2008 Chevrolet Impala: won't start

Filed Jan 31, 2019 · Engine · 151,000 miles · IA

Lights came on dash service throttle, reduced engine power. I was driving down the highway on 8/16/2018 going 55 when the car started to chatter and I struggled to pull over to the side of the road, I almost was rear ended because it was so sudden. I shut the car off and let it sit for a bit then it started and I went on. Today it did it and it still wont start after hours.

Filed Mar 17, 2017 · 157,000 miles · TN

Driving down hwy. Check engine light came on. Then flashed reduced engine power and it cut off. Would not start. Let it sit then it started. Also engine has leak and blows oil on the motor

Filed Jul 30, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 105,000 miles · NY

Two different outcomes but stem from the same issue. While trying to start my vehicle I get a click and care won't start at all. Sometimes after several tries it does fire up. Also when it does start it will sometimes stall. Most recently while traveling didn't the interstate it stalled going 75mph leaving me to coast and disrupt 4 lanes of traffic.

Filed Jul 21, 2015 · Driver assistance, Engine · 81,352 miles · IL

Traction control needs service message displayed, then throttle disabled message displayed shutting the engine off going down the road. So therefor no power steering, brakes etc . Once pulled onto shoulder car would not crank. Had to wait five minutes until the gauges flickered and then car was able to be restarted. This is highly dangerous if not where to pull off or being followed closely. Not to mention not power steering assist or brake assist. This could very easily cause a crash and there for should be a recall issued before people are injured or killed by this!

Filed Apr 13, 2015 · Electrical · 99,200 miles · GA

The car was performing wonderful for several months. This particular day, I drove to the store, put the car in park, attempt to remove the key from the ignition and it was stuck. After several attempts, I was able to remove the key. This has happened at least once weekly, to once daily. The key would not switch completely off leaving the battery source to drain and having to get boost or replace batteries more often, when the recall was issued, I was somewhat relieved, thinking that this would resolve the issue. Fast forward to october 2014, I the key was stuck in the ignition again on the particular day I took the car in for there service. The service person witnessed the key stuck in the ignition. I had to leave the car there and with some manipulation, he was able to remove the key and complete the service call. The service department manager was adamant that this was not a recall issue and that placing a hole in the plastic hub of the key was to relieved the weight to prevent the key from switching off while drive the vehicle. Now it is 2015 and this is a continued issue with my car. Upon further research (via the web) this is has been problematic with the chevy impala (2006- to present) with other issues to include unable to shift the vehicle of part, or will not start at all. This is not a key cylinder problem. Today I contact gm directly (case #71-14632344170) concerning this issue. Representative very understanding and attempted to help with this issue. There was a conference call with a local chevy dealership for a diagnostic test and they could not schedule the appointment until next tuesday. Understanding the key has been in the ignition switch since last thursday, with the consequences, dead battery (twice), leaving the car running to keep the battery from dying while at clients homes, losing work because I can not leave the car unsecured.

Filed Sep 26, 2014 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · MD

The key is stuck in the ignition, this was at 10:15pm 9/25/14. The car was able to be turned off, I turned off the radio, lights, air and anything else I thought would kill the battery. I removed the key fob and locked my vehicle. I woke up this morning at 5am thinking the car wouldn't start but thankfully it did. I drove to work and now I am worried the battery will be dead when I return to it to go home. I called the dealership service department at jack winegardiner chevrolet and they said the cause could be a dead battery, not so, I can start and drive the car just fine. When I asked what could be the cause, could it possibly be the recall 14299, he said no. I told him that I have done my research and this is an ongoing issue with these cars and he said unfortunately their is no recall for that ma'am and that I will be responsible for the repairs. Really, I had another issue with the card just a few days ago which I will report in another complaint. But in short the car had reduced power and traction was supposedly affected. Turned the car of and went in to work, went back to go home and it has been fine ever since. This car is becoming unreliable. I used to love my car, now, I don't think I will buy another chevy, ever!

Filed Jul 23, 2014 · Electrical · 94,134 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the ignition failed and the vehicle would not start. In addition, the ignition had become stuck and prevented the vehicle from turning off. The failure occurred intermittently for three years. The dealer repaired the vehicle, but the diagnosis was unknown. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 94,134.

Filed Jul 10, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · TX

I was driving when vehicle lost power and car shut off. I put the car in neutral and restarted the motor and this has happened on a few occasions. More recently, at times car will not turn over or crank and the check engine light comes on. Then suddenly the car cranks and after some time has passed the check engine light shuts off. I took the car to the dealership and they told me it was the battery. I replaced the battery at the dealership but it still does the same thing. I took the car back to the dealership but the dealership said they could not find the problem. So I took the car to another mechanic and he told me it was the ignition 1 switch circuit 2 (code p1682).

Filed Jul 10, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · TX

I was driving when vehicle lost power and car shut off. I put the car in neutral and restarted the motor and this has happened on a few occasions. More recently, at times car will not turn over or crank and the check engine light comes on. Then suddenly the car cranks and after some time has passed the check engine light shuts off. I took the car to the dealership and they told me it was the battery. I replaced the battery at the dealership but it still does the same thing. I took the car back to the dealership but the dealership said they could not find the problem. So I took the car to another mechanic and he told me it was the ignition 1 switch circuit 2 (code p1682).

Filed May 12, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 155,000 miles · IL · 1 injury

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 code said p0651, but that was a waste of $300). No help, same message. I let the car sit. When it first started up, still had the message. But about 5 minutes later, the car started normally!!! The check engine light is on now, but those codes haven't been accurate so far. While the car was running normally, I went out and jiggled all the wiring both under the dash and above the throttle, but could not find a loose wire or get the car to shift into the "engine power reduced" message. I also tapped on and jiggled the air box (because I was told that's where the ECM is located). Still couldn't get it to go bad. Came back out the next time and the car had the "engine power is reduced" message and running horribly. I was fortunate not to be killed, these cars are moving chicanes. I am totally at a loss as to what is going on. Gm service reps say "go to the dealer" but online shows this only results in a bunch of expensive replaced parts that didn't fix the problem. I only suffered a backache but this car is an accident waiting to happen.

Filed Mar 8, 2014 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 43,000 miles · IN

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?

Filed Jun 18, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 60,000 miles · TN

I have a 2008 chevy impala. Starting last month (may 2013) the service traction light and reduce engine power lights started coming on. I took it back to the place where I purchased the vehicle and it came back that it was the accelerator pedal. It was replaced and 5 days later the lights were back on again. I called the shop and they told me to bring it back to them on monday because they were closed saturday and sunday. I took the car back to the shop and the lights weren't on. They told me that they could not get a reading on the car and to come pick it up. I drove off the lot and 3 days later the lights were back on. This has happened every week since they replaced the accelerator pedal. When I took it in initially they said it was either the accelerator pedal or the throttle. On friday june 14th the car stopped the service traction system light, reduced engine power light and starting disabled service/check throttle light came on and the car stopped. It was still running but when I pressed the accelerator pedal it would not move. I cut it off and sat for about 10 minutes. I started it and drove straight to the lot it was friday at 4:45 pm they closed at 5:00 the guy said bring it back monday (wow really). I parked the car again all weekend didn't start it until monday. The lights were off when I got in it on monday as soon as I backed out of my drive way the lights popped back on and it would only go 40 MPH. Luckily the place is about 3 miles from my house when I got there they weren't open yet so I sat there. When they finally opened I drove in and told the guy who I was. The drove the car around several times and could not get the lights to come back on. It is now tuesday and I still don't have my car back. They say that they took it to the dealership to have them look at it. I'm not sure what to do at this point I need my car to get back and forth to work.