2008 Chevrolet Impala Steering Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11603063

Incident

Jun 8, 2024

My sway bar is broken and needs to be fixed. Like all the rest of Impalas . I'm on social security and I need someone to help please! Martin Montney

NHTSA ID

11502385

Incident

Apr 7, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11437500

Incident

Aug 28, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11405806

Incident

Mar 24, 2021

Mileage

78,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11388632

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

Mileage

186,000 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP JUST STARTED GROWLING WHEN MOVING THE STEERING. IT IS ALSO A LITTLE HARDER TO TURN. IN MOTION. WHEN EVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED.

NHTSA ID

11373706

Incident

Nov 7, 2020

Mileage

142,000 mi

THE CAR IS NOT DRIVING SMOOTH. THE CAR IS HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID

11300027

Incident

Jan 10, 2020

Mileage

220,000 mi

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 PROGRAMED TO JUST SHUT OFF MID-DRIVE, EVER. I REALLY HOPE THAT IS A PROGRAMING FLAW AND NOT INTENTIONAL, BECAUSE IF THAT IS INTENTIONAL, YOU ARE TRULY TRYING TO KILL PEOPLE. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR CHEVY/GM TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED? HOW MANY PEOPLE GETTING KILLED IN UNNECESSARY ACCIDENTS IS IT GOING TO TAKE? I PRAY THAT MYSELF OR MY FAMILY ISN'T ONE OF THEM! PLEASE CHEVY/GM, GET THIS ISSUE FIXED ALREADY.

NHTSA ID

11171961

Incident

Jan 24, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11141513

Incident

Oct 19, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID

11138930

Incident

Sep 28, 2018

Mileage

20,000 mi

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS WET CONDITIONS SUCH AS RAIN OR GOING THRU A PUDDLE, THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED OR WHEEL POSITION. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BUT NO INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED YET.

NHTSA ID

11130032

Incident

Sep 17, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING OVER WATER OR A VERY WET ROAD MY POWER STEERING QUITS, I OFTEN GET "ALTERNATOR FAILURE" WARNING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS I PASS OVER THE POOLED WATER SPOT IN THE ROAD. I HAD THE ENGINE BELT CHANGED AND IT STILL DOES THIS WHEN DRIVING OVER A POOLED OR LOW SPOT IN A ROADWAY OR PARKING LOT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY, STREET OR PARKING LOT AND/OR GRAVEL AREA WITH POOLED WATER BUT NOT IN A "FLOOD" SITUATION. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

11044903

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER (EDD ROGERS CHEVROLET BUICK, 674-W. BOCKMAN WAY, SPARTA, TN 38583) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11033940

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

THE FRONT WHEELS OF MY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING LEFT AND RIGHT. STARTED HEARING A CLANGING NOISE WHEN L WOULD TURN. LOWER CONTROL ARMS BROKE, MY POWER STEERING IS GOING BECAUSE OF IT. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I SAW THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME JUST NOT MY VIN#. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST STARTED TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY .

NHTSA ID

11004787

Incident

Jun 29, 2017

WHEN IT RAINS MY STEERING LOCKS FOR 10 TO 20 SECONDSWHILE DRIVING. I COULD BE GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING IT DOESN'T MATTER SEEMS LIKE WHEN I GO OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER.

NHTSA ID

10984990

Incident

Apr 28, 2017

Mileage

116,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AROUND 5:30PM CST ON US 59 N AND RANKIN RD TUESDAY 11/15/16 WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OR STEER AND THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON IN THE CAR WAS THE SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM. I MANAGED, SOMEHOW, TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY AND PUT IT IN PARK. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I WENT START IT AGAIN, AFTER RELEASING THE KEY, IT MADE A STUTTERING TO START SOUND OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVEN THOUGH I WAS NO LONGER TOUCHING THE KEY. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN IT TURN ON AND THEN BACK OFF AND CONTINUED TO DO THIS AT LEAST 3 MORE TIMES. I EVENTUALLY HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME AND AFTER READING ONLINE TODAY AT FORUMS.EDMONDS.COM MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH IMPALA'S AND SUBURBAN'S FROM GM FOR AT LEAST 4 YEARS NOW, FIRST POST IS BACK IN 2012. GM NEEDS TO PUT A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE ISSUE BEFORE IT MORE FATALITIES, AS PROVEN IN THEIR EARLIER 2014-2015 RECALL. THEY JUST DID A RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR IMPALA'S HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD THEN SWITCH INTO THE OFF POSITION WHILE DRIVING IF YOU HIT A BUMP TOO HARD AND HAD TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON YOUR KEYS. I GOT MY VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THAT RECALL ISSUE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEIR FIX FOR THAT WAS INCORRECT AND NOT THE ISSUE SEEING AS MY VEHICLE, AND SEVERAL OTHERS, STILL SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND THE IGNITION IS STILL IN THE ON (NOT OFF) POSITION, YOU LOSE ACCELERATION AND STEERING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WILL CAUSE MORE DEATHS, INJURIES, AND ACCIDENTS. PLEASE GET THIS TO GM AND HAVE THEM CORRECT THIS ISSUE IN ALL THEIR MODELS WITH SENSOR THROTTLE BODY'S INSTEAD OF WIRED ONES. THEY ALSO NEED TO FIX THE ISSUE OF DOOR AND A/C ACCUATORS IN THEIR MODELS, AS ITS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME AS A COMMON ISSUE IN GM MODELS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE ISSUE FOR ALL DRIVERS GM OR NOT. MORE ACCIDENTS WILL FOLLOW.

NHTSA ID

10926373

Incident

Nov 15, 2016

Mileage

161,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS TRYING TO PARK, AND THE WHEEL DID NOT WANT TO MOVE. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD I PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING FLUID. I PUT SOME IN, THAT LASTED FOR A DAY, AND MY CAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I TURN, IT MAKES THE SAME NOISE. TWO OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MY BUILDING HAVE 2007, 2008 IMPALAS, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THEIR POWER STEERING BOX. SEEMS TO ME THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. THIS MAKES ME VERY SCARED. I WAS NOT GOING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THEN. WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TIME. ##

NHTSA ID

10823186

Incident

Jan 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,372.

NHTSA ID

10817514

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

104,372 mi

I PURCHASED A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ FROM A REPUTABLE CERTIFIED USED CAR DEALERSHIP (MERROLIS CHEVROLET 9 MILE AND GRATIOT). I ALSO HAD A WARRANTY. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS I HAD A SERVICE INVOICE FOR OVER 1300.00 THE CAR NEEDED A AIRBAG COIL REPLACEMENT (477.00) STEERING DIFFICULTIES. ALSO. THE CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT (877.00). THIS MAKES THE CAR SOUND LIKE IT NEEDS A NEW MUFFLER. I COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER IN SERVICE AND I'M AWAITING A RESPONSE 11-13-15. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME BACK ON FRIDAY 11-13-15 BUT DID NOT.

NHTSA ID

10790492

Incident

Sep 30, 2015

THIS HAPPEN A FEW MONTHS AGO 2 TIMES AND AGAIN TODAY WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP THIS IS VERY SCARY AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT. DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID

10788967

Incident

Nov 7, 2015

THIS HAS HAPPEN 2 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN FEB. WHEN I WAS STEERING TO THE LEFT IT WOULDN'T TURN LIKE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED FOR ABOUT 15 SECOND AND THEN IT'S FINE. THANK GOD BOTH TIMES I WAS TURNING AND NOT AT A HIGH SPEED.

NHTSA ID

10781259

Incident

Oct 10, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS 65,937 MILES AND FAILED NC INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN BOTH FRONT HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES. NO STEERING PROBLEMS NOTED PRIOR TO THIS INSPECTION. DEALER STATED THEY HAVE REPLACED SOME ASSEMBLIES BUT HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE BY CHEVROLET THIS WAS A PROBLEM NOR HAS ANY RECALL BEEN INITIATED. WITH SO FEW MILES AND A DEFECT SO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SOME FORM OF NOTIFICATION TO VEHICLE OWNERS OF MODELS USING THIS TYPE OF ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10779474

Incident

Oct 2, 2015

Mileage

65,937 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,900.

NHTSA ID

10759385

Incident

Aug 24, 2015

Mileage

29,900 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A SMALL SIDE STREET ON THE WAY TO PICK MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL. THE STREET IS PRETTY DEEPLY POT HOLED, AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING SO IT WAS ALSO VERY MUDDY. FOR THIS REASON I WAS LUCKILY GOING SLOW. AS I MADE MY WAY THROUGH ONE PARTICULAR LARGE PUDDLE ON A RIGHT HAND CURVE I COULD SEE THAT I WAS GOING TO ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GET INTO THE LEFT LANE TO GO AROUND SOME PARKED CARS. AS SOON AS I WENT TO VEER LEFT THE CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE. IT FELT AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAD SHUT OFF. NO LIGHT CAME ON NO NEW SOUNDS WERE MADE, NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. LUCKILY WITH A FEW QUICK PULLS LEFT AND RIGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BACK I'M WORKING ORDER. VERY VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ID

10747135

Incident

Aug 6, 2015

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10734355

Incident

May 15, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi