Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2004)

1,074 consumer complaints on file.

#10308091February 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST HAD MY SECOND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (HEADLIGHT DIMMER, TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE, WIPER/WASHER) FAIL ON THIS CAR FOR THE SAME REASON RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AS SEEN BY NUMEROUS BULLETIN BOARD POSTINGS. I DISSECTED THE ORIGINAL SWITCH TO DETERMINE IF THIS COULD BE FIXED. IT BECAME QUITE OBVIOUS WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE CONTACTS ON THE HI/LO BEAM PORTION OF THE SWITCH FOUL AND OVERHEAT. THIS SWITCH HAD MELTED PLASTIC FROM THE SWITCH HOUSING THAT HAD FLOWED OVER THE CONTACTS AND PREVENTED PROPER SWITCH OPERATION. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. THIS OVERHEATING IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING THAT HAS RESULTED IN UNDERSIZED CONTACTS THAT FOUL DUE TO RELATIVELY HIGH LOAD CURRENTS IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307336February 7, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SPEEDOMETER ON 2004 CHEVY IMPALA SUDDENLY CHANGED TO READ 50MPH WHEN NOT EVEN MOVING. THEN WHEN DRIVING IT READS MUCH HIGHER MPH THAN ACTUAL SPEED. WAS RESET BY TURNING IGNITION ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SINCE THEN AND CAN BE RESET BUT NOT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING WHEN IT HAPPENS TO MALFUNCTION. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304252February 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
HELLO, I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY. IMPALA. A LARGE NUMBER OF THE SPEEDOMETERS ON THESE CARS ARE DEFECTIVE, AS IS MINE. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES BERSERK AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SPEED IS. FOR EXAMPLE. YOU MAY BE TAKING A 35 MPH CURVE AT 50 WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SAYS 35 OR OTHER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. GM HAS HAD HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS (JUST ONE EXAMPLE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SPEEDOMETER_GONE_HAYWIRE.SHTML) ON THIS AND CHOSE NOT TO OWN UP TO IT. THE PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY WITH MY MODEL/YEAR, THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SPEEDOMETERS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED IN MANY MODELS OVER SEVERAL YEARS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304436February 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SOMETIME AROUND 2007 THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO MESS UP. IT WOULD SAY THAT I WAS GOING 100 MPH WHEN I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. MY TACHOMETER WOULD SAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS DOING 5000 TO 6000 RPM WHEN PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED I AM NO THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS TODAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302966January 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I BOUGHT A USED 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA AND OCTOBER 19, 2007 AND A FEW MONTHS AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. MY SPEED ODOMETER SAID I WAS DOING FORTY WHEN I GOT PULLED OVER FOR DOING 55MPH, AND AS I PULLED OFF AND LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER IT WAS STUCK AT 40MPH. ALSO THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME ON THEIR OWN. I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT AND MY HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE AND I HIT THE BRAKES AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER I FOOLED AROUND WITH THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH FOR A WHILE THE LIGHTS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302996January 28, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OR THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT IMPALA MODELS FROM 2003-2006, AS WELL AS OTHER CHEVY MODELS. THE GAS GAUGE HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT, AND THE VOLT GAUGE HAS NOW STOPPED WORKING, AND THE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY GOES HAYWIRE AND MOVES ERRATICALLY, READING INCORRECTLY. THE MOST COMMON REPORT IS THAT GM HAS INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OF THESE MODELS. AND THE DEALERS ESTIMATE A REPAIR COST OF $600 TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER COMPLETELY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. GM NEED TO STEP UP AND RECALL THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART.*CW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303004January 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLLGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVIING. AS OF NOW THEY STILL COME BACK ON WHEN SWITCHING THE LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM SWITCH. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. CANNOT DRIVE CAR WHEN DARK. WILL COST ABOUT $600 TO REPAIR.*CW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302586January 27, 2010
STEERING
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA POWER STEERING LOCKS MAKING DRIVER UNABLE TO TURN CAR DURING RAIN OR DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES. STARTED OUT HAPPENING ONLY A SECOND OR TWO, BUT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. SEVERAL TIMES, ENGINE CUT OFF, OR I HAD TO CUT IT OFF TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE POWER STEERING. HAD IT "FIXED" BY DEALER WHO REPLACED CLUSTER. IT DID IT AGAIN THE VERY NEXT RAIN. NO ACCIDENT BUT A "NEAR MISS" BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE DUMP TRUCK. I WAS TOLD I WAS DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES TOO FAST. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, AND THERE IS A LOT OF RAIN AND POOR DRAINAGE. OTHER CARS GOING SPEED LIMIT WERE NOT HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS I DRIVE A CARPOOL OF FOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I AM SURE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, SINCE I SAW OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON TWITTER *CN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301753January 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2004 IMPALA, 80,000 MILES. COLD WINTER DAY. CONSEQUENCES( HAVING TO PURCHASE NEW SPEEDOMETER ) NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT AS OF YET. SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SAYS GOING 90 MPH WHEN GOING 60. WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF SAY 30MPH. INHERENT FLAW NOTED BY CHEVROLET VEHICLES (COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INCORRECTLY SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING TACHOMETER NEEDLE STICKS, JUMPS, OR PEGS FUEL GAUGE FLUTTERS ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILS THE COMMON CAUSE FOR ALL THESE ISSUES IS A FAULTY STEPPER MOTOR. THE MOTOR WAS USED THROUGHOUT GM?S ENTIRE PRODUCTION LINE FROM 2003 TO 2007.) I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES WITH WHICH PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH INCORRECT READING SPEEDOMETERS AS GM USED FAULTY PARTS IN MANUFACTURING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300234January 19, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AT NIGHT ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH EXTREME CAUTION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299997January 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA,SPEEDOMETER WORKS ONE DAY AND DOESN"T WORK THE NEXT DAY. WILL BE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SHOWS SPEED ONE MINUTE AND MAYBE NOTHING THE NEXT. REALLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS. GM HAS TO KNOW THAT HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299765January 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS ERRATIC SPEEDS, GOING TO SPEEDS OF 80, 90, 120+ FOR NO APPARENT REASON. EACH TIME THE AUTOMOBILE IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN, IT USUALLY WILL GO DOWN BY ABOUT 10 MPH. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL, BUT THIS PATTERN REPEATS AFTER A DAY OR SO OF REGISTERING CORRECT MPH. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WE HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET AND BEEN ADVISED TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED AT A DEAL FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A DEALER WHO WILL RESPOND TO OUR CALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299675January 13, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND THEN GOING OFF. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP REPAIR SERVICE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AS THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THE IMPACT SENSOR WAS INOP AND THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY . I HAD IT REPAIRED THAT DAY. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME ON THAT PROBLEM AND I SHOULD CALL CHEVY AND SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR. I TALKED TO CHEVY CUSTOMER ASSIST ( TINA ) AND SHE STATED SHE WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH US AFTER SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS ON THE 08 JAN 2010. ON 13JAN2010 THE CALL WAS RETURNED AND TINA STATED " THAT CHEVY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR". ALSO THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD MY CAR REPAIRED AT THE CENTER AND NO PROOF OF ANY SERVICE BEING DO TO IT. I DEAL WITH GOODYEAR FOR MY REPAIRS BRAKES,TIRES,BATTS, AS WELL AS OIL CHANGES EVER 3000 MILES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MY SERVING MY CAR HAS TO DO WITH A SAFETY PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT TAKE A PROBLEM LIKE THAT TO GOODYEAR BUT TO A SERVICE CENTER THAT COULD HANDLE THAT TYPE OF PROBLEM BETTER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM. I THINK A RECALL REVIEW SHOULD BE STARTED BEFORE INJURIES OR DEATH RESULTS FROM THIS IMPACT SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299553January 12, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SPEEDOMETER RUNS WILDLY UP AND DOWN. IT DOESN'T WORK WELL AT ALL. I THINK I'M DRIVING 55 AND IT SHOWS 100. I WANT CHEVROLET TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE A 04 CHEVY IMPALA. I HAVE READ OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON THE COMPUTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298828January 9, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVY IMPALA. 3 MONTHS AGO THE TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER READS 120 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. WHEN TRAVELING WITH TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE IT IS A PROBLEM TO NOT KNOW MY CORRECT SPEED. JUST AS GOING TOO FAST CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS SO CAN GOING TOO SLOW ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WILL COST OVER $500 TO FIX AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298734January 8, 2010
STEERING
CLUNKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN. I KNOW IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AGAIN. IT WAS REPLACED IN NOV. 2007 AND HAS RECURRED 20,000 MILES LATER IN NOV. 2009. DEALER TRYING TO MAKE ME PAY FOR IT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298771January 8, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2004 IMPALA HEADLIGHTS GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT BUT WILL COME BACK ON IF THE DIMMER SWITCH IS USED..DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298566January 7, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING, REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED BEING TRAVELED. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE UPDATED UPON RECEIPT OF THE COMPLAINT FORM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298245January 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT BUT I FEEL MY PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE ONE. THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY CAR STARTED ACTING UP RECENTLY. IT IS NOT ACCURATE, IT USUALLY READS ZERO WHEN I AM DRIVING BUT SOMETIMES READS A SPEED THAT IS CLEARLY INACCURATE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT AND FOUND OUT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. AT THIS POINT IN TIME I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR SO I JUST TRY TO DRIVE SLOW. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298364January 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS MALFUNCTIONING. FIRST, THE TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING AT ALL, NOW THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATES ERRONEOUS SPEEDS. IT SHOWS THAT I AM DRIVING VERY FAST WHEN I'M ACTUALLY MUCH SLOWER THAN THE REST OF THE TRAFFIC. WHEN PARKED, IT SHOWS 15-20 MPH. IT'S VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING YOUR REAL SPEED, ESPECIALLY ON LONG TRIPS ON THE HIGHWAY. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON, GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO AVOID SUCH NEGATIVE PUBLICITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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