FaultScore

2008 Chevrolet Impala acceleration problems

93 of the 1,203 complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Impala are about the throttle and cruise control — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,500 miles.

B

93

Complaints

4

Crashes

1

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 88 94.6%
Accelerator Pedal 4 4.3%
Cruise Control 1 1.1%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Chevrolet Impala year

2000 29 4.6%
2001 11 1.7%
2002 15 2.4%
2003 23 3.6%
2004 41 6.5%
2005 24 3.8%
2006 41 6.5%
2007 41 6.5%
2008 93 14.7%
2009 132 20.9%
2010 47 7.4%
2011 70 11.1%
2012 15 2.4%
2013 20 3.2%
2014 31 4.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 186,000 miles Milwaukie, OR Crash Fire 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11388632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 156,466 miles Chicago, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN FIRST PURCHASED I HAD TO CHANGE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP I WAS TOLD THEY GET A LOT OF PEOPLE W IMPALAS SAME AS MY YEAR 2008 THAT NEEDED TO HAVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CHANGED EVERY SO OFTEN BECAUSE THEY WOULD GO OUT AND IT WOULD CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON AND OFF BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS SENDING THE WRONG SIGNALS.I WOULD DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND STREET IT WOULD CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE TO COME ON AND SLOW MY CAR DOWN ALMOST LEADING INTO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT WOULD COME AND GO ON AS IT WANTED. THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE CAR IS SOMETHING IN THE CAR CONTINUES TO DRAIN MY BATTERY. I'VE GOTTEN A NEW BATTERY AND IT STILL DRAINS CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO GET IT RECHARGED. THE SUSPENSION I WAS ALSO TOLD FOR THE YEAR OF MY CAR IS BAD. WHEN PURCHASED I FOUND OUT THAT AGAIN PEOPLE THAT PURCHASED THESE YEARS OF VEHICLES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL ARMS AND THAT I NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT TO GET FIXED BECAUSE ONE HIT TO A POT HOLE CAN CAUSE THE UNDER PART OF THE CAR TO BREAK AND CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. I DID NOT KNOW IMPALAS HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS. I SEEN THE POLICE IMPALAS FOR 2008 WERE RECALLED FOR SUSPENSION, BUT THEY ALL SEEM TO SHARE THIS COMMON PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE ACTUATOR CONTINUOUSLY CLICKING. IT SEEMS TO BE AN EASY FIX, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE IMPALAS.

NHTSA complaint #11337216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 169,000 miles Clinton, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE STABILITRAK IS MAKING THE CAR SHAKE AND ACT CRAZY. I'M BARELY IN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MORE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR REDUCES SPEED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. MANY GROUPS AND BLOGS ONLINE ABOUT THIS. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS? NO RECALLS OR ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #11319253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 220,000 miles Gastonia, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

NHTSA complaint #11300027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,000 miles AVA, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON INTERSTATE DRIVING APPROX. 60 MPH SUDDENLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND REDUCE ENGINE SPEED LIGHT ON AND CAR DROPPED DRASTICALLY DOWN TO LITERALLY NO POWER. BARELY HAD TIME TO GET ON SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING ACCIDENT. WENT TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE THROTTLE PEDDLE.

NHTSA complaint #11269387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 177,000 miles Winfield, KS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY CAR WILL REDUCE ENGINE SPEED IT WILL DROP FROM 65MPH TO 20MPH SOMETIMES IT SHUTS CLEAR DOWN . I HAVE SO FAR ALMOST BEEN IN TWO COLLISIONS BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA complaint #11267375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110 miles Malden, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH WHEN ENGINE DIES WITH NO WARNING. DASH SHOWS FOLLOWING MESSAGES: "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" "SERIVCE TRACTION CONTROL" "SERVICE STABILITRAX" POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES STOP WORKING. WHEN CAR KEY IS TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE CODES ARE CLEARED, THE CAR STARTS UP FINE AND CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR (ALBEIT ON THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY), TURN IT OFF, CLEAR THE CODES, AND START IT BACK UP TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2018. AFTER THIS I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER. THEY SAID CAR WAS COVERED UNDER "WARRANTY" FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. ONE MONTH LATER SAME PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING. CAR RUNS FINE BUT THESE MESSAGES APPEAR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. TYPICALLY THE ENGINE STAYS ON AND IS ONLY LIMITED IN POWER. HOWEVER, OCCASIONALLY THE CAR WILL DIE COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD CAR BROUGHT TO CHEVY DEALER. THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS IT IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING WITH THE CAR. THEY RECOMMENDED I TAKE THE CAR AND BRING IT BACK TO THEM WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR KNOWING THE ENGINE COULD JUST SHUT DOWN AT ANY MOMENT AND THE CHEVY SPECIALIST THEMSELVES DO NOT SEEM TO EVEN HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS.

NHTSA complaint #11207418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Concord, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE HESITATES THROTTLE BODY CAUSES CAR TO JERK CUT OFF NOT PICK UP SPEED ALWAYS IDLED UP SPEED SENSOR READS 107 MPH WHEN ONLY GOING 30MPH STALLS. ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.I HAVE MY CAR REGULARLY SERVICED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. MY BLENDOOR ACULATER CAUSE MY HEAT NOT TO SOMETIMES COME ON AND IT MAKES THIS LOUD CLICKING NOISE. MOST IF NO ALL IMPALA HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND GM KNOWS ABOUT ALL THE THINGS I TOLD YOU ABOUT YET THEY DONT WANNA RECALL THE VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint #11172696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,000 miles Hunlock Creek, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11171961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Oolitic, IN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND FAULT CODE: P-2135 WAS RETRIEVED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ECM, THROTTLE BODY, ACCELERATOR PEDAL MECHANISM, AND THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE ECM AND THROTTLE BODY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #11166807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Marshfield, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRACTION CONTROL AND THE STABILITY TRAC REDUCES THE ENGINE SPEED UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS DRASTICALLY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. BEEN ACTING UP FOR SOME TIME. DEALERS DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND DOESN'T GIVE A CODE. VERY DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING.

NHTSA complaint #11104933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,502 miles Staen Island, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. STATEN ISLAND BUICK GMC (1855 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305) DIAGNOSED THAT SENSORS T2135: (THROTTLE BODY) AND P2138: (ACCELERATOR PEDAL ACTUATOR) FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT NOT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,502.

NHTSA complaint #11104582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 138,000 miles Birmingham, AL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND AN UNKNOWN SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD START A CASE FILE AND SEND IT OVER TO THEIR TEAM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.

NHTSA complaint #11091400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles Pendleton, IN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING ON ICY AND SNOWY ROADS AND MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE SEVERAL MILES TO MY DESTINATION. MY CAR SAT FOR 6 HOURS. I GOT IN TO LEAVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOT THE WARNING. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT TEN MILES MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES FOUR YEARS AGO AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE IT HAPPENING AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE ROADWAY IS WET. AFTER READING ONLINE, IT SEEMS THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER CHEVROLET CARS ALSO.

NHTSA complaint #11062427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewitt, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FIRST, THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE KEY SWITCH LOCATED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH IN D WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE, IT WON'T GO OVER 40 IN D3. NOT SURE WHY BUT THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE IMPALA.

NHTSA complaint #11018970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,000 miles Daytona Beach, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF A DIAGNOSTIC FEE WAS PAID, THE VEHICLE COULD BE COVERED UNDER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE MONEY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.

NHTSA complaint #10991776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,841 miles Troy, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STARTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY UPON PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGES APPEARED. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THIS CAR. HAVE ENTERED PROBLEM REPORTS FOR THE 1ST 2 OCCURRENCES ON THIS SITE. REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION PEDAL SENSOR. NONE OF THESE 3 OCCURRENCES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS 14 MONTHS SINCE THE LAST OCCURRENCE AND WARRANTY WAS FOR 12 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10958921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 161,000 miles NEW Caney, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #10926373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Taunton, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GAS PETAL AND THROTTLE BODY BREAKS DOWN CAUSING VEHICLE TO DISPLAY REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW TO 20 TO 30 MPH INSTANTLY. HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO SLOWDOWN. SHOULD BE SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE OR MYSELF GETS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10877030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,200 miles LOS Alamos, NM

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TAKATA RECALL. IT HAPPEN TO ME TWICE I GOT TWO KIDS THE CAR LOST POWER FROM 45 TO TEN. ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CODE THST COMES UP IS P2138 THIS IS NOT OK NEEDS TO GET FIXED. FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN I WAS ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME DUE TO THE ENGINE POWER LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10870610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2 miles Heathsville, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FOR ONLY TWO MINUTES, THE REDUCED POWER SENSOR CAME ON AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON ALSO. MY CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH. WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER AN HOUR. VERY CONCERNING IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED.WAS ON A BACK COUNTRY HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10862748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 276,138 miles Southfield, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS LEFT SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS GOING 70 MPH ON I-94 WHEN THE "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" LIGHT, THEN SOMETHING ABOUT "DISABLING THROTTLE" SENSOR... MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN, LEAVING ME TO COAST ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 94. I'VE OWNED THIS 2008 IMPALA FOR JUST ABOUT A YEAR... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT AN EXTENDED RECALL BACK IN DECEMBER AND I CALLED GM BECAUSE THERE'S A STIPULATION OF THE AMOUNT OF MILES YOU CAN HAVE ON YOUR CAR TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED... BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 276000 MILES GM TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, AT THAT TIME I ASKED WHY THIS ITEM WASN'T RECALLED. I WAS TOLD IF I FELT THE PROBLEM CALLED FOR A RECALL I SHOULD REACH OUT TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY AND SAFETY COMMISSION. I DON'T EVEN FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR ANYMORE... THIS IS A DEATH TRAP!

NHTSA complaint #10851577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Memphis, TN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I STARTED SEE A WARNING LIGHT ON IN MY CAR THAT READ "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" SO I SENT GM AN EMAIL REGARDING THIS AND MAYBE A MONTH OR SO LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT SAID THE GAS THROTTLE SENSOR WILL CAUSE THIS TO APPEAR WHEN IT IS BAD. THEY ADVISED IF I FELT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM I COULD TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER AND HAVE IT CHECK, BUT IF IT WASN'T THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST. I TOOK MY CAR AND TOOK MY CAR , ALONG WITH THE NOTICE TO SUNRISE PONTIAC ON 12/31/15. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A THERMOSTAT A GAS PRESSURE SENSOR. THE COST TO REPAIR THESE ITEMS WOULD RUN ME ALMOST $900 AND I COULD NOT AFFORD THAT T THIS TIME. I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN, WHICH COULD I GET AWAY WITH NOT FIXING RIGHT NOW AND HE SAID I NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT TO GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF. I HAD THAT WORK DONE AND THE LIGHT STILL WAS ON, AS WELL AS, THE WARNING LIGHTS. SO I CONTACTED GM AGAIN AND ADVISED THEM OF THE SITUATION. THEY PAID FOR ME TO GO TO SERRA CHEVROLET TO GET ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC DONE. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I NEEDED AN APP SENSOR, GAS PRESSURE SENSOR, THERMOSTAT (WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED), AND A TEMPERATURE SENSOR, ALL OF WHICH WOULD RUN ME $1300. I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT AFFORD THAT AND LEFT. I CONTACTED GM ONCE AGAIN AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME AND ASKED WHY THE SENSORS WOULD NOT BE COVERED WHEN THEY WERE APART OF THE GAS THROTTLE BODY? NOW I'M GETTING A WARNING THAT SAYS "STARTING DISABLED SERVICE THROTTLE " AND MY CAR IS LITERALLY CUTTING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MATTER THAT GM SHOULD BE WILLING TO REPAIR FOR THEIR CONSUMERS TO PREVENT ACCIDENT OR DEATH. I 'VE READ ON GOOGLE THAT SEVERAL IMPALA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. ALSO, WHILE I'M DRIVING MY GEAR CONTROL IS POPPING OUT. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA complaint #10826004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelbyville, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT COMES ON. HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND THEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY REPAIRED THROTTLE BODY. CAR STILL ACTED THE SAME AFTER I GOT IT. DUE TO SNOW STORM I DIDN'T DRIVE IT A FEW DAYS. TWO WEEKS LATER, ENGINE POWER REDUCED STARTS AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70MPH (THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES ALTOGETHER) NOW GM ADVISED ME TO GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY CLAIM IT'S THE GAS PEDAL SENSOR ANS NOT COVERED. REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY DID NOT ING TO FIX THE ISSUE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAS THIS SAME ISSUE. NOW GM REFUSES TO MAKE IT RIGHT AND I'M STUCK WITHOUT A VEHICLE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS WAY TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10824142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Spencerport, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. A WARNING MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE POWER WAS GREATLY REDUCED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10822691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 266,000 miles Southfield, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL NO LONGER REGISTER THE THROTTLE POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE POWER TO REDUCE AND THE CAR TO DECELERATE (FROM ANY SPEED) THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH AND STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. GM HAS ALREADY ISSUED AN "ADDITIONAL WARRANTY" FOR THE PROBLEM "THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR"

NHTSA complaint #10819189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,834 miles Gilbert, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 35 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,834. UPDATED 04/26/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10818020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Jeffersonville, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 02/18/16*LJ UPDATED 05/14/18*JB

NHTSA complaint #10811868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5 miles Breinigsville, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. THIS MESSAGE CAME UP AFTER HAVE CAR AT MECHANICS FOR A REPAIR ON ACTUATOR. WE TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC AND HE CLEARED MESSAGE HOWEVER MESSAGE HAS APPEARED AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES PER DAY. MECHANIC SAID POSSIBLE FIX RESULTING IN ANOTHER $300 REPAIR. THE MESSAGE CAME UP WHILE DOING LOCAL DRIVING AROUND TOWN LESS THAN 5 MILES BEFORE IT WILL APPEAR

NHTSA complaint #10807439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles East Chicago, IN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

(REDUCED ENGINE POWER) MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA RANDOMLY SHOWS DOWN AFTER THE DASH READS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE I WAS DOING ABOUT 60 ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR SPEED JUST DROPPED TO 20MPH I HAD TO SWERVE BECAUSE THE CAR BEHIND COULD NOT SLOW DOWN IN TIME. MY TWO YEAR OLD WAS IN THE CAR AND I HEAR THAT GM CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. THIS IS RIDICULOUSLY DANGEROUS SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE GM DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEAL HOW TO FIX THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10790495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2008 Chevrolet Impala problems

← Full 2008 Chevrolet Impala report