IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS FAILED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE BEING OPERATED AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 260,000.
2004 Chevrolet Impala
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
750–25K
15325–50K
23950–75K
15975–100K
158100–150K
76150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
104 reportsTURN SIGNALS DO NOT OPERA RATE ALL THE TIME, WHEN THEY FAIL HITTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS BUTTON SEAMS TO MAKE THEM OPERATE.
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH RANDOMLY FAILS TO TURN ON LOW BEAM IN MOTION AND STOPPED. TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH SOME LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT, LEFT HAND HAS TO HOLD DOWN THE HIGH BEAM AS IT FAILS TO STAY ON. STEERING WHEEL MUST THEN BE OPERATED WITH ONLY WHEN HAND. REPLACING THE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH FIXES THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT FAILS AG…
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MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH RANDOMLY FAILS TO TURN ON LOW BEAM IN MOTION AND STOPPED. TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH SOME LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT, LEFT HAND HAS TO HOLD DOWN THE HIGH BEAM AS IT FAILS TO STAY ON. STEERING WHEEL MUST THEN BE OPERATED WITH ONLY WHEN HAND. REPLACING THE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH FIXES THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT FAILS AGAIN. AVERAGING 6 MONTHS BETWEEN FAILURES AND HAVE REPLACED THE SWITCH 3 TIMES ALREADY.
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND TURNED ON MY BRIGHTS AND SHORTLY AFTER MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I HAD TO MESS WITH THE SWITCH BEFORE THEY WOULD COME BACK ON. THEY KEPT DOING THIS UNTIL I SWITCHED BACK TO DIMS. *TR
AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS, UPON DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK. REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, CHECKED ALL THE RELAYS AND FUSES. STILL NOT WORKING. HIGH BEAMS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK. THIS BASICALLY RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE, AS IT GETS DARK AT 4:30 IN THE WINTER, AND I AM NOT …
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AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS, UPON DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK. REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, CHECKED ALL THE RELAYS AND FUSES. STILL NOT WORKING. HIGH BEAMS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK. THIS BASICALLY RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE, AS IT GETS DARK AT 4:30 IN THE WINTER, AND I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA (3800 V6 ENGINE) NEW, WHICH HAS NOW LESS THAN 12,000 MILES, & I DROVE PRIMARILY FOR RUNNING ERRANDS. ONE MONTH AGO, ITS BODY COMPUTER MEMORY WENT BONKERS. THE DAY AFTER I RETURNED AFTER XMAS, I WENT TO GET GROCERY. AS THE CAR WAS NORMAL THE PREVIOUS DAY, I DID NOT EXPECT ANY PROBLEM. HOWE…
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I BOUGHT MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA (3800 V6 ENGINE) NEW, WHICH HAS NOW LESS THAN 12,000 MILES, & I DROVE PRIMARILY FOR RUNNING ERRANDS. ONE MONTH AGO, ITS BODY COMPUTER MEMORY WENT BONKERS. THE DAY AFTER I RETURNED AFTER XMAS, I WENT TO GET GROCERY. AS THE CAR WAS NORMAL THE PREVIOUS DAY, I DID NOT EXPECT ANY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, UPON FINISHING SHOPPING 30 MINUTES LATER, I FOUND THE CAR (1) HONKING NON-STOP, (2) ITS DOME LIGHTS COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF, (3) THE 'DOOR AJAR' WARNING JINGLED ALL THE WAY ' EVEN THOUGH I STOPPED BY ROADSIDE TO ENSURE ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED. ON TOP OF THAT, (4) THE TURNING SIGNALS (BOTH LEFT & RIGHT) STOPPED WORKING. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER RETURNING HOME AND LOCKING UP THE CAR, (5) THE HONKING/DOME LIGHTS/DOOR WARNING STARTED AGAIN. ALTHOUGH I RESET THE CONTROL PANEL, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT GO AWAY. I THEREFORE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, BUT THEIR MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSES OFFHANDEDLY, AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO THOROUGHLY CHECK THE CAR WITH DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS. HOWEVER, ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT (1/26/16), EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN, AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BY THE DEALER. TODAY (2/12/16), THE TURNING SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN BRIEFLY AND WORKED AGAIN, BUT (6) THE INSTRUMENT PANELS WERE ALL ERRONEOUS, WITH READINGS OF FUEL, COOLANT TEMPERATURE, TACHOMETER ABOVE LIMITS - EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY. I EXPECT THAT IT IS A MATTER OF TIME THAT (7) THE SPEEDOMETER WILL ALSO GO DEFECTIVE. AT THAT TIME, THE DASH BOARD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS A WHOLE, COSTING MORE THAN $500 DOLLARS. OBVIOUSLY, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. I SHOULD ADD THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY WITH THE DEALER. I HOPE MY REPORT WILL BRING NHTSA'S ATTENTION TO THE ABOVE PARTS/WORKMANSHIP PROBLEMS OF GM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND MANIPULATE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTING/ELECTRICITY TO RETURN. IN ADD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND MANIPULATE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTING/ELECTRICITY TO RETURN. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE IGNITION KEY WHERE THE KEY WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANIPULATE THE KEY IN THE START POSITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,536.
THE HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. HIGH BEAMS AND LOW BEAMS BOTH WORK, BUT THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS ARE NO LONGER IN SERVICE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. NOW, THE LOW BEAMS GO ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS USED TO GO ON. WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT, I AM FORCED TO KEEP ON THE HIGH BEAMS. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS. IT NEVER HAD A …
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THE HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. HIGH BEAMS AND LOW BEAMS BOTH WORK, BUT THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS ARE NO LONGER IN SERVICE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. NOW, THE LOW BEAMS GO ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS USED TO GO ON. WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT, I AM FORCED TO KEEP ON THE HIGH BEAMS. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS. IT NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. IT STARTED RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THE VEHICLE REACHED 150,000 MILES DRIVEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLCIKER AND SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ALSO WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LIGHT SWI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLCIKER AND SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ALSO WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Official recalls
415V701000 · 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
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.