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

Engine complaints

71 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2015

Engine

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN WILL TURNOVER BUT WILL NOT RESTART.

NHTSA ODI #10778815

90,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. …

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NHTSA ODI #10765107

90,000 miles · Jul 12, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

WHEN YOU TRY START VEHICLE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE DOES NOT START. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE NOTED ONLINE AND CUSTOMERS ARE SPENDING MONEY ON BATTERIES AND OTHER PARTS WITHOUT A FIX. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE SEEMS LIKE MANY NOTES ARE INDICATING DISGUST WITH THE COMPANY NOT RESPONDING TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10733454

150,000 miles · Jul 1, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS OVERHEATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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NHTSA ODI #10731505

130,434 miles · Mar 20, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

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I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT DEALERSHIP IN ROCHESTER NY IT HAD AROUND 128000 WHEN BOUGHT IT DIED OUT AT ABOUT 131,000 THEY CLAIMED THAT THE CAR WAS FULLY INSPECTED WAS A TOTAL FAILURE HAD TO SPEND A 1000 PLUS DOLLARS AT GOOD YEAR TO MONTHS AFTER BOUGHT HAD NO HEAT [XXX] HEADS COULD FIX IT I WANT MY MONEY BACK FOR THE CAR I WAY OVER PAY I PAID 5300 WITH TAXES AND SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY DEAD... THE CALL THE DEAKER NO RESPONSE I HAVE WARRANTY BUT THEY WONT ANSWER OR DO WORK. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700789

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2015

Engine

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INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WHY ARE THE DEFECTED? THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAULTY ONES AND STILL YOU HAVE NOT CHANGED TO BETTER GASKETS. FIRST THE HEAT GOES AND THEN THE CAR OVERHEATS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CHANGED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. NOW THE GASKET. FOR THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR THIS CAR IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COST ME ANOTHER 800 TO 1200 MORE FOR A PART YOU CAN FIX WITH CHANGING YOUR PRODUCT YOU USE. I HAVE OWN GMC PRODUCTS FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THIS IS MY FIRST COMPLAINT ABOUT THEM. JUST BECAUSE I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IMPALA WILL NOT KEEP ME FROM TELLING PEOPLE THAT GMC HAS GOOD CARS. JUST WISH THIS PROBLEM WILL FIXED FOR FUTURE OWNERS. WOULD HATE TO BE CALLED A LIAR. ONE OF OUR GMC'S IS A 78 SIERRA CLASSIC WHICH WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 77. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692812

99,400 miles · Mar 5, 2015

EngineFire

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AFTER PARKING MY CAR, I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF CAR AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER AVAILABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS A VALVE COVER OIL LEAK THAT HAD DRIPPED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT CAUSED THE OIL TO IGNITE INTO FLAMES. RESULTING DAMAGE THAT I'M VISUALLY ABLE TO SEE WAS TO ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES, ENGINE COILS, PLASTIC ENGINE COVER, OIL DIPSTICK, RIGHT ENGINE STRUT, WIRING HARNESS PIGTAIL GOING TO COIL PACK ASSEMBLY AND UNDER HOOD INSULATION. I WILL NOT KNOW FULL EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNTIL I ATTEMPT TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS MYSELF. I HAVE PHOTOS IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THEM. ALSO, THE MILEAGE I LISTED OF 99,400 IS APPROXIMATE, IT IS NOT EXACT AS I AM NOT NEAR MY CAR AT THE MOMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692271

196,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

NHTSA ODI #10659857

67,876 miles · Nov 5, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSuspensionCrash

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I BOUGHT 2004 IMPALA AND HAVE IGNITION PROBLEM WITH WITNESSES WITH A DENT IN FRONT BUMPER, AFTER TEN YEARS OR OVER 100K MILES THE GASKET GOES ON GM/GMC PRODUCTS, BOTH INNER TIE RODS ROTTEN OUT. I HAVE TALK TO GM EXECUTIVE OFFICE THAT FIX THE IMPALA PROBLEM IN 2011 BUT UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH IT NOW. I THINK I NEED OUT SIDE COUNSEL AND ENGINEERING FIRM TO TEST AND TESTIFY ON MY BEHAVE AND3,700 OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WANT NEW VEHICLES AND SETTING UP A DATE WITH CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND NHTSA REVIEW MY CASE. I HAVE MET WITH CONGRESSIONAL PANEL INVESTIGATING GM THAT WANT TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I BEEN A GM PERSON BUT SERIOUSLY LOOKING IN THE FOREIGN MARKET IF I HAVE NO SERIOUS RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652657

37,545 miles · Oct 21, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND CAUSED HER TO HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE CAR WOULD RESTART. SINCE THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD THIS HAPPEN AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR SINCE. I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AFTER SHE HAS TOLD ME IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND HAD OUR MECHANIC LOOK AT IT ALSO. ALSO HAVE HAD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES NOT WORKING PROPERLY FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY, WE THINK THERE IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PIN POINT IT. THE CHROME PLATE ALUMINUM ALLOY RIMS THE CHROME HAS BEEN FLAKING OFF SINCE THE CAR WAS 2 YEARS OLD AND WE NOW HAVE TO KEEP REFILLING THE TIRES WITH AIR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT GET A RUN AROUND THAT ITS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I HAVE TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN WHO ALSO HAS THE ONLY OTHER 2004 IMPALA SS IN OUR TOWN AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WE HAVE HAD AND GOTTEN SAME RESPONSE FROM OUR LOCAL DEALER WHERE WE BOTH BOUGHT OUR CARS FROM. MY IMPALA SS AT THIS TIME HAS JUST OVER 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IN ADDITION TO PROBLEMS MENTIONED ABOVE WE HAD TO HAVE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK IN PINION AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND LOOKING LIKE THE RACK IN PINION IS GOING OUT AGAIN AS I WRITE THIS. I'VE BECOME VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVROLET OVER THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649049

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.