I started the car with the remote start and it was warming up, went out put my two small children I and started it with the key, went back to grab my bag, and got in to go. When I hopped in the message center was blinking; engine power reduced, stabilization track, and something else to do with the traction control. It was very cold out and we had a long drive, I was very scared we would be…
2008 Chevrolet Impala cruise control problems
moderate 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 60 cruise control complaints filed for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 60 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of Chevrolet Impala in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2008 Chevy Impala has a chronic problem where the accelerator pedal sensor and throttle body fail unpredictably, causing the engine to enter limp mode or shut down completely without warning—even at highway speeds. Repairs are expensive, often ineffective, and dealers struggle to diagnose intermittent failures; expect to pay out of pocket since most owners report these are not covered under warranty.
Owners of 2008 Chevrolet Impalas describe a dangerous intermittent failure where the vehicle suddenly loses engine power during normal driving. The most common complaint is the "reduced engine power" warning appearing on the dash, which limits acceleration to 5–40 mph. This happens at highway speeds without warning, forcing owners to coast to safety or crawl in traffic while the vehicle refuses to accelerate normally.
In some cases, the engine shuts down completely, taking power steering and brakes with it. One driver on an interstate lost all power while merging in heavy traffic. Another had the engine die repeatedly—sometimes once monthly—making the car undrivable and diagnostically impossible for dealers to fix since the failure is intermittent.
Owners consistently point to the accelerator pedal sensor or throttle body as culprits. Dealers and independent shops replace one or both parts, but the fix often fails within days or weeks. One owner had the accelerator pedal replaced, saw lights return in five days, and cycled through repairs for months with no resolution. Another paid $280 for a new pedal, only to have the problem recur.
Warranty coverage is scattered. Some owners report GM covered throttle body replacement; others were told the accelerator pedal sensor is not covered at all, costing $160–$280 per repair. When the failure recurs after repair—and owners say it frequently does—dealers decline further coverage. Owners uniformly describe GM as unable or unwilling to address the root cause, with dealers unable to replicate the intermittent failure during diagnostic visits.
Same Chevrolet Impala cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Reduced Engine Power / Acceleration Limp Mode
Vehicle suddenly enters limp mode, severely limiting acceleration (often to 5-40 mph max) when engine power reduced warning illuminates. Occurs without warning at highway speeds and city speeds alike, sometimes resolving after restart, other times persisting intermittently.
When: Occurs as early as 34,000 miles through 210,000+ miles; reported at all driving speeds including highway (60-75 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine power reduced warning message on dash; Vehicle deceleration/loss of acceleration power; Vehicle limited to very low speeds (5-40 mph); Check engine light illumination; Traction control light/service traction control message; Service stabilitrak warning; Vehicle jerking at acceleration; Problem resolves temporarily after turning off engine
Codes mentioned: P2138 (accelerator pedal actuator), T2135/P2135 (throttle body sensor)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing accelerator pedal ($160-280), throttle body ($200+), throttle position sensor; repairs are often temporary or ineffective; some repairs covered under recalls/TSBs, many not; dealer diagnostics range $90+; one owner cited $1000 repair estimate
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued service bulletins and some warranty coverage for throttle body replacement; some owners reported GM warranty covered throttle body but not accelerator pedal sensor; owners describe GM as unable to diagnose intermittent failures; one TSB mentioned with service bulletin numbers referenced; GM-authorized dealers occasionally covered throttle body under warranty but refused to cover accelerator pedal; some owners received letter from GM directing them to dealer
Complete Engine Shutdown at Speed
Engine dies completely while driving, sometimes at highway speeds. Vehicle loses all power including power steering and power brakes, forcing driver to coast to safety. Failure occurs intermittently, often once per month or less frequently, making diagnosis difficult.
When: Reported at 40-75 mph highway speeds; one failure at 1,471 miles; multiple failures between 40,000-178,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls/shuts down completely while driving; Loss of power steering; Loss of power brakes; Service traction control message; Engine power reduced message; Service throttle control sensor message; Throttle disabled light; Check engine light; Vehicle will not restart immediately (5-40 minutes required)
Codes mentioned: P2138 (accelerator pedal position sensor), Throttle body codes
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement attempted but ineffective; accelerator pedal replacement attempted but problem persists; owners report multiple repair attempts with no lasting solution; one owner reports dealer unable to provide diagnosis unless failure occurs during visit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM warranty covered throttle body replacement in at least one case; after throttle body replacement failed, GM declined further warranty coverage; dealers unable to replicate intermittent failures and refuse diagnosis; one owner mentioned GM sending case to their technical team
Unintended Acceleration / Acceleration Hesitation at Low Speeds
Vehicle surges forward unexpectedly when parked or at low speeds, or hesitates and jerks when attempting normal acceleration from stops. One case reports vehicle moving on its own while parked and running.
When: At stop lights and stop signs; one case at idle in park; reported across mileage range
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle leaps forward at stop light/stop sign; Car jerks violently when accelerating from idle; Vehicle moves on its own (unattended, in park); Sluggish acceleration from stop; Hesitation before acceleration occurs
Codes mentioned: P2138 (accelerator pedal position sensor)
Repairs/costs cited: One case: vehicle jerked multiple times after traction control shut off; owners cite sensor/accelerator pedal replacement as attempted fixes
Cruise Control Overspeed on Downhill
When cruise control is engaged at 60 mph while traveling downhill, vehicle accelerates to 85-90 mph uncontrollably until brakes are applied.
When: 1,471 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Uncontrolled acceleration when cruise control engaged on downhill grade; Vehicle accelerates beyond set speed to 85-90 mph
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated this behavior was normal for the vehicle
Acceleration Delay / Lag on Upshift/Downshift
When attempting to accelerate, vehicle shows noticeable delay in transmission response (upshifting or downshifting) before actual acceleration occurs. Presents as sluggish performance.
When: As early as 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Delay in upshifting or downshifting when accelerating; Vehicle does not immediately respond to accelerator input
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer both stated the delay was normal vehicle behavior
Synthesized from 60 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have a 2008 Chevrolet impala ltz. I have had several occasions now when my car has started flashing "service stabilitrak" "engine power reduced" "service airbags" and then all the corresponding lights come on. One of the times the vehicle flashed all of those warnings, the lights came on and the car died, while I was driving. It lost all power and it took everything I had to steer the vehicle…
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…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2008 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 60 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 51 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 53,000 and 135,007 miles, with the median around 98,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 53,000; a quarter make it past 135,007. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Chevrolet/Impala.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.