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2004 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
40,000 miles · Feb 3, 2010
Electrical System

SOMETIME AROUND 2007 THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO MESS UP. IT WOULD SAY THAT I WAS GOING 100 MPH WHEN I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. MY TACHOMETER WOULD SAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS DOING 5000 TO 6000 RPM WHEN PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED I AM NO THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I …

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SOMETIME AROUND 2007 THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO MESS UP. IT WOULD SAY THAT I WAS GOING 100 MPH WHEN I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. MY TACHOMETER WOULD SAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS DOING 5000 TO 6000 RPM WHEN PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED I AM NO THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304436

50,000 miles · Feb 3, 2010
Electrical System

HELLO, I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY. IMPALA. A LARGE NUMBER OF THE SPEEDOMETERS ON THESE CARS ARE DEFECTIVE, AS IS MINE. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES BERSERK AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SPEED IS. FOR EXAMPLE. YOU MAY BE TAKING A 35 MPH CURVE AT 50 WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SAYS 35 OR OTHER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. GM HAS HAD HUNDRE…

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HELLO, I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY. IMPALA. A LARGE NUMBER OF THE SPEEDOMETERS ON THESE CARS ARE DEFECTIVE, AS IS MINE. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES BERSERK AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SPEED IS. FOR EXAMPLE. YOU MAY BE TAKING A 35 MPH CURVE AT 50 WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SAYS 35 OR OTHER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. GM HAS HAD HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS (JUST ONE EXAMPLE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SPEEDOMETER_GONE_HAYWIRE.SHTML) ON THIS AND CHOSE NOT TO OWN UP TO IT. THE PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY WITH MY MODEL/YEAR, THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SPEEDOMETERS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED IN MANY MODELS OVER SEVERAL YEARS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304252

68,250 miles · Jan 28, 2010
Exterior Lighting

HEADLLGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVIING. AS OF NOW THEY STILL COME BACK ON WHEN SWITCHING THE LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM SWITCH. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. CANNOT DRIVE CAR WHEN DARK. WILL COST ABOUT $600 TO REPAIR.*CW

NHTSA ODI #10303004

65,000 miles · Jan 28, 2010
Electrical System

MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OR THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT IMPALA MODELS FROM 2003-2006, AS WELL AS OTHER CHEVY MODELS. THE GAS GAUGE HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT, AND THE VOLT GAUGE HAS NOW STOPPED WORKING, AND THE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY GOES HAYWIRE AND MOVES ERRAT…

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MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OR THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT IMPALA MODELS FROM 2003-2006, AS WELL AS OTHER CHEVY MODELS. THE GAS GAUGE HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT, AND THE VOLT GAUGE HAS NOW STOPPED WORKING, AND THE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY GOES HAYWIRE AND MOVES ERRATICALLY, READING INCORRECTLY. THE MOST COMMON REPORT IS THAT GM HAS INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OF THESE MODELS. AND THE DEALERS ESTIMATE A REPAIR COST OF $600 TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER COMPLETELY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. GM NEED TO STEP UP AND RECALL THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART.*CW

NHTSA ODI #10302996

80,000 miles · Jan 28, 2010
Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA AND OCTOBER 19, 2007 AND A FEW MONTHS AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. MY SPEED ODOMETER SAID I WAS DOING FORTY WHEN I GOT PULLED OVER FOR DOING 55MPH, AND AS I PULLED OFF AND LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER IT WAS STUCK AT 40MPH. ALSO THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME ON…

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I BOUGHT A USED 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA AND OCTOBER 19, 2007 AND A FEW MONTHS AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. MY SPEED ODOMETER SAID I WAS DOING FORTY WHEN I GOT PULLED OVER FOR DOING 55MPH, AND AS I PULLED OFF AND LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER IT WAS STUCK AT 40MPH. ALSO THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME ON THEIR OWN. I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT AND MY HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE AND I HIT THE BRAKES AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER I FOOLED AROUND WITH THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH FOR A WHILE THE LIGHTS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TW

NHTSA ODI #10302966

89,210 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Steering

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA POWER STEERING LOCKS MAKING DRIVER UNABLE TO TURN CAR DURING RAIN OR DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES. STARTED OUT HAPPENING ONLY A SECOND OR TWO, BUT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. SEVERAL TIMES, ENGINE CUT OFF, OR I HAD TO CUT IT OFF TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE POWER STEERING. HAD IT "FIXED" BY DEALER WHO REPLACED CLUSTER. IT…

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2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA POWER STEERING LOCKS MAKING DRIVER UNABLE TO TURN CAR DURING RAIN OR DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES. STARTED OUT HAPPENING ONLY A SECOND OR TWO, BUT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. SEVERAL TIMES, ENGINE CUT OFF, OR I HAD TO CUT IT OFF TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE POWER STEERING. HAD IT "FIXED" BY DEALER WHO REPLACED CLUSTER. IT DID IT AGAIN THE VERY NEXT RAIN. NO ACCIDENT BUT A "NEAR MISS" BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE DUMP TRUCK. I WAS TOLD I WAS DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES TOO FAST. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, AND THERE IS A LOT OF RAIN AND POOR DRAINAGE. OTHER CARS GOING SPEED LIMIT WERE NOT HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS I DRIVE A CARPOOL OF FOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I AM SURE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, SINCE I SAW OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON TWITTER *CN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302586

80,000 miles · Jan 21, 2010
Electrical System

2004 IMPALA, 80,000 MILES. COLD WINTER DAY. CONSEQUENCES( HAVING TO PURCHASE NEW SPEEDOMETER ) NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT AS OF YET. SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SAYS GOING 90 MPH WHEN GOING 60. WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF SAY 30MPH. INHERENT FLAW NOTED BY CHEVROLET VEHICLES (COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INCORREC…

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2004 IMPALA, 80,000 MILES. COLD WINTER DAY. CONSEQUENCES( HAVING TO PURCHASE NEW SPEEDOMETER ) NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT AS OF YET. SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SAYS GOING 90 MPH WHEN GOING 60. WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF SAY 30MPH. INHERENT FLAW NOTED BY CHEVROLET VEHICLES (COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INCORRECTLY SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING TACHOMETER NEEDLE STICKS, JUMPS, OR PEGS FUEL GAUGE FLUTTERS ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILS THE COMMON CAUSE FOR ALL THESE ISSUES IS A FAULTY STEPPER MOTOR. THE MOTOR WAS USED THROUGHOUT GM?S ENTIRE PRODUCTION LINE FROM 2003 TO 2007.) I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES WITH WHICH PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH INCORRECT READING SPEEDOMETERS AS GM USED FAULTY PARTS IN MANUFACTURING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10301753

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2010
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AT NIGHT ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH EXTREME CAUTION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO F…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AT NIGHT ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH EXTREME CAUTION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10300234

74,000 miles · Jan 16, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA,SPEEDOMETER WORKS ONE DAY AND DOESN"T WORK THE NEXT DAY. WILL BE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SHOWS SPEED ONE MINUTE AND MAYBE NOTHING THE NEXT. REALLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS. GM HAS TO KNOW THAT HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299997

73,000 miles · Jan 14, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS ERRATIC SPEEDS, GOING TO SPEEDS OF 80, 90, 120+ FOR NO APPARENT REASON. EACH TIME THE AUTOMOBILE IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN, IT USUALLY WILL GO DOWN BY ABOUT 10 MPH. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL, BUT THIS PATTERN REPEATS AFTER A DAY OR SO OF…

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SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS ERRATIC SPEEDS, GOING TO SPEEDS OF 80, 90, 120+ FOR NO APPARENT REASON. EACH TIME THE AUTOMOBILE IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN, IT USUALLY WILL GO DOWN BY ABOUT 10 MPH. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL, BUT THIS PATTERN REPEATS AFTER A DAY OR SO OF REGISTERING CORRECT MPH. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WE HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET AND BEEN ADVISED TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED AT A DEAL FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A DEALER WHO WILL RESPOND TO OUR CALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299765

Official recalls

4

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 engine’s 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 engine’s 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 engine’s 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.