Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2004)

1,074 consumer complaints on file.

#10327611April 26, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR WOULD RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREETS AND ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MILES PER HOUR, OR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT . THE CAR WOULD STALL UP TO 3-4 TIMES PER DAY MOST OF THE TIME AND AS TIME WENT ON IT GOT WORSE. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE BATTERY, THE FUEL FILTER, THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND THE CAR STILL TURNS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR STALLED A FEW YARDS AWAY FROM A RAILROAD CROSSING (SINCE SHE QUIT DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY), LUCKILY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON TRACKS, NO TRAIN WAS COMING AT THAT TIME. SHE HAD TO WAIT APPROX. 25 MINS FOR IT TO START AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT THIS TIME IT DIDN'T TURN ON, SO SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER, WHEN HE ARRIVED APPROX. AN HOUR LATER, TRIED TO START IT BUT IT DIDN'T START EITHER. SO, WHEN ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY TRIED STARTING IT AND BY THEN IT STARTED. THE SHOP MANAGER, WHOM I HAD RELATED THIS INCIDENT TO WAS AWARE OF THE SITUATION, SO HE THEN ASSIGNED A MECH TO STAND BY THE ANALYZER MONITOR WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THEY KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING UNTIL IT FINALLY DIED ON THEM AGAIN, WHILE THE MECH WAS STILL THERE, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG (DIDN'T ASK). AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME THE ANALYZER INDICATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STALL. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS REPLACED AND IS NOW A MONTH LATER AND IT'S RUNNING JUST FINE. NOT A HINT OF STALLING NOR ANYTHING ELSE. MY CONCERN IS THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY FROM A CAR THAT TURNS OFF RANDOMLY DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326548April 20, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ON SEVERAL 2003-2006 GM VEHICLES, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING (THE NEEDLE STOPS MOVING). THE FIX REQUIRES THAT THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER BE REPLACED FROM WITHIN THE DASH. THE SPEEDOMETER TYPICALLY FAILS SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE'S 36K-MILE WARRANTY EXPIRES. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS A FORUM THREAD WITH 125+ POSTS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SPEEDOMETER_GONE_HAYWIRE.SHTML THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WEBSITES WITH FORUMS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326513April 19, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON 2004 CHEVY IMPALA GIVES INCORRECT READINGS TO INCLUDE SPEED WHICH COULD RESULT IN DRIVING AT EXCESSIVE SPEEDS WITHOUT PROPER INDICATION AND RESULTING IN UNJUST SPEEDING FINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326515April 19, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING AND NOT GIVE AN ACCURATE READING, AND IT MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT OCCURS AROUND ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK NORMALLY, WITH MINIMAL DRIVING. THE DASH HAS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I COULD BE GOING THE WRONG SPEED AND NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REACT TO SOMETHING SUCH AS A DEER IF I AM GOING FASTER THAN IT SAYS I AM OR IF I HAVE TO GUESS MY SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326113April 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVY IMPALA, 35,000 MILES. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED THAT TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS READING IN THE RED, PULLED INTO A MCDONALD'S TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON (NORMALLY THE IMPALA HAS AN ALARM THAT GOES OFF WHEN OVERHEATING, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN) AS I DECELERATED, I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE, BUT RATHER STAYED AT 60MPH, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO DID NOT MOVE. UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE SPEEDOMETER MOVED BACK TO 0, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STAYED IN THE RED. TURNING THE CAR BACK ON DID NOT RESET THE TEMP GAUGE, BUT AS I ACCELERATED, THE SPEEDOMETER STAYED AT 0 FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP (I HAD TO USE GPS TO GET SPEED). THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORKED CORRECTLY SINCE. DOING SOME INSPECTION LATER, I FOUND THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM IN IMPALAS OF MOST 2000-2010 IMPALAS. OUR LOCAL POLICE FORCE DRIVES IMPALAS, AND THE SPEEDOMETERS FAIL ON ROUGHLY 60% AT BETWEEN 30K AND 60K MILES. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE ALSO REVEALED THAT IT IS A SEVERE PROBLEM, AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EITHER PULLED OVER, OR HAD BEEN GOING MUCH TO FAST BEFORE NOTICING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER($150 USED, $400 NEW), AND SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE REPLACEMENT SIMPLY HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SEVERE PROBLEM, AND WHILE THE EMPLOYEES AT THE DEALERSHIP SAY IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME (AT LEAST 3 IMPALAS WITH FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS PER WEEK), CHEVY AS A COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM TO NOTICE. PLEASE HELP! LINKS TO SOME REPAIR FORUMS ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-IMPALA/TJSMIQPD8J0FT5DK8 HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SPEEDOMETER_GONE_HAYWIRE.SHTML HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEHELPER.COM/TOPIC640920.HTM HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T752665.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325813April 15, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2004 CHEVY IMPALA: THE SPEEDOMETER STEP SERVO MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE IN MY CAR. IT STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO GIVING FALSE READINGS. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THEM DOING THIS. THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME STEP MOTORS USED ON OTHER CHEVY VEHICLES WERE ACTUALLY RECALLED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I'M HAVING TO USE MY GPS FOR A SPEEDOMETER NOW, AND IT CAN BE HARD TO READ AT TIMES. WHY HASN'T CHEVROLET EXTENDED THE RECALL TO THE IMPALA'S AS WELL.THEY MUST BE HOPING THE CAR OWNERS WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR THEM? CAN YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? THE DEALERSHIPS I'VE TALKED TO SAY THEY EXPECTED CHEVY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT PUT OUT THE RECALL ON THE IMPALA. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NOW. EVEN BEFORE THE 2004 MODEL.THERE ARE MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS LISTED 'ON LINE'. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325731April 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 IMPALA AND ABOUT ONCE A WEEK IT WON'T START FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. HAVE TO SIT THERE A JIGGLE THE KEY AROUND. TOOK IT IN AND THE CHEVY GARAGE COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AT ALL AND I WAS CHARGE FOR THIS ANSWER "I DON'T KNOW" SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WHEN YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE VERY SAME THING IN THEIR IMPALA. I RECEIVED ALL KINDS OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS LIKE A NEW COMPUTER THAT COSTS OVER A $1000.00 GIVE ME A BREAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325743April 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1.) THIS CAR IS USED AND HAS A SALVAGE TITLE FOR VANDALISM, I HAVE HAD FOR FIVE MONTHS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL GAUGES (SPEEDOMETER, TACH & GAS GUAGE) DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND SAFELY 2.) THE FAILURE OCCURS DAILY; STARTED OFF AND ON ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO 3.)I WENT TO WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, THIS MODEL, MAKE, AND YEAR ALL HAVE FAULTY GAUGES. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY GM!!!! THERE ARE 124 COMPLAINTS. I AM GOING TO A MECHANIC, BUT I KNOW I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPAIR IT IF THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE GAUGES GOING HAYWIRE ON CARS WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325048April 12, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE WHILE THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STARTED AFTER APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED TWENTY TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE VCM UNIT AND CONNECTORS, WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324601April 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH GAUGES NOT MOVING AT ALL, OR WHEN THEY DO WORK THEY ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING CORRECT. MY SPEED WILL SHOW I'M GOING OVER 120 MPH (I KNOW I AM NOT GOING 60). TEMP SHOWS THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT WHEN IT NOT. RPM WILL STAY ON RED. SOME DAYS THE GAUGES WILL WORK FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WILL GO HAYWIRE. I AM TERRIFIED THAT MY GAS GAUGE IS GOING TO STOP WORKING OR SHOW I HAVE MORE GAS THAT I DO AND I END UP RUNNING OUT OF GAS. I AM A 24 YEAR OLD FEMALE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DO IF I RAN OUT OF GAS SOMEWHERE ALL ALONE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PUT FOR AS THE DATE. IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM. I GOOGLED 2004 IMPALA GAUGES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT BY NOT KNOWING HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING, SOMEONE COULD BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THERE MOTOR AND WILL NOT ABLE TO TELL (RUNNING HOT, LOW OIL, ETC). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323924April 6, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA THAT THE ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK ON. THE GAS GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE NOT WORKED CONSISTENTLY ON THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR BACK ON 09/2007. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW THAT I AM GOING 0 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I AM ACTUALLY MOVING, AND MY GAS GAUGE WILL BE POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN, SAME AS MY TEMP GAUGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO BILL SEIDLE CHEVROLET, THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM, AND THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CHEVORLET ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH AND LIFE THREATENING ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS ADDRESSED. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE BLOGS OUT THERE WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NOT JUST TO MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA BUT TO VIRTUALLY EVERY GM OWNER SINCE THRU 2005, THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER UNABLE TO DETERMINE SPEED OF VEHICLE, WHEN OR IF A VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING, UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH OR IF ANY GAS REMAINS IN THE VEHICLE, THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES WHEN DRIVING A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. A DRIVER HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING CRITICAL INFORMATION NEEDED WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE. THE GAS GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER DO NOT WORK. CHEVY IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS OF THE FAULTY INSTRUMENT PANEL. I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE DEMAND THE CHEVY RECALL ON THIS ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURES FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OF US. I CHALLENGE YOU TO GOOGLE 2004 CHEVY IMPALA, INVARIABLY EVERY RESULT WILL PERTAIN TO ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. HOW COULD THIS NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL REQUIRING A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323922April 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGE MALFUNCTION, BEGINNING WITH TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWING INCORRECT TEMPERATURE (COLD START - TEMP READOUT 160 F), SUBSEQUENTLY SHOWING TRACTION SYSTEM FAILURE INDICATOR, FINALLY PROGRESSED TO SPEEDOMETER FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER - SPEEDOMETER BEGAN SHOWING RANDOM SPEEDS AT APPROXIMATELY-STEADY CRUISE, READING 42 MPH AT ABOUT 70 MPH. INTERNET RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES MULTIPLE SUCH INSTANCES. CHEVROLET HAS ADDRESSED IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN SILVERADO AND AVALANCHE MODELS, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE IMPALA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323606April 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY ON CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE HEAD LIGHT IS TO PULL THE BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH BACK AND HOLD IT. SO ONE HAND FOR BRIGHT LIGHT AND ONE FOR STEERING. SO WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC ITS EITHER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OR NO LIGHTS. HAPPENED ON A VERY DARK NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD. COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. LUCKY THAT MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN WHERE NOT WITH ME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323619April 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 IMPALA ODOMETER MALFUNCTION IN WINTER COLD WHETHER CONDITION MOST OF THE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323304April 1, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE 2008 UNTIL THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONTACT SENT THE MANUFACTURER THREE LETTERS REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 06/17/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEEDLE WOULD NOT RETURN TO ZERO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPDATED 07/26/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323021March 31, 2010
STEERING
STEERING RACK,FIXED ON 8/27/09 ON 3/29/10 CANNOT STEER TO LEFT, LIMITED ON RIGHT TWICE TURNING TO LEFT CAR COULD NOT ALMOST HAD ACCIDENT WITH ON COMING CARS AND PARKED CARS CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC,SAYS WORK WAS DONE ON THIS, TO TAKE BACK TO THEM. HAD TO TOW TO DEALERS. WAS THE STEERING RACK ONCE MORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323240March 31, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA SPEEDOMETER WENT HAYWIRE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321894March 25, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED "FLOATING". IT WOULD BE ALL OVER THE PLACE, SOME TIMES IT WOULD GO ALL THE WAY AROUND TO 120 AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD BE RIGHT ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319860March 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY SPEEDOMETER AND WATER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. IT SAID I WAS GOING 120 MPH BUT I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THE NEXT DAY I WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND IT WAS STUCK ON 30 MPH AND THE TEMP GAUGE SHOWED THE NEEDLE IN THE RED, BUT IT WAS NOT STARTED FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAMILIAR COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319306March 12, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER QUICK WORKING, NO IDEA HOW FAST CAR IS GOING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO QUIT, CAR COULD OVERHEAT WITHOUT KNOWING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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