2008 Chevrolet Impala Body & structure Problems

The back driver’s side door of my 2008 Impala is not locked, but it cannot be opened. I’ve read online that this happens on other Impalas. Because this is a major safety issue, as well as a major inconvenience, these vehicles should be recalled and repaired at no cost to the owners. People should be able to enter and exit through all doors of a vehicle, especially during an emergency. Because of this defect, Impalas should be recalled and repaired at no cost to the owner.

NHTSA ID

11469944

Incident

Apr 4, 2022

WHILE IN MOTION, CAR WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH, HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER AND A FENCE AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. HE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT

NHTSA ID

11039657

Incident

Oct 24, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

REAR DOOR LOCKS DONT WORK WHEN TRYING TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF CAR. DOORS DON'T UNLOCK. REAR DOORS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK OFTEN.

NHTSA ID

10947394

Incident

Dec 25, 2016

Mileage

30,000 mi

REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION ELECTRICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARM. AUTOMATIC LOCK FUNCTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN 'DRIVE' DOES NOT FUNCTION UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE MANUAL LOCK RELEASES, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS MANUALLY. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, IF THE REAR DOOR LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION, IT CAN DELAY ESCAPE FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10870601

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

54,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10818976

Incident

Jun 10, 2015

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEY USED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE OR TWO REAR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TWO REAR WINDOWS DOWN TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10810518

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ALL THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10790116

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DASHBOARD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,115.

NHTSA ID

10786322

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

110,115 mi

FOWLER CHEVROLET, PART OF HTTP://WWW.FOWLERAUTO.COM/ WITH FOWLER TOYOTA, REPAIRED OUR 2008 IMPALA AFTER AN ACCIDENT. FIRST ROUND REPAIRS WERE $9,800 ON A $12,000 VEHICLE AND THEN CARFAX SHOWED FRAME DAMAGE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE ACCIDENT NOTATION AFTER THE REPAIRS! ON THE SAME DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, I EMAILED THE BODY SHOP "PLEASE DON'T PROCEED WITH SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS UNTIL THE FRAME STRUCTURE IS DETERMINED TO BE FINE ", BUT THEY STARTED WITHOUT CONTACTING ME. OUR INSURANCE COVERED LIKE TIRES AND THE DEALERSHIP EVEN WANTED ME TO GO GET THE REPLACEMENT GOODYEAR TIRE AND BRING TO THE DEALERSHIP! IT WAS IN THE SHOP OVER 7 WEEKS AND INSURANCE ONLY COVERED FOR 30 DAYS OF A RENTAL VEHICLE, BUT SINCE WE WERE RENTING FROM THEIR FLEET, THEY HAD NO INCENTIVE TO GET IT DONE. WE ENDED UP TAKING IT TO SOUTHPOINTE CHEVROLET TO MINIMIZE THE NOISES COMING OUT OF THE REPAIR AREA AND HAVE NEVER BEEN REIMBURSED. I REQUESTED QUALITY ASSURANCE IN WRITING REGARDING THE REPAIR AREA AFTER THE CARFAX CONCERNS. I ALSO REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION REGARDING IF THE WELDER WAS CERTIFIED ETC..., BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL IN WRITING. THE BODY SHOP MANAGER, CHRIS HELM, WAS TERMINATED SOON AFTER OUR REPAIRS. THE BODY SHOP MANAGER STATED THAT GENERAL MOTORS/CHEVROLET SENT IN A REPRESENTATIVE TO REVIEW THE REPAIRS AND BACKED THE DEALERSHIP 100%. I REQUESTED SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM GENERAL MOTORS/CHEVROLET AFTER SENDING THE PICTURE OF THE REPAIRS AND THEY WON'T PUT ANYTHING IN WRITING. FOWLER CHEVROLET AND FOWLER AUTO GROUP REFUSE TO RESOLVE THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES. I WILL NEVER USE THEM AGAIN. CAN YOU HELP PREVENT OTHER UNSAFE REPAIRS LIKE IN THE PICTURE?

NHTSA ID

10781856

Incident

Jul 31, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY AND MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALL FOUR LOCKS AND THE TPMS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TPSM WAS REPLACED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE LOCKS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10762245

Incident

Mar 7, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10744524

Incident

Jul 29, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE POWER LOCKING MECHANISM FAILURE. THE ONLY DOOR THAT CAN BE UNLOCKED BY THE KEY FOB IS THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ALL OF THE OTHER DOORS MUST BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE WINDOW MUST BE OPENED TO ALLOW THE PERSON ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO REACH IN AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE THE ACTUATOR IN THE DOORS WERE MALFUNCTIONING, AND THE COST WOULD BE $1,300.00 TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10723374

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS EXCITING AN OFF RAMP WHEN I SWERVED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CRASHED HAD NO BRAKES AND KEYS WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. MY VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10684217

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

96,187 mi

WE HAD OVER $10,000 IN INSURANCE REPAIRS ON 2008 IMPALA WITH BLUE BOOK AROUND $12,800. OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPT RULES SAID CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD TO GO TO A 2ND SHOP TO CONTINUE REPAIRS AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER WAS FIRED. CARFAX IS NOW SHOWING VEHICLE WITH FRAME DAMAGE ETC.. AND INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO ASSIST. WE WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD MORE DOCUMENTATION FOR ASSISTANCE AS FTC IS TELLING US YOU CAN ASSIST HOLD FOWLER CHEVROLET OF TULSA OKLAHOMA ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ALSO IF THEY ARE REPAIRING CARS THAT SHOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS BESIDES COMPENSATING US FOR THE FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670866

Incident

Jun 27, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

I STARTED GETTING THIS CLICKING NOISE BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE TEMP DOOR ACTUATOR AND THE AIR INLET DOOR ACTUATOR. THEY REPLACED BOTH AND THE CLICKING NOISE WENT AWAY AND CONTROLS WORKED FINE AGAIN. NOW IN NOVEMBER, 2014, THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. FROM ALL THAT I HAVE READ THE ACTUATORS ARE MANUFACTURED WITH CHEAP PLASTIC GEARS THAT DON'T LAST. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE ON LINE. IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA, AIR CONDITIONING IN THE CAR IS A ABSOLUTE NECESSITY AND IT GETS VERY EXPENSIVE TO CONTINUE TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS PROBLEM WILL CERTAINLY BE A DETERMINING FACTOR WHEN I DECIDE TO BUY ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658938

Incident

Mar 18, 2013

Mileage

39,227 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS USED IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,400.

NHTSA ID

10650218

Incident

Apr 27, 2013

Mileage

6,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD AND STOPPED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID

10644517

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

3,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED ON THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE DOORS HAD TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR MOTOR MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 11/19/14*CN UPDATED 8/13/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10643305

Incident

Sep 9, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT FOWLER CHEVROLET IN TULSA OKLAHOMA AND VERY CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE TAKEN IN 2ND TIME FOR REWORK. WE HAVE SOME PICTURES AND VIDEO. BODY SHOP MANAGER WAS TERMINATED. WE NEED ASSISTANCE. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES ON VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. UNSURE WHERE TO TURN. SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH CHEVROLET INVOLVED TO COVER FOR DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO REMOVE ALL THE KEYS FROM THE KEY RING. UPDATED 12/17/14...UPDATED 06/16/15 *BF UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT

NHTSA ID

10633610

Incident

Jul 25, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK, TRAPPING PASSENGERS AFTER PARKING VEHICLE NETHER OF THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS COULD BE OPENED. BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS REMAIN LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED USING ETHER THE LOCK CONTROLS LOCATED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CONTROL OR WITH THE KEY FOB. MY 90+ YEAR OLD PARENT WAS IN REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DUE TO SEVERE DEMENTIA THEY BECAME PANICKY AND AGITATED WHEN THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPEN THE DOOR USING THE PASSENGER LOCK NOR COULD THEY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS TO DO SO. THIS WOULD BE THE SAME SITUATION AS HAVING A SMALL CHILD TRAPPED N THE REAR. THE REAR DOOR MANUAL LOCKING MECHANISM ARE LOCATED TO FAR BACK TO BE REACHED FROM THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO FREE HIM BY ENTERING THE TRUCK AND PUSHING ONE OF THE REAR SEATS FLAT TO ACCESS THE PASSENGER AREA. HAD THIS BEEN A CRASH OR VEHICLE FIRE ANY PASSENGER IN REAR COMPARTMENT WOULD HAVE PERISHED. A REVIEW OF IMPALA OWNER COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL WEB SITES INDICATES THERE IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE REAR DOOR LOCKS ON THESE IMPALAS BUT GM HAS NOT OFFERED TO FIX WHAT IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627130

Incident

Jun 20, 2014

Mileage

51,000 mi

WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY TRAFFIC SUDDENLY STOPPED AND I CHANGED LANES. AS I CHANGED LANES I WAS UNABLE TO STEER AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR BROADSIDE. THE CAR I HIT HAD ITS AIR BAGS DEPLOY. MINE DID NOT. DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS ALL FRONT END AND DRIVERS REAR DOOR. NO INJURIES EXCEPT BUMPS AND BRUISES. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN RECALLED FOR THE IGNITION KEY ISSUE BY GM. WAS UNAWARE OF ISSUE BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10599063

Incident

Oct 10, 2013

Mileage

61,715 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. IT DOES NOT OPEN ONE MONTH LATER, AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK DOOR AND ENGAGING THE HANDLE FROM INSIDE AND OUT. IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY, THE INABILITY TO OPEN THE DOOR COULD QUICKLY RESULT IN DEATH OR INJURY. IN A FAMILY WITH THREE VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL, ALL THREE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. CHEVROLET DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO INFORM MANUFACTURER OF DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555368

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

Mileage

164,000 mi

THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER REAR DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THEY LOCK BUT DON'T OPEN. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE LOCKS ARE AT THE BACK/REAR OF THE CAR AND CANNOT BE ACCESSED FROM THE FRONT. .I CANNOT ENTER AND REMOVE MY GRANDCHILDREN FROM THERE CAR SEATS IN AN EMERGENCY LIKE A CAR FIRE AND CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THEY ARE STILL IN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533388

Incident

Jul 2, 2012

Mileage

52,000 mi

DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS: FIRST THE DRIVER DOOR FAILED TO WORK. THEN THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR..(WHICH HAS TO BE MANUALLY OPENED AND CLOSED). NOW THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK IS UNDEPENDABLE. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING A HAZARD TO DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE IN THAT THE SAFETY OF THE INGRESS AND EGRESS OF THE PASSENGERS CANNOT BE GUARANTEED AND THIS CAN BECOME A DEFINITE HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532148

Incident

May 6, 2009

Mileage

10,203 mi

I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE . I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY AND THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" WARNINGS CAME ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" WARNING CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN OVER 50 MPH. THIS IS ON A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON ,THEY JUST AS QUICKLY TURN OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE CAR SHOOK AND THE THROTTLE WAS A BIT OFF. IT WAS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT AND IT IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT.AS OF TODAY, THIS IS THE 5TH TIME I HAVE DEALT WITH "REDUCED ENGINE POWER"/"SERVICE STABILITRAK". SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE. INSTEAD OF BEING SCARED OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT, I'M FEARFUL I WILL BE THE ONE CAUSING THE PILE UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511828

Incident

May 14, 2013

Mileage

71,009 mi