Problems · by component
2008 Chevrolet Impala latches/locks/linkages problems
48 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Impala cite latches/locks/linkages, 6% of all 810 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
48
6% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the latches/locks/linkages
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ALL DOOR LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE OR WITH THE INSIDE LOCK BUTTONS ON THE INTERIOR DOOR. EACH DOOR HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN GEAR, THE DOORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. THE DOORS EACH HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE ONLY KEYHOLE ON THE CAR IS ON THE DRIVERS DOOR TO UNLOCK THE CAR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE YEAR MODELS 2008 AND 2009. THE PARTS ALONE ARE $450 TO $1,000. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE: 1. THE DOORS NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN GEAR. AUTOMATIC LOCKS WERE MOST LIKELY LISTED ON THE WINDOW STICKER. 2. IF A CHILD IS LOCKED IN THE CAR, THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH REMOTE AND CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. 3. NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR WITH THE KEY IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. MY CAR ONLY HAS 45,100 MILES ON IT AND THE LOCKS HAVE NOT WORKED IN OVER TWO YEARS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *JS”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE EXCEEDED 85 DEGREES, THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (CHUCK FAIRBANKS CHEVROLET, DESOTO, TEXAS) WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED AND PREVENTED THE DOORS FROM LOCKING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR DOOR ACTUATORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,358.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE VEHICLE THEY HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN THE LOCKS THROUGH THE WINDOWS OR ADJUST THE SEAT TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE LOCKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. MA 09/25 THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/28/16*JB”
“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”
Showing 6 of 48 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.