NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
681 reportsClear category filter35,000 miles · Nov 10, 2009
Electrical System
MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AT IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. AFTER I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON A LITTLE LATER IT STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THEN IT WOULD RANDOMLY STOP WORKING AND THEN WORK FINE AGAIN LATER. IT WOULD EITHER STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER OR READ THE NUMBERS WRONG BY SAYING I…
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MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AT IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. AFTER I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON A LITTLE LATER IT STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THEN IT WOULD RANDOMLY STOP WORKING AND THEN WORK FINE AGAIN LATER. IT WOULD EITHER STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER OR READ THE NUMBERS WRONG BY SAYING I WAS DOING 45 MPH WHEN I WASN'T EVEN MOVING. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON GETTING IT FIXED SO I BORROWED MY BOYFRIENDS GPS SO I COULD READ MY SPEED. SINCE THEN I NOTICED A PATTERN OF THE PROBLEMS, EVERY TIME I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE TIME TO CHANGE MY OIL IT WOULD START ACTING UP AGAIN. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND ALL MY GAUGES ARE ACTING THE SAME WAY. MY FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND SPEEDOMETER ALL PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK AND WHEN THEY DON'T AND THEY FREQUENTLY DON'T WORK NOW. I DECIDED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND NOTICED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS TYPE OF CAR. FROM HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS A LONG TIME AGO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291792
49,957 miles · Nov 7, 2009
Electrical System
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. SOMETIMES READS 0 WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. OFTEN READS -0 AT STOP, JITTERY MOVEMENT WHEN THE INDICATOR MOVES AT ALL, SOMETIMES STOPS @ 20 OR 30 MPH AND WILL NOT SHOW HIGHER NUMBER EVEN WHILE CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. ACTUAL SPEED CAN NOT BE DETERMINED WHILE OP…
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2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. SOMETIMES READS 0 WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. OFTEN READS -0 AT STOP, JITTERY MOVEMENT WHEN THE INDICATOR MOVES AT ALL, SOMETIMES STOPS @ 20 OR 30 MPH AND WILL NOT SHOW HIGHER NUMBER EVEN WHILE CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. ACTUAL SPEED CAN NOT BE DETERMINED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE TAHOE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO RECALL THE DEFECT IN THE IMPALAS . CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT DO TO AGE OR MILEAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291305
50,000 miles · Nov 3, 2009
Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MY SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME IN COLD WEATHER, AND ALWAYS MOVES ERRATICALLY, PROVIDING INACCURATE MEASUREMENTS OF SPEED. MY TACHOMETER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF ERRATIC MOVEMENTS AND INACCURATE READINGS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10290879
9,400 miles · Nov 1, 2009
Electrical System
THE CAR WONT START BUT ALL THE LIGHTS AND IT ACTS LIKE IT STARTED BUT THE MOTOR WONT TURN AND NO1 NOS HOW TO FIT IT DOES THIS EVER DAY I TRY TO START IT AND IT WONT DO ANYTHING UNTIL I WAIT 10TO 20 MIN AND THEN IT STARTS LIKE NOTHING HAPPEN IF I KNOW HOW TO FIT IT I WONT BUT NO1 CAN TELL ME WHAT'S THE CALLS OF IT CAN YOU JUST T…
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THE CAR WONT START BUT ALL THE LIGHTS AND IT ACTS LIKE IT STARTED BUT THE MOTOR WONT TURN AND NO1 NOS HOW TO FIT IT DOES THIS EVER DAY I TRY TO START IT AND IT WONT DO ANYTHING UNTIL I WAIT 10TO 20 MIN AND THEN IT STARTS LIKE NOTHING HAPPEN IF I KNOW HOW TO FIT IT I WONT BUT NO1 CAN TELL ME WHAT'S THE CALLS OF IT CAN YOU JUST TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET IT FIXED?
NHTSA ODI #10290519
45,000 miles · Oct 30, 2009
Electrical System
SPEED-O-METER NEEDLE PEGS OUT AND WANDERS INADVERTENTLY. JUST HAPPENED ONE DAY. IT IS A CONTINUAL OCCURRENCE. SOME DAYS IT SEEMS TO WORK KIND OF, AND AT OTHER TIMES IT MOVES VERY ABRUPTLY ON THE DIAL AND NEVER SMOOTH LIKE IT SHOULD. IT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF BEING PULLED OVER ON 3 OCCASIONS IN THE LAST MONTH DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLE…
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SPEED-O-METER NEEDLE PEGS OUT AND WANDERS INADVERTENTLY. JUST HAPPENED ONE DAY. IT IS A CONTINUAL OCCURRENCE. SOME DAYS IT SEEMS TO WORK KIND OF, AND AT OTHER TIMES IT MOVES VERY ABRUPTLY ON THE DIAL AND NEVER SMOOTH LIKE IT SHOULD. IT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF BEING PULLED OVER ON 3 OCCASIONS IN THE LAST MONTH DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF MY VEHICLES' SPEED. THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE THE VEHICLES' SPEED WITHOUT IT (AND WITHOUT A GPS DEVICE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10290359
68,656 miles · Oct 24, 2009
Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA WENT CRAZY, STOPPED WORKING. THROUGH MUCH RESEARCH, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF THIS CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. GM SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF NOW AND THE PROBLEM IS $400 TO $600 TO FIX. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE GAUGE CLUSTER. IT IS A 4YR OLD CAR WITH 68K MILES ON IT, I FEEL THA…
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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA WENT CRAZY, STOPPED WORKING. THROUGH MUCH RESEARCH, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF THIS CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. GM SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF NOW AND THE PROBLEM IS $400 TO $600 TO FIX. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE GAUGE CLUSTER. IT IS A 4YR OLD CAR WITH 68K MILES ON IT, I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE CHEVY TRUCKS AND TAHOE'S FOR THAT YEAR, BUT NOT THE IMPALA'S... THEY USE THE SAME PART NUMBER IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER, SO WHY SHOULDN'T THE IMPALA HAVE A RECALL ON THEM? THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND A VERY DANGEROUS PART TO HAVE GO OUT. I'VE READ THAT PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THEIR CARS, SO THEY ARE DRIVING THEM WITH NO SPEEDOMETER. I AM DOING THIS ALSO, HAVING TO SAVE UP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. SO NOW WE ARE GUESSING OUR SPEED, HOPING NOT TO GET SPEEDING TICKETS. PLEASE HELP US GET GM TO HELP OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10289686
116,840 miles · Oct 20, 2009
Electrical System
MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE WHOLE INTERIOR GAUGE PANEL. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT IMPALA MODELS 2003-2006, AND OTHER CHEVY MODELS. THE GAS GAUGE HAS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THE MPH GAUGE RANDOMLY GOES HAYWIRE READING THE INCORRECT SPEED, OR NO SPEED AT ALL. THE MOST COMMON R…
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MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE WHOLE INTERIOR GAUGE PANEL. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT IMPALA MODELS 2003-2006, AND OTHER CHEVY MODELS. THE GAS GAUGE HAS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THE MPH GAUGE RANDOMLY GOES HAYWIRE READING THE INCORRECT SPEED, OR NO SPEED AT ALL. THE MOST COMMON RESPONSE IS THAT GM HAS A DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS PROBLEM RANGES IN MODEL AND MILEAGE AND COSTS UP TO $600 TO FIX. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION A HUGE PAIN. GM REALLY NEEDS TO STEP IT UP AND RECALL THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PIECE. I HAVE YET TO REPAIR IT AS I FEEL ITS NOT MY FAULT AND THEY NEED TO FIX THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY ISSUE. I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10289100
41,000 miles · Oct 19, 2009
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER ON 2004 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 41K MILES IS DEFECTIVE. STARTED SPORADICALLY, NOW IT IS ALL THE TIME. SPEEDOMETER MAY SAY I'M MOVING AT 50 MPH WHEN AT A STOP OR OVER 100MPH ON A CITY STREET. I HAVE NOT HAD THE DEFECT FIXED YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10288998
79,662 miles · Oct 18, 2009
Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY '04 CHEVY IMPALA SS IS VERY ERRATIC. IT DISPLAYS INCORRECT SPEED. I WAS TRAVELING @ 70MPH BUT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS @ 49 MPH. WHEN STOPPING IT WILL DROP BELOW THE ZERO MARK AT @ 15 MPH. THE NEEDLE TICKS AROUND ON THE FACE OF THE DIAL. THIS SEEMS DANGEROUS TO ME NOT KNOWING THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. FR…
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THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY '04 CHEVY IMPALA SS IS VERY ERRATIC. IT DISPLAYS INCORRECT SPEED. I WAS TRAVELING @ 70MPH BUT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS @ 49 MPH. WHEN STOPPING IT WILL DROP BELOW THE ZERO MARK AT @ 15 MPH. THE NEEDLE TICKS AROUND ON THE FACE OF THE DIAL. THIS SEEMS DANGEROUS TO ME NOT KNOWING THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH I'VE SEEN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON '04 GM CARS. THIS PROBLEM IS ERRATIC. IN MY OPINION THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10288813
52,998 miles · Oct 14, 2009
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52998. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM. UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10287414
Official recalls
4Oct 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 engines 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 engines 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 engines 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.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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