2008 Chevrolet Impala Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Impala, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 85,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine power” (10% of reports).
- 221electrical system complaints
- 85,000median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine power: mentioned in 22 of 221 complaints (10%)
- Door locks: mentioned in 19 of 221 complaints (9%)
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 17 of 221 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 168 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 221 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chevrolet Impala electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Impala | 3 | 20% | — |
| 2019 Impala | 9 | 32% | 35,700 |
| 2018 Impala | 11 | 19% | 51,300 |
| 2017 Impala | 15 | 13% | 42,000 |
| 2016 Impala | 30 | 27% | 45,691 |
| 2015 Impala | 96 | 32% | 59,523 |
| 2014 Impala | 221 | 35% | 66,000 |
| 2013 Impala | 52 | 19% | 60,000 |
| 2012 Impala | 58 | 22% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Impala | 95 | 19% | 78,000 |
| 2010 Impala | 132 | 30% | 78,000 |
| 2009 Impala | 224 | 27% | 82,559 |
| 2008 Impala | 221 | 27% | 85,000 |
| 2007 Impala | 128 | 20% | 84,200 |
| 2006 Impala | 124 | 24% | 85,000 |
| 2005 Impala | 331 | 54% | 80,000 |
| 2004 Impala | 681 | 63% | 68,750 |
| 2003 Impala | 264 | 38% | 98,740 |
| 2002 Impala | 305 | 38% | 82,162 |
| 2001 Impala | 225 | 30% | 100,000 |
| 2000 Impala | 187 | 23% | 98,000 |
| 1996 Impala | 11 | 13% | 92,500 |
| 1995 Impala | 6 | 14% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The key gets stuck and I can't remove the key; I can't take the key out and then the battery drains and car is dead.
The engine electric brakes all shut down steering wheel locked up and my daughter smashed into telephone pole on August 31 2023. Airbags didn't deploy for front and side airbags were deflated no air.no warning lights prior that I'm aware of. My daughter was injured PCS and cervical sprain
While driving at highway speeds the car will act up and the engine will shut off, I get the message on the odometer display that reads, Engine power is reduced, service throttle, starter disabled. This is not a good thing to have happen while driving.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Chevrolet Impalas have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 221 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala (27% of the 810 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Chevrolet Impala electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 85,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
The most frequent phrase is “engine power”, in 22 of 221 complaints, followed by “door locks” (19).
Other 2008 Chevrolet Impala problems
See all 2008 Chevrolet Impala problems or electrical system problems across all Impala years.