VEHICLE WILL ON OCCASION NOT START AND DISPLAYS A FLASHING SECURITY LIGHT IN THE INFORMATION CENTER. IF I WAIT 10 MINUTES THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL START. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE AS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND NOT REPRODUCIBLE. PROBLEM HAPPENED ON OCCASION OVER NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, ALL WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. EACH TIME MET WITH THE SAME DEALER DENIAL AND LACK OF ABILITY TO REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS. THIS YEAR THE PROBLEM BECAME FREQUENT AND TURNS OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE PASSLOCK II SENSOR OR IGNITION SWITCH. FROM READING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED OR ACKNOWLEDGED BY GM. PAID $1500 FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH AND BCM AT LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
2004 Chevrolet Impala complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS HARD TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,373.
THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE SWITCHED KEYS AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I'VE TRIED PRESSING THE BREAK AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME AS TURNING THE KEY. I HAVE TO TRY TO KEEP TURNING THE KEY UNTIL IT FINALLY DECIDES TO TURN. THERE HAS BEEN NO MISTREATMENT OF THE IGNITION AT ALL. *TR
WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE , SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START. NO IGNITION. THERE IS POWER BUT NOT IGNITION. AFTER I WAIT 10 MINUTES IT WILL START. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A SECURITY SWITCH IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE SHUTS THE CAR DOWN, SO THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. AND AFTER 10 MINUTES EXACTLY THE VEHICLE WILL START. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT STATE THAT THEY TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
2004 CHEVY IMPALA LOSES LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE MULTIPURPOSE SWITCH LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER LOSING LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS AFTER A FEW MONTHS HIGH BEAM LAMPS ARE ALSO NOT WORKING. *TR
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT AND SWITCHING ON HIGH BEAMS, THEN WHEN SWITCHING BACK TO LOW BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO PUT THE FOG LIGHTS ON, SO IF THE LIGHTS GO OUT I WILL STILL BE ABLE TO SEE. *TR
HEAD LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON, BLINKERS WILL NOT TURN ON, TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ITSELF OF AND YOU CANNOT TURN IT BACK ON. THE FOLLOWING DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY AND ABS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR ON AND OFF. STARTED AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES. SOMETIMES ONLY ONE OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS OCCUR AND SOMETIMES ALL AT ONCE. PROBLEMS HAPPEN DAY AND NIGHT, DAMP OR DRY, USUALLY ONLY OCCUR DURING ENGINE START UP, BUT OCCASIONALLY HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. I FOUND A TRICK TO MAKE THE HEAD LIGHTS COME ON (TURNING ON AND OFF MY HAZARD LIGHTS). MY FOG LIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THESE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE THAT IS THE DIRECTION EVERYONE POINTS ME TOO. BOTH ARE GOOD. I SEE OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I HOPE THIS GETS LOOK INTO. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 IMPALA WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE. I TRIED TO TURN AND HIT THE BRAKES AND NOTHING WORKED. I SLAMMED ON MY EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AFTER A WHILE I REALIZED THE CAR HAD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. A MONTH LATER MY BOYFRIEND HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE DRIVING IT. *TR
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND WHILE MY CAR WAS STOPPED AND I WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CRASH INVOLVED 4 CARS AND MY AIRBAGS NEVER DID THEIR JOB. *TR
ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 24, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM I HAD JUST GOT OFF WORK AND WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START I GOT A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROL PANEL WHICH SAYS SECURITY AFTER SITTING ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN THE RAIN AND COLD IT STARTED UP THEN I GOT HOME AND TURN IT OFF THEN TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON AND IT WOULD NOT START IT SHOW SECURITY ON THE DASHBOARD I HAVE REVIEWED A COUPLE SITES ON THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET IMPALA'S FROM 2000 TO 2004 I THINK THAT'S A BIG CONCERN BEING A ELECTRIC PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD AND A CAR JUST CUTS OFF AND WILL NOT START BACK UP. *TR
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND ONE PERSON WAS INJURED WHICH REQUIRED MEDIAL TREATMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. KMJ
THE VEHICLE OWNER ALLEGES THAT HE HIT ANOTHER VECHICLE AT 60 MPH INJURIES WERE TO HIS BACK, LEG , HEAD AND CHEST. HIS HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CHEST HIT STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY *BF UPDATED 08/14/14*LJ UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN
WE WHERE RAN INTO ON DRIVER SIDE NO AIRBAG CAME OUT WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF STEERING PROBLEMS. AS OF TODAY THERE IS STILL PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND WE JUST WONT DRIVE ON HIGHWAY AT ALL. *TR
THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS DEFECTIVE AND CLUNKS WHEN TURNING AND LOW SPEEDS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THINKING I WAS DOING 80 MPH AND TRAFFIC WAS PASSING ME. WHEN I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A STOP MY SPEEDOMETER STILL SAID I WAS DOING 30 MPH. FROM THAT POINT ON IT WENT HAYWIRE. WHEN I AM AT A STOP IT NOW SAYS I AM DOING 60 MPH AND WHEN I START TO MOVE FORWARD IT JUMPS TO 120 MPH. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING. THE COST TO REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $500.00. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
SINCE LAST YEAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS TWICE BECAUSE OF A GRINDING/SQUEALING NOISE. NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN ( 4-19-14 ). WHEN EVER I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL VIBRATE AND MAKES NOISES,IF I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL (VIBRATES A LOT )AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WICKED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER SHIP ( BALISE OF WARWICK,RI )WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT FROM(MY FATHER-IN-LAW BOUGHT THE CAR THERE)AND ASK ABOUT ANY RECALLS....THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR MY CAR. GEE I WONDER IF THE PERSON THAT TOLD ME THAT WAS JUST LAZY OR IF THERE AREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR IT. CAN SOMEONE LET ME KNOW PLEASE...I HAVE MY GRANDSON IN THE CAR A LOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A HABIT OF NOT WANTING TO START, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT AT ANY TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING, I CAN PULL THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND THE CAR CONTINUES RUNNING. I WOULD LIKE THESE PROBLEMS TAKEN CARE OF A.S.A.P. PLEASE FIND A WAY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS SOON. MY JOB DEPENDS ON MY CAR BEING RELIABLE. *TT
I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME AFFECTS AS THE NEWER MODELS AND IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM NOW FOR THE 1 AND A HALF YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS VECHICLE. I WANT THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *JS
MADE STOP.CONTINUED,DID NOT SEE OTHER VEHICLE IT HIT OUR CAR IN SIDE&FRONT END. WE WERE HIT AT BY ANOTHER CAR,WHICH WAS TRAVELING AT EXTREMELY HIGHER SPEED. OUR AIR-BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE IGNITION TURNED ITSELF OFF LOCKING THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION,THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED OR TURNED EITHER ON OR OFF. *JS
AT RANDOM TIMES IT WILL NOT START ,IT HAS DONE THIS EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. ITS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA .AT RANDOM TIMES THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON IT AND STAYS MAYBE A DAY MAYBE 2. AT TIMES THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS SO BAD WE HAVE TO PULL IT OVER AND TURN IT OFF WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN TURN THE CAR BACK ON THE WE CAN PROCEED TO DRIVE IT. IT MAY CRANK THEN WE STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND GO BACK TO IT AND IT WILL NOT CRANK . WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM 15 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR RANDOMLY MOVING THE TRYING TO GET IT TO START. WE HAVE HAD IT BACK AND FORTH TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER OFF AND ON EVER SINCE WE'VE HAD THE CAR THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IF THEY CANNOT GET IT TO DO IT . I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN RAN OVER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF IT ACTING UP. ITS GOT 100,000 MILES ON IT NOW. SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
AFTER LISTENING TO A RADIO REPORT ON NPR DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM WITH GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALLS I DECIDED TO TEST MY OWN CAR FOR RELATED PROBLEMS. AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY I TAPPED ON THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY SWITCHED FROM ON TO ACC MODE. THIS RESULTED IN MY CAR ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, POWER STEERING LOSS, ASSISTED BRAKE MALFUNCTION, BATTERY WARNING LIGHT, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENED EXACTLY AS THE RADIO REPORT SAID THEY WOULD WITH A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS MY BROTHER IN-LAW AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH OUR IGNITIONS AND NOW I BELIEVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE DEFECT WHICH GM HAS RECENTLY REPORTED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE GM RECALL HOTLINE AND REPORTED MY CAR MODEL AND VIN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ENOUGH REPORTS LINKED TO THE IMPALA. I WOULD APPRECIATE THE RECALL LIST BEING EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE IMPALA IF POSSIBLE. AT LEAST THE YEARS OF 2003 AND 2004. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA
MY VEHICLE RECENTLY STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH OVERHEATING. AS SOON AS IT WOULD WARM UP THE GAUGE WOULD GO THE WHOLE WAY PAST THE HOTTEST POSSIBLE TEMP ON THE DASH. MY HOT COOLANT TEMP LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF TO LET IT COOL. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AND INTAKE GASKETS. HE RESEARCHED IT AND SAID THAT HE FOUND THAT IMPALAS FROM 20003-2007 HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINES BECAUSE OF AN ADDITIVE THAT WAS PUT IN THE ENGINE. I PAID HIM OVER 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO HIM I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS THE RADIATOR SO I GOT THAT FIXED WHICH COST ME CLOSE TO 500 DOLLARS. SO EVEN AFTER I GOT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS FIXED MY CAR STILL OVERHEATS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
WENT OUT TO THE CAR TO START IT AND IT WOULDN'T START OR TURNOVER. THIS HAPPENED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. I HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL THAN SLAM IT INTO PARK AND THEN TURN THE KEY OVER. I DID THIS A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY STARTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE MY NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH BUT ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID THESE CARS DON'T HAVE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCHES. VERY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR ON VACATION AND FAR FROM COMFORT. *TR
I WENT OUT TO START MY IMPALA TO GET READY FOR WORK. UNLOCK MY DOORS AS I NORMALLY DO, AND PROCEED TO START THE CAR. IT IS THE CHEVY KEY THAT COMES WITH THE CAR. ANYWAY, I TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING, ALL I GET ON MY DASH IS THE FLASHING SECURITY LIGHT. SO I WENT BACK INSIDE AND DONE SOME RESEARCH WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH MY SUPERVISOR LETTING HIM KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO BE LATE. TURNS OUT, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE IMPALA OF MY BODY STYLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE PASS LOCK MODULE. VERY INCONVENIENT, THIS IS THE 5TH OR 6TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, REALLY HURTS WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS WITH YOU AND ITS HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO! *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY FATHER'S 2004 CHEVY IMPALA AT THE TIME OF THE MECHANICAL FAILURE. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM ORCHARD LAKE RD ONTO NORTHWESTERN HWY (I BELIEVE THIS IS FARMINGTON MICH) AT THIS POINT I LOST POWER TO THE VEHICLE (ENGINE, BRAKES & POWER STEERING DEAD) AND COASTED TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE ON NORTHWESTERN HWY. I PROCEEDED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND CONTINUED ON MY MERRY WAY. NO PROBLEMS GOING THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY I HAD A PROBLEM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED MY FATHER $481.39 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE THE WORK INVOICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP SHOWING THE WORK PERFORMED. I ALSO HAVE PROOF OF PAYMENT TO MASTERCARD SHOWING THE WORK WAS PAID FOR. *TR
THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. AFTER PANICKING AND TURNING ON HAZARD LIGHTS, THEN AGAIN TRYING THE TURN SIGNALS, DID THEY DECIDE TO BEGIN WORKING AGAIN. NOW THE TURN SIGNALS RANDOMLY DECIDE TO STOP WORKING, AND MUST USE THE HAZARD TRICK AGAIN TO GET THEM WORKING. ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS, AND CAUSED A TRAFFIC TICKET. CAN NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AS TO WHY THEY DO THIS, BUT READ UP ON MANY DIFFERENT SITES THAT MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DIFFICULTIES. VERY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN. *TR
I NOTICED WHEN I GET TO 30 MPH I NOTICED A KICK IN MY TRANSMISSION, AFTER THAT IT'S SMOOTH SAILING UNTIL TAKE OFF AGAIN. I SPOKE WITH A SEVERAL MECHANIC ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WAS GOING OUT. THEY TOLD ME THE CHEVROLET IMPALA WERE FAMOUS FOR THAT. SO I BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS SITUATION AND FOUND OUT THAT EVERY PERSON I SPOKE WITH HAVE THE SAME SITUATION GOING ON. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS AN 2005 IMPALA AS WELL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE STARTED A GROUP FOR THIS. WILL YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. IT WILL BE APPRECIATED. ... IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE STARTING A PETITION. *TR
ENGINE STOPS RUNNING ARE RANDOM TIMES. WON'T RESTART FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE OCCURRENCE, BUT WOULDN'T COME CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED 1 MILE FROM THEIR DEALERSHIP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY IN ALABAMA, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAME ILLUMINATED. I DETERMINED THAT MY ENGINE HAD SHUT DOWN. AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN MOTION. AFTER I ARRIVED AT HOME, I DECIDED TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHY THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT WHILE DRIVING, MY DRIVER'S SEAT WAS POSITIONED SO THAT MY KNEES WERE CLOSE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY KNEE BUMPED THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT WHEN I START THE ENGINE, IF I SUDDENLY RELEASE THE IGNITION KEY (SWITCH) , THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPS JUST SHORT OF THE OFF POSITION. A SLIGHT BUMP OR JAR CAUSES THE IGNITION SWITCH TO MOVE TO THE OFF POSITION. I NOW DRIVE WITH MY DRIVER'S SEAT FARTHER AWAY FROM DASH TO ENSURE I DO NOT ACCIDENTALLY SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
SPEEDOMETER CHANGED TWICE BY ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF BY ITSELF. CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ABOUT THE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL, ANSWER WAS TO HAVE IT CHECKED, ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED BY THREE DEALERS, ONLY ONE SAID YES IT WAS SLIPPING (TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SLIPPING SINCE I GOT THE CAR). NO PAPERWORK DUE TO COST TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY TWO DEALERS. ONE DEALER (WHERE I GOT THE CAR) NO LONGER IN BUSINESS BUT HAD THE PAPERWORK FOR THE TRANSMISSION COMPLAINT. BUT THEY TOO SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS AND BECAUSE OF THIS THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR. *TR
THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED ON VARIOUS LONG DISTANCE TRIPS. IT OCCURED ABOUT SIX TIMES SINCE PURCHASE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,400 OVER 9.5 YRS. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH. ONCE IN KANSAS, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, ETC. THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY I FELT THE LOSS OF POWER. I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER AND SAW IT DROP. I SAW AN ENGINE RED LIGHT COME ON. THE TOTAL DURATION OF OUTAGE WAS ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS. UPON RESUMPTION OF ELECTRICAL POWER, NOTHING FURTHER HAPPENED. WE NEVER LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS I CHECKED FOR RECALL NOTICES AND CHECKED WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. NOTHING UNTIL IN JUNE 2012. FROM 2010-12 I HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION ON. NOTHING HAPPENED. I WOULD WAIT FIVE MINUTES OR SEVERAL HOURS AND THEN IT WOULD START. THAT HAPPEN MONTHLY FOR TWO YEARS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED/REPLACED THE IGNITION PART AT THE COST OF ABOUT $600. NO PROBLEM SINCE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL KEY FROM GM WITH THE WIDE HOLE. MY POINT HERE IS THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT VICTIM FROM THESE INCIDENTS. I HAD TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN THIS HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES IT WOULD START THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY BROTHERS 2004 IMPALA. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FIXED IT WITH A NEW IGNITION SWITCH HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE SINCE THEN. THE PART COST $195.95 AND THE LABOR WAS $100. WE TOOK OUR CARS TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND WAS CHARGED THE SAME PRICE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
THE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ON VERY FREQUENTLY WITHOUT CONTROL,LIGHTAPPEAR CLAIM THAT THE TRACTION SYSTEM NEED SERVICES AND SOME OTHER TIME THE SINF OF THE ABS I CONSTANTLY PUSH THE TRACKING SYSTEM OFF WHEN IS ON BUT DO NOT RESPOND AT OLL. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. WHEN BRAKING THE CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND CAR IS NOT STOPPING IT FEELS LIKE IT'S LOCKING UP AND MY STEERING GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IN SLIDING WAY TO . IN A SUDDEN STOP NEEDING TO BE MADE IS AT GREAT RISK OF A ACCIDENT, ALREADY WAS CLOSE TO PASS OVER A PEATON THAT WAS MAD AT ME AND HIT MY CAR IN THE BACK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT I TRAY TO CORRECT BUT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT TO RESOLVE AS SOME AS YESTERYEARS,Y HOPE THAT NOBODY ARE KILL ALREADY,BUT I WILL HOLD STARTING WITH "GM CHEVROLET"RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING WHO HAPPENED TO ME AND FAMILY. *TR
MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THIS CAR FOR THE PAST MONTH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY CAR COMPLETELY POWERS OFF IF I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD. AFTER TAKING THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME IT SAYS WE NEED TWO 02 SENSORS REPLACED AND A NEW MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. ONCE WE TURNED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND BURST INTO FLAMES WE PULLED THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT GAS LEAKED OUT AND MADE A HUGE FIRE. THE CAR TRIED TO START UP AND WE DID NOT HAVE THE KEYS IN THE CAR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO CUT MY CAR BATTERY OUT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT GO OUT. FORTUNATELY MY FIANCE' AND I MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR ALIVE. WITH ALL OF THE MONEY I HAVE BEEN PUTTING INTO THIS CAR TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT CATCHES ON FIRE THIS MAKES ME NOT WANT TO EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY CAR IN MY LIFE AND I AM ONLY 22 YEARS OLD. *TR
HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT,HOLD DIM/BRIGHT SWITCH TO HAVE BRIGHTS ONLY,RELEASE SWITCH TO NORMAL POSITION,LIGHTS GO OUT,NORMAL CLICKING SOUND WHEN ENGAGING DIM/BRIGHTS NOT THERE. *TR
ENGINE HESITATES,STALLS, AND SHIFTS HARD. HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK CYLINDER, HEAT SENSOR, FUEL CAP, REPROGRAM ANTITHEFT, WATER PUMP, ALWAYS GETTING BUBBLES IN TIRES, GAUGES DNT WORK, PUDDLE ON PASS SIDE, HEATER CORE, 2 SETS OF WARPED ROTORS, TRACTION CONTROL(ABS) KEEPS GOING OFF, FOUND WIRES UNDER HOOD CHAFFED( BY RUBBING ON BELT I BELIEVE)WHICH CAUSED NO START. NEW PROBLEMS ARE LIGHTS ON DASH AND HEAD LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING, I HAVE A COOLANT LEAK WHICH I THINK ITS DUE TO BLOWN GASKET, AND TONIGHT I AM DRIVING IN FOG AND MY FRONT WINDOW FOGS UP IN 2 SECONDS. I WIPED W HAND AND REALIZED I WAS HEADING TOWARDS A PERSON WALKN. WAY TO DANGEROUS!!!!! I HAVE HAD CAR FOR ONLY 2 YRS. I AM DIVORCED W 3 KIDS AND 1 SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD W LOTS OF APPTS. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR, CANT AFFORD NEW CAR OR A SHOP TO FIX CAR. I HAVE HAD TO BECOME A MECHANIC CAUSE OF THIS CAR AND I HAVE NO TIME FOR THAT, THANK GOD FOR INTERNET, I WNT TAKE KIDS IN CAR AFTER DARK, IT UNRELIABLE AND THATS SAD. PLEASE LOOK INTO ISSUES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND SUDDENLY MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. I REACHED DOWN AND PULLED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THINKING IT WAS THE DAY TIME DRIVING LIGHTS, BUT THEY STILL DID NOT TURN ON. IN A PANIC I FLIPPED THE DIMMER SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEY CAME ON. SINCE THEN I HAPPENED AGAIN WITH MY BRIGHTS ABOUT A MONTH AGO BUT HAPPENED 4 TIMES LAST NIGHT, WITH MY BRIGHTS AND DIMS, ON MY 6 MILE DRIVE HOME. I HAVE OWNED DOZENS OF CARS IN MY LIFE, MOST CHEVROLET, AND NEVER HAD A FAILURE OF THIS MAGNITUDE WHILE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS FAILURE AND A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AS I HAVE TEENAGERS THAT DRIVE MY CAR AND MAY NOT HAVE BE ABLE TO SAFELY RESOLVE AN ISSUE LIKE THIS WITH OUT INJURY. *TR
WELL I'M SO TIRED OF REPAIRING THE SAME PROBLEM .THIS ABS ISSUES ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY I MEAN I ALREADY REPLACED THE [XXX] COMPUTER THE BEARINGS THE CABLE THAT SENDS THE SIGNAL AND STILL THIS PROBLEM IS GOING ON IN SINCE 2009. EVER SINCE 2009 IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS I MEAN IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE BECOMES AN ACCIDENT I MEAN I'M DRIVING FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE [XXX] CAR ACTS ALL STUPID THE BRAKES DON'T EVEN WORK FINE BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM MAKES THEM PUSH BACK TO YOU AND THEN IT MAKES YOUR CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT FOR NO REASON IT SO ANNOYING I'M A HARD WORKING PERSON I HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY INTO MY CAR FOR GMC TO SELL ME A DANGEROUS CAR I ALSO HAD TO GET ANOTHER MOTOR BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL WOULD SHAKE WHEN EVER YOU WOULD ACCELERATE BUT I JUST WANT TO GET THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE FIXED PLEASE MAKE THEM REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER MY WIFE OR ME ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT....THANK YOU *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING, THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER OR TACHOMETER IS. *TR
I BOUGHT CAR 2 YRS AGO AND DROVE IT FOR 3 MONTHS NO PROBLEMS THEN SAT FOR 6 MONTHS, I START DRIVING IT AND THIS IS ALL THE STUFF THAT WENT OUT AND STUFF STILL GOING ON. RADIATOR TEMP SENSOR, WATER PUMP, HEATER, WATER PUMP BEARING, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, LOW COOLANT SENSOR, RADIATOR, VSS, KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, LOCK CYLINDER, 8 WIRES UNDER HOOD SHREDDED IN HALF DUE TO RUBBING ON BELT, POWER LOCK WONT WORK ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR, CHIMES GO OFF WHEN KEY NOT IN IGNITION. MY PROBLEM NOW IS KEY LOCKED UP AGAIN FINALLY GOT IT TO TURN THEN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM COMES ON AND THE CAR WONT REPROGRAM CODES. MY CODE READER SAYS IT CANT READ FROM CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN THEY SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS HOWEVER, THEY ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 214,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
HAVE HAD A INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER I HAVE DEALT WITH FOR ALONG TIME WHY? THE CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONING SECURITY SYSTEM, WAIT TEN MINUTES AND HOPE IT STARTS, COME ON AMERICAN MADE G.M. STAND UP TO YOUR OWNINGS. NOW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IS LEAKING, HAVE HEARD OF NUMEROUS AFTER MARKET RECALLS NOT G.M. RELATED PARTS ONCE AGAIN OWN UP TO YOUR PRODUCT,ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CONCERNS LIFE AND DEATH OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, FOR WHAT MONEY? PROFIT? SOMEBODY WITH SOME POWER OVER THESE ISSUES DO SOMETHING PLEASE. *TR
AS I AM DRIVING MY CAR TODAY IN A 25 MPH ZONE, I REALIZE THAT MY SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS THE SPEED OF 105. AFTER READING THROUGH SEVERAL FORUMS TODAY I AM SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON A 2004 IMPALA. MY CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NOW I HAVE TO PAY AROUND $600 TO HAVE SOMETHING FIXED THAT CLEARLY SHOULD BE A RECALL. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME PARTS JUSTIFIES A RECALL? COME ON GM, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!! *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER IS OUT OF CONTROL. IT WILL TELL ME I'M EITHER GOING WAY FASTER THAN I AM OR IT WILL TELL ME I'M GOING WAY SLOWER THAN I AM. IT WILL RESET ITSELF IF THE CAR IS OFF FOR TWENTY MINUTES OR SO BUT IT WILL JUST HAPPEN AGAIN IN A FEW DAYS OR HOURS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN A CAR WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT SPEED I'M GOING. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN THEIR OWN 04 CHEVY IMPALAS. IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
(1) HEATING SYSTEM FAILED. NO HEAT, COOLANT WAS OK. FAN WAS RUNNING. DEALER EXAMINED. THREE ACTUATORS IN THE ELECTRONICS ARE FAILED AND HAVE TO REPLACE AT A COST OF OVER $550.00 (2) TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED MOVING. DEALER EXAMINED. ESTIMATED COST OF $~400.00 TO REPLACE IPC UNIT. THERE IS ONE OF THE RECALLED IPC UNITS FOR GM AUTOS MADE BETWEEN 2003-2007; BUT IMPALA WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL LIST. I DON'T KNOW WHY? SAME ELECTRONICS FAILED IN ONE UNIT MUST BE RECALLED FROM ALL THE UNITS.. THESE DEFECTS COULD INCREASE HEAT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND COULD INCREASE FUEL CONSUMPTION, FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE FIRE, CONTACTED GM BUT THEY WERE NOT COOPERATIVE AND DENIED ANY CLAIMS. *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala → · Every Impala year → · How the figures are calculated →