Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2008)

810 consumer complaints on file.

#10360868October 15, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2008 CHEVY IMPALA LT. CONSUMER STATES POSSIBLE SYSTEM FLAW WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO WAS TRAVELING ON HIS LEFT CROSSED INTO HIS LANE WITH NO SIGNAL AND FORCED THE CONSUMER TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT AND THEN A SHARP LEFT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AS HE MADE THE SHARP LEFT, HIS VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AND SENT HIM INTO A 360 DEGREE SLIDING SPIN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. THE END RESULT WAS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AT THAT SPEED ON VERY DRY CONDITIONS WITH OR WITHOUT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE PURPOSE OF THE ESC WAS TO MAINTAIN STABILITY IN THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357734September 26, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA AND WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, SO MY TIRES WERE TURNED AT AN ANGLE. WHEN BACKING UP, I LOST ALL POWER STEERING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. ONCE I BACKED OUT AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE STEERING BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. I CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID BUT IT WAS NOT LOW. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS FAIRLY REGULARLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355959September 16, 2010
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHEN BRAKING AT 50 MPH AND UP, BRAKES PULSATE AND STEERING SHUTTERS. I AM WORRIED BRAKES WILL FAIL. IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT HAS BEEN GOING ON SEVERAL MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355991September 16, 2010
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING . THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND MANAGED TO PULL OVER. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS TORN DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR LOCKING UP. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST HIM WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43000. UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WHEN HE PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD SHREDDED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE BELT, ONLY FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN AS SOON AS HE TURNED ON THE AC. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AC COMPRESSOR. UPDATED 01/10/11*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355232September 13, 2010
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT 5,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 18,000 MILES. THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE WAS 30 BUT THE DEALER RECOMMENDED 35, WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WHEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354903September 10, 2010
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM INDICATOR KEPT COMING ON IN MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE I HAD OVER 36,000 MILES IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT , BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR THE SAME DAY. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TROUBLE WAS WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR, WHICH WAS COMMON, AND THAT IT DISABLED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354440September 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE USING THE ELECTRONIC FOB. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE FOB SO HE HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. UPON OPENING THE DOOR HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND A FLAME IGNITED IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. HE CLOSED THE DOOR AND THE FLAME EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE SO THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. THE POLICE DID NOT APPEAR ON THE SCENE BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353501September 2, 2010
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THE ROTORS TO FAIL. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,500. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 01/03/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353327September 1, 2010
SUSPENSION
THE CHEVY IMPALA SEEMS TO BE A FINE VEHICLE IN FOR NORMAL, EVERYDAY DRIVING. IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THOUGH, IT'S HANDLING BECOMES VERY UNPREDICTABLE. I HAD A CAR PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ME YESTERDAY, CAUSING ME TO BRAKE HARD. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK FINE, HOWEVER, THE REAR END OF THE CAR SLEWED OUT INTO ANOTHER LANE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO LOCKUP OF THE WHEELS - THE CAR SHOULD HAVE TRACKED STRAIGHT - I WAS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT AHEAD MANNER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THE CAR REACT IN THIS MANNER. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE CAR'S HANDLING - I NOTED CONSUMER REPORT'S UNDERSTATED SUMMARY OF THE CAR HAVING "UNSETTLED" HANDLING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352825August 30, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL, SECONDS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD FOLLOWED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WIRING WAS REPLACED IN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350494August 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN
YESTERDAY, MY CHEVY 08 IMPALA WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I CONTACTED AAA WHO WAS UNABLE TO HELP ME. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CAR MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE WIRESUNDER THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAD COME UNATTACHED. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH CHEVY WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND MY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WAS OVER AT 36, 000 MILES. I HAD TO PAY $ 91 TO HAVE THE WIRES RECONNECTED BACK INTO THE PIECE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WIRES ARE TO SHORT TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT IS WHY THEY CAN BECOME TANGLED AND TEAR OUT OF THE CONNECTING PIECE. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS FAIR FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347423August 5, 2010
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE HAS SHIMMY, VEERS TO THE RIGHT, AND FRONT HAS WHEELHOPS. DEALER HAS CHANGED BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, AND LEFT AND RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ISSUE HAS CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND WARPING ON PARTS DUE TO OVERHEATING. AFFECTS STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. SINCE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SHIMMY, WHEELHOP AND STEERING TILL AN ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345066July 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH FRONT BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ON STEEP OR LONG GRADES, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS A VERY BAD SHUTTERING WHICH GETS WORSE IF THE GRADE IS LONGER. IT HAS BECOME A VERY BAD PROBLEM AND ALMOST COST ME A SPEEDING TICKET IN THAT I HAD TO LAY OFF THE BRAKE WHICH CAUSED ME TO GO ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE I RAN THRU RADAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEVROLET OWNERS AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343756July 17, 2010
TIRES
PURCHASED NEW 2008 CHEVY IMPALA ONLY TO HAVE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR FRONT AND BACK AT 13,000 MILES WHEN CAR WAS 1 1/2 YEAR OLD. I NEEDED TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AT THAT TIME. TODAY I LEARNED I NEED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SET OF TIRES AT 26,500 MILES. HAVE HAD TIRES ROTATED REGULARLY AND ALIGNED. I THOUGHT THE FIRST SET OF TIRES FROM THE DEALERSHIP WERE JUST "CHEAP" TIRES SO WHEN I REPLACED I REPLACED WITH GOOD TIRES. STILL NEED A SET OF TIRES A6 13,000-14,000 MILES. THIS IS A DISGRACE. I AM JUST BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF HAVING THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED (I HOPE). GM DID PUT BULLETIN # 08032 FOR POLICE CARS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I GUESS JOHN Q PUBLIC THOUGH IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE POLICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343429July 15, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
SIDEWALLS ON ALL THE TIRES WERE WEARING DOWN ABNORMALLY!!! 19,000 MILES AND I NEED TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343146July 14, 2010
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SIDEWALLS ON ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITHIN THE STRUTS WHICH WAS CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE REAR TIRES WERE WEARING MORE RAPIDLY THAT THE FRONT TIRES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341837July 7, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
SEVERE INNER SURFACE TIRE WEAR ON REAR WHEELS OF 2007-2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 08032 IS ON FILE WITH GENERAL MOTORS, ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM, BUT WILLING ONLY TO PAY FOR NECESSARY REPAIRS TO POLICE VEHICLES, WHEN IN FACT THE FLAW EXISTS WITH ALL 2007-2008 IMPALA VEHICLES. WE PURCHASED THE CAR AS A DEMO MODEL IN 2009 AND WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE THE DEALER WAS HONEST, AND ALSO NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME. WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, SINCE HANDLING ON WET ROADS IS EFFECTED DUE TO THE FACT THE REAR TIRES ARE CONTACTING THE ROAD SURFACE ONLY ON 1-2" OF THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE TIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340953July 1, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS RECENTLY TOTALED, ON STAR HAD DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE APP SENSOR, THIS WAS CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, THE CAR IS NOW IN POSSESSION OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY I HAD CALLED PREVIOUSLY AND WAS TOLD TO CALL CHEVY, THE DEALERSHIP IS THE ONLY NUMBER I HAVE . THEY ARE TO DISPOSE OF THIS CAR , THERE IS TOO MUCH DATA HERE TO NOT HAVE TURNED OVER TO CHEVY AND OR NHTSB , ESPECIALLY SINCE ONSTAR ALSO RECORDED THE CROSS AND THE DRIVER ONLY HAD A KNEE INJURY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340604June 29, 2010
TIRES
NOTICED ABNORMAL AND EXCESSIVE TIRE FEATHERING. HAD RESEARCHED AND FOUND PREVIOUS TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SO I HAD BEEN MONITORING MY OWN TIRES TO SEE IF IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME AFTER I PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES, WHICH ONLY HAVE 34,000 MILES ON A 50,000 MILE RATING, HE WOULD TRY AN ALIGNMENT TO SEE IF IT NEED FOUR NEW STRUTS AS HE WAS ASSUMING WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM BEHIND THE TIRE WEAR. I CALLED A LOCAL GM SERVICE CENTER TO SEE IF THEY HAD SUGGESTIONS FOR ME. THE GUY TOLD ME 4 NEW TIRES AND THE FEW OTHERS WE HAVE SERVICED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AN ADJUSTMENT HAD TO BE MADE BY ELONGATING THE HOLES TO PULL THE TIRES INTO A GOOD ALIGNMENT, ELIMINATING THE OUTWARD CAMBER. HE FOUND THIS INFO IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. GM HAS RECALLED PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES, IE POLICE CARS, OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, BUT HAS YET TO SEE THE PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD BEHIND THIS EASILY REMEDIED ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME AT-LEAST $700 FOR PREMATURELY WORN TIRES AND REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS. IMAGINE IF I HAD BEEN AWARE OF THIS PREVIOUS TO MY OWN INCIDENT. I WOULD ASSUME I STILL HAD 15-20000 MILES OF TREAD-LIFE LEFT AND WOULD BE DRIVING MY CAR AS IF THERE WERE NO PROBLEM AT-ALL UNTIL MY TIRES BLEW WHILE DRIVING MY SON BACK TO HIS MOTHERS HOUSE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, KILLING MY SON AND I AS WELL AS TWO OTHERS IN ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE-IN LAYS THE SAFETY ISSUE. A PROMPT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WILL SHOW IT'S A DESIGN FLAW THAT IS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. THE SOONER THE DEFECT IS CORRECTED, THE SOONER PEOPLES LIVES AND WALLETS CAN REST AT EASE. I WOULD CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339868June 24, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
HAD TO REPLACE REAR DRIVER'S TIRE AT 17,000 MILES DUE TO WEAR DOWN TO THE METAL. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO CHECK WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND FOUND THE REAR SO MISALIGNED THAT THE ADJUSTMENT STRUTS HAD TO BE ELONGATED. SPOKE WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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