YearToAvoid

2008 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 Impala years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Chevrolet Impala has 810 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 93 out of 100 — #2 highest of 16 Impala model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is electrical system (226 complaints, 28% of the total). Complaints report 51 crashes, 10 fires, 44 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
810
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
51 / 10
Injuries / deaths
44 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21.5
18 city / 28.5 hwy

Top 2008 Chevy Impala problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System226 (28%)
  2. Engine210 (26%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires153 (19%)
  4. Brakes113 (14%)
  5. Steering94 (12%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain91 (11%)
  7. Structure & Body74 (9%)
  8. Other53 (7%)
  9. Airbags50 (6%)
  10. Fuel System19 (2%)
2008 Chevrolet Impala complaints: complaints filed per quarter872007 Q32009 Q42012 Q12014 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q12024 Q1
1110 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q3 to 2024 Q4; peak 2014 Q3 (87).

2008 Chevrolet Impala recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V355000Jun 23, 2014Electrical System3,141,731 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    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.

    Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

  2. NHTSA 12V377000Aug 3, 2012Suspension, Wheels & Tires36,413 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    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.

    Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

2008 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
28.5 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,025
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Impala years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Caution67524119.5
2007Avoid87627221.5
2008Avoid93810221.5
2009Avoid100824521.5
2010Caution60441422

All Chevrolet Impala years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Impala a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Chevrolet Impala ranks #2 of 16 among Impala model years (Complaint Index 93/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 810 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (226 complaints), engine (210 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (153 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala, most recently reported 2014, covering electrical system and suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
EPA rates the 2008 Chevrolet Impala at 21.5 MPG combined (18 city / 28.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.