Illustration2004 IMPALA ODOMETER MALFUNCTION IN WINTER COLD WHETHER CONDITION MOST OF THE TIME.
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
What owners actually said
1,072 reportsHEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY ON CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE HEAD LIGHT IS TO PULL THE BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH BACK AND HOLD IT. SO ONE HAND FOR BRIGHT LIGHT AND ONE FOR STEERING. SO WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC ITS EITHER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OR NO LIGHTS. HAPPENED ON A VERY DARK NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD. COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.…
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HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY ON CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE HEAD LIGHT IS TO PULL THE BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH BACK AND HOLD IT. SO ONE HAND FOR BRIGHT LIGHT AND ONE FOR STEERING. SO WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC ITS EITHER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OR NO LIGHTS. HAPPENED ON A VERY DARK NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD. COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. LUCKY THAT MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN WHERE NOT WITH ME
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE 2008 UNTIL THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONTACT SENT THE MANUFACTURER THREE LETTERS REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT RE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE 2008 UNTIL THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONTACT SENT THE MANUFACTURER THREE LETTERS REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 06/17/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEEDLE WOULD NOT RETURN TO ZERO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPDATED 07/26/10*JB
MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA SPEEDOMETER WENT HAYWIRE
STEERING RACK,FIXED ON 8/27/09 ON 3/29/10 CANNOT STEER TO LEFT, LIMITED ON RIGHT TWICE TURNING TO LEFT CAR COULD NOT ALMOST HAD ACCIDENT WITH ON COMING CARS AND PARKED CARS CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC,SAYS WORK WAS DONE ON THIS, TO TAKE BACK TO THEM. HAD TO TOW TO DEALERS. WAS THE STEERING RACK ONCE MORE.
WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED "FLOATING". IT WOULD BE ALL OVER THE PLACE, SOME TIMES IT WOULD GO ALL THE WAY AROUND TO 120 AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD BE RIGHT ON.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY SPEEDOMETER AND WATER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. IT SAID I WAS GOING 120 MPH BUT I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THE NEXT DAY I WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND IT WAS STUCK ON 30 MPH AND THE TEMP GAUGE SHOWED THE NEEDLE IN THE RED, BUT IT WAS NOT S…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY SPEEDOMETER AND WATER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. IT SAID I WAS GOING 120 MPH BUT I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THE NEXT DAY I WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND IT WAS STUCK ON 30 MPH AND THE TEMP GAUGE SHOWED THE NEEDLE IN THE RED, BUT IT WAS NOT STARTED FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAMILIAR COMPLAINT. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER QUICK WORKING, NO IDEA HOW FAST CAR IS GOING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO QUIT, CAR COULD OVERHEAT WITHOUT KNOWING. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. IT STICKS(DOES NOT RETURN TO 0 MPH WHEN STOPPED) AT THE CURRENT SPEED ON DECELERATION AND INCREASES READINGS FROM THE DECELERATION POINT. SO, CAR APPEARS TO GOING AT 60 MPH EVEN THOUGH IT IS MOVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. CANNOT DETERMINE PROPER SPEED TO ADJUST SPEED TO SPE…
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2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. IT STICKS(DOES NOT RETURN TO 0 MPH WHEN STOPPED) AT THE CURRENT SPEED ON DECELERATION AND INCREASES READINGS FROM THE DECELERATION POINT. SO, CAR APPEARS TO GOING AT 60 MPH EVEN THOUGH IT IS MOVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. CANNOT DETERMINE PROPER SPEED TO ADJUST SPEED TO SPEED LIMITS. MY CAR REGISTERED 120 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO MAINTAIN PROPER SPEED. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE DRIVER UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL SPEED VEHICLE IS MOVING AT. *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA RANDOMLY GO OUT AT NIGHT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE DIMMER SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON IS BY ACTIVATING/FLICKING THE DIMMER SWITCH SO AS TO SWITCH BETWEEN HIGH/LOW BEAMS. NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARED RA…
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THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA RANDOMLY GO OUT AT NIGHT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE DIMMER SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON IS BY ACTIVATING/FLICKING THE DIMMER SWITCH SO AS TO SWITCH BETWEEN HIGH/LOW BEAMS. NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARED RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ROUGHLY ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS THROUGHOUT SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE DIMMER SWITCH HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY THROUGH THE TIME PERIOD FROM ONSET OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL FAILURE OF THE SWITCH, THE SWITCH ITSELF BEGAN TO FEEL ODD. IT WOULD ALLOW THE HEADLIGHTS TO CHANGE BEAM WITHOUT ACTUALLY CLICKING INTO POSITION. DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE FAILURE PERIOD, THE LIGHT FAILURE SEEMED CONSISTENT WITH THE IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE SWITCH. THE SWITCH NOW IS COMPLETELY FAILED WITH MY LIGHTS STUCK ON LOW BEAM. I CAN PULL BACK ON THE SWITCH TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAMS, BUT THEY DO NOT REMAIN ON WHEN I RELEASE THE SWITCH. THE LIGHTS GO BACK TO LOW BEAM. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE SWITCH WHICH IS PROVING VERY COSTLY. *TR
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.