2004 Chevrolet Impala

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER HAD CAR FIXED AND RECEIVED NO REIMBURSEMENT. *TA THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE DASH LIGHTS AND THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR CONDITION AND HEAT. . *JB

• 12/31/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER HAS JUST STOPPED WORKING. CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

• 12/31/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 75 AND IT FELT LIKE WE WERE BARELY MOVING. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED, THE SPEEDOMETER READ 40 MILES AN HOUR.. SO WE CONTINUED ON OUR WAY HOME, AND IT IS STILL STUCK ON 15. I WILL GET CHECKED OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE REASON THAT I'M COMPLAINING IS THAT I JUST LEARNED OF YOUR WEB SITE BY BROWSING ON MY PC FOR WARRANTY'S ON 2004 IMPALA'S. I READ A LOT OF THE COMPLAINT'S ABOUT PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THERE IMPALA'S. I NOTICED THAT I HAVE OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE, OR HAVE HAD WITH THE STEPPER MOTORS GOING BAD. SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A RECALL TYPE PROBLEM HERE THAT GM IS NOT TAKING CARE OF IT HAS TO DO WITH ALL GM PRODUCTS FOR THE YEARS 2003 TO 2006. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT CAN BE ABUSED BY THE CAR OWNER. IT IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURE. THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE HERE AND NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE SEEN SEARCHING THE WEB FOR IMPALA SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS. *TR

• 12/31/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER,AND TEMP GAUGE GOING HAYWIRE AT 36,000 MILES. *TR

• 12/30/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER IS FLOATING. SOMETIMES I AM DOING ZERO MPH. THEN SOMETIMES I AM DOING 120MPH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

• 12/29/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING, AND A FEW DAYS LATER THE GAS GAUGE WENT, THEN THE ANTI-FREEZE TEMPERATURE WENT. I CALLED CHEVY, THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. COST 500.00

• 12/29/2009· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY QUITS FUNCTIONING. SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY SHOWS HIGH SPEED (EXAMPLE 120 MPH) WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SPEEDOMETER REMAINS STUCK IN THIS POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE ERROR AFTER RETURNING HOME AND CYCLING THE IGNITION FROM OFF TO ON MANY MANY TIMES. NOW THE TACH JUST '!@#$% OUT AND STAYS AT 6:00. I BEEN ALSO HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES TO WHERE THE TRANNY WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHIFT HARD THEN BE FINE FOR A WHILE THEN BACK TO SHIFTING HARD? *TR

• 12/29/2007· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  2004 IMPALA LS, SPEEDODMETER ERRATIC THEN JUST FAILED. IN PARK I AM GOING APPROX 160 MPH. CONTACTED GM TO TRY AND GET IT COVERED, THE SAID NO. IN TIME CAR HAS NOW GONE OVER 70K MILES. WILL HAVE TO FIX ON MY DIME ( APPROX $700). MANY OTHER 2004 GM TYPES ALL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. SERVICE DEPT AGREES AND HAD 2 OTHER 2004 IMPALA'S IN SHOP FOR THE SAME FAILURE. *TR

• 12/29/2005· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 50 TO 60 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND REMAINED OFF UNTIL THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS PRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK . INCIDENTAL NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHT FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES ON 01/27/2006; ONCE ON 02/12/2006, INVOLVING HIGH BEAM, AND 3 TIMES ON 02/18/2006, INVOLVING 2 HIGH BEAMS. SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONAL FAILURE UNTIL THE TURN SIGNAL/DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 03/14/2006. CONTACT PAID $345 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *AK

• 12/28/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLES GAUGES DO NOT WORK@! SOME ARE STUCK AND WORK PERIODICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. FALSE READINGS FOR SPEED, FUEL AND TEMPERATURE. CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT RECALLS AND THERE ARE NONE ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. THIS CAR DRIVES HIGHWAY EVERY DAY AND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT IS WELL KNOW AN COST $600 TO FIX. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

• 12/28/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 2004 IMPALA IS HAVING PASSLOCK SECURITY PROBLEMS, THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T LET ME START THE CAR. LIGHT BLINKS THEN GOES OFF AND CAR STARTS. HAVE HAD CAR TOWED TWICE AND DEALER TELLS ME IT IS A PCM OR BCM PROBLEM DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX. ALSO WAS TOLD IT HAPPENS TO ALOT OF IMPALA'S. *TR

• 12/28/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE ON 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. *TR

• 12/28/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,INTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

• 12/28/2008· STEERING

  OWN 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR PULSATING FEEL IN STEERING SHAFT IN 10-10-2005,08-31-06,01-24-07 AND FINALLY 12-27-08. STEERING SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED ON 08-31-06 FOR INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. NOW CHEVROLET DEALER SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AFTER MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED! PLEASE REFER TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08E063000 COMPONENT: STEERING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

• 12/28/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE STARTED VEHICLE WITH 70000 MILES ON IT THE STARTER STAYSED ENGAGED FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. *AK

• 12/28/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE A BAD SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. IT IS ERRATIC. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FINE, BUT NOT FOR LONG. USUALLY IT READS 30 TO 60 MPH OVER WHAT I AM GOING OR IT GOES BEYOND THE 120 MAX. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY VEHICLES. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-TAHOE/T2BGKBGI55EKNU77C/P1 ABOVE IS A LENGTHY CUSTOMER COMPLAINT SECTION ON THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

• 12/28/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE HAD MY 2004 IMPALA FOR 18 MONTHS, OF THAT 18 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOR BRAKES FOUR TIMES. THE ROTORS KEEP WARPING UP. SOME DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE EVEN REPLACED THE ROTORS ONE TIME. THIS HAS GOTTEN TO BE SUCH A PROBLEM THAT MY FAMILY WILL NOT RIDE IN THIS CAR. WHY CAN'T GM DESIGN A CAR WITHOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THE IMPALA HAS. *NM

• 12/27/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD NO SPECIFIC ROAD JUST NORMAL DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SPEEDOMETER EITHER GOES UP OR DOWN DOES NOT HAVE CORRECT SPEED SOMETIMES IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND SOMETIMES AFTER THIRTY MINUTES OR AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. IT HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A WEEK I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS AS OF YET TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS FOR SURE. I AM READING ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS THE GAUGES NEED TO BE REPLACE AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON CHEVY TRUCKS BUT MINE IS A 2004 IMPALA AND AS OF YET THERE IS NOT ONE AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE VERY ANGRY ONLINE REGARDING THIS MATTER AND WANT A RECALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COST IS ABOUT 600 - 800 DOLLARS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO SO THEY ARE USING GPS SYSTEMS FOR THERE SPEED INSTEAD OF GETTING IT REPAIRED SINCE THE COST IS SO HIGH. *TR

• 12/27/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATIC AND COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING; STUCK ON 80 OR 100 MPH AT ALL TIMES. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER DUE TO INABILITY TO JUDGE SPEED OF VEHICLE ACCURATELY; POSSIBLE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND/OR SPEEDING TICKETS. NOTHING DONE BY OWNER AT THIS TIME DUE TO COSTLY REPAIR; FEEL GM RECALL APPROPRIATE DUE TO MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS FOR SAME ISSUE. *TR

• 12/27/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NORMAL DRIVING, SPEEDOMETER GOES TO 120MPH AND STAYS THERE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON. STILL AT 120 MPH. CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I CHECKED THE WEB AND FIND ITS A COMMON PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH CHEVY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT A WORKING SPEEDOMETER! *TR

• 12/27/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL* - THE CONTACT TOOK THE 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IN TO HAVE A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE HAD 37, 792 MILES. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE COOLANT & OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND SHE HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT GIVE ANY WARNINGS. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S COOLANT LIGHT TURNED ON 9/06 AND SHE HAD COOLANT ADDED.

• 12/26/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER GAUGE FAILED TO READ THE ACCURATE READING LEVELS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GAUGES SPORADICALLY INCREASED AND DECREASED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

• 12/26/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED ON MY 04 IMPALA AT ABOUT 52,000 MILES. *TR

• 12/26/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY SPEEDOMETER IS OUT OF WHACK, ALSO THE TACH DOESN'T READ CORRECTLY. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THIS COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. GOING AROUND CORNERS OR DRIVING IN A SCHOOL ZONE. SOMEDAYS IT WORKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND SOME DAYS NOT.. IT READS 90 MILES AN HOUR WHILE YOUR GOING SLOW. *TR

• 12/26/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE TRAVELING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY STARTED CLIMBING HIGHER AND EVENTUALLY PEGGED ITS SELF. I STOPPED VEHICLE AT THE NEXT PLAZA AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. SPEEDOMETER REMAINED PEGGED WITH ENGINE OFF. I GOT HOME AND PARKED CAR. THE FOLLOWING MORNING SPEEDOMETER WAS STILL PEGGED. BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF I WAS ABLE TO BACK UP NEEDLE TO 0 POSITION. SPEEDOMETER WORKED ALRIGHT AT LOWER CITY SPEEDS UNTIL ON 12-25-07 I AGAIN GOT ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE TO GO TO MICHIGAN. AGAIN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED CLIMBING AND WAS WELL PAST 120 MPH MARK WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION . AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO RESET SPEEDOMETER BY TURNING KEY OFF AND ON. RETURNING TO OHIO ON I75 AGAIN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED CLIMBING AND WHEN I GOT HOME SPEEDOMETER WAS AT 120. AT THIS POINT I TOOK SEVERAL DIGITAL L PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEEDLE POSITION AND WILL LEAVE IT THERE UNTIL I TAKE VEHICLE TO LOCAL CHEVROLET CAR DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE. VEHICLE NOW ONLY HAS 23,900 MILES ON IT. *TR

• 12/24/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *MW THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, IN LIGHT OF THE RECALL. *JB

• 12/24/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING. *TR

• 12/23/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEPPER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,423. UPDATED 01/29/10 *BF UPDATED 01/29/10.*JB

• 12/23/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AND GIVES ERRONEOUS READINGS. CAN READ ANYWHERE FROM 0 TO 120+ MPH AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FROM 0 TO 60 MPH WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INSTRUMENT IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY INFORM ME THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $460.00. THE SPEEDOMETER DEFECT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE 800-222-1020 WHO ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN #07-187 FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS BUT THE IMPALA IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE BULLETIN. NHTSA NOW HAS 48 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. *TR

• 12/23/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH THE SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 70 AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING. BEING 100 MILES FROM HOME, I CONTINUED ON, GAUGING MY SPEED BY OTHER MOTORISTS. *TR

• 12/22/2015· ENGINEFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING OIL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

• 12/22/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

• 12/22/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 12/22/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED PART FOR RECALL *CN THE CONSUMER STATED IN DECEMBER 2013, HE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPING TO ZERO. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE SPEEDOMETER IN THE CLUSTER HAD APPARENTLY GONE BAD. THE CLUSTER WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER SHOP AND THEY STATED THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RETURN. *JB

• 12/22/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,INTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE LIGHT SWITCH, PART NUMBER 10283776, ON MY CAR DEVELOPED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND BURNED OUT THE PUSH-ON ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE POWER SUPPLY WIRE TO THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ENOUGH HEAT WAS GENERATED TO DAMAGE THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR, PART NUMBER 12129431. THE FUSE DID NOT BLOW. I REPLACED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND CONNECTOR. *TR

• 12/22/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER STARTS AT RANDOM SPEEDS AND THEN CONTINUES LIKE IT STARTED AT ZERO. IT SOMETIMES SAYS 80 OR 100 MPH WHEN YOU ARE NOT MOVING AND THEN CONTINUES TO GO HIGHER AS YOU DRIVE. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR

• 12/22/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AFTER 20 TO 30 MINUTES ON THE INTERSTATE, THE SPEEDOMETER SLOWLY FALLS TO 20 OR 0 MPH, ALL WHILE YOU ARE STILL MOVING AT AROUND 70 MPH. THE ODOMETER CONTINUES TO FUNCTION DURING THIS TIME. IF YOU STOP THE VEHICLE, THE SPEEDOMETER SEEMS TO RECALIBRATE, AND TAKES ANOTHER 20 TO 30 MINUTES TO REINDUCE. NO TROUBLE CODES WERE SET. TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, YOU WOULD NEED TO GET A DEALER TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 1/2 AN HOUR...IT NEVER FAILS AROUND TOWN. THE DEALER ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, BUT THEY WANTED BIG $$ TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. BASED ON PILES OF CORROBORATING INFORMATION ONLINE, I REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STEPPER MOTORS MYSELF WITH SWITCH PART # X25.168 WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. IF YOU ARE HANDY, YOU CAN DO IT IN AN HOUR WITH ONLY A SCREWDRIVER AND A SOLDER IRON. THE FAILING SPEEDOMETER MOTOR THAT I REMOVED WAS BINDING SLIGHTLY; THE WORKING MOTORS FOR THE FUEL AND TEMP GAUGES WERE NOT. GM'S DENIAL OF THIS PROBLEM WHILE IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND. I GUESS THEY WOULD GO BANKRUPT IF THEY REPLACED THE FAILING CLUSTERS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN PROVIDE INFORMATION LIKE THE GM PART NUMBER FOR THE FAILING MOTOR, NOR WOULD THEY IDENTIFY THE VENDOR. I HAD TO USE NEWS GROUP HEARSAY AND ORDER THE PARTS FROM A VENDOR ON EBAY. *TR

• 12/22/2005· TIRESCrash

  2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE DRIVER COMPLAINED THAT HER NECKED HURT. *JB

• 12/22/2004· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - IT ALL STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE BLINKER MECHANISM OF THE TURN SIGNALS. WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK, THE LEVER IS TURNED FOR EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AND THE SIGNAL STAYS LIT, BUT NOT BLINKING. MOST OF THE TIME, THOUGHOUT THE DAY, THE SIGNALS BLINK PROPERLY. 2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES - THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT DRIVERS FOLLOWING ME WOULD NOT BE AS ALERT TO A NON-BLINKING LIGHT AS THEY WOULD BE FOR A BLINKING LIGHT. 3) BOTH MYSELF AND MY LOCAL GAS STATION REMOVED AND AND RESEATED THE POSSIBLE OFFENDING FUSE AND ASSOCIATED RELAY MODULE. HE EVEN INDICATED THAT BOTH CHEVROLET AND PONTIAC CARS HAVE TURN SIGNAL ARMS WITH SHORTS IN THEM. I COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALLS INDICATING A SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNALS.

• 12/21/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. TWO YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED WITHOUT WARNING. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER THE SAME AFTER THE TUNE UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 12/21/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM OVER A YEAR AGO WHEN THE TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO WHILE CRUISING DOWN THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR IT WAS FINE. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT TEMP GAUGE WAS READING WAY PAST "HOT," HOWEVER THE CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING. IT CONTINUES TO READ THIS WAY. NEXT IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER READING MUCH FASTER THAN ACTUAL SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 70 MPH HIGH. ONCE AGAIN THE TACHOMETER HAS GONE HAYWIRE AS WELL. SINCE THIS STARTED I HAVE NOTED THAT THE TACH AND SPEEDOMETER ARE FUNCTIONING, (THEY MOVIE HIGHER AND LOWER WITH CHANGES IN ENGINE AND VEHICLE SPEED) BUT APPEAR TO HAVE LOST THEIR "ZERO" REFERENCE. I RECALLED THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY DROP TO BELOW ZERO AND THEN SNAP TO ZERO WHEN THE KEY IS FIRST TURNED ON. WITH THE ENGINE OFF I REPEATEDLY CYCLED THE KEY ON THEN OFF, GRADUALLY BACKING THE TACH AND SPEEDOMETER TO ZERO. THEY THEN FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE WIGGING OUT AGAIN. IT IS MY GUESS THAT THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE GAUGES LOSING THEIR HOME PULSE. SO FAR, THE FUEL GAUGE HAS CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THIS FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS AS WELL AS LEAVING ME OPEN TO SPEED RELATED TICKETS AS I CAN ONLY ESTIMATE MY SPEED BASED ON EXPERIENCE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND DISCOVERING THE HIGH NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED WITH NHTSA IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR

• 12/21/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOME TIMES IT DOESN'T, THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN WHEN I CANNOT TELL THE TRUE SPEED IN WHICH I AM DRIVING. *TR

• 12/20/2013· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

  WELL I'M SO TIRED OF REPAIRING THE SAME PROBLEM .THIS ABS ISSUES ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY I MEAN I ALREADY REPLACED THE [XXX] COMPUTER THE BEARINGS THE CABLE THAT SENDS THE SIGNAL AND STILL THIS PROBLEM IS GOING ON IN SINCE 2009. EVER SINCE 2009 IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS I MEAN IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE BECOMES AN ACCIDENT I MEAN I'M DRIVING FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE [XXX] CAR ACTS ALL STUPID THE BRAKES DON'T EVEN WORK FINE BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM MAKES THEM PUSH BACK TO YOU AND THEN IT MAKES YOUR CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT FOR NO REASON IT SO ANNOYING I'M A HARD WORKING PERSON I HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY INTO MY CAR FOR GMC TO SELL ME A DANGEROUS CAR I ALSO HAD TO GET ANOTHER MOTOR BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL WOULD SHAKE WHEN EVER YOU WOULD ACCELERATE BUT I JUST WANT TO GET THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE FIXED PLEASE MAKE THEM REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER MY WIFE OR ME ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT....THANK YOU *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 12/20/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAGE NOT WORKING. I CANT TELL HOW FAST IM GOING OR IF I HAVE GAS IN THE CAR. I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW IF MY CAR IS OVER HEATING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON 2003-2005 CHEVY IMPALA'S. I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET AND ITS NOT FAIR THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE UP THIS EXPENSE. ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS NOT CHEAP. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS RARE..BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MOST IMPALA'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

• 12/20/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT BECAUSE THEY SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY THEY CAN NOT REPAIR THEM UNLESS THEY FAIL COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

• 12/20/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WERE NO KNOWN SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT LED TO THE OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, DURING A ROAD TRIP, I NOTICED THAT I WAS DRIVING SLOWER THAN NORMAL TRAFFIC BUT MY SPEEDOMETER STATED I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT 65 MPH. WHEN I LOOKED AT MY GPS, IT STATED I WAS DOING ABOUT 47 MPH. WHEN I SPED UP TO 65 MPH ACCORDING TO MY GPS, I WAS IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. AFTER I STOPPED, IT "RESET" ITSELF BACK TO ZERO WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLE. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, IT WON'T RESET ANYMORE. WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, THE NEEDLE POINTS STRAIGHT UP. WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE, THE NEEDLE GOES TO ABOUT 80 MPH. WHEN I'M DRIVING, IT GOES PAST 120 MPH. SO I'M CONSTANTLY USING MY GPS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER SPEED. I'VE BEGUN TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET ANY INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINT WEBSITES WHERE VARIOUS IMPALA OWNERS (2004-2006) THAT ARE ENCOUNTERING THE SAME ISSUE. I'M NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THIS PART; I HAVE OVER 126,000 MILES ON MY CAR. BUT THERE WERE OTHER OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE NEARLY AS MANY MILES AS I HAVE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

• 12/19/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU GO TO START THE CAR IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. ALL THE LIGHTS, RADIO, EVERYTHING COMES ON AS NORMAL BUT WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY OVER TO START IT WON'T DO NOTHING, CLICK, OR ANYTHING. ONE TIME WE LEFT THE CAR OVER NIGHT, LOCKED UP, THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. ANOTHER TIME I LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15 MINS AND IT STARTED FINE. THEN ANOTHER TIME, I KEPT TRYING EVERY 10 TO 15 MINS FOR AN HR BUT NOTHING. THEN LET IT SIT FOR 25 TO 30 MINS THEN NOTHING BUT I LEFT THE KEY IN ON POSITION FOR A COUPLE MINUTES WHILE ALL THE LIGHTS RAN AND THEN IT STARTED FINE. SOME PEOPLE SAY ITS THE STARTER, IGNITION OR EVEN THE SECURITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THERE'S EVEN VIDEOS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING. ID SAY THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO SO EVERYONE W THESE VEHICLES KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. THANKS *TR

• 12/19/2007· EQUIPMENT,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS WITH APPROX 82,000 MILES. NOTICED TWO WEEKS AGO THAT THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WILL GO FROM 20 TO 120 WITH THE ACTUAL SPEED NOT CHANGING. VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITH OUR ICE AND SNOW. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM ACTUALLY GOING. I HAVE READ ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 IMPALA'S. THERE IS NO RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE GM DEALERS WANT APPROXIMATELY $400 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND I BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE ON THE 2004 IMPALA TO SHOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. *TR

• 12/18/2015· TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL GRINDS ON THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 12/18/2015· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.