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8.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$450
Average Mileage:
65,350 miles
Total Complaints:
187 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (116 reports)
  2. replace instrument panel cluster (35 reports)
  3. use a GPS / TomTom instead (12 reports)
  4. replace motors in instrument cluster (6 reports)
  5. install new stepper motors on speedometer & tachometer (5 reports)
  6. put car in acc. power and put into reverse & start till 0's (4 reports)
2004 Chevrolet Impala accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2004 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 1 of 10)

problem #187

Jun 302014

Impala LS 3.4L V6 Sfi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,634 miles

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

Purchased the vehicle used from Modern Chevrolet in Winston Salem NC.

Had problems with the speedometer bouncing around from day one.

No one offered to help me with it.

- Norman N., Winston Salem, NC, US

problem #186

Jun 232008

Impala LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,147 miles

At less than 68,000 miles (but after the warranty of course) I also had problems with the speedometer drifting off-speed at random moments, returning to zero, floating up to 120, hanging straight down. I was never really sure what to do to get it reset. My local Chevy dealer offered the standard fixes of replacing the speedometer sensor cable or the stepper motors in the gauge--for $800 out of pocket. I guess you do not really need a speedometer to judge if you are driving the correct speed for road conditions (unless you are being tracked down by an officer) and so Chevy didn't think it important enough to cover under a recall. However, due to the issue arising when I went to CarMax to get an offer, they cut the offer in half from $6K (a low-ball anyway) to only $3K for an Impala not yet 4 years old that cost me $16K. And then the sunroof starting jamming open.

So I just drove the car out of state and traded it in for a Nissan.

- longwing, Tucson, AZ, US

problem #185

Sep 022012

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

Speedo would work intermittently for about 6 months. After that, would always register high - like 140mph - off the scale. Couldn't drive long distance on the highway that way and had to spend close to $500 bucks with the dealer to get it fixed. Not real happy as the car only had 62K on it.

- Richard G., Little Rock, AR, US

problem #184

Feb 012012

Impala SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

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

I was driving on vacation and the speedometer went wacky. It worked and didn't work and then just went to zero. The RPM gauge stopped working also out of the blue. I looked online and there seems to be tons of complaints about the speedometer failing like this and no one seems to know how to fix it. There really should be a factory recall on these to fix this issue. People are saying don't buy Chevy because of it. Perhaps a complaint to a higher authority is in order to get them to do the right thing. It doesn't look like Chevy is taking care of the issue.

- lkn4boaz, Des Moines, IA, US

problem #183

Feb 212010

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,232 miles

My wife was driving at about the 70 miles per hour speed limit or so, keeping up with traffic on I-75. The looked at the speedometer to see how fast she was going, and it read 20 miles an hour. The next day, she started the car, and the speedometer reset itself. The next week, stopped at a traffic lightody interested?, it read that she was driving 40 miles per hour. Come on, CHEVROLET! Chevrolet recalled other vehicles with the same problem, but not the Impala. This is terrible public relations. As a group of dissatisfied customers, we should get a class action lawsuit against GM. Anyb

- Tireda P., Port Charlotte, FL, US

problem #182

Dec 082010

Impala Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

When I bought the car in Dec. 2010, the problem wasn't visible but soon after the speedometer started acting up. I was told it was the speedometer cluster. It also would jump into gear when I would start to accelerate. I took it to a mechanic for the cluster and was told the valve body in transmission was bad so had it replaced. It continued to do the same so he replace the valve body again. Same problem and every time I took to transmission man, it wouldn't do it for him so gave up. Now at 123000 it is getting worse where it jumps in and out of gear. Took to another mechanic, not transmission man, and it did it for him and he said it wasn't downshifting very well and wondered it might be something to do with speedometer cluster. Transmission man who put valve body in said he thought it might be computer related. Another person said he bought a new 2008 and it did the same jumping into gear right from the start and no one could figure how what was wrong. I am trying to sell it but that will be hard with fixing and if no one knows what it is, how can I sell. Really upset with GM and think they should fix after seeing so many comments. Any suggestions from anyone.

- jealsop60, St. Petersburg, FL, US

problem #181

Nov 272010

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

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

As many others complaints of this exactt issue ,, My problen started in 2005 Gauges would reset while driving and then go back to normal . Over the past few months after this would happen the speed odmeter would be way off. It usually starts to drop 5 to 10 MPH slower. But this past week just the opposite. It went to 120 mph and beyond. I had no idea how fast or slow I was ever going.

GM is useless, they have no hard fix for this, I agree with all the other complaints this should be a recall but GM is not taking any accountabilty for this problem. They are only taking my Tax money to try a fix a broken company. NO MORE GM for me .

** Question remains if he Silverardo at this issue and was recalled why not the 2004 Impala ?

- kmoff6, Greenfield, WI, US

problem #180

Feb 102011

Impala LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,000 miles

Driving home from the airport - the temp outside is around 26F. Noticed on my dash that the RPM needle was just laying still. Stopped to get gas; turned off the car; turned back on and my speedometer sent berserk! Showing I was going 90 just barely going up the ramp to get on highway - I slowed down and it showed 75. When I got home and turned off car, it layed at 25. After reading all these complaints of the same thing; I am not going to call my service man for repairs. Sounds like a GPS is in my future tomorrow.

- Anita U., Olathe, KS, US

problem #179

Jan 252011

Impala Indianapolis Mottor Speedway 3800 Series 2 Supercharge

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,792 miles

well we bailed out this company already...i have a car note on this car and cant afford to get a gps unit that does an average for my speed.I'm lost on chevrolet not doing their jobs right...let's hope this one is the one where they recall and replace these and repay the people who replaced them already....what happened to quality and standing next to long lasting parts....

- Bonnie C., Muskegon, MI, US

problem #178

Dec 082010

Impala Leather 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

I just cannot understand why the dealer cannot repair something .When something as simple as a speedometer goes wrong and then they want $500.00 to fix it ,it leaves a very bad taste in your mouth. I had been using this dealer for a couple of years and up till now I had felt well treated ,now I am not so sure

- beton, Spring Hill, FL, US

problem #177

Nov 302009

Impala 3.4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,191 miles

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

I HATE this car. worst vehicle I have EVER owned. I'm soooooo upset with this car. speedometer is just the tip of the iceberg! took it in to get a tire fixed, turned out it's the wheel bearing AND need to change transmission. NEVER buy an impala, the worst mistake I have ever made. will never own another gm product ever again. I hate this car. I hate hate hate hate this car.

- Jordan C., Reedsburg, WI, US

problem #176

Jun 152010

Impala LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 151,000 miles

where can i get the parts to fix my speedo?(steeper moters)

- Michael S., West Haven, CT, US

problem #175

Oct 022008

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

Our speedometer quick working, gas gauge doesn't work, temperature gauge doesn't work, turn signals work when they want to. Every now and then the transmission slips. The rear defogger has quit working. The heat control in the car only works on one side. The light on the radio goes out every now and then. Called GM twice they don't want to help with the problems.I recommend that everyone stay away from chevys. This car is a piece of junk. No more chevys for our family.

- Jeanie B., Lancaster, OH, US

problem #174

Aug 072010

Impala V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

This has caused me to first flush, replace my radiator as it was showing over boiling when it was notCost so far over $ 380.00 just to fix termostate, flush and refill. It next has moved to my speedometer, and it will show going 120+ miles an hour or not work or will show driving at R or N speeds.

This is example of American workmanship or combination and we as the consumer are left out in the cold. This should be recalled and this should be fixed, I would not have bought it had I known this would have been a future problem. Now they want hundreds more to fix this WHY?

- Clarence H., Tyler, TX, US

problem #173

Jun 012010

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Mine is just as the others listed. My Silverado was doing about the same and GM recalled them and fixed it. I will NEVER buy another GM (government motors) car again. Never!

- frazee1, Dunn, NC, US

problem #172

Jan 012010

Impala 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Same problem as others.Very frustrating. Speedometer keeps going up, and up. Almost all the way around. Even more frustrating to see how many others are having the same problem.

- tnhuskerfan, Hendersonville, TN, US

problem #171

Jul 012009

Impala SS 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

click to see larger images

speedometer gone haywire speedometer gone haywire speedometer gone haywire

speedometer will slowly gain mph until the needle is off the numbers and stay there with key off.I found if I pull the fuse to the instrument cluster for a few seconds and reinstall it,the needle will reset to zero.I can drive several hundred miles before it fails again.I am asking if this may be a circuit design problem rather than a parts failure problem?

- pappyrusty2, West Palm Beach, FL, US

problem #170

Aug 082009

Impala LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,836 miles

bought this 2004 impala last august,first week the whole dash stops working gas gauge is not reg.amount of gas sometimes drops straight down,speedometer said i was going 80km while i was parked...also said i was going 0 while going down the highway at at least 110km...temp gauge just points downall the time...i have been complaining to gm for almost a year i know it is a second hand car but i bought it from the dealer and i figure only having it a week warranty or not there should be some customer service to the problem after all we only had it a week...i have seen on the internet and heard other people that have the same dashcluster problem...gm should do a recall on this problem...they should also do a little customer service....i will never buy another gm car and neither will anyone i know...my daughter just bought a 40000 car it is a dodge....gm sucks bonnie barker

- Bonnie B., Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

problem #169

May 082008

Impala 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

I got this car when i was 17 from my father for Christmas.. I only had it for 6 months before it decided to start pissing me off. the speedometer would start sticking and not going down. i would have to make it go down by repeatedly turning the key on(not the ignition) and turning it off so it would keep resetting. i've gone 2 years now with it not working (only once in a blue moon). i use my tom tom gps for my speed. but now my stupid gas gauge is starting to go out as well. as soon as i fill up my car and turn it on, the gauge will twitch on it's way up to "F" and only get to about 1/2 or 3/4 of the way up. lets seeee what else is wrong with this piece of crap car... i couldn't tell you what it's called.. but the part on your heater and air conditioner panel where you choose how hard you want your fan to blow, doesn't work. the hot and cold changes and the option to go to head, feet, window, whatever works. but no air blows. unless i'm driving at about 30+. lol! i grew up on Chevy's, but they have been nothing but a let down to me. so I'm starting to cross paths and move on to a more reliable car company.

- Kirra V., Lompoc, CA, US

problem #168

May 152010

Impala LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

Having the same problem as most Chevrolet Impala owners. Driving around 65 mph and look down and speedometer is registering over 120mph! This MOST definitely needs to be a recall item to GM!

- rbrow121nc, Charlotte, NC, US

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