Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2004)

1,074 consumer complaints on file.

#10511515May 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. IT FIRST STARTED MISREADING SPEEDS, SAYING IT WAS 30 MPH ON HIGHWAY (I WAS AROUND 55 MPH) AND THEN STOPPED READING. IT WILL WORK AND THEN MONTHS LATER START MALFUNCTIONING ONE OR TWICE, UNTIL LAST WEEK IT TOTALLY STOPPED WORKING. AL OTHER GAUGES SEEM TO BE WORKING, BUT IT MAKES A 'LIGHT FLASH' NOW AND THEN. SOME INTERIOR LIGHTS (MIRRORS) WILL STOP WORKING WHEN IT DOES THIS PANEL FLASH. I'M TOLD IT IS A CLUSTER ISSUE, KNOWN FOR THESE MODELS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR STRAIGHT FROM THE DEALER, BRAND NEW IN 2004, AND HAVE MAINTAINED PER SPEC, REGULARLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505721April 9, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I DROVE MY 2004 IMPALA TO THE STORE, WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR IT WOULD NOT START! SINCE I HAD JUST SIGNED THE PAPERS ON IT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER ONCE IT STARTED. THEY PUT $500.00 WOULD OF REPAIR WORK INTO IT BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN JUST AFTER MY 3 MONTH WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT USED TO IT EVERY SO OFTEN UNTIL RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN DOING IT A FEW TIMES A DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507311April 5, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA AND SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF. WHEN IT DOES THIS MY CAR WON'T START I READ ONLINE IF I LEAVE THE CARS KEY TURNED OVER FOR 10 MINUTES IT WILL START BUT HERE LATELY ITS GETTING WORSE. I HAVE READ ONLINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND THE SAME MODEL THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN HOOKED UP TO A COMPUTER IT SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE TALKED TO 2 DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS AND THEY JUST BRING UP HOOKING IT UP TO A COMPUTER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED IF A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HERE'S OTHER COMPLIMENTS THAT I HAVE FOUND ONLINE. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2004/ELECTRICAL/WONT_START_SECURITY_LIGHT_COMES_ON.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505518April 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504662March 27, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH IN THE CAR WHEN I ACCELLERATE I HEAR TWO THING, A WATER SWISHING SOUND AND A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD . THEN MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHT. THEN WHEN I GO TO BRAKE THERE IS ANOTHER GRINDING SOUND. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. BUT IT DOES HAPPEN OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502312March 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER AND TACH QUIT WORKING. WOULD NOT RESET TO 0. ALL OTHER GAUGES CONTINUED TO WORK. SAW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT NOT ON THE 2004. DEALER SAID IT IS NOT TYPICAL BUT A SIMPLE SEARCH ON LINE SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. GM GOT REIMBURSED BY THEIR PROVIDER FOR MALFUNCTIONING GAUGE MOTORS BUT THIS WAS NOT PASSED ONTO THE CAR OWNERS? HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502004March 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LAST JULY THE DASH LIGHTS AND INTERIOR PANEL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THEY COULD BE MADE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY BY WIGGLING THE HEADLAMP SWITCH AND / OR BANGING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. LAST NIGHT MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM ON A 4 LANE SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC AND ALL OF THE HEADLAMPS WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING, LEAVING HIM UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. HE RAN OVER A CURB, BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. HE AND HIS PASSENGERS (2) WERE VERY SHAKEN EMOTIONALLY. THE CAR WAS LEFT THERE OVERNIGHT. WHEN IT WAS PICKED UP DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS TODAY, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING IT HOME AND TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF MANUALLY, THEY QUIT AGAIN. THEY COULD BE MADE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY BY WIGGLING THE DIMMER SWITCH / TURN SIGNAL LEVER ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE PART WAS OVER $500. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM IF THIS IS COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES, AS MY SON AND HIS PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY IF NOT FATALLY INJURED HAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN DIFFERENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501304March 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND GAS GAUGE QUIT WORKING. I WAS NOT TOO CONCERNED BECAUSE I KNEW HOW MANY MILES I COULD GO ON A FULL TANK OF GAS SO I JUST JUDGED MY GAS BY MY MILEAGE COUNTER. NOW THIS EVENING MY SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED, WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF IT SAID THAT I WAS GOING 30 MPH. WHEN I WAS DRIVING, THE NEEDLE SEEMED TO "JERK" A LOT. ALSO RECENTLY MY CAR SEEMS TO BE SLUGGISH OR ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. I HAVE ALSO HAD SOME OCCASIONS WHEN MY CAR WON'T START AFTER JUST TURNING THE KEY OFF. IF I WAIT A LITTLE WHILE OR OVERNIGHT THEN IT WILL START LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE MY 17 YEAR OLD ALSO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499733February 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN STRANDED BECAUSE MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT APPARENTLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SECURITY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. WHEN YOU INSERT THE KEY NOTHING HAPPENS. IT IS AS THOUGH IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE YOUR KEY AS A VALID KEY. THE SYSTEM PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING EVEN THOUGH ALL THE OTHER SYSTEMS, RADIO, LIGHTS, ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL BUT IT IS AS THOUGH IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND DOES NOT ALLOW IT TO START. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES IT USUALLY STARTS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND AFTER RUNNING THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON IT TELL ME THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAY "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER CONCERN". SINCE THE PROBLEM HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY I AM SURE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE. I HAVE FOUND ON LINE THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #40847003 DATED 9/1/04 ON THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE SAME DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE CODES OF B2958 AND 2960 ARE REFLECTED ON THE BULLETIN. I ALSO REVIEWED THE FIRST 200 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND SEE THAT 26 OF THOSE 200 WERE FOR THIS SAME MATTER. I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE IN THE REMAINING 545 COMPLAINTS. IF CHEVROLET KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM IN THE YEAR THIS CAR WAS SOLD 2004 SHOULDN'T A RECALL HAVE BEEN DONE AT THAT TIME WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY? CAN A RECALL NOT BE DONE ON THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498094February 14, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. BRAKE PEDAL HAS BUZZING NOISE AND PRESSURE WHILE BRAKING FROM AROUND 35 MPH. CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, WHEN THE TCS ACTIVATES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ACCELERATION AND HAS LEFT ME PULLING OUT OF A SIDE STREET TO ALMOST GETTING STRUCK BY CROSS TRAFFIC. BOTH ARE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496850February 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE TACHOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER CONSTANTLY DISPLAYED 30 MPH AND THE TACHOMETER CONSTANTLY DISPLAYED 1000 RPM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THEY NEEDED MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBSITE BEFORE ISSUING A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496442February 5, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TACHOMETER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A READING. AFTER TIME PROGRESSED, THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN PROVIDED INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496302February 4, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE SNOW AND ICE CAME AND THEN ON MY WAY TO WORK WITH NO WARNING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. I SLID RIGHT THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH NO WARNING. THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AT ALL IN THE SNOW AND ICE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THE CARS WERE SPACED OUT, THAT KEPT ME FROM A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. MY QUESTION IS WHY HAVE THEY NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 2004 CHEVY IMPALA BEFORE IT KILLS OR SERIOUSLY INJURES OTHER PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494925January 28, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS SUDDENLY GO DARK. MANIPULATING THE HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO TURN ON AGAIN. THIS CONDITION HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494671January 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
FIRST AT BUYING MY CHEVY IMPALA IT HAD 115,000MI ON IT ALREADY BUT DESPERATELY NEEDED A CAR BEING A SINGLE MOTHER. AFTER HAVING THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH THE FUEL INJECTORS BLEW WHERE MY CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. GOT IT FIXED. NEXT I HAD TO KEEP PUTTING POWER STEERING FLUID IN (ONCE EVERY WEEK) WENT TO A MECHANIC, HE SAID MY POWER STEERING IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY GO.. NEXT 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE THROUGH THE LIGHTER. ELECTRICAL. CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. THEY HAD TO CUT THE WIRES AND PULL THE FUSE. 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT, MY TRANSMISSION BLEW. JUST LIKE THAT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY AND APPROACHED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP TRIED TO PICK SPEED BACK UP AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANYMORE THAN 15 MPH. I PULLED OFF TO A REST AREA, SAT THERE FOR 30MINS. REVERSED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, PUT IT IN DRIVE, IT WOULDN'T BUDGE... NOT TO MENTION A MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR. THE TURN SIGNALS,, BRAKE LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, FLASHERS ALL WORKED WHEN THEY WANTED TOO AND NOT WHEN I NEEDED IT TOO. CAME CLOSE TO A FEW PEOPLE RUNNING IN THE BACK OF ME DUE TO BACK LIGHTS NOT WORKING.. AND MY TEMP, GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE DO NOT WORK. ID BE IN PARK WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS, IT SAYS IM GOING 80MPH AND GAS IS EMPTY.. HATE THIS CAR WITH A PASSION.. VERY DANGEROUS CAR...WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493734January 22, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER GAVE INCORRECT READINGS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TELL THE CURRENT FUEL LEVEL OR MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CLUSTER STEPPER MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490355December 28, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLES GAUGES DO NOT WORK@! SOME ARE STUCK AND WORK PERIODICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. FALSE READINGS FOR SPEED, FUEL AND TEMPERATURE. CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT RECALLS AND THERE ARE NONE ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. THIS CAR DRIVES HIGHWAY EVERY DAY AND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT IS WELL KNOW AN COST $600 TO FIX. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489235December 19, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU GO TO START THE CAR IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. ALL THE LIGHTS, RADIO, EVERYTHING COMES ON AS NORMAL BUT WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY OVER TO START IT WON'T DO NOTHING, CLICK, OR ANYTHING. ONE TIME WE LEFT THE CAR OVER NIGHT, LOCKED UP, THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. ANOTHER TIME I LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15 MINS AND IT STARTED FINE. THEN ANOTHER TIME, I KEPT TRYING EVERY 10 TO 15 MINS FOR AN HR BUT NOTHING. THEN LET IT SIT FOR 25 TO 30 MINS THEN NOTHING BUT I LEFT THE KEY IN ON POSITION FOR A COUPLE MINUTES WHILE ALL THE LIGHTS RAN AND THEN IT STARTED FINE. SOME PEOPLE SAY ITS THE STARTER, IGNITION OR EVEN THE SECURITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THERE'S EVEN VIDEOS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING. ID SAY THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO SO EVERYONE W THESE VEHICLES KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487369December 4, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS HAS A BAD SECURITY LOCK SYSTEM. I GO TO START CAR AND IT WON'T START I HAVE TO WAIT 15-20 MIN. FOR IT TO START AND ITS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485465November 11, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, IT JUST STOPS RUNNING. MY HUSBAND PUTS THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP AGAIN. IT HAS DONE IT A FEW TIMES SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IF THE CAR STALLS IN AN INTERSECTION AND WON'T RESTART. THE CAR ALSO HAS A SECURITY ISSUE THAT PREVENTS US, AS THE OWNER FROM STARTING IT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. IF YOU TURN ON THE IGNITION AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES, IT WILL START UP. WE NOW LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING WHEN FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD TO SIT AND WAIT FOR IT TO RESTART AT THE PUMP. THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM ALSO. IF YOU GO ON LINE, YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND KNEW WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME ISSUES, BUT NOT THIS, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION (VERY COSTLY) ALL NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS, ALL NEW TIRES, AND SOME OTHER MINOR ISSUES. I FEEL, AS DO NUMEROUS OTHER GM OWNERS, THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK KEY SYSTEM), CAUSING BOTH PROBLEMS. ANYONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP JUST AFTER WE PURCHASED IT AND HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND SOMETHING ELSE AT A COST OF ALMOST $800. I AM CERTAIN THIS CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF BY REROUTING WIRING IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM AT A VERY MINOR COST, OR JUST RESETTING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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