driving in the city when this happened. On the highway, I could have cause great damage to myself and possibly to others around me. My car burns thru oil so super fast. It burns a quart of oil approximately every 750 miles.

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #4

Jan 292013

Impala 8-cyl

  • 148,000 miles

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

I was starting the car up and the engine was going in and out. I noticed that the check engine light was on and it stayed on. The stabili-trac light also came on. The panel also said that the engine was losing power. This happened 2 times within the last 8 days. I stopped the vehicle and turned it off. Cranked it back up and the check engine light was still on. Took it to the car dealer and they said that it was the throttle position sensor.

- Orangeburg, SC, USA

problem #3

Dec 192012

Impala 8-cyl

  • 73,014 miles
I was going down the road and out of no where my car says service traction control, followed by service stabilitrak, followed by engine power reduced with a check engine light on. Lost almost all power to the car, could barely turn the wheel and the brakes felt extremely strange. I could only go about 5mph tops down the road. Luckily I was only 2 min from home. Which actually took 6 min because of the reduced engine speed. Right before I pulled in the driveway the motor died. The next day I went out and tried starting it. The remote start wasn't working and my check engine light was still on but it did start up with a turn of the key. I looked up codes and found that it was telling me the accelerator pedal sensor was bad. I have googled this issue and found that it is a very dangerous, common problem with the Chevy Impala. Although that is the code it is giving me, other people have had to replace their throttle body to resolve the problem. GM should recall it before someone gets hurt. I will not be buying another GM vehicle in the future because they are too cheap to fix this common issue which could essentially cost someone their life.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #2

Nov 142012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
After mysterious loss of coolant, the head gaskets required replacement due to bad head bolts from the factory. This occurred 2 months after the factory warranty expired.

- Port Washington, NY, USA

problem #1

May 312012

Impala

  • 83,300 miles
I was traveling on a highway near to my home, and for about a month now the vehicle has come up with an error stating "reduced engine power". suddenly, the vehicle simply stalled itself, coming up with a message that stated "starting disabled/service throttle". I was traveling uphill at 40mph, now with no power brakes, no power steering, and the engine completely shut off and unable to restart. Luckily I was able to pull over and disconnect the battery and reconnect it to restart it. What if this had happened on a highway on or off ramp" or on a corner? or with a vehicle traveling behind me" I believe any vehicle that will just randomly turn itself off due to a part that has had hundreds of complaints that I've just read online is unsafe to be driven on America's highways. I read online that this was a prevalent problem with these vehicles, and I hope I get injured because of it so I can sue GM.

- Shakopee, MN, USA

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