2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA Electrical System Problems

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH ST. LOUIS AROUND MIDNIGHT ON I-270 ON MAY 3, THE "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGE CAME ON AND THE CAR SLOWED DRAMATICALLY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE. QUITE SCARY INDEED, NOT TO MENTION THE LURCHING. AFTER BEING NEARLY RUN OVER ON BOTH SIDES, I PULLED OFF IN A VERY DARK PART OF TOWN AND THE POLICE CAME BY TO CHECK ON ME. INITIALLY THE CAR WOULDN'T START WITH THE MESSAGE, "STARTING IS DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE." AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE THING ALLOWED ME TO START IT, BUT STILL WITH THE "POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGE. I ACTUALLY DROVE THAT THING HOME (OVER 90 MILES) WITH SEMIS BEARING DOWN ON ME, ALTERNATING FLASHERS AND WATCHING OVER MY SHOULDER. ANYWAY, THE NEXT DAY, IT STILL WOULDN'T RUN NORMALLY, BUT I LIMPED OVER TO AN AUTOZONE AND I REPLACED THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY AND THE THROTTLE BODY (THE ENGINE...

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE POWER BEING REDUCED DUE TO CODE 2135, IT'S A THROTTLE POSITION PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED MAYBE 50-100 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. I CAN CLEAN THE THROTTLE PLATE AND IT'LL BE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THE CAR'S POWER IS REDUCED SO QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAYS. I'VE NEARLY BEEN REARENDED A FEW TIMES NOW. I'VE COMPLAINED TO CHEVROLET AND THEY ONLY SAY THERE ISN'T A RECALL AND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY'D CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH IS WHAT I AM DOING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR SAFETY'S SAKE, THIS IS A VERY DEADLY PROBLEM THAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS. IT'S NOT THE CONSUMER'S FAULT AT ALL. THANK YOU. *TR

ON FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014, I WENT AND BOUGHT $72 WORTH OF GROCERIES, ALL BUT $10 WERE FROZEN OR COLD AND IT WAS ABOUT 80 DEGREES OUTSIDE. WHEN I GOT HOME AND WENT TO TAKE THE GROCERIES OUT OF THE TRUNK THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET IT OPEN THEY COULD NOT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND SAID IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT/RECALL AND THAT IF I TOOK IT TO AN ACTUAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, SATURDAY MAY 3, 2014, THEY SAID THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE MY CAR ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANY MORE. I FEEL LIKE CHEVY SHOULD STILL PAY FOR IT AND REIMBURSE ME FOR MY GROCERIES THAT...

THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WON'T COME OUT. *TR

VEHICLE STALLS OUT. FOR EXAMPLE AFTER SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CARS STALLS AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED, IT THEN JERKS HARD AND DRIVE AS USUAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM PARK AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WERE BOTH UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I DRIVE THE CAR AND IT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED STABILATRAK IT SLOWS DOWN AND IT FEELS FORCED TO DRIVE SO I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAIT ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTS BUT THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WERE IT WASN'T EVEN DRIVABLE WITH IT STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED STABILATRAK SO I CALLED CHEVY IN MODESTO CA ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL THEY SAID NO AND I TOLD THEM I SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS I WAS GOING THROUGH THEY SAID YOU CANT BELIEVE EVERYTHING ONLINE MISS I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE A MECHANIC I KNOW HE DIAGNOSED IT AS BEING A THROTTLE SENSOR AND PEDAL SENSOR CHARGED ME 587$ I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED A WEEK LATER IT DID AGAIN ENGINE POWER REDUCED BUT THIS TIME IT STARTED OVER HEATING TO IVE HAD...

THE DRIVER SIDE FAN BLOWS ONLY COLD AIR, SO NO DEFOGGING OCCURS ON DRIVERS SIDE, OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STARTER DISABLED, SERVICE THROTTLE AND ENGINE POWER LOW WARNING MESSAGES DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PROGRESSED INTO AN INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER , WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS ALERTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000. UPDATED 06/27/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AN OCCASIONAL, SPLIT SECOND STALL OR MISSING OUT CAN BE DETECTED. IF IT CONTINUES AFTER THE OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECK THE CONSUMER WILL REPORT IT TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 07/2/2014 *JS

IGNITION FAILURE AND ASSOCIATED POWER LOSS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A CROWDED EXPRESSWAY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE LEFT LANE. A VERY HEAVY KEY CHAIN WAS IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME. WITH NO SIGNALS, FLASHERS, OR POWER STEERING, USING ONLY RAPIDLY FADING INERTIA FOR POWER, I HAD TO MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND ON TO THE SHOULDER THROUGH THICK, UNYIELDING 70 MPH TRAFFIC. TERRIFYING; COLLISION NARROWLY MISSED.

EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE THE 08 CHEVY IMPALA THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE WAY OUT. IT DID THAT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THEN WHEN I MADE IT TO WORK IT DID THE SAME THING. CAME OUT TO GO HOME IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN OVER. SO WE HAD TO PUT IT IN MANUAL MODE TO DRIVE IT TO A SHOP. A WIRE IN THE HANDLE TO CHANGE GEARS BROKE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE WIRE WAS TO SHORT. NOW THIS WAS 42 OR 43 THOUSAND MILES NOW AT 82 ITS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WHY NO RECALL? *TR

HAD CLICKING NOISE IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE AND ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IT WAS THE AIR RECIRCULATION DOOR ACTUATOR AND THE AIR TEMP. DOOR ACTUATOR ON THE VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED REAR WINDOW WAS STILL COVERED WITH ICE,THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH WAS ON AND LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED,AFTER THAT I SEARCHED INTERNET SITES AND FOUND THAT A CONNECTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS COMMONLY BURNT UP SO I CHECKED MINE AND SURE ENOUGH IT IS,ANOTHER GUY AT WORK HAS THE SAME THING ON HIS IMPALA,CURRENTLY CAR IS AT DEALER BEING INSP BUT THEY HAVE SAID SO FAR THEY WON'T COVER REPAIR,THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR. *TR

KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION. CAR WILL NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF, ENGINE NOT RUNNING BUT ELECTRICAL STILL ON, DRAINS BATTERY AND CAR ONLY STARTS WITH A JUMP. *TR

RECENTLY, THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS, OR I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER (BEST CHEVROLET) WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW SOME YEARS AGO. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHANGED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER, AND IT STILL DOES IT. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AND IN DEEP WATER I ALSO GET A DUMMY LIGHT ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE; BUT, I DON'T WANT TO JUST SELL IT CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE AN INJURY. *TR

MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. I CAN NOT TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY. *TR

WHENEVER IT IS RAINING OR I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE GROUND, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER. I'VE CONCLUDED THAT THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF SERPENTINE BELT ISSUE AS A LOT OF COMPONENTS ARE AFFECTED AT ONCE SUCH AS ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING ETC. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION AS ONSET IS UNPREDICTABLE ESPECIALLY IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS SUCH AS RAINING AND FOR THIS REASON I DREAD DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT RAINS. PLEASE SOMEONE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN!!! *TR

ALARM/SECURITY SYSTEM IS PREVENTING CAR TO START. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE ALARM/SECURITY SYSTEM, BUT MULTIPLE OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN POSTED ABOUT THIS DEFECT. *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK CONTINUES TO FAIL UPON DEPRESSION OF UNLOCK BUTTON ON FOB OR INSIDE VEHICLE. *TR

REAR DOOR PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. THEY LOCK IS ALSO POSITIONED WAY TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE DOOR MAKING IT VERY TROUBLESOME TO UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY. *TR

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO FIX THIS PASSLOCK THING ON MY IMPALA AND IM GETTING SO SICK AND TIRED OF IT *TR

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

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERRMITTENLY, BOTH WITH THE REMOTE KEY FOB AND THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK BUTTONS OFTEN RESULTING IN MANUALLY HAVING TO USE THE KEY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE OR PHYSICALLY PULLING UP THE LOCK ONCE INSIDE THE CAR TO UNLOCK A PARTICULAR DOOR. THIS IS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE FOR THE REMOTE AS I'VE EVEN NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN USING THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE DOOR LOCK REGISTER THE "INPUT" AND ATTEMPT TO MOVE UP TO THE UNLOCK POSITION, PHYSICALLY LOOK AS IF SOMETHING WERE PREVENTING IT FROM DOING SO, AND REMAIN IN THE LOCKED POSITION. AND, ITS COMPLETELY RANDOM AS FOR WHICH DOOR LOCK WILL OPERATE AND THERE ARE STRETCHES OF DAYS WHEN ALL LOCKS WILL OPERATE PROPERLY WITH BOTH THE REMOTE AND THE DOOR LOCK BUTTONS. ALSO, THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHICH DOORS WILL OPERATE AS TO FRONT/REAR, DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AFTER IT WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TR

REAR WINDOW DEFROST STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED FUSES AND RELAY. LIGHT COMES ON BUT DEFROST DOES NOT WORK. INVESTIGATION BY OWNER SHOWED WIRING HARNESS UNDER FRONT PASSENGER KICK PANEL BURNT BADLY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE INDICATES THIS HAS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY A LARGE NUMBER OF IMPALA OWNERS. DUE TO THE BADLY BURN CONNECTION, PASSENGER CABIN FIRE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. LOCAL CHEVY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF SIMILAR INSTANCES. RECOMMEND INVESTIGATION. *TR

BOTH REAR AND THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITH EITHER FOB KEY CONTROL OR DRIVER/PASSENGER DOOR CONTROLS. TOTALING THREE DOOR LOCK FAILURES IN TWO YEARS. THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY HAZARD TO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AS THERE IS NO FAST OR EASY WAY TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS ONCE LOCKED TO GET THE CHILD OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. I REQUEST THIS BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER FOR A RECALL AS IT CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN IN CAR SEAT ON THE BACK SEAT, WHICH THERE IS NO QUICK WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO REMOVE THEM IN AN EMERGENCY. MECHANIC STATES: THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2008 AND 2009 CHEVY IMPALA VEHICLES. THESE MODEL YEARS WERE PRODUCED WITH A TYPE OF GREASE THAT BLEEDS INTO THE LATCH ACTUATOR. AFTER TIME THE CARBON FROM THE MOTOR BRUSHES BUILDS UP AROUND THE ACTUATOR...

EVERY TIME IT RAINS, OR EVEN IF THE AIR HAS BEEN DAMP OVERNIGHT, MY FRONT IN-DOOR SPEAKERS FAIL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, IN-DOOR SPEAKER IS COMPLETELY BURNT OUT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS ALSO FAILED. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO REPAIR THIS. THERE IS WATER LEAKING INTO THE DOORS CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES TO OCCUR. ONCE THE INSIDE OF THE DOORS DRY, THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR SPEAKER BEGINS TO WORK AGAIN. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR IS COMPLETELY DEAD BUT THE WINDOW WORKS. *TR

POWER DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING ON REAR DOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN 3 WEEKS LATER THE REAR DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE QUIT WORKING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND YOU THINK THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. *TR

CAR WAS JUST STARTED, IN PARKING LOT, GETTING READY TO DRIVE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. COULDN'T TAKE KEY OUT, OR RESTART, NO LIGHTS, NO ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY AT ALL, BUT IT HAD JUST BEEN RUNNING. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, IT ALL CAME BACK ON AND RESTART, AND DROVE OK. THERE HAD BEEN BATTERY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, CORROSION ON TERMINAL, WHICH WAS REPAIRED. THE BATTERY CABLE WHERE THE WIRE ENTERS THE POSITIVE TERMINAL WAS NOT COMPLETELY TIGHT. THE INTERNET HAS REPORTS FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE REPORTING THIS SAME EVENT ON IMPALAS, OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. MOST OF THESE THOUGH, IT HAPPENED WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND SOME REPORTED ACCIDENTS THAT RESULTED. PRIOR TO ALL THE MODERN ELECTRONICS, IF THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS WORKING, THE ENGINE WOULD NEVER JUST SHUT DOWN EVEN IF THE BATTERY CONNECTION WAS BAD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WHERE...

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A LOUD TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE ACTUATOR REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,119.

I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA, I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 1 1/2 AND NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED IT, I START EXPERIENCING THE (TCS) TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR - WHICH ALTERNATIVELY REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE ENGINE; IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY,... I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED ON THE CAR, AND THEY READER SAID IT WAS DUE TO A CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE.... MY CAR IS A 6 CYLINDER, IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS WHEN THE (TCS) DOES COME ON' THE REDUCE ENGINE SPEED IS WELL UNDER THE HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT. OTHER CONCERNS THAT ARISE IS THAT SENSE THIS SENSOR HAS BEEN OWN, IT' HAS ACCUMULATED OTHER SENSORS' (ABS) (!) AND THE THROTTLE PEDAL SENSOR. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THIS, AND WAS ADVISE THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I...

RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND FINALLY WILL NOT UNLOCK AT ALL WITH AUTO DOOR LOCK OR KEY FOB. IT IS ALSO STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING ON THE LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK SO I KNOW IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT WILL NOT UNLOCK EITHER. *TR

ON MARCH 14, 2013, WE WERE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE MESSAGE CONSOLE THAT READ "ENGINE POWER REDUCED." IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AT FIRST, BUT IT THEN RESPONDED AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE 'SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT STAYED ON. WE TOOK IT TO AN AUTOMOBILE PARTS STORE SO THEY COULD PULL THE CODE WITH A CODE READER. THE VEHICLE PARTS STORE WAS ABLE TO PULL A CODE READING P2138 WHICH IS FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. LATER ON THAT NIGHT, I WENT ONLINE AND DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY OWNERS OF 2008 CHEVY IMPALAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA TENDS TO BUCKLE AND JERK OR HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP MAKING DIFFICULT TO NEARLY...

THE RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WITH MY POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM ON MY 2008 CHEVY IMPALA. ALSO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND NOW IT DOES NOT RESPOND. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEAS HELP. IS THERE ANY WAY A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED? IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK THE RIGHT REAR DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH A KEY BECAUSE THERE IS NO KEY HOLE. THERE IS ONLY ONE KEY HOLE ON TO UNLOCK A DOOR WITH THE CAR KEY AND IT IS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ONLY. *TR

2008 CHEVY IMPALA. RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. RIGHT FRONT FOLLOWED SUIT SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. NOW, SOME 5 MONTHS LATER, THE DRIVER DOOR IS BEHAVING THE SAME WAY. IT MAKES TRANSPORTING MY CHILDREN DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE. IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT, THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT ARE NOT LIKELY TO HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO REMEMBER TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WHICH COULD LEAD TO FURTHER INJURY OR DEATH. WIRING HARNESS IN THE CENTER CONSOLE IS POORLY DESIGNED AND LOCATED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WIRING BREAKS AND MAKING IT SO ELECTRICAL SAFETY DEVICES DO NOT DISENGAGE THUS NOT LETTING THE KEY BE REMOVED, THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK, AND OTHER FAILURES YET TO BE IDENTIFIED. *TR

GEAR SHIFT STUCK IN PARK POSITION. WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER POSITION. CHEVROLET MECHANIC FOUND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND MADE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE REPAIR ORDER. FOUND THAT SHIFT LOCK CONTROL SOLENOID INOP. FOUND THAT GREEN WIRE MELTED ABOUT 12 INCHES FROM SHIFTER AND ALSO CONNECTOR FOR SHIFT LOCK CONTROL HAD HIGH RESISTANCE.. REPAIR COMMENTED: REPLACED CONNECTOR AND REPAIRED WIRE WORKING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON. ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUM COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.. VERY SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. GM SEEMS TO BE AWARE SINCE ABOVE REPAIR IMPLIES A REWORKING DESIGN OF WIRE WORKING.: EVIDENCE OF BURNED WIRE INSIDE A VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY LEADING INTO AN OVERPASS. AS L ENTERED ONTO THE OVERPASS MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND SERVICE THROTTLE BODY DISABLED FLASH ACROSS MY DASH BOARD, KILLING THE POWER TO MY VEHICLE AND LOCKING MY STEERING WHEEL. WHILE I WAS STOPPED UNABLE TO MOVE MY VEHICLE, CARS FLEW ME AND I WAS ALMOST HIT. AT ONE POINT ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRYING TO DODGE ME. THIS WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I HAVE NEVER FEARED FOR MY LIFE LIKE I DID AT THIS TIME. AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN MY SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR HAS GONE BAD. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND NEEDS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN TO LOCK POSITION. THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. I "GOOGLED" COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING AND THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS. CHEVROLET DESIGNED THE WIRING HARNESS TO DRAG ACROSS THE FLOOR WHILE MOVING THE SHIFTER LEVER FROM GEAR TO GEAR. THIS EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE WIRES TO BREAK. DEPENDING ON WHICH OF THE FIVE WIRES BREAK CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH (CAR WON'T START, TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT, STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK, KEY WON'T COME OUT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS). AS I STATED THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND FEEL TO ISSUE A RECALL BY CHEVROLET WOULD BE INLINE. *TR

WE ARE GETTING READY TO HAVE TO REPLACE OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES. WE BOUGHT OUR IMPALA NEW AND REPLACED OUR FIRST SET OF TIRES AT FEB. 2010 (38,000 MILES). REPLACED AGAIN AT 54,000 MILES DEC. 2011. REPLACED AGAIN AT 65,000 NOV. OF 2012 AND IT IS IN NEED OT NEW REAR TIRES AGAIN AT 72,000. CAR SHAKES AND BACK END SLIDES IN BAD WEATHER. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THAT IT NEEDS A CAMBOR KIT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHEVROLET PRODUCED A FAULTY SUSPENSION ROD AND RECALLED "POLICE OWNED" VEHICLES BUT NOT CONSUMER VEHICLES. DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE OR ALLOWING MY 16 YEAR OLD TO DRIVE IT. MY CAR IS ALIGNED AND TIRES ROTATED AND SERVICED FREQUENTLY! TIRES WEAR DOWN TO METAL STICKING OUT OF TIRES AND INNER WEAR IS INCREDIBLE. LEFT TIRE BEHIND THE DRIVER IS THE QUICKEST TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND BEGIN TO CAUSE CAR TO SHAKE....

I WAS STARTING THE CAR UP AND THE ENGINE WAS GOING IN AND OUT. I NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND IT STAYED ON. THE STABILI-TRAC LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. THE PANEL ALSO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER. THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 8 DAYS. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT OFF. CRANKED IT BACK UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. TOOK IT TO THE CAR DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR

NOISE IS BEING MADE SOUNDS LIKE IN THE DASHBOARD. *TR

I PURCHASED MY '08 IMPALA LT USED, VEHICLE WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, OLDER OWNER AND WAS A SEASONAL VEHICLE AS WE LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA THIS OWNER WAS A SNOW BIRD AND ONLY USED THE VEHICLE 4 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. I HAD THE CAR ABOUT 7 MONTHS AND THEN I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCKS, THEY WOULD SOMETIMES NOT LOCK/OR UNLOCK WHILE USING THE FOB, THE INTERIOR LOCK STILL WORKED FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS AND THEN EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY CEASED. NOW NOTHING WORKS, UNLESS YOU MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK IT YOURSELF. PROBLEM IS.....I HAVE CHILDREN, SMALL CHILDREN AND WHEN DOING 8 OTHER THINGS WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, OR PARKING THE CAR AND GETTING OUT IT IS SUCH A PAIN IN THE A** THAT I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH A SOMEWHAT NEWER VEHICLE!!! I TRIED REPLACING THE FUSE, THAT DIDN'T WORK. I CAN HEAR THE LOCKS...

THE LEFT REAR DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND THE REMOTE OPENER AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S ELECTRIC LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN OR LOCK THE LEFT REAR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I WAS ADVISED BY LOCAL GM DEALER THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SAFETY RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT INVOLVED PASSENGERS WHO WOULD BE RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME LOCKED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. I CAN OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WITH THE KEY, BUT THE OTHER POWER LOCKS DO NOT OPEN. IT STARTED WITH THE REAR LOCKS AND NOW INCLUDES ALL LOCKS. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WE CARRY OUR SMALL GRANDCHILDREN IN THEIR CAR SEATS IN THE BACK. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IS TO ROLL DOWN THE POWER WINDOW AND REACH IN TO UNLOCK. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH CHEVROLET BUT THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO REPORTS OF OTHERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY REPORTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET FORUMS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IN AN ACCIDENT, THE REAR WINDOWS MAY NOT FUNCTION AND WE WOULD HAVE TO BREAK OUT THE REAR WINDOWS TO FREE OUR GRANDCHILDREN. *TR

BOTH REAR POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED. THEY ARE INOPERABLE FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION FOR THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEATS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 IMPALAS. CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT HAS NOT STARTED A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

THE REAR LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR IS SWITCHED OUT OF GEAR OR WHEN USING THE BUTTON ON THE KEY CONTROL. BASED ON INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET IT IS CAUSED BY A TYPE OF GREASE THAT BLEEDS INTO THE LATCH ACTUATOR AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY TO THE 2008 CHEVY IMPALAS. THIS REPRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE A BABY, CHILD OR ADULT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS AN EMERGENCY RECALL WHERE CHEVY WILL QUICKLY REPAIR THIS DEFECT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVY, IMPALA, 2008 ##. *TR

THE POWER DOOR LOCK FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPERATE. IT CAN ONLY BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED MANUALLY. THIS BECOMES A REAL PROBLEM WHEN I HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY NEAR TO MY HOME, AND FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW THE VEHICLE HAS COME UP WITH AN ERROR STATING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SIMPLY STALLED ITSELF, COMING UP WITH A MESSAGE THAT STATED "STARTING DISABLED/SERVICE THROTTLE". I WAS TRAVELING UPHILL AT 40MPH, NOW WITH NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND UNABLE TO RESTART. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT IT TO RESTART IT. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY ON OR OFF RAMP? OR ON A CORNER? OR WITH A VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND ME? I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLE THAT WILL JUST RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF OFF DUE TO A PART THAT HAS HAD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE JUST READ ONLINE IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN ON AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS. I READ ONLINE THAT THIS WAS A PREVALENT...