10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,132 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #104

Nov 062009

Impala

  • 49,957 miles
2004 Chevrolet Impala ls speedometer suddenly started to malfunction. Sometimes reads 0 when car is in motion. Often reads -0 at stop, jittery movement when the indicator moves at all, sometimes stops @ 20 or 30 mph and will not show higher number even while continuing to accelerate. Actual speed can not be determined while operating the vehicle. GM has issued a recall for the Tahoe for the same problem but refuses to recall the defect in the Impala. Clearly a manufacturing defect and not do to age or mileage.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #103

Oct 032009

Impala

  • 9,400 miles
The car wont start but all the lights and it acts like it started but the motor wont turn and NO1 nos how to fit it does this ever day I try to start it and it wont do anything until I wait 10to 20 min and then it starts like nothing happen if I know how to fit it I wont but NO1 can tell me what's the calls of it can you just tell me what I need to do to get it fixed?

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #102

Oct 172009

Impala

  • 79,662 miles
The speedometer in my '04 Chevy Impala ss is very erratic. It displays incorrect speed. I was traveling @ 70mph but the speedometer displays @ 49 mph. When stopping it will drop below the zero mark at @ 15 mph. The needle ticks around on the face of the dial. This seems dangerous to me not knowing the speed you are traveling. From internet research I've seen this is a common problem on '04 GM cars. This problem is erratic. In my opinion there should be a recall on these cars.

- Huber Heights, OH, USA

problem #101

Jun 232009

Impala 6-cyl

  • 52,998 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle she noticed that occasionally the vehicle would not start. The contact also noticed that all of the dashboard lights would flicker on and off while the contact was attempting to start the vehicle. A local dealer stated that the failure could not be reproduced. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 52998. Updated 12/7/09 the consumer stated the security light would come on. The consumer believed there was a problem with the pass lock system. Updated 12/08/09.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #100

Sep 142009

Impala

  • 100,000 miles
Having same problem as many others. Security light blinking, car wont start for 10 min called Chevy no solution. Recall and fix. Safety issue. Attention Chevy your car is not safe!!!

- Bonners Ferry, ID, USA

problem #99

Aug 212009

Impala

  • 72,045 miles
My 2004 Chevy Impala will not start sometimes. This is very inconvenient as I have a young child and this has happened at night far from home on more than one occasion. My security light also comes on at times and will just go off by itself. I have been told it is a BCM problem or a pass lock sensor problem, but this is an issue on many Impala. I can't believe GM has not issued a recall on this as I am sure many people are put at risk daily.

- Chillicothe, MO, USA

problem #98

Aug 062009

Impala

  • 65,290 miles
My vehicle was parked in my garage overnight and on 8-6-09, I tried to start the car to go work and it would not crank. I had lights but it would not start. Checked battery-O.K. hit starter with a hammer. Vehicle started. Taken to garage for a new started. Started installed; next morning it would not crank. Towed to Chevy dealer. Told it needed a new PCM(powertraincontrolmodule) which was under the emissions warranty. Vehicle now starts, but the security warning light stays on and the ignition sensor would have to be replaced. ( a new battery was installed.) ignition keys had to be reprogrammed. This failure has occurred only 1 time so far. I've been told this is a problem with this model vehicle and the problem is in the ignition switch which may fail again at anytime.

- Strasburg, PA, USA

problem #97

Jul 152009

Impala

  • miles
First speedometer quit working, now temperature gauge is not reading correctly.

- Elgin, SC, USA

problem #96

Jul 272009

Impala

  • 66,253 miles
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.

- Cookeville, TN, USA

problem #95

Jan 012005

Impala

  • 20,000 miles
Speedometer gives false readings.

- Malden, MA, USA

problem #94

Jul 072009

Impala

  • 54,500 miles
My 2004 Chevy Impala speedometer has stopped tracking the correct speed. It is usually reading much less than I am actually moving but can report much higher speeds. This is a real safety issue because it is difficult to judge your actual speed without it. Typically with a working speedometer I have to brake to keep my speed in check. The car rides so smooth that it is easy to go faster than one should.

- Hudson, NH, USA

problem #93

Jun 232009

Impala

  • 98,000 miles
I own a 2004 Chevy Impala. I found this website full of the same complaints as mine, with the vehicle not starting when it should. I have first experienced this at 75,000 miles and I would put in the key and nothing happens except the lights and radio come on. No click no nothing... had the alternator replaced, and it still does it. Had the starter checked, it still does it. I have been stranded at work, late for work at home, at restaurants in below zero weather with a child. Please see this website, because there are thousands of complaints, and it appears this is a GM issue that should be recalled. I can give the date that happened the other day at work in 110 weather (with humidity) had to wait 1/2 hour then it finally started. Something is wrong, and why should consumers have to pay for this problem when clearly it is a GM problem. The website of the complaints (that in order to get an answer you have to pay for..seriously come on) is www.carcomplaints.com/Chevrolet/Impala/2000/electrical/passlock_problem_security_light_is_on.shtml I appreciate your time. Because this happens at random times, it is too hard to pinpoint exact times and places that this has indeed happened. My alternator was replaced by a GM dealer and funny they "never heard of this problem before"... although my neighbor who owns a 2002 has the same problem.

- Stillwater, MN, USA

problem #92

Jun 222009

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,800 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 25 mph, the anti theft warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The power steering failed and the vehicle shut off. The contact waited a few seconds and restarted the vehicle. She called the dealer and was informed that the cylinder on the pass lock system was failing, or possibly the body lock control module or the box sensor. The repair would cost $600. The vehicle has not been repaired. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 71,800 and current mileage was 71,989. Updated 07/28/09. The consumer did not have power steering or brakes. Updated 07/30/09.

- Souix City, IA, USA

problem #91

Jun 062009

Impala

  • miles
I own a 2004 Chevy Impala. My security light comes on once in a while and then my car won't start. I've been told by my dealer that it is a passlock issue and that it happens in many GM vehicles.

- Norwich, NY, USA

problem #90

Dec 102007

Impala

  • 60,000 miles
My instrument panel also went out in winter of 2007. Called GM directly who refused to help with this problem. My father in law owns an Avalanche and received recall notice for the instrument panel for his truck and other large SUV's that are made by Chevrolet. The years covered included 2004. If GM knows that the instrument panels were bad for other models, why haven't they been recalled for the Impala. My car did the same thing; driving approx 40 mph and car read 75 mph. The speedometer read 120 mph on the highway that day when cars were flying by me. This is most definitely a safety issue. Unfortunately, GM seems to be waiting for serious injury or death before recalling the bad parts. This goes along with the steering column shafts being bad also. What a joke!! I too will never purchase another american made car as long as I am able to drive. I had to take GM to court over my car due to the car being in the shop approx. 25 times for repairs before it was 4 years old. My whole car has basically been replaced (including the instrument panel and steering column shaft) except for the slipping transmission now. I take very good care of my car as I have the indy motor speedway ss. Paid a lot of $$ for nothing. It's no wonder GM is going under. Their cars are junk and they don't stand behind their products. What a shame. Hopefully no one has serious injury due to all the safety failures with these cars.

- Reading, OH, USA

problem #89

Dec 102008

Impala

  • 26,000 miles
Speedometer false reading, works fine under 50 miles an hour over drops to zero and will not register or works erratic, might read 100 or even higher or lower.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #88

May 282009

Impala

  • miles
Electronically problems with doors locks and instrument panel. Both problems were repaired. Now a year later, experiencing both problems. Lights on the instrument panel will come on and speedometer will go crazy while driving. Unable to lock the car with either key or key fob.

- Irmo, SC, USA

problem #87

Mar 152009

Impala

  • 49,000 miles
Gerald king name/firm/company: General Motors Corp. Subject/category: Automobiles questions/comments: The speedometer in my 2004 Impala works sometimes and does not work sometimes. On autobeef's web site alone there are 109 complaints about the speedometer. It should be a recall item. See below 2004 Chevrolet Impala speedometer gone haywire severity rating 8.1 pretty bad typical repair cost: $454 average mileage: 61,315 miles number of complaints: 109 www.carcomplaints.com/Chevrolet/Impala/2004/accessories-interior/speedometer_gone_haywire.shtml.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #86

Sep 012008

Impala

  • miles
Fall of 2008 noticed that my security light was coming on while I was driving and then when I would start my vehicle it would not start. Called my dealership and they told me it could be a few things and that if I tried to start my vehicle and it would not start to shut off the ignition and wait about 20 mins, winter of 2008 noticed that the temperature gauge was completely over running as hot as it could go. Brought it in to my Chevrolet dealer and they did a test on it and said it was fine and that just make sure if it started to have smoke from the hood to get it in. I then lost my speedometer and my turn signals and called yet again to see if there by any chance was a recall because it had become obvious to me that after searching on line that there seems to be some sort of defect with the computer board somewhere. Spoke with Chevrolet again to find out that there was no recall on this problem. Brought my vehicle in on March 4, 2009 and paid out of my pocket $1100.95 to get my vehicle where I could trust it. My vehicle is a 2004 Chevrolet and when the problems started it had less than 44,000 miles on it.

- South Portland, ME, USA

problem #85

Oct 252008

Impala

  • 83,000 miles
The cluster for the 2004 Chevy Impala. It makes not sense that this system goes out after 75,000 miles on a car. The dealer ship want to charge $600 to replace the part for the car. I will never buy another american car because of this problem and the problem I am having with the security light keep coming on, and then shutting the engine off for 15min until the car will run again. That happen when I was out late at night and I was the only one left in the parking lot waiting on my car to start. I feel that is a security problem with my safety. I have to keep taking my car to the dealership to have that problem reset. My cluster is still out don't know how fast I am driving nor if my car is running hot, nor how gas I have N my car.

- Memphis, TN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »