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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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51,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Electrical System

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR (MAY 2008) THE TACHOMETER WENT BEZERK. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER DECIDED TO DO THE SAME THING. I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING OR HOW THE ENGINE IS PERFORMING. THIS FAILURE HAPPENS OFTEN AND IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUS…

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I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR (MAY 2008) THE TACHOMETER WENT BEZERK. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER DECIDED TO DO THE SAME THING. I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING OR HOW THE ENGINE IS PERFORMING. THIS FAILURE HAPPENS OFTEN AND IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART AND QUOTED ME OVER $600 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. THIS PRICE IS ABSURD AND I HAVE SINCE BEEN RESEARCHING WAYS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON MY OWN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY STANDARD PROBLEM WITH THESE MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PREVENT SERIOUS ACCIDENT/INJURY DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311875

58,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER STICKS OR SHOWS INACCURATE SPEED. DEALERSHIP SAYS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311715

97,227 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. IT STARTED REGISTERING A HIGHER SPEED THAN THE SPEED I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING. IT SHOWED 90 MPH WHEN I WAS STOPPED. THE SPEEDOMETER THEN BEGAN TO CLIMB AS I DROVE A FEW CITY BLOCKS. IT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AT THE NEUTRAL LETTER. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND HE SAID THEY HAVE B…

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2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. IT STARTED REGISTERING A HIGHER SPEED THAN THE SPEED I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING. IT SHOWED 90 MPH WHEN I WAS STOPPED. THE SPEEDOMETER THEN BEGAN TO CLIMB AS I DROVE A FEW CITY BLOCKS. IT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AT THE NEUTRAL LETTER. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND HE SAID THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THE CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WOULD COST APPROX. $500 TO REPLACE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311678

91,400 miles · Feb 17, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY IMPALA MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE DRIVING TO FLORIDA AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOES OUT. NOW IF YOU ARE DRIVING FROM MICHIGAN TO FLORIDA AND HAVE NO IDEA AT MIDNIGHT HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING- THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. FROM LOOKING ON THE WEB THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. RECALL ON THIS WOULD B…

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2004 CHEVY IMPALA MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE DRIVING TO FLORIDA AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOES OUT. NOW IF YOU ARE DRIVING FROM MICHIGAN TO FLORIDA AND HAVE NO IDEA AT MIDNIGHT HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING- THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. FROM LOOKING ON THE WEB THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. RECALL ON THIS WOULD BE GREAT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311516

100,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY GIVEN SPEED RATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY GIVEN SPEED RATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREPARED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10310846

60,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK! SHOWS THAT I AM GOING 130MPH, THEN 60 WHEN PARKED. DEALER SAY NO RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY HUSBANDS TRUCK HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY RECALLED THE PART IN THE SILVERADO. $500 TO FIX. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!! I AM READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE IMPALA FOR THE SAME THING. MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER…

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SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK! SHOWS THAT I AM GOING 130MPH, THEN 60 WHEN PARKED. DEALER SAY NO RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY HUSBANDS TRUCK HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY RECALLED THE PART IN THE SILVERADO. $500 TO FIX. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!! I AM READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE IMPALA FOR THE SAME THING. MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY EVERY DAY..VERY DANGEROUS!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310804

70,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Electrical System

TRAVELING ON A DANGEROUS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY, MY SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. IT REGISTERED ME AS GOING 90 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS, AS CONDITIONS WERE ICY, I JUDGED A SAFE SPEED AND PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT SAFEST SPOT ON THE ROAD. MY SPEED GAUGE DID NOT RESET TO 0 MPH AS NORMAL, BUT STOPPED AT 50 MPH. NOW MY G…

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TRAVELING ON A DANGEROUS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY, MY SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. IT REGISTERED ME AS GOING 90 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS, AS CONDITIONS WERE ICY, I JUDGED A SAFE SPEED AND PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT SAFEST SPOT ON THE ROAD. MY SPEED GAUGE DID NOT RESET TO 0 MPH AS NORMAL, BUT STOPPED AT 50 MPH. NOW MY GAS GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE MALFUNCTION AS WELL, LEAVING ME NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN MY VEHICLE. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I NOTICED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS TO THIS ISSUE. CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, I WAS INFORMED MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO FIX THE SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310730

85,000 miles · Feb 15, 2010
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE HAYWIRE. SOMETIMES IT SAYS I AM DOING 0MPH AND AT OTHER TIMES IT SAYS I AM GOING 120 MPH. CAN NOT GET AN ACCURATE READ ON THE SPEEDOMETER. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MY FUEL GAUGE AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE READINGS. THE PANELS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310448

143,122 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I JUST HAD MY SECOND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (HEADLIGHT DIMMER, TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE, WIPER/WASHER) FAIL ON THIS CAR FOR THE SAME REASON RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AS SEEN BY NUMEROUS BULLETIN BOARD POSTINGS. I DISSECTED THE ORIGINAL SWITCH TO DETERMINE IF THIS COULD BE FIXED. IT BECAME…

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I JUST HAD MY SECOND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (HEADLIGHT DIMMER, TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE, WIPER/WASHER) FAIL ON THIS CAR FOR THE SAME REASON RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AS SEEN BY NUMEROUS BULLETIN BOARD POSTINGS. I DISSECTED THE ORIGINAL SWITCH TO DETERMINE IF THIS COULD BE FIXED. IT BECAME QUITE OBVIOUS WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE CONTACTS ON THE HI/LO BEAM PORTION OF THE SWITCH FOUL AND OVERHEAT. THIS SWITCH HAD MELTED PLASTIC FROM THE SWITCH HOUSING THAT HAD FLOWED OVER THE CONTACTS AND PREVENTED PROPER SWITCH OPERATION. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. THIS OVERHEATING IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING THAT HAS RESULTED IN UNDERSIZED CONTACTS THAT FOUL DUE TO RELATIVELY HIGH LOAD CURRENTS IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308091

40,000 miles · Feb 3, 2010
Electrical System

SOMETIME AROUND 2007 THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO MESS UP. IT WOULD SAY THAT I WAS GOING 100 MPH WHEN I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. MY TACHOMETER WOULD SAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS DOING 5000 TO 6000 RPM WHEN PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED I AM NO THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I …

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SOMETIME AROUND 2007 THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO MESS UP. IT WOULD SAY THAT I WAS GOING 100 MPH WHEN I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. MY TACHOMETER WOULD SAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS DOING 5000 TO 6000 RPM WHEN PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED I AM NO THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304436

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.