Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL IVE REPLACED THE WHEEL HUBS TWICE AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AND THEN IT RETURNS. IM TIRED OF IT BECAUSE ITS COSTLY AND I DO NOT HAVE MONEY I WORK A PART TIME JOB. ALSO THE CAR LOSES POWER IT STARTS STATING REDUCED ENGINE POWER ON MY DASH ITS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ITS DONE THIS TO ME A FEW TIMES ON THE FREEWAY.
IGNITION IS MESSING UP AND THE POWER WILL GO DOWN
ABS ABD TC WARNING LIGHT LIT WITH "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" MESSAGE. INITIATED AT TURNING EVENTS,
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED SEVERELY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED RECONNECTING A VACUUM HOSE AFTER OBSERVING THAT IT WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE POWER BOOSTER. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES BECAME RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE MORE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 03/04/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
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
MY IMPALA WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND LOCK UP EVERYTIME IT RAINS. I CAN BE DRIVING 5 MPH THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND WATER FILM ON THE PAVEMENT AND MY IMPALA WILL SHAKE, LOCK UP AND SHUT DOWN. I WAS LEAVING MY CHURCH PARKING LOT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO ROAD, MY IMPALA SHUT DOWN AND DRIFTED STRAIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ALMOST LANDING IN THE DITCH. THANK GOD THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT HAS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING 35 AND CAR SHUT DOWN. IT IS VERY TERRIFYING TO DRIVE A CAR THAT SHUTS DOWN AND HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND AM FEARFUL MY AND THEIR SAFETY. *TR UPDATED 2/16/16 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH AND STRUCK A MASSIVE ROCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
CAR WAS PARKED IN CARPORT AND COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK . CALLED DEALER AND HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALER. I DID THAT AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE CABLE THAT CONNECTS TO BRAKE PEDAL FOR SAFETY SO YOU CANNOT PUT IN GEAR WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. I WAS LUCKY CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY IN A SAFE PLACE RATHER THAN WHILE TRAVELING. IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING AND CABLE REPLACEMENT. *TR
BRAKES FADE FAST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT IT WAS NOT CONFIRMED IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT, BRAKES (NOT SURE IF ALL 4) WILL NOT RELEASE. AFTER DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL BRAKES WILL RELEASE AND CAR LUNGES FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. *TR
COMING DOWN OFF OF A MOUNTAIN IN WEST VIRGINIA ON TRIP TO OHIO. APPLIED BRAKES. FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE. ONLY WAY TO STOP SHAKING WAS TO TAKE FOOT OFF OF BRAKE. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL. I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE NORMAL. HAVE NOT MADE THE TRIP SINCE SO HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH THE ENTIRE CAR SYSTEM SHUT OFF , NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME, I ROLLED INTO A DIRT PARKING LOT, AND TURNED THE KEY OFF, SAT THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN CONTINUE TO WORK, HAD TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTE, DIDN'T KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN LATER THAT AFTERNOON, WHILE AUTOZONE TECH WAS CHECKING MY BATTERY. IT WAS FRIGHTENING, THANK GOD!! TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT.I LIVE WHERE A LOT OF BIG RIGS COME AND GO, I MOSTLY DRIVE FREEWAYS, BUT THAT DAY I HAD TO CHANGE MY ROUTE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CARS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SO DOES THE ABS BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT. THE CAR THEN REDUCES POWER TO NO MORE THEN 35-40 MPH AND THAT'S WITH THE GAS PEDAL FLOORED. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW. I HAVE CHANGED OUT THE HARNESS, AND WHEEL HUB AND IT STILL HAPPENS, SOMETIMES IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS LIKE WHILE DRIVING ON A HWY WITH A TRUCK BEHIND YOU AND THE CAR GOES FROM 60 MPH TO 40 MPH IN A HEART BEAT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID ITS A COMMON ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH GM CARS IN 2006-2009. THE ONLY PART LEFT TO CHANGE WOULD BE THE COMPUTER MODULATOR, HOWEVER TALKING TO OTHER GM OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP. *TR
STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT A MILE. HAD SHORT BURSTS OF REDUCTION IN POWER CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN FOR BRIEF PERIODS OF TIME. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.THE RISK OF THIS HAPPENING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC IS VERY CONCERNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ABRUPTLY ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT BRAKE PULSATES AFTER NORMAL USE WHEN STOPPING. APPEARS THAT THERE ARE HOT SPOTS ON THE ROTORS THAT CAUSE THE THE PADS ON THE FRONT TO GRIP AND RELEASE CAUSING SEVERE FRONT SUSPENSION SHUDDER AND UNCONTROABLE STEERING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CAR IS NEW AND DEALER JUST WANTS TO SELL ME ANOTHER BRAKE JOB. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH DOWNHILL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE HEATING UP AND THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,600.
MASTER BRAKE CYLINDAR IS LEAKING AFTER ONLY 38 MONTHS AND 40,000 MILES. *TR
BRAKE AND BRAKE ROTOR WARPING EVERY COUPLE MONTHS. SEVERE SHAKING WHILE STOPPING. WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO DOWNSHIFT INSTEAD OF BREAKING ON HILLS. DID THAT BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUES. DEALER SAYS THE BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND NOT TO DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS BECAUSE THE BRAKES OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE IS MAINLY DRIVEN ON FLAT ROADS TO MY WIFE'S WORK AND THEY STILL ONLY LAST A COUPLE MONTHS. SHAKES VIOLENTLY AFTER 1/4 MILE OF DOWN HILL TRAVEL FOUND FORUMS ONLINE OF MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/1195/IMPALA-BRAKE-ISSUES BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE OVER HEATING AND BRAKE FAILURE, SHAKING AND FADING. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL AND UPGRADE BRAKE SYSTEM [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE AND SHAKE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT WHEN THE ROTORS STARTED TO HEAT UP THEY MAY CAUSE THE BRAKES TO PULSATE, AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE ROTORS WERE ROTATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.
THE ROADS WERE SNOWY AND PARTS OF IT ICY, BUT IT WASN'T SNOWING. FROM A FAR DISTANCE I STARTED TO SLOWLY BRAKE SO I WON'T SKID. WHEN I APPLIED A BIT MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKE THE CAR MORE, THE PEDAL HIT AGAINST MY FOOT AND WOULDN'T GO DOWN WHEN I TRIED TO FORCE IT. I THINK THE ABS CAME ON BUT IT DID NOT SLOW MY CAR DOWN AT ALL. THE CAR WAS STILL GOING AT THE SPEED I SLOWED IT IN EARLIER BUT MADE NO CHANGE. THERE WAS A LINE OF CARS AHEAD OF ME IN FRONT OF AN INTERSECTION, SO I PANICKED AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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