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2004 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

860 reports with mileage · 212 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 681 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

44 crash reports21 fire reports34 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

681 reports
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24,000 miles · Mar 12, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER QUICK WORKING, NO IDEA HOW FAST CAR IS GOING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO QUIT, CAR COULD OVERHEAT WITHOUT KNOWING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319306

100,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. IT STICKS(DOES NOT RETURN TO 0 MPH WHEN STOPPED) AT THE CURRENT SPEED ON DECELERATION AND INCREASES READINGS FROM THE DECELERATION POINT. SO, CAR APPEARS TO GOING AT 60 MPH EVEN THOUGH IT IS MOVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. CANNOT DETERMINE PROPER SPEED TO ADJUST SPEED TO SPE…

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2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. IT STICKS(DOES NOT RETURN TO 0 MPH WHEN STOPPED) AT THE CURRENT SPEED ON DECELERATION AND INCREASES READINGS FROM THE DECELERATION POINT. SO, CAR APPEARS TO GOING AT 60 MPH EVEN THOUGH IT IS MOVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. CANNOT DETERMINE PROPER SPEED TO ADJUST SPEED TO SPEED LIMITS. MY CAR REGISTERED 120 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO MAINTAIN PROPER SPEED. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE DRIVER UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL SPEED VEHICLE IS MOVING AT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318304

80,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA RANDOMLY GO OUT AT NIGHT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE DIMMER SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON IS BY ACTIVATING/FLICKING THE DIMMER SWITCH SO AS TO SWITCH BETWEEN HIGH/LOW BEAMS. NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARED RA…

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THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA RANDOMLY GO OUT AT NIGHT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE DIMMER SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON IS BY ACTIVATING/FLICKING THE DIMMER SWITCH SO AS TO SWITCH BETWEEN HIGH/LOW BEAMS. NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARED RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ROUGHLY ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS THROUGHOUT SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE DIMMER SWITCH HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY THROUGH THE TIME PERIOD FROM ONSET OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL FAILURE OF THE SWITCH, THE SWITCH ITSELF BEGAN TO FEEL ODD. IT WOULD ALLOW THE HEADLIGHTS TO CHANGE BEAM WITHOUT ACTUALLY CLICKING INTO POSITION. DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE FAILURE PERIOD, THE LIGHT FAILURE SEEMED CONSISTENT WITH THE IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE SWITCH. THE SWITCH NOW IS COMPLETELY FAILED WITH MY LIGHTS STUCK ON LOW BEAM. I CAN PULL BACK ON THE SWITCH TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAMS, BUT THEY DO NOT REMAIN ON WHEN I RELEASE THE SWITCH. THE LIGHTS GO BACK TO LOW BEAM. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE SWITCH WHICH IS PROVING VERY COSTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318046

135,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY IMPALA; SPEEDOMETER MISREADING, AND GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTION. MORE PREVALENT IN COLDER CONDITIONS. IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY BUT OCCASIONALLY WORKS FINE. BEGAN MALFUNCTION IN SUMMER 2009. CONSEQUENCES- SPEEDING TICKETS. NOTHING DONE YET BECAUSE GM STATES THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION AND THAT THE IMPALA DOES NOT FALL U…

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2004 CHEVY IMPALA; SPEEDOMETER MISREADING, AND GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTION. MORE PREVALENT IN COLDER CONDITIONS. IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY BUT OCCASIONALLY WORKS FINE. BEGAN MALFUNCTION IN SUMMER 2009. CONSEQUENCES- SPEEDING TICKETS. NOTHING DONE YET BECAUSE GM STATES THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION AND THAT THE IMPALA DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROBLEM SO THEY WILL NOT HELP. DEALER WANTS EXCESSIVE MONIES TO DO REPAIR IN COMPARISON TO INDEPENDENTS. THIS IS 1 OF 3 CHEVY VEHICLES IN MY FLEET AND ALL 3 ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OTHER 2 ARE SILVERADOS. ALL BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AT ABOUT 135,000 MILES. ALL ARE 2004 MODELS. HAVE FIXED 1 OF THE SILVERADOS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH SPEEDING TICKET. THE OTHER SILVERADO SEEMS TO HAVE BEGUN FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AFTER PARKING FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN WARM ENVIRONMENT. GM & THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE MILEAGE AGREEMENT AND THE IMPALA DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY HELP. ITS SEEMS VERY COINCIDENTAL THAT 3 CHEVY VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND SIMILAR MILEAGE WOULD ALL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME TIME FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10317983

70,000 miles · Mar 4, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL, HEADLIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS SHUT OFF. HE THEN PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND REPLACE THE FUSES. THE FUSES BLEW OUT AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE DROVE A FEW MILES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHIN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL, HEADLIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS SHUT OFF. HE THEN PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND REPLACE THE FUSES. THE FUSES BLEW OUT AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE DROVE A FEW MILES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. A DIFFERENT DEALER STATED THAT SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000.

NHTSA ODI #10316893

38,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Electrical System

CHEVROLET 2004 IMPALA SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND MANUFACTURER DOES NOT FIX ALTHOUGH I AM CERTAIN IT IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. SPEED CAN NOT BE MONITORED SO IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10316374

65,569 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, Other

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY CAR HAS DECIDED TO READ WHATEVER IT WANTS AND IT WILL STOP AT WHATEVER SPEED. NOW THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 65K MILES. HAVE FOUND THAT THIS CAR HAS THE SAME STEPPERS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT WAS ON A RECALL FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAVE ALSO FOUN…

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY CAR HAS DECIDED TO READ WHATEVER IT WANTS AND IT WILL STOP AT WHATEVER SPEED. NOW THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 65K MILES. HAVE FOUND THAT THIS CAR HAS THE SAME STEPPERS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT WAS ON A RECALL FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAVE ALSO FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPEEDOMETER GOING HAYWIRE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO NOT KNOWING HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE GOING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10316359

72,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY IMPALA SS CLUSTER MALFUNCTION. SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING, UNABLE TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. NO RECALL AS OF YET. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315843

60,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IT INDICATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO AND THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IT INDICATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO AND THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HE COULDN'T OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE IT WAS WORKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10315576

114,241 miles · Feb 20, 2010
Electrical System

I OWN A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS FAILED. MY SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWS THAT MY CAR IS RUNNING HOT EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM AND GMC VEHICLES. IN 2007 A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST HIS COMPANY IN REGARDS TO THEIR TRUCKS WIT…

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I OWN A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS FAILED. MY SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWS THAT MY CAR IS RUNNING HOT EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM AND GMC VEHICLES. IN 2007 A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST HIS COMPANY IN REGARDS TO THEIR TRUCKS WITH FAILED INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS. THE PLAINTIFFS DID WIN AND THERE WAS A RECALL IMPLEMENTED. THESE ARE WEBSITES THAT I FOUND THAT PERTAIN TO FAILURE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN 2004 CHEVY IMPALAS. HTTP://WWW.ALLWORLDAUTO.COM/COMMENTS/2004_CHEVROLET_IMPALA_COMMENTS_AND_COMPLAINTS_C8-91-2004-409-1.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2004/ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC_GAUGE_CLUSTER_MALFUNCTION.SHTML HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIX.NET/AUTOREPAIR/CAR_PROBLEMS/474044-COMPLAINT/ HTTP://WWW.INSTRUMENTCLUSTERS.COM/. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312335

Official recalls

4

15V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Oct 26, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

15V201000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 6, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

04V287000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Jun 23, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET AND KNUCKLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.