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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

29 reports
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179,583 miles · Sep 10, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I OWN A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA 3.8L WITH APPROX 179,000 MILEW.MY COMPLAINT IS IN RELATION TO THE PASSLOCK III SYSTEM AND THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF "NO START" COMPLAINTS FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT MODELS OF GM CAR OWNERS ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THIS FAULTY ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I LIVE RIGHT SMACK IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH IN A VERY SMALL TOWN…

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I OWN A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA 3.8L WITH APPROX 179,000 MILEW.MY COMPLAINT IS IN RELATION TO THE PASSLOCK III SYSTEM AND THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF "NO START" COMPLAINTS FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT MODELS OF GM CAR OWNERS ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THIS FAULTY ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I LIVE RIGHT SMACK IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH IN A VERY SMALL TOWN IN TENNESSEE AND KEEP IN MIND, IT IS REALLY HOT AND HUMIDITY IS RIDICULOUS THIS TIME OF YEAR. I PICKED UP MY DAUGHTER AT A FRIENDS HOUSE AFTER WORK, ABOUT 5:25 PM LAST THURDAY, 9/5/19, AND MY CAR DIED AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LIKE THE ENGINE JUS SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON AT ALL , I HAD FILLED MY TANK A FEW DAYS PRIOR AND KNEW THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO PUT IN NEUTRAL BEFORE LOSING MUCH SPEED AND TRIED TO CRANK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HITTING MY FLASHERS BECAUSE THERE WERE A FEW CARS BEHIND ME ON A 2 LANE ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE SHOULDER ROOM TO PULL OVER OFF ROAD. I POPPED THE GOOD TO SEE IF I COULD SEE OR MAYBE EVEN SMELL ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I'M MAKING SURE MY BATTERY CABLES AREN'T LOOSE, NO FLUIDS LEAKING OR SPEWING AND LUCKILY A STATE TROOPER WAS PASSING THRU AND STOPPED TO SEE IF I NEEDED HELP AND TURNED HIS LIGHTS ON SO TRAFFIC WOULD KNOW THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND COULD SLOWLY GO AROUND. TO MY SURPRISE, AFTER EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED, HE SAID HE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WITH HIS DAUGHTERS CAR, 2002 IMPALA, AND TOLD ME TO TRY THE 10 MINUTE RESET PROCEDURE AND SURE ENOUGH, AFTER THAT 10 MINUTE RESET, SHE FIRED RIGHT HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, HOME HAD HE NOT COME ALONG AND ALREADY KNOWN BOUT THIS FAULTY SYSTEM PRIOR, MY DAUGHTER AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK FOR SOME TIME ON THE SIDE OF A 2 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE EARLY SEPTEMBER HUMIDITY MOST LIKELY WAITING FOR A TOW. UPON RESEARCHING AFTER, FOUND GM ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT, BEEN NEGLECTED LONG ENOUGH! THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI #11254508

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT HAS COME ON. IT MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, BRAKES FEELS LIKE THEY ARE LOCKING UP AND THE POWER STEERING MAKES IT HARD TO STEER.IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION TURNING BRAKING AND STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENEDPULLING OUT FROM PLACES ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL STREETS.

NHTSA ODI #11245661

160,000 miles · Aug 5, 2019
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS BEEN JERKING EVERY TIME IT WOULD SWITCHES GEARS. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL I RESEARCHED AND I SEEN ALL OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING IT WAS THE "TRANSMISSION" WELL EVERY TIME I DRIVE I WOULD BE AT A STOP SIGN OR AT A RED LIGHT. AND WHEN I GET MY GO AHEA…

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TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS BEEN JERKING EVERY TIME IT WOULD SWITCHES GEARS. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL I RESEARCHED AND I SEEN ALL OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING IT WAS THE "TRANSMISSION" WELL EVERY TIME I DRIVE I WOULD BE AT A STOP SIGN OR AT A RED LIGHT. AND WHEN I GET MY GO AHEAD MY COULD WOULD NOT MOVE UNLESS I PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, EVEN THEN MY CAR WILL JERK BACK AND PEEL OUT. IM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, I THINK ONE DAY IT MIGHT STOP MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #11241655

55,000 miles · Mar 21, 2019
SteeringUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, LUCKILY ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS SO FAR. I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND TONS OF PEOPLE SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEIR IMPALA. NOT COOL

NHTSA ODI #11190613

142,000 miles · May 17, 2017
Unknown Or Other

DID YOU KNOW THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION KEY FIX HAD ONLY A ONE YEAR WARRANTY? THEY FILLED THE SLOT WITH TWO PLASTIC HALVES THAT SNAPPED TOGETHER AND KEPT THE KEY RING CENTERED SO IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF THE IGNITION IF YOU HIT A BUMP. MY KEY CAME APART AND I CAN NOT GET IT TO SNAP BACK TOGETHER. THE DEALER SAYS THE WARRANTY IS EXP…

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DID YOU KNOW THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION KEY FIX HAD ONLY A ONE YEAR WARRANTY? THEY FILLED THE SLOT WITH TWO PLASTIC HALVES THAT SNAPPED TOGETHER AND KEPT THE KEY RING CENTERED SO IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF THE IGNITION IF YOU HIT A BUMP. MY KEY CAME APART AND I CAN NOT GET IT TO SNAP BACK TOGETHER. THE DEALER SAYS THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND SUGGESTED I GLUE THEM ON THE KEY. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANY ONE ELSE?

NHTSA ODI #10986201

130,000 miles · May 9, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE SHIFTER GOES ALL THE WAY TO PARK BUT THEY KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION SO YOU CANT REMOVE THE KEY.

NHTSA ODI #10984528

159,000 miles · Apr 9, 2017
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING TO DUE A SECURITY GLITCH. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS MANY TIMES MY CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE IT TECHNICALLY THINKS I'M TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY OWN CAR. THE SECURITY LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION IT DOESN'T START. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO 'ON' ON THE IGNITION AND…

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I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING TO DUE A SECURITY GLITCH. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS MANY TIMES MY CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE IT TECHNICALLY THINKS I'M TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY OWN CAR. THE SECURITY LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION IT DOESN'T START. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO 'ON' ON THE IGNITION AND SIT FOR ABOUT 10 OR SOMETIMES 20 MINUTES UNTIL THE CAR STARTS. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION FOR ME AND DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION I'M IN IT ALSO COULD BE DANGEROUS. I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVY IMPALAS IN GENERAL.

NHTSA ODI #10971530

18,548 miles · Jul 4, 2016
Unknown Or Other

LOUD KNOCKING NOISE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND THE DASHBOARD GAGES DONT WORK

NHTSA ODI #10882443

138,000 miles · Jun 8, 2016
Service BrakesSteeringUnknown Or Other

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM. WHEN I MAKE SHARP TURNS THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON, AFTER THIS LIGHT COMES ON IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP AND EVEN SLIDES SOMETIMES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL SPEED SENSORS AND REPLACED THE WIRES AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURING.

NHTSA ODI #10873143

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THEY DID A RECALL THE PAPER SAID IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY REPLACED 2 KEYS MY CAR WON'T START WITHOUT TURNING THE KEY TO ON AND WAIT 10 MINUTES 3 TIMES. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS ALL MESSED UP AND THEY CHARGED ME 500 PLUS DOLLARS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM .THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A …

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THEY DID A RECALL THE PAPER SAID IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY REPLACED 2 KEYS MY CAR WON'T START WITHOUT TURNING THE KEY TO ON AND WAIT 10 MINUTES 3 TIMES. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS ALL MESSED UP AND THEY CHARGED ME 500 PLUS DOLLARS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM .THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A LOCKSMITH I DID THAT BEFORE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. NOW THE DEALER WANTS ANOTHER 500 PLUS TO PUT IN A NEW IGNITION. I'M NEVER DOING ANOTHER RECALL. MY CAR WAS FINE UNTIL THEN I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2006 AND IT'S BEEN KEPT UP BY FIRESTONE. MY SON IS IN THE ARMY AND IT WAS THE FIRST CAR HE EVER BROUGHT AND IT WAS A GREAT CAR. THE DEALER ALSO DID THE 2ND RECALL WHILE THEY HAD IT NOW I'M TOLD IT'S LEAKING OIL. SO DISAPPOINTED [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10851400

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.