7.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$400
Average Mileage:
78,850 miles
Total Complaints:
79 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (39 reports)
  2. replace cluster (31 reports)
  3. repair cluster (7 reports)
  4. replaced 4 stepper motors part # x15.168 (2 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #59

Oct 152007

Impala V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

The instrument panel in my car went out. I couldn't tell how fast I was going. This car was only 3 years old at the time!!!! I took it into the dealership and they wanted $500.00 minimum to fix. Right........ I went out and got a $100.00 GPS and have been using the speedometer on it since to see how fast I'm going. Worthless car.

- crw2479, Kansas City, MO, US

problem #58

Oct 152009

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

Bought used 59K Miles 2004 impala ls from Maroone in Florida around 2008. Contacted dealer, explained cluster problem started at 68k miles and subsequently it has gotten worse over a couple of years. I was told I would cost about $500 to repair. I learned via internet this is a known problem to GM. Dealer checked my VIN number and told me there wasn't a recall or tech bulletin on my car. I decided to Do it myself by purchasing the x25.168 stepper motors and replacing the XC5.168 motors in the cluster. THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS WORKING FINE NOW. NOTE when removing the cluster I noticed the 2 screws in front and on top of the cluster were missing. I assumed the original owner had the cluster replaced before and the mechanic did not bother to replace the screw. apparently it was replaced it with a new cluster having the same defective stepper motors (XC5.168). BEWARE. IF THE REPLACE YOUR CLUSTER MAKE SURE THE STEPPER MOTORS ARE NOT part number XC5.168. YOU MAY END UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DOWN THE LINE.

- erikarr, Davie, FL, US

problem #57

Feb 182011

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

First the speedometer went out, but if I restarted the car it would correct itself. Finally, it just stopped completely, now the temperature gauge is showing the car is running hot. Sitting still I am overheated and going 120 plus. My mechanic says cluster needs to be replaced. My son's Impala had same problem for years on his 02--he never replaced the cluster. He has warned me that soon my gas gauge will go, too. Problem is too expensive and new cluster not guaranteed to work, either.

**Solution: buy GPS for speedometer, use 'check engine light' in case of overheating--I keep a portable diagnostic in the trunk, and when the fuel gauge bites the dust I will use my tachometer. Kind of reminds one of the Clampetts vehicle from the Beverly Hills Billies show.

Since GM is ignoring the problem, I plan to ignore them and not buy the Arcadia my heart was set on (son already went Buick). Will donate this Impala to mom, along with GPS and diagnostic:don't think the Toyota will need them.

- E M J., Clinton, MS, US

problem #56

Mar 022010

Impala LS 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,958 miles

The heater control lights stopped working and I have not yet got an estimate for repairs.

- Steven R., Milwaukee, WI, US

problem #55

Jan 012008

Impala 3400

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

our problem started back in 2008 on our way back from a game, when the temperature gauge stopped working. OK dealt with it, then the turn signals starting working only when they wanted to, put up with that for about 2 months, and puff, all of a sudden they started working properly. End of problems, oh, no, now the speedometer went hay wire, that was about a year ago. That is really annoying, especially when we're traveling the highway. The transmission started slipping about 8 months ago. Then about 4 months ago i put gas in the car, got in started it up, and guess what, the gas gauge doesn't work. That's another problem, i really haven't been getting good gas mileage either. I don't understand, we bought this car brand new in 2004, had a heater problem, which was still under warranty, and never really had any other problems until about two years ago when everything started going hay wire. It's probably going to cost us 1,000 or 2 to get these problems fixed; so i guess it's time to just buy a new car, NOT A CHEVY!!!!!!!

- John/diane K., Scranton, PA, US

problem #54

Jun 012009

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

the only thing i will said is GM should replace the speedometer without cost to all impalas 2004, never, but never I will buy another impala.

- Francisco B., Woodburn, OR, US

problem #53

Feb 012011

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

my 2004 impala ls 3.8l v6 gas gauge points to the 6 o'clock position when i fill the tank up. At the same time the tach reads 7000 rpm and up. As the tank empties, everything begin to return to normal. The onboard computer seems to indicate that the range and the low fuel lights are working ok.

- John S., Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #52

Dec 072010

Impala LS 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 154,000 miles

I have actually loved this car! But, the speedometer gauge got confused or something and cause speedometer gauge to show I am going 110MPH when I am really parked. The past week this has been happening on my transits to and from work. This usually happens when I am almost to work or home and drive 35 miles one way. My solution to this is let the car sit for couple minutes and I can actually cycle the ignition several times and the gauge drops back to zero were it is supposed to be then it all starts over the next day. The problem that I have with GM is that they recalled all of the Trucks that had the same problem they were produced in the same time frame as the cars that have the same issue. Come to find out the problem was Stepper Motor in the Trucks. The Stepper Motor that was causing the failure was product number XC5.168. Coincidently this is the same stepper motors that are in most of the cars as well. So I want an answer! Why weren't our cars recalled but, the trucks were?

- Ryan P., Davison, MI, US

problem #51

Apr 162010

Impala V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

I don't buy cheap gas - only buy fuel at major oil company stations. Fuel gauge fuctuates between not working at all to working very well. I now set trip gauge at 0 everytime I fill tank and use that to tell me when I need to get more fuel.

Have been a loyal Chevrolet customer but if I ever even think of buying another I hope someone locks me up!

- Evelyn N., La Place, LA, US

problem #50

Nov 062010

Impala SS 3.8SC

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,800 miles

There are presently 217 instrument cluster complaints registered at odi.nhtsa.dot.gov for 2004 Chevrolet Impala. Manufacturer should cover ALL costs associated with repairing these!

- Charles K., Loudon, TN, US

problem #49

Aug 102007

Impala SS 3.8supercharged

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,050 miles

I am the second owner of my 2004Impala SS. On my way home from work, within miles of the car going over it's 36,000 mile warranty, my speedometer crapped out. It began to stick and freeze up. Now, I have no working gauges at all on my car. Fuel, tach, temp, etc. all stop start peg out wrap around. This was the beginning of the problems with this car. I will also post on others things, but I want to say this now as well, kinda pissed about the whole thing. A few months after the dash problems, my turn signals quit. The lights will just turn on, but not blink, hazard button does the same thing. When I asked a repair shop, hoping it was just a relay, they told me it was something more, and weren't sure how to fix it. Now my map lights on the mirror are started to not work. About half the time when you open the door, they don't turn on. I tap the mirror a few times and then they work. This car has not been wrecked or otherwise damaged. I have been a fan of Chevy my whole life, but I swear that this thing was a time bomb. You could not have planned it any better for the problems to start right at the mileage they did. I see hundreds of posts with the same problems with this generation of car. If Chevy is smart they better address this. Needless to say the van we bought my wife is a Dodge....

- Joe C., Creston, IA, US

problem #48

May 152010

Impala LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 151,000 miles

I work as the mechanic on a fleet of vehicles for the local news paper. The great majority are G.M. light duty trucks, and a few cars. Almost every vehicle with an electronic instrument cluster has had a speedometer repair. A G.M. tech. told me it's a money maker because it's not a safety hazard, it almost always happens after the warranty runs out, it's an easy fix and it's expensive. I will fix mine for about $18.00 and a little time.

- Michael S., West Haven, CT, US

problem #47

May 082010

Impala LX 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,500 miles

I'm dealing with the exact same problem. Just passed 80K on the odometer when I noticed it for the first time. In the beginning it wasn't too bad, it would only get "sticky" after a half hour + of driving. Now it has I mind of it's own and is completely unreliable. Seems like every 7-8 months something goes wrong requiring hundreds of dollars to repair each time. This speedometer "glitch" is just one more reason why I'll never buy another American car. Can you blame me?

- lfrank, Columbus, OH, US

problem #46

Feb 042008

Impala LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Have a 2004 Impala and have been having the same problems as many others with the cluster gauge acting up. Security light on/Trac OFF light on/Check engine on and the most annoying is that a couple of times a month it just won't start. After 10-15 minutes it will start but you never know when the problem will occur.

This is the 4th Chevy vechicle in my family to have these problems. A 2003 Silverado Truck, a 2003 Tahoe , another 2004 Impala and my Impala. Replacing the cluster gage at a $500 expense seems to be the answer, but wake up GM..shouldn't you be fixing these since this problem is so rampant?

All of the above mentioned vehicles also had problems with the steering Spline. Plastic parts which had to be replaced. No more Chevy's in this family. Even with Toyotos very publuc problems, I'll take my chances rather than own another GM vehichle.

- Patsy F., Bedford, VA, US

problem #45

May 062009

Impala 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

The speedometer on my Impala began sticking on the way back from a trip. It was at night. Erratic behavior and showing my speed to be less than what it actually was. When I slowed down and was stopped, the speedometer showed negative. I just put up with the problem and always kept the GPS in the car just in case since the problem was not a regular problem.

One night, I was going home and realized what the problem was. It only happened at night or when overcast and the dash lights were on. I then dimmed the dash lights. After about 10 minutes, I pulled over, stopped the car to reset the gauges. The speedometer was working again!! Problem, I hope your listening GM, the lights inside the gauges are heating the metal shaft the needle is on. It is expanding and is binding in the orifice that it fits in through the instrument cluster. You need to fix and recall this because I don't want a ticket because of your poor design.

- D G., Channelview, TX, US

problem #44

Dec 162009

Impala LS 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

My RPM gauge went haywire. Turned my ignition on and off to go back to zero.

- Anthony W., Buffalo, NY, US

problem #43

Nov 192009

Impala LT 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

Boy, the electronics suck, besides the cluster, the radio has no output- lights but no sound.

- Sean C., Worcester, MA, US

problem #42

Oct 242008

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Gauges only work when they want to. Very unreliable! This problem showed up the first winter we owned the car. We bough the car used with 58000 miles on it and we loved the whole car because it fits the entire family of tall people well. Seats are extremely comfortable. But this haywire gauge problem is frustrating! The problem really shows up when the temperature outside drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I work in the automotive industry aftermarket parts house and have contact with many repair shops. All mechanics complain about this issue and can't figure out why GM hasn't recalled the gauges unit. Everyone needs the gauges to work...but most people can't afford: to one, have their car down for 3 weeks while it gets fixed; and two, can't afford the price to fix this issue. It seems as though as when these vehicles were built, they put in defective gauge units and after a short period of time...they really crash! So what does the consumer have to do to get heard about this issue. This is a danger to the people driving them! This is a MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!

- Shelly F., Selah, WA, US

problem #41

Nov 182009

Impala SS 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,120 miles

Same problem as most Impala owners! Gauges go crazy, sometimes work-sometimes don't. Work better the longer you drive and the more times you start the car! I think there should be a recall. Too many with the same problem. Chevrolet needs to fix these. Our Dodge with 202,000 miles has no problems with any gauges. Neither does our van. We just bought this car and it is an Indy Edition with only 47,500 miles on it.. Super nice car with nothing else wrong with it

Never know how much fuel is in the tank and can't tell how fast you are going!!! Car could overheat and you would not know until too late!. The oil gauge is messing up now, too.

- cheser, Mackville, KY, US

problem #40

Jun 182009

Impala V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,000 miles

setting still speedometer is reading pointing straight down ,you have to keep turning it on and off to get back to zero,but when you take off driving it goes hay wire again .i believe Chevy should have a recall to fix the problems with their pieces junk they sell for what they call an auto..glad dodges are alot better than Chevy.i guess if you drove for Nascar they would fix it real quick

- Mike K., Bradford, ARK, US

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