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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

Electrical System complaints

681 reports
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38,034 miles · Sep 26, 2007
Electrical System

TEMPERATURE GAUGE QUIT WORKING, AND NOW AS OF TODAY MY SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING EITHER, IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THEN JUST SHOT TO 120 AND THEN WHEN I SHUT OFF MY CAR IT BURIED THE NEEDLE AND NOW IT WILL NOT MOVE. THIS IS A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204128

69,200 miles · Sep 25, 2007
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE WHENEVER IT WANTS. MY SPEEDOMETER WILL SAY I'M GOING 60 MPH BUT I'M NOT REALLY GOING THAT FAST. SOMETIMES IT GOES THE OTHER WAY. IT WILL SAY I'M DOING 30 MPH AND I'M ACTUALLY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. RIGHT NOW PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING OVER 120 MPH. I HAVE CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND T…

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MY SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE WHENEVER IT WANTS. MY SPEEDOMETER WILL SAY I'M GOING 60 MPH BUT I'M NOT REALLY GOING THAT FAST. SOMETIMES IT GOES THE OTHER WAY. IT WILL SAY I'M DOING 30 MPH AND I'M ACTUALLY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. RIGHT NOW PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING OVER 120 MPH. I HAVE CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND THE A NONE FOR THIS DEFECT. I CALL IT A DEFECT BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AND THEIR CARS HAVE ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE AS MINE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE NOT TO MENTION AN ISSUE WITH THE LAW, BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I WOULD GET IT FIXED BUT I JUST HAD A BABY (SO NOT SAFE TO HAVE HER ALONG WITH ME) AND I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $500 LAYING AROUND. NORMALLY WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE IT IS NOT AN ISSUE, I GET IT FIXED BECAUSE ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I DO NOT FEEL THAT A SPEEDOMETER IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE THESE KINDS OF ISSUES AT 69,000 MILES. IT SHOULD HOLD UP TO WHAT THE COMPANY SAYS THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE CAR IS. THIS "DEFECT HAS 2 TSB#'S BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING THEM USED TO FIX THE CAR. TSB#'S 01726 & 050604058 ARE THE NUMBERS BUT NOTHING TELLS ME WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH THOSE NUMBERS OR WHO I SHOULD TALK TO ABOUT USING THE NUMBERS TO GET THE CAR FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204038

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2007
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

GAS LEAKING OUT THROTTLE BODY. CAR IS IDLING LOW. CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WENT OUT AND THEN ALL OF THE BEFORE MENTIONED PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING. SKIPS AFTER BEING TUNED UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10203057

30,000 miles · Sep 13, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

WOW SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. SPEED DOES NOT REGISTER PROPERLY SEEMS TO BE WHENEVER IT WANTS IT WILL SHOW SPEEDS HIGHER THEN WHAT THEY ARE. THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE SPEEDS ARE GUESSED IN SCHOOL ZONES AND HIGHWAYS. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS SPEED WILL BEGIN TO WORK OK. NOW THE BLOWER MOTOR AND HEATER DO NOT WORK UNLESS YOU POUND B…

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WOW SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. SPEED DOES NOT REGISTER PROPERLY SEEMS TO BE WHENEVER IT WANTS IT WILL SHOW SPEEDS HIGHER THEN WHAT THEY ARE. THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE SPEEDS ARE GUESSED IN SCHOOL ZONES AND HIGHWAYS. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS SPEED WILL BEGIN TO WORK OK. NOW THE BLOWER MOTOR AND HEATER DO NOT WORK UNLESS YOU POUND BY THE ASHTRAY AREA AND HOPEFULLY THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL START BLOWING BUT THE HEAT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN SWITCHED TO HEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE LIVING IN MONTANA WHEN IT GETS BELOW 32 AND COLDER IT WOULD BE NICE THIS WINTER TO THAW OUT THE WINDOWS SO I CAN SEE WHEN DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. SOMETIMES WHEN THE AIR IS BLOWING YOU CAN SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. WE ARE IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN MONTANA AND IF MY CAR WERE TO CATCH ON FIRE ON SIDE OF ROAD AND CONTINUE UP THE MOUNTAINS THIS COULD BE A DISASTER BE CREATING A WILDFIRE. I AM UNHAPPY WITH MY CAR WHICH HAS STARTED PROBLEMS AROUND THE 30,000 MILE MARK. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH IS NEEDING TO BE CLICKED TWICE BEFORE DIMMING DOWN FROM HIGH BEAM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LIKE SLIPPING INTO GEAR AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202854

70,000 miles · Sep 12, 2007
Electrical System

AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES MY IMPALA'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED ACTING FUNNY. ONCE IT STAYED ON COLD WHILE I DRIVE COMPLETELY ACROSS TOWN. THE NEXT DAY IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT. I GOT OFF, CHECKED THE WATER AND OIL LEVELS. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WITHIN A FEW DAYS I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER SHOWED THAT I WAS GOING 50-60 MPH WHILE …

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AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES MY IMPALA'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED ACTING FUNNY. ONCE IT STAYED ON COLD WHILE I DRIVE COMPLETELY ACROSS TOWN. THE NEXT DAY IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT. I GOT OFF, CHECKED THE WATER AND OIL LEVELS. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WITHIN A FEW DAYS I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER SHOWED THAT I WAS GOING 50-60 MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. I STOPPED AND THE GAUGE STUCK AT 40 MPH. BOTH GAUGES HAVE CONTINUED TO GO HAYWIRE. MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS NOW STUCK WAY PAST THE HOT LEVEL AND HAS ALMOST MADE IT ALL THE WAY AROUND AGAIN. MY SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ON 50 MPH FOR THE LAST 4 DAYS AND AT TIMES ALSO ALMOST GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND. I ATTEMPTED TO CHEVROLET AND THEY ARE BASICALLY DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH READING ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES ISSUES, THIS IS THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202747

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2007
Electrical System

THE SECURITY LIGHTS IN MY VEHICLE COMES ON AND ENGINE WILL NOT CRANK FOR 10 - 20 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202552

38,000 miles · Sep 9, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

MY 2004 IMPALA SS HAS HAD SEVERAL FAILURES OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE FIRST WAS INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER READINGS THAT LEAD TO TOTAL FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER (STICKING AND/OR ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE). THE SECOND WAS IMPROPER FUEL LEVEL INDICATION (HIGH LEVEL SHOWN WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT COMING ON - ALM…

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MY 2004 IMPALA SS HAS HAD SEVERAL FAILURES OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE FIRST WAS INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER READINGS THAT LEAD TO TOTAL FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER (STICKING AND/OR ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE). THE SECOND WAS IMPROPER FUEL LEVEL INDICATION (HIGH LEVEL SHOWN WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT COMING ON - ALMOST NO FUEL LEFT). THE LATEST IS INCORRECT OIL PRESSURE INDICATION. ALL OF THESE ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE MODEL OF STEPPER MOTOR USED TO DRIVE THESE GAUGES IN MANY GM VEHICLES. MY TOTAL COST FOR REPAIR HAS BEEN IN EXCESS OF $300, NOT INCLUDING THE CURRENT OIL PRESSURE GAUGE REPAIR (STEPPER MOTORS FOR SPEEDO AND FUEL LEVEL GAUGE). I PLAN ON HAVING ALL STEPPER MOTORS REPLACED WITH THE LATEST GENERATION REPLACEMENT (SWITEC X25.168). THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND CORRECT AS IT IS A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202291

65,000 miles · Sep 7, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 75 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS THE LAST TRAVELED SPEED INSTEAD OF ZERO. IN ORDER TO RESET THE SPEEDOMETER, HE MUST TURN THE SWITCH ON AND OFF UNTIL IT READS ZERO. THE DEALER STAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 75 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS THE LAST TRAVELED SPEED INSTEAD OF ZERO. IN ORDER TO RESET THE SPEEDOMETER, HE MUST TURN THE SWITCH ON AND OFF UNTIL IT READS ZERO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST $1,000. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10202217

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2007
Electrical System

SMELL GAS WHEN NOT AROUND GAS STATION AND IGNITION PROBLEMS SOMETIMES I MUST START THE CAR TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #10201196

37,800 miles · Aug 19, 2007
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER READS ERRATIC. INDICATOR BEGAN READING THE INCORRECT SPEED AT APPROXIMATELY 37,800 MILES. SPEEDOMETER CURRENTLY STUCK AT 35 MPH WITH VEHICLE AT A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN ACTUALLY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, SPEEDOMETER READS 110 MPH. THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE DRIVER THOUGHT THE 110 MPH WAS CORRECT AND QUICKLY…

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SPEEDOMETER READS ERRATIC. INDICATOR BEGAN READING THE INCORRECT SPEED AT APPROXIMATELY 37,800 MILES. SPEEDOMETER CURRENTLY STUCK AT 35 MPH WITH VEHICLE AT A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN ACTUALLY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, SPEEDOMETER READS 110 MPH. THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE DRIVER THOUGHT THE 110 MPH WAS CORRECT AND QUICKLY APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND VEHICLE CHECKED. SPEEDOMETER HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. SINCE THEN A WEEK HAS GONE BY AND PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10200075

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.