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10.0

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

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 1 of 21)

problem #404

Dec 312019

Impala

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up on several occasions. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to dyer Chevrolet fort pierce (4200 S. us hwy 1, fort pierce, fl 34982) and the contact was informed that the part was not yet available and that she would receive a call when the parts became available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact the part was not available and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Port St Lucie, FL, USA

problem #403

Nov 242019

Impala

  • 145,436 miles
Well the code was telling me to replace the ignition switch. The current one is rather loose and doesn't turn off all the way with out a little extra which has been causing other electrical issues. And now my steering wheel is leaning and pulling to the left out of nowhere. And these all happen sitting still or moving. Not so bad on the highway but city streets are hell

- Seatac, WA, USA

problem #402

Sep 052019

Impala

  • 179,583 miles
I own a 2004 Chevy Impala 3.8L with approx 179,000 milew.my complaint is in relation to the passlock III system and the overwhelming amount of "no start" complaints from all the different models of GM car owners across the board with this faulty anti-theft system. I live right smack in the heart of the South in a very small town in Tennessee and keep in mind, it is really hot and humidity is ridiculous this time of year. I picked up my daughter at a friends house after work, about 5:25 pm last thurday, 9/5/19, and my car died as I'm driving down the road, like the engine jus shut off for no reason at all, I had filled my tank a few days prior and knew that was not the problem. My first thought was to put in neutral before losing much speed and tried to crank several times before hitting my flashers because there were a few cars behind me on a 2 lane road with very little shoulder room to pull over off road. I popped the good to see if I could see or maybe even smell anything that may have caused this problem. I'm making sure my battery cables aren't loose, no fluids leaking or spewing and luckily a state trooper was passing thru and stopped to see if I needed help and turned his lights on so traffic would know there were problems and could slowly go around. To my surprise, after explaining what happened, he said he had this problem before with his daughters car, 2002 Impala, and told me to try the 10 minute reset procedure and sure enough, after that 10 minute reset, she fired right home and was able to get home, home had he not come along and already known bout this faulty system prior, my daughter and I would have been stuck for some time on the side of a 2 lane highway in the early September humidity most likely waiting for a tow. Upon researching after, found GM are aware of this problem and should have to fix it, been neglected long enough! thank you!

- Yuma, TN, USA

problem #401

Apr 012018

Impala

  • 143,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power steering hard and trying to run hiit changed water pump.

- Shannon, MS, USA

problem #400

Dec 012016

Impala

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. At various times, the ignition failed to start without warning. The contact attempted to turn the ignition switch for almost an hour. In addition, the contact had difficulty inserting the key in the ignition. The contact also stated that the ignition switch position would be turned or the vehicle would stall without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (feldman Chevrolet of novi, 42355 grand river ave, novi, mi, 48375) where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The contact stated that the key pad was previously replaced. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #399

Aug 172017

Impala

  • 168,000 miles
I called Chevrolet customer service about a recall on the car. I explained the problem with the ignition switch and I were told it was covered under the recall #14V400000 electrical system: Ignition. They had it towed to a Chevrolet service place to be fixed. I received a call that the problem was not covered under the recall and I was responsible for all charges of the work done on the vehicle. A key was made under the recall and the ignition key lock cylinder was not replaced. I paid the bill and had it towed back. The man that delivered it put the key in the ignition and it would not come out or turn. I do not feel I should be responsible for charges and they needed to change the ignition key lock cylinder. The car was in the driveway and when a person went to start the car the key would not turn and would not come out of the ignition switch. Resulting in the vehicle couldn't be started. I feel this whole recall was handled improperly and I should not have had to be responsible for charges. The frustration of how it was handled I feel they needed to be more professional about the way they handled this recall before they towed the vehicle to a service place and then make me responsible for charges of work done on the vehicle and towing vehicle back not fixed.

- Waterford, ME, USA

problem #398

Jul 052017

Impala

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the ignition key became stuck in the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to five star Chevrolet of carrollton, Texas located at 1735 South interstate 35 East carrollton, Texas, 75006. The dealer stated that there was nothing that could be done and that the contact would have to pay for the repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system) by the dealer prior to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

problem #397

Dec 122016

Impala

  • 90,000 miles
Turn signals do not opera rate all the time, when they fail hitting the hazard lights button seams to make them operate.

- Sturgis, MI, USA

problem #396

Apr 012017

Impala

  • 131,000 miles
When backing out of the drive way and go to accelerate the ABS/traction control engages and causes the car to stop. It also happens on the road once U come to a stop and or stop and turn onto a street or highway. Almost got rear ended a few times. I read online at its happening alot to people all over. This problem is constant ever since I bought the car. Previous ower advised me of the problem as well.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #395

Apr 272017

Impala

  • 130,000 miles
The shifter goes all the way to park but they key will not turn to the off position so you cant remove the key.

- Waterford, WI, USA

problem #394

Mar 042014

Impala

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Unsure if my 04 Impala is affected in the takata recall because I haven't received notice.have recently had extensive repairs completed by a certified mechanic. And the ABS, trac, check and brake lights won't go off. The security light continues to come on and disables the car not allowing it to start. Causing me the be stranded unannounced and at any random time. Steering wheel tightens and loosens at random times. After researching past recalls before my ownership I am unsure if my car has had the recall issues addressed. My car has some type of manufacturer computer glitch but GMC doesn't want to own up to it. And I've kept all receipts on repairs I've covered. These issues have been on going since the estimated date entered below.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #393

Oct 202010

Impala

  • 6,900 miles
The instrument panel gages will not function, all indicators are facing downward and do not move. This happens when moving or standing still.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #392

Jan 032017

Impala 6-cyl

  • 57,800 miles
On 01/03/2017, on a busy snow packed intersection, when the light turned green, I was pushed off the road by a large pickup truck, into a curb, which curb is taller than my Impala's frame to ground clearance. My left front tire and rim were ruined. The driver of the pickup continued North leaving the scene of the accident. Prior to GM's bankruptcy, my Impala ss, which was made in Canada, is a rusty, poorly painted, hastily thrown together piece of junk. It needs many used parts with which to make needed repairs. Reasonably priced, quality used parts are impossible to locate.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #391

Apr 302015

Impala

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle's pass lock security light illuminated continuously.also, the engine failedto turn over and start. The contact stated that the vehicle took up to an hour to start. The contact was able to remove the key completely from the ignition while the engine was running. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

- Chester, VA, USA

problem #390

Apr 202016

Impala

  • 188,000 miles
For the past couple months the security light in my car has come on at random times. It wont allow me to start my car for 10-15 minutes and also will randomly come on while I am driving. I have talked the my Chevy dealer and they told me the could replace the BCM but no guarantee that this would fix the problem. They told me this is a very common failure for the Impala and it could be multiple things with the tdm(theft deterrent module) system. I have spoken with Chevy as well and was told their was no plan for a recall on this. The dealership says a new BCM plus install and programing will be $750 but they wont guarantee that it will fix the problem. The whole tdm system is faulty and needs to be fixed.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #389

Jul 182016

Impala

  • miles
For the past few weeks I will go to start my car and it will not crank over. But the security light in the message center will blink constantly. At times while I'm driving it will begin to flash also. It takes about 15-20 minutes before my vechile will start after multiple tries.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #388

May 312016

Impala

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V201000 (engine and engine cooling ) and 14V400000 (electrical system); however, the parts needed for the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- East Point, GA, USA

problem #387

Jan 182016

Impala

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system), the vehicle failed to start. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #386

Apr 042016

Impala

  • 104,740 miles
The ignition switch at times fails to send power to the starter solenoid or the ignition coil. When the switch is turn on nothing happens at times, the coil works when connected to directly to the battery and the engine starts but stops in a few seconds when the battery lead is removed..

- Foutain Valley, CA, USA

problem #385

Feb 202016

Impala

  • 155,000 miles
The car is equipped with an passlock antitheft system that regularly fails. There are hundreds of the same complaints by owners all over the internet. The car won't start for at lease 10 minuted because it thinks it's being stolen. Sometime it won't start at all and I have to unhook the battery and try to bypass the system. I learned that this has happened to others while driving almost causing a collission. The dealership I go to acts like they've never heard of it and can't fix it. It's unsafe for my wife and kid to be riding in.

- Spokane, WA, USA

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