Problems · by component
2008 Chevrolet Impala steering problems
94 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Impala cite steering, 12% of all 810 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
94
12% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Q-What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A-Suspension and steering effective. Any time I drive and make turns it makes like a clunking noise. You can actually feel it in the floor board. It's worse when you are driving down a not so smooth road. You can look at it as soon as possible. Q-How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A-Control arm might SNAP causing you to lose control of my vehicle and crash into other drivers. Q-Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A-Firestone has inspected my car. Q-Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A-No my vehicle has not. Q-Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A-No warning signs of any kind. This started within the last month or two.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER, STALLED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.”
“IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET TURNING LEFT , PEDAL STUCK BRAKES NOT WORKING AND HIT BY ON COMING CAR , FLIPPED IN AIR ABOUT A BLOCK , ROLLING OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN , NO AIR BAGS DEPLEATED, BROKEN RIBS, CONCUSSION, SKIN LACERATIONS , BRUISES,GLASS LOGGED IN PARTS OF BODY , FACE AND FEET”
“WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR GAVE A NOTICE OF REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THEN A FEW MILES LATER, ANOTHER NOTICE CAME ON SERVICE THROTTLE DISABLING SERVICE. AND THE CAR SHUT OFF! WITH NO WARNING, AND NO WAY TO GET TO SAFETY. IF I WASN'T IN AN AREA THAT HAD A SHOULDER I COULD GET TO QUICKLY OR IF THERE WAS ANY TRAFFIC NEAR ME, I WOULD BE DEAD! THIS IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED, IF IT HASNT ALREADY! THAT HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF FLAW IN THE PROGRAMING. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS WHERE I NORMALLY AM AT THAT TIME OF DAY, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO TIME TO REACT AND GET TO A SAFE AREA BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME. IT ALSO LOCKED UP THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKING SYSTEM SO I HAD NEXT TO NO POWER. IT WAS INCREDIBLY SCARY. I AM JUST GLAD THAT I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, INSTEAD OF MY ELDERLY MOTHER. SHE VERY WELL MAY HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK FROM THE FEAR. IN NO WAY SHOULD A CAR JUST SHUT DOWN MID-DRIVE LIKE THAT! I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THE AMOUNT OF WAYS HOW BADLY THAT COULD GO WRONG, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH CHEVY VEHICLES AND THE THROTTLE BODY. EVEN IF THE THROTTLE BODY IS GOING BAD, IN NO WAY SHOULD YOUR CAR BE…”
“THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LT WERE NEVER REPLACED IN THR RECALL. THE RECALL STATES THAT IF THEY BRAKE WHILE DRIVING CAN CAUSE DAMAGE ,INJURY OR DEATH, 2ND OWNER NEVER GOT RECALL NOTICE.”
“2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ -- I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE REAR INNER TIRES WEARING DOWN TO THE CHORDS JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE. I KNOW IT'S NOT THE TIRE BRAND, ETC. AS I'VE HAD A REPUTABLE MECHANIC PUT ON TWO SETS OF TIRES. I FOUND ARTICLES ON A LAWSUIT AND THE FACT THAT GM WILL FIX THE POLICE CARS WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A COMMUTER CAR FOR MY SONS THAT WILL BE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND I NEED IT TO LAST. I WANT A COPY OF THE TSB #08032A THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED SO THAT I DON'T KEEP BLOWING THROUGH SETS OF TIRES IT IS GETTING RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. MY LAST SET WAS SUPPOSED TO WEAR OUT AT 60,000 AND ONLY LASTED 20,000. I AM ACTUALLY ON MY SECOND SET, SO BASICALLY $1600 INTO TIRES ALONE, NOT TO MENTION WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST ME FOR THE SPINDLE/CAMBOR/REAR TIE RODS THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TSB MENTIONED ABOVE. GM SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS AND IT SHOULD BE A MASSIVE RECALL. THESE CARS ARE PROLIFIC IN SOCIETY. LOL....WE BAILED THEM OUT IN 2008, AND THEY WERE CRANKING OUT LEMONS THE SAME YEAR....IRONIC!! GM REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.”
Showing 6 of 94 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.