Inspections & Reports / Chevy Impala / 2008

Model-Year Guide2008 · Chevy Impala

Pre Purchase Inspection for 2008 Chevy Impala

Intake gasket leaks, inner rear tire wear, and transmission solenoids. We check the known trouble spots before you pay.

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Buying a 2008 Chevy Impala? Smart move to check it first. The engine it has changes what matters most.

Transmission: 4-speed automatic. Lots of fleet cars from this year. Look for hard use.

Engines for 2008

3.5L V6
3.9L V6
5.3L V8 (SS)

Known problem areas — what we check

Costly Safety Common Verify

Intake manifold gasket leakCostly

The older 3.5 and 3.9 V6 engines can seep coolant or oil at the intake gaskets.

WE CHECK We look for coolant loss, oil sludge, and staining around the intake.

Inner rear tire wearCommon

Many 2006–2013 cars wear the inside edge of the rear tires. The rear alignment is the cause.

WE CHECK We pull the car up and feel the inside edge of both rear tires. It's easy to miss on a lot.

Transmission solenoid / harsh shiftCostly

The older 4-speed automatic can shift hard or set codes when a pressure solenoid wears.

WE CHECK We drive every gear and scan the transmission for stored faults.

Fleet and rental historyVerify

A lot of Impalas were fleet, rental, or police cars. Miles are hard miles.

WE CHECK We look for fleet wear — seat bolsters, hidden holes, spotlight patches, and door dings.

Power steering assistSafety

Some cars can lose power steering assist. There were recalls on certain years.

WE CHECK We test the steering at low speed and check for open recalls.

Timing chain & carbon (3.6)Costly

The 3.6 direct-injection V6 can stretch a timing chain and build carbon if oil changes were skipped.

WE CHECK We listen at cold start and scan for cam/crank correlation codes.

Before you look at a 2008 Impala

Find the engine and body first — the 2014 car is a different vehicle from the 2013
Feel the inside edge of the rear tires
Check for coolant loss on the older V6
Look for fleet or rental wear
Confirm the ignition key and steering recalls are done

Safety record (live from NHTSA)

2008 Chevrolet Impala · Federal RecordsSource: NHTSA.gov

Recalls

810

Complaints

1389

Service Bulletins

Loading the latest federal safety records…

Common service bulletins (TSBs)

A TSB is a note the maker sends to dealers about a known fix. They are not recalls. We check the bulletins so we know what to look for:

Engine & Drivability247

Cold-start noise, drivability, and idle issues for this vehicle. We test for each.

Power Train · Automatic70

Shift quality and transmission fluid updates. We drive every gear.

Electrical & Body1072

Locks, wipers, infotainment, and trim items. Small, but good to know.

Counts are pulled from NHTSA's public Manufacturer Communications file. Full bulletins stay with the maker — we use the summaries to guide the inspection.

Common questions

Is a used Impala a good buy?

They're cheap for the size. The trick is finding one that wasn't a hard-used fleet car. That's what we check.

What's the difference between a 2013 and a 2014 Impala?

They're completely different cars. 2014 moved to a new platform and new engines. We inspect them differently.

Where do you inspect?

All 48 states.

Do you pull recalls?

Yes, plus service bulletins.

Buying this one?

We'll check it first

Pre-tagged for the 2008 Chevy Impala. One call and a tech is on it.

951-267-8500 Call now

Other Impala years

2006 Impala First year of this bod…2007 Impala Check the inner rear t…2009 Impala Last year for the SS a…2010 Impala V8 is gone. Rental and…2011 Impala Last year of the older…2012 Impala Big change — the 3.6 d…2013 Impala Final year of this bod…2014 Impala All-new car — bigger, …2015 Impala Last year for the eAss…2016 Impala Well-sorted by now. So…

Request a 2008 Impala inspection

Pre-tagged for the 2008 Chevy Impala.

Buying a 2008 Impala? Let us check it first.

Engine-specific checks, a live recall pull, and a clear report.

Call 951-267-8500