Electrical System. Review the 681 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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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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Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2009

Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC. CANNOT TELL WHAT ACTUAL SPEED IS AT ANY TIME. ALSO GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. CANNOT TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE TANK. ALSO WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHERE'S GM WITH A RECALL TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS? THESE ARE ALL SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258639

38,978 miles · Feb 12, 2009

Electrical System

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MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD SOMEDAYS GO TO 60-120 UPON STARTING THE CAR SOMEDAYS OPERATED FINE. CALLED GMC DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED CAR TOOK IT IN AND HE SAID IT DEFINITELY WAS THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER SAID DEFINITELY NOT A SHORT BUT WOULD NOT PUT THAT IN WRITING UNTIL THEY REPLACE THE CLUSTER WITH A REDESIGNED ONE AND THAT WOULD BE 450.00EST. THE SERVICE MANAGER ASSURED ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE I JUST WOULD NOT KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING VERY FUNNY. HE ALSO ADMITTED TO ME THAT SOME OF THE TRUCK&SUV'S WERE ON RECALL BUT NOT MY 2004 IMPALA YET. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN READING MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS RE: THIS CLUSTER PROBLEM SINCE 2003 WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR A PART THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL GMC CARS AND TRUCKS. IT APPEARS THERE IS ALSO A LEGAL SUIT PENDING REGARDING THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258518

100,000 miles · Feb 11, 2009

Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER IS GIVING FALSE READINGS. GAUGE WILL NOT GO DOWN PAST 60MPH EVEN WHEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF. RECENTLY BOUGHT CAR USED FROM A FRIEND WHO ALSO COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM. SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE FREQUENTLY. LUCKILY I HAVE NOT BEEN PULLED OVER. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF MONEY FOR REPAIR…

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NHTSA ODI #10258416

63,000 miles · Feb 10, 2009

Electrical System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DIAL SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RISE. THE DIAL DID NOT STOP AND WENT INTO THE HUNDREDS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REALLY ONLY TRAVELING AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 35 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE DIAL DID NOT MOVE. AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE DIAL BEGAN TO DROP AND EVENTUALLY WENT BACK TO ZERO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEEPER MOTOR CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN DONE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10258224

24,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009

Electrical System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT RECORD THE PROPER SPEED. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AT LEAST 30 MILES BELOW THE TRAVELED SPEED, OR IT WOULD READ OVER 100 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT WAS REALLY TRAVELING LESS THAN 50 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY OR ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,500. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPEEDOMETER INITIALLY WOULD FAIL OCCASIONALLY OR GIVE FALSE READINGS. SOON AFTER, IS STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10258070

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2009

Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER IN 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA STARTED ACTING ERRATIC, DISPLAYING IMPROPER SPEED AND THEN FALLING OVER TO ZERO OR 5 MPH INDICATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257523

42,000 miles · Feb 3, 2009

Electrical System

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WHILE DRIVING TO CHICAGO THE TACHOMETER WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE RED. AFTER PULLING OVER TO CONFIRM THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT, I FOUND THAT I COULD RESET THE GAUGE BY SLOWLY TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION; UNTIL THE NEEDLE REACHED ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SPORADICALLY FOR A MONTH OR SO, AND THEN I NOTICED I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ONLY READING 30 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD PREVIOUSLY USED MY CRUISE CONTROL AT THE SET SPEED, AND WAS ABLE TO USE THE 'RESUME' BUTTON TO GIVE ME AN APPROXIMATION OF HOW FAST I WAS CURRENTLY GOING. THIS ALLOWED ME TO GET HOME SAFELY. AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE SPEEDOMETER BY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE ON AND OFF POSITION. THE NEXT FAILURE CAME SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITH THE GAS GAUGE. KNOWING THAT IT WAS A FULL TANK, IT WAS READING EMPTY; AGAIN BEING RESET WITH THE ON/OFF OF THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET THESE SAFETY ISSUES TAKEN CARE OF, AND WAS INFORMED THIS WAS GOING TO COST ME $600 BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY... IT ONLY HAS 40K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS THROUGH CHEVROLET EVER SINCE THEN, AND THEY AGREED TO PAY 1/2. THIS ONLY LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I CAN'T DRIVE A VEHICLE WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, OR GAS GAUGE, AND I CAN ONLY WONDER HOW MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS SAME SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257350

32,000 miles · Feb 2, 2009

Electrical System

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SPEEDOMETER ON 2004 IMPALA STOPS WORKING--FREEZES UP. HAVE TO STOP CAR AND ABOUT 15 TO 30 MINUTES FOR SPEEDOMETER TO WORK. THIS MALFUNCTION OF THE SPEEDOMETER IS OCCURRING MORE AND MORE. DEALER AND CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. GM ISSUED A BULLETIN #07187B STATING THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM ON 2003-2004CHEVROLET AVALANCHE,SILVERADO,SUBURBAN,TAHOE ALONG WITH GMC SIERRA,YUKON ETC. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT THEY ISSUED AS IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER VEHICLES.(DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM) PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257259

49,000 miles · Jan 28, 2009

Electrical System

ALL THREE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE CEASED FUNCTIONING. AT FIRST, THE DEFECT AFFECTED ONLY THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. FINALLY, THE PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTED THE FUEL GAUGE WHICH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256566

76,039 miles · Jan 25, 2009

Electrical System

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ON DECEMBER 23RD WHILE DOING NORMAL DRIVING AROUND TOWN MY SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 50MPH. I WAS MOMENTS EARLIER GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35. AT A COMPLETE STOP IT RAISED TO 60 AND REMAINED STUCK THERE. THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 396000+ POSTS AND COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I FOUND MANY POSSIBLE TEMPORARY "FIXES" AND ONE DID WORK UNTIL TODAY. WHILE AGAIN NORMAL DRIVING MY SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM 35MPH TO 0 AND IS NOW STUCK THERE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS, MYSELF AND THOSE AROUND SUCH VEHICLES. A RECALL SHOULD BE DEMANDED. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS UP TO THIS POINT. IT HAS 70,000+ MILES AND HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICING AND NO OTHER GAUGE PROBLEM SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256252

Official recalls

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 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

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

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

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.