Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Chevrolet Impala
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Chevrolet Impala has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 810 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V355000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V377000 Lower Control Arms NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 221 complaints
- Engine 134 complaints
- Suspension 117 complaints
- Steering 94 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 92 complaints
- Power Train 91 complaints
Of the 810 complaints on file, 51 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 810 complaints, owners report 44 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Chevrolet Impala has a below-average reliability rating based on 810 complaints and two recall campaigns, indicating various issues, particularly with the electrical system and engine. Most of the complaints focus on the vehicle's electrical system, which has significantly higher numbers compared to other components. Limited recall scope suggests the problems are mostly non-safety related, but the high complaint count demands attention.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | very common |
| Engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $600–$3,000 | common |
| Suspension | 75,000–110,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Coolant flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Fuel system cleaning
- Timing belt/chain inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Electrical glitches or failures
- Engine misfires or stalls
- Suspension noise or instability
- Steering wobble or difficulty
- Strange noises from the engine
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.