Problems · by component
2008 Chevrolet Impala power train problems
91 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Impala cite power train, 11% of all 810 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
91
11% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“At a complete stop, press the gas to go and the car will not go. Kind of like its struggling to catch gear and then all of a sudden it with catch jerk hard. That's an issue for a few reasons. If you have to pull out for somewhere that traffic doesn't stop or yield, and the car is barley rolling trying to catch gear, there's the risk of getting hit. When the gear catches, and the jerk happened it's not a small jerk, i feel it's a safety hassard to small children. When my son was 4 months old it started and it jerked him pretty hard. My mother in law is the original owner and had it checked several times with no resolution.”
“When I turn the ignition key and start my car engine, I then shift the automatic transmission into “drive”, but there is no forward acceleration power, and I have no idea why this is.”
“The gas petal sensor is reading a code P2138 (Accelerator Petal Position Sensors 1-2 not plausible). My father has changed the petal not once but twice and erased the code but it keeps coming back. Also getting a p0172 code as well. A Cheverolet dealership has been called and the representative rushed me off phone saying there was not recall for the car. Car was taken to an Autozone and the codes were still coming up. Engine warning light goes off and on every 3 to 4 days after being cleared, then will get a reduced engine power message will appear. Messages warning lights and symptoms started 3 months ago.”
“I HAVE DAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND THE SOLENOIDS KEEP GOING OUT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I WILL BE GETTING THEM REPLACED, I HAVE NOT HAD AN OPERATING VEHICLE FOR A WEEK NOW AND I JUST HAVE WAIT TO SAVE UP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED.”
“WHEN DRIVING IT STATED NOT TO PICK UP SPEED THEN INBOXES I COULDN'T GO ANYMORE I TURN IT OFF THEN BK ON AND I PUT IT ON DRIVE. AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE SO I TURNED IT OFF WAITED A LITTLE AND THEN TIERED IT BACK ON AND IT PICKED UP A LITTLE SPEED (5MPH) AND I KEPT HAVING TO TURN IT OFF N ON TILL I MADE IT HOME. AFTER I HAVEN'T DROVE IT. THE ONLY GOOD THING WAS THAT IT HAPPENED ON MY BACK RODE TO MY APT. (LESS CARS)”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED FORWARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREGG YOUNG CHEVROLET (17750 BURT ST, OMAHA, NE 68118, (402) 509-3028) TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT TURNED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. THE CRASH WAS A T-BONE COLLISION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT AND OTHER DRIVER WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUBER CADILLAC (11102 W DODGE RD, OMAHA, NE 68154, (402) 496-5400), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, AND FUEL INJECTOR (TWICE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Showing 6 of 91 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.