2008 Chevrolet Impala Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating and jumping. The contact drove to his brother's residence to inspect the vehicle. The contact removed the front passenger’s side tire and wheel and upon removing the hub, the engine moved. The contact was self-diagnosed that the front lower control arm was fractured. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 218,000.

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.

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.

ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND WAS ACTING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. SO I PARKED MY CAR CALLED MY MECHANIC HE CAME OVER AND LOOKED AT THE CAR I SAID IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE ROCKER ARM THAT HAS GONE IN THE CAR OR I COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON GIVING ME A CODE FOR A CAM POSITIONING SENSOR / SOLENOID. ALSO WHEN I PURCHASE THE CAR NOT TOO LONG AFTER ME DRIVING I NOTICED THERE WAS SOME NOISE COMING FROM MY BACK TIRES. I COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT FOR A WHILE UNTIL ONE DAY I LOOKED AT MY TIRES AND NOTICED THAT ON THE INSIDE THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SCRAPING GOING ON WEARING AWAY MY TREAD. IT WOULD ALWAYS SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN I GOT NEW TIRES ON THE CAR SO I THOUGHT MAYBE THE TIRES WERE TOO BIG FOR THE CAR BUT I ORDERED WHAT THE MANUFACTOR SUGGESTED THE TIRE SIZE SHOULD BE FOR THE CAR. SO I HAD A TIRE SPECIALIST LOOK AT IT AND AN ALIGNMENT SPECIALIST LOOK AT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SUSPENSION SPRINGS MAY BE CAUSING MY ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHANGE THE SIZE OF MY TIRE FOR THEM TO FIT BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS ARE CORRECT AND THE TIRES WERE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR THE CAR.

MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCES AN 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED' MESSAGE IN ADDITION TO LOSING CAPABILITY OF DRIVING FASTER THAN 40 MPH LIKELY AS A RESULT OF A COMMON FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN IN ANY DIRECTION, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FUEL CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILURE IN THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM, WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V377000 (SUSPENSION), WHICH ONLY INCLUDED CHEVROLET IMPALA POLICE VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

WHILE IN MOTION, CAR WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH, HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER AND A FENCE AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. HE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT

I HAVE REPLACED BUSHINGS 3 TIMES, STRUTS FRONT AND BACK, SHOCKS AND SWAY BAR PINS 2 TIMES. I DRIVE CITY ROADS TO WORK ONLY 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I ONLY HAVE 77,586 MILES ON MY CAR AND A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR THAT TYPE OF USE. WE HAVE A 1998 CHEVY TAHOE THAT WE LOVE. YOU SHOULD STAND BEHIND YOUR BAD PRODUCTS THAT YOU PUT OUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE SOME OTHER WORK DONE WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER CONTROL ARMS WERE FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM CONTINUED TO DISCONNECT HER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V377000 (SUSPENSION) DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT A POLICE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

I AM INFORMING YOU OF SOME VERY SERIOUS CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO PARTS OF THE 07 AND 08 CHEVY IMPALA THAT HAVE FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENTS AS WELL AS INJURY AND GRAVE POTENTIAL FOR FATALITIES.AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING, SEAT BELTS NOT LOCKING ON IMPACT FIRST AND FOREMOST I HAVE REQUESTED COPIES OF THE PAPERWORK THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COURTS IN SOMERSET WI. THIS SHOWED EXACTLY WHAT TOOK PLACE CAUSEING AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS CONSIDERED NEGLIGENT DUE TO MEDICATIONS I WAS ON AND MY DISABILITY. THE MECHANIC GAVE ME THIS REPORT ALONG WITH INFO STATING THAT THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM IN FLEET POLICE VEHICALS. THE INFO STATED THAT THE POLICE VEHICALS WERE FIXED AND CHECKED HOWEVER THIS PART HAS NO RECALL OR REVISION TO CORRECT THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE CAN FIND. MY VEHICAL DOES HAVE HIGH MILLAGE HOWEVER IT HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF THANKS TO ERICKSON OIL AND MECHANIC FRIENDS. THIS PART SNAPPING AFTER CRACKING ESILY RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL AS WELL AS THE CAR LOCKING UP AND BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND STOP. IT IS DISTURBING THAT THESE PARTS WERE NOT CORRECTED FROM A MANUFACTERING ASPECT (THIS WAS LOOKED AT BY A MACHINEST, AS WELL AS AN ENGINEER AND BY THE QAULITY/DIMESIONS/STRUCTURE THIS PART EASILY LOOKED DEFECTIVE) THE VISUAL AS WELL AS SKILLED APROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING DROVE US TO LOOK UP RECALLS PRIOR TO BUYING A NEW PART. WE COULD NOT FIND ANY. JUST INFO THAT THIS EXACT MAKE AND MODEL WERE PURCHASED AS FLEET VEHICALS IN 07 AND 08. PROBLEMS WITH MANY OF THESE CARS RESULTED IN PULLING ALL OF THE FLEET/GOVNT PATROL CARS IN TO BE FIXED/INVESTIGATED. HOWEVER WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A RECALL OR WARNING THAT SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO HELP TO INVESTIGATE AND HELP GET THIS LOOKED AT AS IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS BEING UNSTABLE AND FAULTY IN ANOTHER MINOR IMPACT ACCIDENT POTENTIAALY INCREASING FATALITY/INJURIES.

CASE # [XXX] OUR REAR TIRES ARE WEARING OUT TWICE AS FAST AS THE FRONT TIRES. I WENT TO COSTCO YESTERDAY TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED, AFTER LOOKING AT THE REAR TIRES WE HAD TO BUY NEW ONES BECAUSE THE BACK TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL BACKING. . THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT IN 2011 TO REPLACE THE SPINDLE RODS ON ALL THE 2007 AND 2008 IMPALA'S THAT WERE SOLD AS POLICE CARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING WITH REAR TIRE WEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDED ALL THE OTHER 2007 AND 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED YOU JUST DON'T EXPECT THE TIRES TO WEAR OUT SO FAST. WE HAD JUST FINISHED A TRIP WERE WE DROVE FREEWAY SPEEDS UP TO 75 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER SEEING OUR TIRES I DON'T KNOW HOW WE KEEP FROM HAVING A BLOW OUT ON THE BACK TIRES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

UNEVEN REAR TIRE WEAR. JUST HAVE 24000 MILES ON NEW TIRES. DISCOVERED PROBLEM WITH SPINDLE, REAR TIRE ALIGNMENT BY CHEVY FROM 2007 AND 2008 MODELS POLICE MODELS ONLY BY SEARCHING ON LINE. CONTACTED DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT PROBLEMS OR RECALLS AND STATED NO PROBLEMS, JUST NEED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V377000 (SUSPENSION) AND 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,066.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, NOTICED SOME VIBRATION FROM REAR TIRES. CHECKED TIRES WHEN I GOT HOME. REAR TIRES HAVE EXTREME TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE. THIS WEAR IS HIDDEN BECAUSE IT IS ON THE VERY INSIDE EDGES OF THE TIRES, AND YOU DON'T NOTICE WHEN LOOKING AT THE TIRES FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. MOST OF THE TIRE YOU CAN SEE LOOKS NORMAL. THE WEAR IS ON THE INNER MOST 5% OF THE TREAD. AND IT IS EXTREME WEAR, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE STEEL BELTS. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND A GM SERVICE BULLETIN FOR 2007-8 IMPALA TIRE WEAR AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. BUT THAT BULLETIN ONLY CALLED FOR SERVICE ON MODELS WITH POLICE SUSPENSION IN THE REAR. THE SOLUTION REQUIRED REPLACEMENT SPINDLE ARMS TO BE INSTALLED. CALLED GM AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY CONSUMER SPINDLES. BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIRE WEAR HAS CAUSED BOW OUTS AND CRASHES IF YOU LOOK AT REPORTS THAT A GOOGLE SEARCH CAN FIND. SEARCH FOR IMPALA SPINDLE AND TIRE WEAR. YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW OBVIOUS THIS DEADLY DEFECT IS. *TR

HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT FOWLER CHEVROLET IN TULSA OKLAHOMA AND VERY CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE TAKEN IN 2ND TIME FOR REWORK. WE HAVE SOME PICTURES AND VIDEO. BODY SHOP MANAGER WAS TERMINATED. WE NEED ASSISTANCE. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES ON VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. UNSURE WHERE TO TURN. SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH CHEVROLET INVOLVED TO COVER FOR DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO REMOVE ALL THE KEYS FROM THE KEY RING. UPDATED 12/17/14...UPDATED 06/16/15 *BF UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT

ALL FOUR DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING FROM THE DRIVER DOOR CONTROL OR THE FOB. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IS TO PHYSICALLY PULL UP ON THE LOCK. IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, I WILL BE UNABLE TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS WITHOUT PHYSICALLY PULLING THE DOOR LOCK. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR MAY SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. I'M AFRAID I WILL BE KILLED WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR! THE CAR DOES NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN REALLIGNED AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND THIS FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 37637 MILES, THIS IS AN INJUSTICE. *TR

WE HAD OVER $10,000 IN INSURANCE REPAIRS ON 2008 IMPALA WITH BLUE BOOK AROUND $12,800. OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPT RULES SAID CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD TO GO TO A 2ND SHOP TO CONTINUE REPAIRS AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER WAS FIRED. CARFAX IS NOW SHOWING VEHICLE WITH FRAME DAMAGE ETC.. AND INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO ASSIST. WE WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD MORE DOCUMENTATION FOR ASSISTANCE AS FTC IS TELLING US YOU CAN ASSIST HOLD FOWLER CHEVROLET OF TULSA OKLAHOMA ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ALSO IF THEY ARE REPAIRING CARS THAT SHOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS BESIDES COMPENSATING US FOR THE FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED. *TR

THE FOLLOWING HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 65-70MPH WHEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHTS CAME ON DASH. MY CAR THEN LOST ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY AND MY SPEED WAS REDUCED TO UNDER 35MPH. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED BACK UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, WHEN MAKING A TURN, IT FELT AS IF THE REAR TIRES LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.