2004 Chevrolet Impala complaints

SPEEDOMETER AND TEMP GAUGE STICKING AND WILL NOT RESET - READING EXCESSIVE SPEED OR TEMPS. *TR

SPEEDOMETER WENT CRAZY & THEN WENT TO "0"! THE CAR ONLY HAD 20,000 MILES ON IT. DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR

MY 2004 IMPALA'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO READ FALSE TEMPERATURES AROUND 58,000 MILES. TO THIS DAY, IT IS STUCK AND WILL NOT MOVE. SOON AFTER THIS PROBLEM, MY SPEEDOMETER FROZE ON 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO GO BACK TO ZERO THE FOLLOWING DAY BE TURNING THE KEY A NUMBER OF TIMES TO THE ACC. POSITION. NOW, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, THE SPEEDOMETER EITHER FREEZES OR IT WILL THINK ANOTHER NUMBER IS THE ZERO POSITION. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I AM GOING 60 MPH, IT WILL READ 100 IF IT HAPPENED TO STOP AT 40 MPH, MAKING IT THE ZERO POSITION. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING! NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM YET. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER TOMORROW, BUT IF I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THERE IS NOW WAY I AM GOING TO PAY $500 FOR THIS. *TR

SPEEDOMETER WILL GIVE ERRADIC READINGS. I FIRST NOTICED IT ON DECEMBER 22 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY; SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY BEGAN TO READ 110 MPH. AT A STANDSTILL, SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 50 MPH. IT HAS DONE THIS ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS, WITH THE LAST DATE BEING JANUARY 4, 2008. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SPEEDOMETER BACK TO ZERO WHILE BEING PARKED, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN TURN THE IGNITION TO "ACC". EACH TIME I DID THIS, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GO DOWN APPROX. 5 MPH SO I CONTINUED TO DO THIS UNTIL THE SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS PROBABLY A SENSOR ISSUE AND WHEN I DID RESEARCH, I FOUND 40 ADDTIONAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE SAME THING AND WAS READING ABOUT A POTENTIAL CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN SEATTLE DUE TO SPEEDOMETER FAILURES. *CN

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO MY ROAD. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO PULL BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY QUICKLY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER STORY A MINUTE LATER WHEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES, DOES NOT MAKE THIS ANY LESS OF A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE. IF THE POLICE CAN TICKET YOU FOR NOT FIXING ONE HEADLIGHT WHEN IT FAILS, WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE A MORE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM? I HAD THE VEHICLE IN TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (ON THE STEERING COLUMN) HAD FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED AND IT COST ME $786.00 CANADIAN. MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT THE LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT. THEY SUDDENLY WENT OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN CAME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES. I AM ASSUMING THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE SAME MALFUNCTION.*CN

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO SHOW INACCURATE READINGS AND/OR BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. OTHER GAUGES ALSO REGISTER INACCURATE READING.*CN

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW FROM GM. THE CAR HAS 43756 MILES ON IT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. IT CURRENTLY READS 107 MPH EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE OTHER GAUGES STARTED ACTING STRANGE, BUT WHEN THE KEY IS CYCLED, THEY GO BACK. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT BUDGE. THIS STARTED THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND HAS CONTINUED EVER SINCE.*CN

SPEEDOMETER,AND TEMP GAUGE GOING HAYWIRE AT 36,000 MILES. *TR

2004 IMPALA LS, SPEEDODMETER ERRATIC THEN JUST FAILED. IN PARK I AM GOING APPROX 160 MPH. CONTACTED GM TO TRY AND GET IT COVERED, THE SAID NO. IN TIME CAR HAS NOW GONE OVER 70K MILES. WILL HAVE TO FIX ON MY DIME ( APPROX $700). MANY OTHER 2004 GM TYPES ALL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. SERVICE DEPT AGREES AND HAD 2 OTHER 2004 IMPALA'S IN SHOP FOR THE SAME FAILURE. *TR

NORMAL DRIVING, SPEEDOMETER GOES TO 120MPH AND STAYS THERE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON. STILL AT 120 MPH. CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I CHECKED THE WEB AND FIND ITS A COMMON PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH CHEVY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT A WORKING SPEEDOMETER! *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY STARTED CLIMBING HIGHER AND EVENTUALLY PEGGED ITS SELF. I STOPPED VEHICLE AT THE NEXT PLAZA AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. SPEEDOMETER REMAINED PEGGED WITH ENGINE OFF. I GOT HOME AND PARKED CAR. THE FOLLOWING MORNING SPEEDOMETER WAS STILL PEGGED. BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF I WAS ABLE TO BACK UP NEEDLE TO 0 POSITION. SPEEDOMETER WORKED ALRIGHT AT LOWER CITY SPEEDS UNTIL ON 12-25-07 I AGAIN GOT ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE TO GO TO MICHIGAN. AGAIN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED CLIMBING AND WAS WELL PAST 120 MPH MARK WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION . AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO RESET SPEEDOMETER BY TURNING KEY OFF AND ON. RETURNING TO OHIO ON I75 AGAIN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED CLIMBING AND WHEN I GOT HOME SPEEDOMETER WAS AT 120. AT THIS POINT I TOOK SEVERAL DIGITAL L PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEEDLE POSITION AND WILL LEAVE IT THERE UNTIL I TAKE VEHICLE TO LOCAL CHEVROLET CAR DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE. VEHICLE NOW ONLY HAS 23,900 MILES ON IT. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS WITH APPROX 82,000 MILES. NOTICED TWO WEEKS AGO THAT THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WILL GO FROM 20 TO 120 WITH THE ACTUAL SPEED NOT CHANGING. VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITH OUR ICE AND SNOW. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM ACTUALLY GOING. I HAVE READ ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 IMPALA'S. THERE IS NO RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE GM DEALERS WANT APPROXIMATELY $400 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND I BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE ON THE 2004 IMPALA TO SHOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. *TR

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. IT MAY INDICATE OVER 100 + WHEN OTHER CARS ARE PASSING. SPEED MAY INDICATE OVER 100 WHEN CAR IS PARKED AND KEY IS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. *TR

WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DROPPED FROM THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION TO THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION. IT NOW OPERATES SPORADICALLY AND IS USUALLY 10-15 MILES OFF. WORKING ON GETTING THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT HAYWIRE. THEN THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTS TO FAIL ONE GAUGE AT A TIME UNTIL NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK. *TR

SPEEDOMETER BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM MYSELF BY SENDING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO AN ONLINE VENDOR WHO REPLACED THE MOTORS IN ALL FIVE OF THE GAUGES. I DID THIS AFTER SEEING MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND RESEARCHING THE COST TO FIX. THE WORST ALTERNATIVE WAS TO RETURN THE CLUSTER TO THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

2004 CHEVY IMPALA--BOTH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS STOP FLASHING. TRIED TO REPLACE FUSES, BUT ALL STILL GOOD. COULD NOT LOCATE A TURN SIGNAL RELAY IN THE FUSE BOX. SPOKE TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID IT DIDN'T MAKE SINCE THAT THERE WAS NO RELAY IN THE FUSE PANEL. LOOKED UP THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH PART AND IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE PART ALONE WAS OVER $300.00. MECHANIC ALSO STATED IT DID NOT MAKE SINCE THAT IT WOULD BE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHEN ALL OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE TURN SIGNAL ARM (WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CRUISE CONTROL, ETC.) STILL WORKED. UNABLE TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS A SUNDAY. LOOKED UP OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON TOPIX.COM AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WAS ADVISED TO TURN ON AND OFF THE HAZARD SEVERAL TIMES. IN DOING SO (ABOUT 100 TIMES) THE SIGNALS STARTED WORKING. THEREFORE, IT DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THIS IS A TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ISSUE, BUT A HAZARD SWITCH ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF DRIVING AND YOUR TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

2004 CHEVY IMPALA WOULD NOT START. SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLES SECURITY ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CAN SOMETIMES LOCKUP MAKING IT APPEAR AS IF THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN. VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. WAS TOLD TO RESET THE SECURITY SYSTEM AS FOLLOWS...TURN KEY TO ON POSITION AND WAIT 10 MINUTES UNTIL SECURITY LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. TURN THE KEY OFF FOR 5 SECONDS AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS WORKED EACH TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED..BY HERSELF..AT 10:30PM IN A UNIVERSITY PARKING LOT AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. LUCKILY SHE HAD A CELL PHONE SO SHE COULD CALL ME. I STEPPED HER THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO BE STRANDED. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM..EVEN IN MUCH OLDER MODELS. WHEN IS GM GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? *TR

SPEEDOMETER IS BURNING THE NEEDLE AT THE 3RD GEAR MARK WHILE DRIVING. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT YESTERDAY (12/08/07), THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 112 MPH, SITTING STILL!! I CANNOT GET THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE TO SET AT 0 ANYMORE. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING MY 15 1/2 YEAR OLD SON TO DRIVE AND THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE. I AM CONSTANTLY MAKING HIM PULL OVER AND SWITCHING SEATS WITH ME AS HE CANNOT GET A SPEEDING TICKET ON HIS PERMIT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GUESS AT YOUR SPEED, EVEN WITH THE OTHER TRAFFIC FLOW AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THE RESULT IS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS BAD, WITH AN ESTIMATE TO FIX IT THAT IS UNREASONABLY HIGH. ADDITIONALLY, GM KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE, SO THEY SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THESE SINCE THEY ORDERED AN ASSEMBLY CHANGE ON THEM. *TR

MY SON'S 2004 IMPALA FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IS LEAKING FUEL. IT SEAMS TO BE COMING OUT OF THE TOP PART OF REGULATOR. THIS IS LOCATED ABOVE THE ENGINE AD IS A FIRE HAZARD WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS FORA YAER AND THE LEAK HAS GOTTEN BIG ENOUGH FOR US TO FIND. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 65MPH, REGARDLESS OF SPEED. WHEN TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE STILL READ 65MPH. WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROPER SPEED. NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE RESET THE SPEED 5MPH LOWER EACH TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS MOVED FROM OFF TO ON. MULTIPLE CYCLES OF TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF FINALLY RESET THE SPEEDOMETER TO 0MPH. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX FOR A PROBLEM THAT WILL PROBABLY GET WORSE. ALTHOUGH NOT A SERIOUS ISSUE, THE TACHOMETER DOES THE SAME THING. *TR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER START UP AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 20MPH) THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICK IN WHEN NOT NEEDED. FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS, THERE IS EXTREMELY REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. AFTER THIS INITIAL TIME PERIOD, THE WHOLE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND ALSO TURNS OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. ONCE THE SHUTDOWN HAS TAKEN PLACE, THE CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS AS IF THERE WAS NO ANTILOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP WHICH INDICATED THAT THE WHEEL SENSOR WAS BAD AND COULD BE REPLACED FOR $600.00. ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 65MPH, REGARDLESS OF SPEED. WHEN TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE STILL READ 65MPH. WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROPER SPEED. NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE RESET THE SPEED 5MPH LOWER EACH TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS MOVED FROM OFF TO ON. MULTIPLE CYCLES OF TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF FINALLY RESET THE SPEEDOMETER TO 0MPH. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX FOR A PROBLEM THAT WILL PROBABLY GET WORSE. ALTHOUGH NOT A SERIOUS ISSUE, THE TACHOMETER DOES THE SAME THING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE AND HIGH READINGS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

STEERING RACK FAILURE. CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED. AT FIRST THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS PEGGED AT 120 MPHPLUS, EVEN WHEN STOPPED. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST I AM TRAVELING IN EVER CHANGING ROAD CONDITIONS. I CONSIDER THIS FAILURE TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED THE LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF $375.00 PLUS. I THEN FOUND OUT, THAT IN SEPTEMBER, THAT DELPHI HAD SETTLED A GM LAWSUIT.DELPHI HAD COMPENSATED GM WITH $47.5 MILLION AND 1.1 MILLION FREE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS THAT DELPHI HAD SUPPLIED TO GM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL OF GM VEHICLES. *TR

WE HAD JUST BOUGHT A 04 CHEVY IMPALA LS IT HAS 54,000 ON IT. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS BAD. WE ARE THINKING THAT IT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT NOT TO MENTION THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY EITHER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING WITH HI BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS WILL REPEATEDLY SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. I HAVE TO MOVE THE HI/LOW BEAM LEVER AND THE LOW BEAMS WILL COME ON. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I LIVE ON UN-LIT COUNTRY ROADS. THIS IN NOT AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS ARE ON. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING AND THE SPEEDOMETER JUST WENT DOWN TO ZERO. IT WAS ERRATIC AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE WERE GOING VERY SLOW, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD SAY 70. OTHER TIMES WHEN WE WERE GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, IT WOULD SAY 10. SOMETIMES WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR OFF, THE SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 10 MPH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ABS AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ABS AND STEERING COLUMN. TWO WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,901 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

SPEEDOMETER FAILING JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S SO I HAVE TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE SPEED LIMIT IS. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED AND BABIED, AND NOW THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY NO ONE CARES ABOUT. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. THE SPEEDOMETER IS SHOWING EVERY SPEED OTHER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED BEING DRIVEN. IT SOMETIMES SHOWS SPEEDS SLOWER BUT MORE OFTEN SHOWING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 120 MPH. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY. IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT THAT SPEED KILLS, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, YOU A TAKING A CHANCE THAT COULD PROVE FATAL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THEY ADVISE IT IS THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER. THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT GM CORRECTED WITH THEIR 2004 CHEVROLET TRUCKS, YET REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE EXISTS IN THE 2004 IMPALA'S. A QUICK SEARCH OF "CHEVROLET SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS" BRINGS UP INDEPENDENT WEBSITES WITH 2004 IMPALAS TOPPING THE LIST OF OTHERS WITH THIS SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM FOUND IN THIS VEHICLE WITH MILEAGE RANGING FROM 20,000 MILES TO 100,000 MILES. I WILL REQUEST THAT THE DEALERSHIP GIVE ME THE MALFUNCTIONING PART. *TR

SECURITY LIGHT WENT ON LAST MONTH. IT WAS TAKEN IN IMMEDIATELY FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITIION CYLINDER. THE CAR ALSO MAKES A VIBRATING NOISE ON ACCELERATOR. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THE CATALITIC CONVERTER. ALL REPLACED. THE CAR STILL MADE NOISE WHEN LEFT SERVICE AT NORTHEAST AUTO CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA PA WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. YESTERDAY THE LIGHT FOR SECURITY IS BACK ON. 2004 CHEVY IMPALA VERY DISAPPOINTED. CAR HAS 55,000 MILES. AT 36K THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT DURING FUNERAL PROCESSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM REGULATOR WAS LEAKING. SHE SMELLED GASOLINE FOR OVER A MONTH AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. SHE THOUGHT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE ODOR REMAINED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN AS WELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,899 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DEALER STATED REPAIRED TRUNK LIGHT. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED ACTING STRANGE. NEVER GOING BACK DOWN TO NORMAL. THEN ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO, MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED GETTING STUCK AND NEVER GOING BACK DOWN TO ZERO WHEN I STOPPED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. WOULD LOOK REAL BAD WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ALL OVER INTERNET ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME DEFAULT OF THE GAUGES NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND CHEVY DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS INJURED AND SUES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AN INCORRECT SPEED AND WOULD FLUCTUATE SPORADICALLY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,826. THE CONSUMER STATED GM ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. UPDATED 12/12/07

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2004 IMPALA WITH ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT HAS SUDDENLY GOTTEN A MIND OF IT'S OWN. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE OVER $500 TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE LOOKED FOR RECALLS BUT CAN'T FIND ANY BUT HAVE FOUND PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS. I NEVER KNOW FOR SURE HOW FAST I AM GOING. *TR

CHEVY 2004 IMPALA: SPEED AND TEMP GAUGE WERE READING ERRATICALLY AND AT TIMES STAYED AT A PARTICULAR SPEED AND TEMP WHICH WERE NOT ACCURATE. GAUGE CLUSTER WAS CHANGED OUT ACCORDING TO A DEALERSHIP. WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY REALLY DID. HAD VEHICLE IN TO SAME DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT FOR A KNOCKING SOUND. DEALERSHIP LUBRICATED SHAFT. TO ME, IF SOMETHING IS MAKING NOISE, THIS MEANS THERE IS CONTACT WITH AT LEAST TWO COMPONENTS CAUSING WEAR. I BELIEVE THE SHAFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED OUT. ALL PROBLEMS HAVE NOT RETURNED, YET. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES OR SPEEDING TICKETS EITHER, THANK GOD. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP THE COST OF A SPEEDING TICKET OR ASSOCIATED COSTS DUE TO AN INJURY OR DEATH. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO STEP UP AND PUT SOME REAL HEAT ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY. DOES IT TAKE A DEATH OF A FELLOW CITIZEN TO TAKE ACTION? I THINK IT'S TOO LATE IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. I DON'T RECALL THE DATES OF EITHER INCIDENT SO THE DATE I ENTER IS NOT ACCURATE. I COULD GIVE YOU THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE ACTUAL DATES, BUT YOUR NOT LOOKING TO MAKE WAVES WITH THE INDUSTRY. PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT WASTING MY TIME WITH THIS COMPLAINT. PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS A GENUINE CONCERN AT NHTSA. PLEASE DO NOT INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE. YES I'M ANGRY AND DISSATISFIED WITH THE AUTO INDUSTRY WHOSE AIM IS TO LIVE OFF OF COMPONENTS BREAKING DOWN SO YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR VEHI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD VIBRATION AND CLUCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE OUTER HUBS, TIE RODS, AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. HOWEVER, THE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS STILL OCCUR WHEN DRIVING OVER VARIATIONS IN THE ROAD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,592 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,472.

LAST WINTER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A DARK MORNING AND WITHOUT WARNING MY HEADLIGHTS WENT TOTALLY OUT. I KEPT FLIPPING MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON AND MY DIMMER SWITCH UNTIL THEY CAME BACK ON. I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AND IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY UNTIL I GOT TO WORK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER MODULE. I DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL THIS MORNING WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN COOL OR COLD OUT BOTH TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH TEMPERATURE OR NOT. I HAVE LOST TIME FROM WORK BECAUSE OUR AREA AUTO DEALERS SERVICE DEPTS. ARE NOT OPEN ON SATURDAYS, NOT TO MENTION THE DANGER OF DRIVING A BLACK CAR IN THE DARK WITH NO HEADLIGHTS! *TR

SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 12/04, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER PERFORMED VERY POORLY. IN 3/07 IT CEASED WORKING, HOWEVER DASHBOARD CONTROL SWITCH AND I/P CONTROL RELAY APPEARED TO REMAIN FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BREAKER (MECHANICALLY BROKEN ARMATURE) TO BE CAUSE OF COMPLETE FAILURE. FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF CIRCUIT BREAKER, I/P CONTROL RELAY, AND ANTENNA MODULE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER IS BACK TO PERFORMING POORLY. ELECTRICAL GRID APPEARS TO BE FUNCTIONAL - GOOD HEATING PATTERN (WHEN IT HEATS) WITH NO VISUALLY OBVIOUS DEFECTS. NO OBVIOUS PROBLEMS WERE FOUND IN I/P CONTROL RELAY AND ANTENNA MODULE THAT WERE REPLACED. ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS INDICATES EXCESSIVE CURRENT DRAW THRU DEFROSTER GRID, WHICH CAUSES CIRCUIT BREAKER TO TRIP AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS OF OPERATION. MANUALLY CYCLING THE DEFROSTER CONTROL ALLOWS BREAKER TO COOL AND CAN AGAIN BE ACTIVATED TO PROVIDE 10-15 SECONDS OF REPEATED OPERATION. NOTE THAT ELECTRICALLY DISCONNECTING THE GRID (AT THE WINDOW) DOES NOT CAUSE THE BREAKER TO TRIP, INDICATING NO SHORT IN THE VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS. WITH POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE OEM CIRCUIT BREAKER, DIAGNOSIS REVEALED TO OBVIOUS HEAT DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER COMPONENTS/WIRING IN THE VEHICLE. REAR DEFROSTER GRID APPEARS TO BE SOURCE OF THE EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL LOAD IN THE CIRCUIT. PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ADDRESSED IN TSBS THAT I CAN LOCATE TO DATE. DISCUSSIONS WITH SEVERAL TECHNICIANS HAS RESULTED IN NOTHING MORE THAN GUESSES AT THIS TIME. *TR

TEMPERATURE GAUGE QUIT WORKING, AND NOW AS OF TODAY MY SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING EITHER, IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THEN JUST SHOT TO 120 AND THEN WHEN I SHUT OFF MY CAR IT BURIED THE NEEDLE AND NOW IT WILL NOT MOVE. THIS IS A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. *JB

2004 CHEVY IMPALA WITH STEERING FAILURE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, SO SHE HAD TO HIT A CURB, WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED SHE DROVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. *KB THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SPEED SENSOR FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *JB

MY SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE WHENEVER IT WANTS. MY SPEEDOMETER WILL SAY I'M GOING 60 MPH BUT I'M NOT REALLY GOING THAT FAST. SOMETIMES IT GOES THE OTHER WAY. IT WILL SAY I'M DOING 30 MPH AND I'M ACTUALLY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. RIGHT NOW PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING OVER 120 MPH. I HAVE CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND THE A NONE FOR THIS DEFECT. I CALL IT A DEFECT BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AND THEIR CARS HAVE ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE AS MINE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE NOT TO MENTION AN ISSUE WITH THE LAW, BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I WOULD GET IT FIXED BUT I JUST HAD A BABY (SO NOT SAFE TO HAVE HER ALONG WITH ME) AND I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $500 LAYING AROUND. NORMALLY WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE IT IS NOT AN ISSUE, I GET IT FIXED BECAUSE ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I DO NOT FEEL THAT A SPEEDOMETER IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE THESE KINDS OF ISSUES AT 69,000 MILES. IT SHOULD HOLD UP TO WHAT THE COMPANY SAYS THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE CAR IS. THIS "DEFECT HAS 2 TSB#'S BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING THEM USED TO FIX THE CAR. TSB#'S 01726 & 050604058 ARE THE NUMBERS BUT NOTHING TELLS ME WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH THOSE NUMBERS OR WHO I SHOULD TALK TO ABOUT USING THE NUMBERS TO GET THE CAR FIXED. *JB

SUDDENLY THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK. THE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND THEN STAY ON. WHEN I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART MANY TIMES THEY WILL AGAIN WORK FOR AWHILE AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED AGAIN. I'VE CHECKED THE FUZES, ETC. BUT NOTHING HELPS. THIS COULD PRESENT SAFETY ISSUES. CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I FIND MANY HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEMS. *JB

GAS LEAKING OUT THROTTLE BODY. CAR IS IDLING LOW. CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WENT OUT AND THEN ALL OF THE BEFORE MENTIONED PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING. SKIPS AFTER BEING TUNED UP. *JB

WOW SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. SPEED DOES NOT REGISTER PROPERLY SEEMS TO BE WHENEVER IT WANTS IT WILL SHOW SPEEDS HIGHER THEN WHAT THEY ARE. THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE SPEEDS ARE GUESSED IN SCHOOL ZONES AND HIGHWAYS. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS SPEED WILL BEGIN TO WORK OK. NOW THE BLOWER MOTOR AND HEATER DO NOT WORK UNLESS YOU POUND BY THE ASHTRAY AREA AND HOPEFULLY THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL START BLOWING BUT THE HEAT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN SWITCHED TO HEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE LIVING IN MONTANA WHEN IT GETS BELOW 32 AND COLDER IT WOULD BE NICE THIS WINTER TO THAW OUT THE WINDOWS SO I CAN SEE WHEN DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. SOMETIMES WHEN THE AIR IS BLOWING YOU CAN SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. WE ARE IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN MONTANA AND IF MY CAR WERE TO CATCH ON FIRE ON SIDE OF ROAD AND CONTINUE UP THE MOUNTAINS THIS COULD BE A DISASTER BE CREATING A WILDFIRE. I AM UNHAPPY WITH MY CAR WHICH HAS STARTED PROBLEMS AROUND THE 30,000 MILE MARK. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH IS NEEDING TO BE CLICKED TWICE BEFORE DIMMING DOWN FROM HIGH BEAM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LIKE SLIPPING INTO GEAR AS WELL. *TR

AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES MY IMPALA'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED ACTING FUNNY. ONCE IT STAYED ON COLD WHILE I DRIVE COMPLETELY ACROSS TOWN. THE NEXT DAY IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT. I GOT OFF, CHECKED THE WATER AND OIL LEVELS. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WITHIN A FEW DAYS I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER SHOWED THAT I WAS GOING 50-60 MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. I STOPPED AND THE GAUGE STUCK AT 40 MPH. BOTH GAUGES HAVE CONTINUED TO GO HAYWIRE. MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS NOW STUCK WAY PAST THE HOT LEVEL AND HAS ALMOST MADE IT ALL THE WAY AROUND AGAIN. MY SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ON 50 MPH FOR THE LAST 4 DAYS AND AT TIMES ALSO ALMOST GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND. I ATTEMPTED TO CHEVROLET AND THEY ARE BASICALLY DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH READING ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES ISSUES, THIS IS THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *TR

THE SECURITY LIGHTS IN MY VEHICLE COMES ON AND ENGINE WILL NOT CRANK FOR 10 - 20 MINUTES. *TR