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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

15 reports

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131,000 miles · May 3, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 24, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM I HAD JUST GOT OFF WORK AND WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START I GOT A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROL PANEL WHICH SAYS SECURITY AFTER SITTING ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN THE RAIN AND COLD IT STARTED UP THEN I GOT HOME AND TURN IT OFF THEN TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON AND IT WOULD NOT START IT SHOW SECURITY ON THE DASHBOARD I HAVE REVIEWED A COUPLE SITES ON THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET IMPALA'S FROM 2000 TO 2004 I THINK THAT'S A BIG CONCERN BEING A ELECTRIC PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD AND A CAR JUST CUTS OFF AND WILL NOT START BACK UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586310

168,000 miles · Jun 13, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

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I HAVE HAD MY 2004 IMPALA INTO THE SHOP THREE TIMES NOW WITH REGARDS TO THE TRACTION LIGHT GOING ON WHEN I TURNED ALONG WITH TRAC OFF AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON. INITIALLY THE SERVICE LIGHTS WOULD GO ON WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. THE ABS WOULD MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS CYCLING. JUST LAST WEEK ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRACTION SERVICE LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. I HAVE HAD TO STOP AND THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE WITH NO BRAKING CAPABILITIES THEN IT WOULD CATCH AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP WITH PUMPING THE BRAKE. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST TIME A REPAIR WAS MADE TWO WEEKS AGO AND REPLACED WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES ON BOTH FRONT TIRES AND FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THIS IS TIME FRAME WENT THE BRAKES WENT OUT. I WAS TOLD THE BACK BRAKES WERE OK. THE SECOND TIME - THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RIGHT BEARING AFTER THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN AFTER 5 DAYS OF DRIVING. NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE TRACTION AND ABS WHEN THE SERVICE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN. THE WIRE IS ROCK HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519619

135,000 miles · Jun 9, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes

WAS TURNING LEFT FROM STOP WHEN TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON ALSO ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION OFF SWITCH LIGHT, NOW IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE AND SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR. IT MAKES A GROWLING SOUND,IF I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT ALL THE LIGHTS GO OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515886

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH IN THE CAR WHEN I ACCELLERATE I HEAR TWO THING, A WATER SWISHING SOUND AND A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD . THEN MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHT. THEN WHEN I GO TO BRAKE THERE IS ANOTHER GRINDING SOUND. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. BUT IT DOES HAPPEN OFTE…

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NHTSA ODI #10504662

66,253 miles · Jul 30, 2009

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACH METER NEEDLES WENT HAY WIRE. THEY HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL STATE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278822

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.