NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,072 reports60,000 miles · Oct 11, 2010
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE'S CAR TO CRANK AT TIMES. YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MINS BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. THIS HAS HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE AND MY TWIN GIRLS WERE IN A BAD PLACE AND HAD TO LOCK THE DOORS AND JUST SIT IN 90 DEG WEATHER CHEVY DEALER HAS NO ANSWERS. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WH…
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THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE'S CAR TO CRANK AT TIMES. YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MINS BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. THIS HAS HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE AND MY TWIN GIRLS WERE IN A BAD PLACE AND HAD TO LOCK THE DOORS AND JUST SIT IN 90 DEG WEATHER CHEVY DEALER HAS NO ANSWERS. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY ARE MADE TO FIX IT SOMEONE HAS TO BE KILLED OR RAPED BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T CRANK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10360024
50,000 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
LOW BEAMS ARE NO LONGER OPERABLE ON THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE A RUNNING THEME WITH THE CHEVY IMPALA CARS. 2004 CHEVY IMPALA I HAVE ALREADY SPENT MORE IN REPAIRS THAN TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION, FRONT DRIVE LINE AND NOW MY PASSLOCK LOCKS ME OUT OF THE CAR- CAR WON'T TURN ON FOR SOMETIMES 3 DAYS. LIGHTS QUIT WORKING ABOU…
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LOW BEAMS ARE NO LONGER OPERABLE ON THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE A RUNNING THEME WITH THE CHEVY IMPALA CARS. 2004 CHEVY IMPALA I HAVE ALREADY SPENT MORE IN REPAIRS THAN TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION, FRONT DRIVE LINE AND NOW MY PASSLOCK LOCKS ME OUT OF THE CAR- CAR WON'T TURN ON FOR SOMETIMES 3 DAYS. LIGHTS QUIT WORKING ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO I LIVE IN HAWAII AND CAN'T GET MY CAR TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION TO GET MY STICKER SO I NOW HAVE A CAR WITH 60,000 MILES THAT CAN'T BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD, CAN'T BE SOLD. IMPALA'S ARE MONEY SUCKING DANGEROUS LEMON VEHICLES. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT CAN'T SELL IT SO NOW WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS CAR???????????? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359150
40,000 miles · Sep 27, 2010
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30-40 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,500.
NHTSA ODI #10357800
75,000 miles · Sep 25, 2010
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER AND NOW THE TEMP GAUGE FAULTY.. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS 2004 CHEVY IMPALA... GM FIXED SAME ISSUE IN THEIR TRUCKS, BUT REFUSES TO FIX IN THIS AND OTHER MODEL CARS... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357642
65,000 miles · Sep 23, 2010
Exterior Lighting
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA 3.4L V6, 70,000 MILES. RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENT FAILURE STARTED OCCURRING AT AROUND 65,000 MILES - INTERIOR DASH TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR BLINKS RAPIDLY BUT THE ACTUAL TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT FLASH AT ALL. I CHECKED ALL LAMPS AND FUSES THEN REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AS SUGGESTED BY SOME CAR FORUMS BUT T…
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2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA 3.4L V6, 70,000 MILES. RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENT FAILURE STARTED OCCURRING AT AROUND 65,000 MILES - INTERIOR DASH TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR BLINKS RAPIDLY BUT THE ACTUAL TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT FLASH AT ALL. I CHECKED ALL LAMPS AND FUSES THEN REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AS SUGGESTED BY SOME CAR FORUMS BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357183
41,000 miles · Sep 13, 2010
Electrical System
FIRST THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND WAS LIKE THAT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, NOW IT IS WORKING AGAIN, THEN SPEEDOMETER WENT CRAZY, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH, SPEEDOMETER IS READING 15 TO 20 MPH THEN DROPS TO 0 IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE, SO I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF THERE WAS…
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FIRST THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND WAS LIKE THAT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, NOW IT IS WORKING AGAIN, THEN SPEEDOMETER WENT CRAZY, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH, SPEEDOMETER IS READING 15 TO 20 MPH THEN DROPS TO 0 IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE, SO I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL. I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS. I WAS WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL OUT THERE SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS THIS COULD REALLY BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10355208
90,000 miles · Sep 9, 2010
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 IMPALA HAS SLIP SO BAD THAT I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. IT KICKED SO HARD IN RAINING WEATHER THE CAR SWERVE ON THE ROAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10354780
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2010
Electrical System
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK OR WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. WILL NOT SHOW ACCURATE SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353415
90,532 miles · Aug 29, 2010
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 IMPALA AT NIGHT AND LIGHTS WENT OUT. ONE SIDE HAD BLINKED BEFORE BUT CAME RIGHT BACK ON. LAST NIGHT I HAD TO ABANDON MY CAR. WHEN I PICKED IT UP THIS MORNING THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN. TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR A POSSIBLE CAUSE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN EXTREME PROBLEM WITH IMP…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 IMPALA AT NIGHT AND LIGHTS WENT OUT. ONE SIDE HAD BLINKED BEFORE BUT CAME RIGHT BACK ON. LAST NIGHT I HAD TO ABANDON MY CAR. WHEN I PICKED IT UP THIS MORNING THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN. TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR A POSSIBLE CAUSE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN EXTREME PROBLEM WITH IMPALAS, CHEVY SHOULD FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10352588
123,077 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Electrical System
2004 CHEVY IMPALA THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED PASSLOCK SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY LOCKS THE CAR FROM BEING CRANKED. EVERYTHING WILL OPERATE PROPERLY EXCEPT BEING ABLE TO CRANK THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 20 TIMES YOU CRANK THE VEHICLE. YOU HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK. IF YOU TAKE THE …
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2004 CHEVY IMPALA THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED PASSLOCK SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY LOCKS THE CAR FROM BEING CRANKED. EVERYTHING WILL OPERATE PROPERLY EXCEPT BEING ABLE TO CRANK THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 20 TIMES YOU CRANK THE VEHICLE. YOU HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK. IF YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION DURING THAT TIME IT IS LIKELY THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT RESET ITSELF, THUS STARTING THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. I CONTACTED 2 GM DEALERSHIPS WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC LOOK INTO IT AND HE TRIED REPLACING THE IGNITION BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. THAT COST NEARLY $800.00. NOW I SIT IN THE BLAZING SUN OR FREEZING COLD OR RAIN AND WAIT FOR THE CAR TO FINALLY START. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS FOR ALL OWNERS AT NO CHARGE. SADLY FOR THEM, IT IS NOT JUST IMPALAS THAT ARE HAVING THIS TROUBLE; IT IS ACROSS THE ENTIRE PRODUCT LINE OF GM MODELS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10352175
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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