Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2004)

1,074 consumer complaints on file.

#10390077March 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SEDAN WHICH HAS 123,551 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT WITH 108,000. I DISCOVERED AFTER I BOUGHT IT THAT MY SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER WAS ACTING UP. I COULD RESET IT BY TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF TIL IT REACHED 0 AND BOTH THE WATER TEMP GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER WOULD WORK FOR A DAY OR SO. NOW, ONLY THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS BY RESETTING AND THE WATER GAUGE NEVER WORKS. I HAVE SEEN MAY OTHER IMPALA COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME REASON. THEY DID A RECALL ON THE TRUCKS BUT NOT ON IMPALAS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. 2ND PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SHOP DIAGNOSED AND REPLACE VALVE BODY. STILL DID SAME JUMPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR SO REPLACE AGAIN. STILL DOES IT. WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO DROVE MY CAR THAT IT MAY BE CONTROL MODULE. IT NEVER DOES IT WHEN I TAKE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP BUT MY MECHANIC GOT IT TO DO IT ON FRI. AND SAID HE THOUGHT IT COULD EITHER BE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER RELATED OR MAY A CONTROL MODULE. IT IS AN INTERMINENT PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD SINCE I BOUGHT CAR IN DEC. 09. ANOTHER FRIEND SAID HE BOUGHT A NEW 08 AND IT DID SAME THING. NO ONE EVER FOUND OUT WHY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10387808March 2, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SPEEDOMETER STOPS TRACKING SPEED. IT WILL STOP AT A RANDOM SPEED AND NOT RETURN TO ZERO UPON STOPPING THE CAR. WHEN I START DRIVING AGAIN IT WILL START TRACKING THE SPEED FROM THE INCORRECT POINT THAT IT STOPPED AT PREVIOUSLY AND THEN REPEAT THE FAULT STOPPING AT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MPH POINT. ALSO IT WILL JUST FREEZE AT RANDOM SPEEDS. AT TIMES IT WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE SPEEDOMETER AND FREEZE. I WOULD THINK THIS IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY ON THE LIST OF SAFETY ITEMS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10385888March 1, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD MODERATE PULSATING FOR APPROXIMATELY 25, 000 MILES *TGW THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. WHEN HE DISSEMBLED THE FRONT BRAKES, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE INNER BRAKE PAD FRICTION MATERIAL HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BACKING PLATE (BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT). THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE FRICTION MATERIAL WAS FLOATING LOOSE INSIDE OF THE CALIPER FRAMES CAUSING THE EDGES OF THE FRICTION MATERIAL TO BECOME JAGGED AS A RESULT OF CONTACTING THE CALIPERS. THE INSIDE PORTION OF THE ROTOR HAD UNUSUAL WEAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE HAD REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED ALL OF THE PADS AND THE ROTORS AT HIS EXPENSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384994February 24, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEM WITH GAUGE *TGW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384277February 24, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START AND THERE WERE OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10384432February 24, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
CHEVY IMPALA - SPEEDOMETER KEEPS MESSING UP. STOPS WORKING WHEN I AM DRIVING. WILL GOING 55 AND WHEN I STOP THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T ALWAYS GO BACK TO 0. NEXT THING I KNOW I AM IN A 35 BUT MY SPEEDOMETER IS READING 90MPH. AN ONLINE SEARCH HAS FOUND THAT MANY OTHER HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. FAR TO MANY FOR THE SAME TYPE OF CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384908February 21, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAGE GIVE FALSE READINGS. SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND INDICATES 65 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. TACHOMETER RANDOMLY INDICATES RPMS VARYING FROM 0 TO MORE THAN 8000. TEMPERATURE GAGE INDICATES RANDOMLY BETWEEN MINIMUM OF 140 AND MAXIMUM OF 260 DEGREES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380235February 4, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SEE THE SPEED HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD WATER PENETRATE THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380793February 4, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2004 IMPALA W/ 3.8L ENGINE STALLS WHEN DECELERATING, LEAVING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT AND UN-SAFE TO DRIVE. CURRENTLY, THE ENGINE STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT IT TAKES MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RE-START. I HAVE TRIED A FEW INEXPENSIVE THINGS SUCH AS PREMIUM GAS, FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER, AND A NEW FUEL FILTER...NO AFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO "ENGINE LIGHT" WHICH APPEARS. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW AND TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP IF AT ALL POSSIBLE BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST THEM. UNFORTUNATELY, I MAY BE FORCED TO SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I CANNOT AFFORD A CAR PAYMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380007February 2, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 IMPALA. IT ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE KEPT IT MAINTAINED. RECENTLY THE GAUGES ON THE CONTROL PANEL BEGAN GOING CRAZY-FLICKING BACK AND FORTH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LITE WOULD COME ON. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS WHACKED OUT. IT READS 100 WHEN I'M GUESSING 40 OR 50 MPH OR 10 WHEN I'M AROUND 35 OR THE TOTAL OPPOSITE. I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, SERVICEMAN AND TOLD THEM OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I HAD READ ON THIS PROBLEM. HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE COST TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE AROUND $550. I BELIEVE THIS IS A TOTAL RIP OFF! THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THE MOUNTED NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE ALREADY READ. THIS WAS MY 1ST CHEVROLET, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380477January 31, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS INCIDENT DURING THE LAST YEAR; THE LATEST BEING LAST NIGHT. LAST NIGHT, I WAS RUNNING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 55 AND 60 MPH ON A VERY DARK NIGHT WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAINED LIT. AFTER FRANTICALLY ACTIVATING THE STEERING COLUMN BRIGHT/DIM SWITCH, THE DIM LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WE LIVE DOWN LONG, CURVY MOUNTAIN BACK ROADS THAT ARE NOT LIT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. MY RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN UNTOLD NUMBERS OF IDENTICAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE 2004 IMPALA. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY A TAX PAYER BAILED OUT GENERAL MOTORS TO FIX A DESIGN RELATED SAFETY ISSUE. BEFORE I DO, I WILL CONTACT MY ATTORNEY AND INITIATE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. IS IT GOING TO TAKE THE NEEDLESS DEATH OF MANY PEOPLE TO GET GM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? HELLO OUT THERE. IS ANYONE LISTENING?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379508January 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE HAD MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA JUST RANDOMLY NOT START. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THAT IT'S THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. I'M NO MECHANIC BUT KNOW HOW TO RESEARCH AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH THESE SAME ISSUES IS OVERWHELMING! IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE SOME NICKEL PINS THAT WERE USED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT ARE VERY PICKY TO OXIDATION LEVELS TO THE POINT OF BEING FAULTY - THE SMALLEST WEAR AND TEAR OR CORROSION OF THESE PINS CAN START THIS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING AS WELL! THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES. I LIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA, AND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IN -40 DEGREE WEATHER IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO SPAN MANY YEARS AND MODELS OF GM VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379369January 27, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE GAUGES ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS ARE ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE RPM AT IDLE SITS AT ABOUT 3 AND WHEN I'M IN DRIVE IF RANGES FROM 4 TO 5 WITH VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS 140 MPH. WHEN TURNING THE CAR OFF THE GAUGE INDICATORS DON'T GO BACK TO THEIR DESIGNATED STARTING POSITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378566January 25, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED WITH TWO INCORRECT PINS WHICH RESULTED TO THE FAILURE. THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378630January 25, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA XF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND WOULD NOT INDICATE AT WHAT SPEED THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,792.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378158January 21, 2011
STEERING, SUSPENSION
CLICKING NOISE IN FRONT END WHENEVER I TURN RIGHT. JACKED UP OFF THE GROUND THERE IS NO NOISE WHEN IN GEAR AND TURNING RIGHT. IS IT STEERING OR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. REPLACED BOTH CV JOINTS AND HUBS. STILL CLICKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377940January 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2004 CHEVY IMPALA SPEEDOMETER GIVES ERRATIC READINGS. NOTE COMPLAINTS ONLINE ARE VERY HIGH WITH SAME PROBLEM . VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377616January 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER ( COMPONENT 1 ) HAS FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. IT BEGAN BY OPERATING ERRATICALLY ON THE DATE ENTERED ABOVE AND HAS PROGRESSED TO NOT WORKING AT ALL MOST OF THE TIME OR DISPLAYING THE WRONG SPEEDS I.E. 70 MPH WHILE SITTING STILL. THE TACHOMETER ( COMPONENT 2 ) IS ALSO SHOWING THE SAME SIGNS TO COMPLETE FAILURE BY DISPLAYING UNREALISTIC ENGINE SPEEDS WHILE AT IDLE. I CONTACTED A DEALER WHO RAN THE VIN AND FOUND NO RECALLS. I HOWEVER HAVE RESEARCHED THIS MATTER ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE THAT APPEARS TO POINT TO THE STEPPER MOTORS USED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS BY GM TO BE THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT GM HAS RECALLED SEVERAL MODELS OF THE SAME ERA DUE TO THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT THE IMPALA LINE. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE SAME PROBLEM IS RECALLED FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL AFFECTED MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376748January 14, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING, THEN COME BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY. SOMETIMES WHEN THEY GO OFF THEY ARE OFF FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AS YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376552January 13, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 65 MPH. SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PUMPING THE BRAKES A COUPLE OF TIMES UNTIL IT FINALLY STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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