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

Electrical System complaints

681 reports

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67,321 miles · Jan 7, 2008

Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER AND TEMP GAUGE STICKING AND WILL NOT RESET - READING EXCESSIVE SPEED OR TEMPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214050

58,000 miles · Jan 6, 2008

Electrical System

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MY 2004 IMPALA'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO READ FALSE TEMPERATURES AROUND 58,000 MILES. TO THIS DAY, IT IS STUCK AND WILL NOT MOVE. SOON AFTER THIS PROBLEM, MY SPEEDOMETER FROZE ON 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO GO BACK TO ZERO THE FOLLOWING DAY BE TURNING THE KEY A NUMBER OF TIMES TO THE ACC. POSITION. NOW, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, THE SPEEDOMETER EITHER FREEZES OR IT WILL THINK ANOTHER NUMBER IS THE ZERO POSITION. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I AM GOING 60 MPH, IT WILL READ 100 IF IT HAPPENED TO STOP AT 40 MPH, MAKING IT THE ZERO POSITION. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING! NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM YET. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER TOMORROW, BUT IF I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THERE IS NOW WAY I AM GOING TO PAY $500 FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213993

65,000 miles · Jan 5, 2008

Electrical System

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SPEEDOMETER WILL GIVE ERRADIC READINGS. I FIRST NOTICED IT ON DECEMBER 22 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY; SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY BEGAN TO READ 110 MPH. AT A STANDSTILL, SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 50 MPH. IT HAS DONE THIS ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS, WITH THE LAST DATE BEING JANUARY 4, 2008. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SPEEDOMETER BACK TO ZERO WHILE BEING PARKED, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN TURN THE IGNITION TO "ACC". EACH TIME I DID THIS, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GO DOWN APPROX. 5 MPH SO I CONTINUED TO DO THIS UNTIL THE SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS PROBABLY A SENSOR ISSUE AND WHEN I DID RESEARCH, I FOUND 40 ADDTIONAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE SAME THING AND WAS READING ABOUT A POTENTIAL CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN SEATTLE DUE TO SPEEDOMETER FAILURES. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10213831

74,000 miles · Jan 2, 2008

Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO SHOW INACCURATE READINGS AND/OR BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. OTHER GAUGES ALSO REGISTER INACCURATE READING.*CN

NHTSA ODI #10213512

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2008

Electrical System

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW FROM GM. THE CAR HAS 43756 MILES ON IT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. IT CURRENTLY READS 107 MPH EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE OTHER GAUGES STARTED ACTING STRANGE, BUT WHEN THE KEY IS CYCLED, THEY GO BACK. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT BU…

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NHTSA ODI #10213330

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2007

Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10213242

57,000 miles · Dec 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 DRIVIN…

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NHTSA ODI #10212968

23,500 miles · Dec 26, 2007

Electrical System

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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

NHTSA ODI #10212696

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2007

Electrical System

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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

NHTSA ODI #10212303

17,500 miles · Dec 18, 2007

Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE ON MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212269

Official recalls

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 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

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

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.