NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
681 reportsClear category filter70,000 miles · Sep 11, 2008
Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES HAYWIRE. IT STICKS WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THEN REMAINS SHOWING A HIGH SPEED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. WHEN YOU THEN SPEED BACK UP, IT SHOWS SPEEDS UPWARDS OF 100 MPH EVEN WHEN DRIVING SLOWER THAN EXISTING TRAFFIC. IT WILL ONLY GET BACK TO 0 IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND ON MA…
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THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES HAYWIRE. IT STICKS WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THEN REMAINS SHOWING A HIGH SPEED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. WHEN YOU THEN SPEED BACK UP, IT SHOWS SPEEDS UPWARDS OF 100 MPH EVEN WHEN DRIVING SLOWER THAN EXISTING TRAFFIC. IT WILL ONLY GET BACK TO 0 IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND ON MANY TIMES. IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL WITHOUT KNOWING THE CORRECT SPEED THAT YOU ARE TRAVELING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10241808
13,000 miles · Sep 11, 2008
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE HEATER UNIT SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FINALLY STARTED AND DROVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE HEATER UNIT SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FINALLY STARTED AND DROVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. RECENTLY, THE DRIVER MESSAGE CENTER AND HORN WERE NOT OPERATING, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
NHTSA ODI #10241807
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2008
Electrical System
THE ELECTRICAL CLUSTERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. ALL THE GAUGES ON MY PANEL DO NOT WORK. THIS INCLUDES MPH, FUEL, RPM, ETC. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS SUDDENLY HAPPEN? SHOULD IT BE RECALLED? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10241410
73,382 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Electrical System
2004 CHEVY IMPALA, 3.4L -- SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THE PROBLEM SEEMS MORE PRONE TO APPEAR IF YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY GOING A NEARLY CONSTANT SPEED FOR A SUSTAINED AMOUNT OF TIME. SPEEDOMETER WILL WORK NORMALLY ON SHORT TRIPS, OR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. EVENTUALLY, …
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2004 CHEVY IMPALA, 3.4L -- SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THE PROBLEM SEEMS MORE PRONE TO APPEAR IF YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY GOING A NEARLY CONSTANT SPEED FOR A SUSTAINED AMOUNT OF TIME. SPEEDOMETER WILL WORK NORMALLY ON SHORT TRIPS, OR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. EVENTUALLY, AT SOME POINT, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. SPECIFICALLY UPON FAILURE, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATING, THE SPEEDO NEEDLE DROPS, EVENTUALLY TO 0 (ZERO), BUT WILL NOT GO BACK UP AGAIN. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR USED (FROM A DEALERSHIP), SO THERE'S NO TELLING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE HOW LONG IT'S REALLY BEEN HAPPENING. THE CAR HAD APPROX. 71000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240922
89,000 miles · Sep 1, 2008
Electrical System
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS, AND THE SPEEDOMETER THAT IS IN IT. IT HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS GOTTEN STUCK AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WILL ONLY GO BACK DOWN BY STARTING AND TURNING THE CAR OFF NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS VERY HARD ON THE STARTER AND IS HORRIBLE FOR GAS MILEAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO A VERY SERIOUS…
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I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS, AND THE SPEEDOMETER THAT IS IN IT. IT HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS GOTTEN STUCK AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WILL ONLY GO BACK DOWN BY STARTING AND TURNING THE CAR OFF NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS VERY HARD ON THE STARTER AND IS HORRIBLE FOR GAS MILEAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING AT ANY POINT AND TIME, AND I CAN NOT TRUST WHEN IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT COULD ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS IF I GET PULLED OVER. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN NOT AFFORD BOTH FINANCIALLY AND CAREER-WISE. I AM A PARAMEDIC AND MY DRIVING RECORD CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE AFFECTED OR IT WILL AFFECT MY JOB. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS WEB SEARCHES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2004 IMPALAS AS WELL AS OTHER 2004 CHEVY VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CHEVROLET ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THEM, NOR ARE THEY WILLING TO HELP CONSUMERS WITH GETTING THEIR VEHICLES FIXED. I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO HAVE A CONFIRMATION THAT THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN READ BY SOMEBODY AND THAT SOMETHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET. THANK YOU, TIMOTHY LORENZ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240543
54,000 miles · Aug 28, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 54 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO MONTHS UNTIL IT FINALLY FAILED. A FRIEND OF THE CONTACT, WHO OWNED THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 54 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO MONTHS UNTIL IT FINALLY FAILED. A FRIEND OF THE CONTACT, WHO OWNED THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
NHTSA ODI #10240055
55,000 miles · Aug 25, 2008
Electrical System
DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, APPROX. 10 MINS LATER STARTED FUNCTIONING AGAIN BUT DID IT TWICE MORE IN 10 MILES. SINCE THAT TIME SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE ERRATIC, IF THEY FUNCTION AT ALL. REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT DASH COMPUTER, REPLACED IT BUT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. BEEN RUNNING W/O HIGH BEAM…
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DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, APPROX. 10 MINS LATER STARTED FUNCTIONING AGAIN BUT DID IT TWICE MORE IN 10 MILES. SINCE THAT TIME SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE ERRATIC, IF THEY FUNCTION AT ALL. REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT DASH COMPUTER, REPLACED IT BUT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. BEEN RUNNING W/O HIGH BEAMS SINCE AND HAVE TO USE GPS FOR SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239705
60,000 miles · Aug 25, 2008
Electrical System
INTERMITTENTLY FAILING SPEEDOMETER IN 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239591
95,000 miles · Aug 25, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HE EVENTUALLY COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN AT ALL, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER SOON. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HE EVENTUALLY COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN AT ALL, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER SOON. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.
NHTSA ODI #10239559
5,900 miles · Aug 24, 2008
Electrical SystemPower Train
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS, SPEEDOMETER IS WAY OFF. SOMETIMES SHOWS 60 MPH WHEN PARKED, OR UP TO 160 MPH ON INTERSTATE, WHEN TRAVELING 65 OR 70. NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT ACCURATE SPEED IS, AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239522
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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