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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 6 of 21)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #304

Sep 092008

Impala

  • 2,009 miles

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

For 5 or more years when I try to start the motor I get nor response from the starter, the lights dim and other electrical driven things shut down. If I touch the solenoid terminal of the starter with a hot wire the starter runs and the engine starts. When I take the hot wire off the terminal the engine dies. Sometimes if I clean the fuse contact and try again it will start but often will not. I have found that reaching under the dash and moving the wires that come out of the switch behind the dash key will get it to activate the started but even this some times isn't immediately effective. I have at time had to walk and try again at a latter time. This could be a very severe safety hazard. If me and my family members including many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren could be stranded when we stop along the road or even in the back country where we like to go. Example: A severe storm or other reason to have get going fast such as injury or sudden sever illness, when I discussed this problem with Chevy dealers they say that this recall will not even get me and inspection re the ignition switch without a large service fee. I feel that is a defective switch and should be replaced. It appears that the power wire to the coil is on the same circuit as the one activating the starter solenoid so if the engine should stall for any reason one may not be able to start it and you would have the condition that this recall is about. I T doesn't matter if I use a single key and I have tried both keys. The dealers don't will not even look at the switch itself. My experience shows that just putting a plug in the in the key slot will not solve the problem..

- Fountain Valley, CA, USA

problem #303

Sep 122014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 139,600 miles
When I started my car Friday after getting gas, the security light came on. When I was finally somewhere safe, I shut the car off and restarted it. It started just fine and the light did not come back on. Today (Sunday) I left work and drove 4 miles to get my daughters check from her work. I left the car running while I ran in and grabbed the check. The moment I got back into the car I noticed the security light was back on. When I got home I shut the car off and restarted it. It started just fine and the security light did not come back on.

- Neapolis, OH, USA

problem #302

Aug 182012

Impala

  • 80,000 miles
I have been having problems with my 2004 Chevrolet Impala off and on since I got it. There are times when I turn the ignition off and it will not start. The dash and lights will work, but when I turn the key over it does nothing. This just recently occurred while I was out of town. I had to leave the car and go back for it 2 to 3 hours later, and it still did not start right away. I got to my hotel room and turned the ignition off and immediately tried to restart it and it failed again. After tossing and turning all night and worrying that I would have to call a tow truck, the car started the next morning. I dared not turn the ignition off until I made it home safely. This was the scariest incident of them all, a country girl being stranded in the city. I notice that other 2004 Impala have the same problem. It would be nice to get the problem taken care of.

- White Stone, VA, USA

problem #301

Jul 112014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles

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

I was out running errands. I turn on my left turn signals and it was not working. I depressed my hazard switch, and turned it off and turned my left turn signals again and it started working. I have been having this problem off and on since the beginning of July,2014. I have read numerous complaints about this same issue. This is a safety issue that GM needs to address today!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #300

Jul 242014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 206,000 miles
Now car was pulled into drive, has windows down, and will not start, key does not turn but half of lighting works, we are having bad storms an with a 5 year old child to Transport, cant move the car and has another one blocked in has set for 4 days no way to get the key to turn am able to open door was told it needed ignition switch but cant be put in because car key will not turn so car cannot be put on acc, had to transfer insurance to another vehicle that we are trying to get rid of I cannot take the car anywhere and very devastated, have to tell people when they ask it was a junker going to try to fix, ha ha junker but mr fix it I am a disabled 68 yesr oldto have it draped in plastic and I live in a very up dated community where there is lots of traffic cannot afford to keep driving the van, license and title up in two days I am disabled and we have a child to pick up and return after visitation I need an answer right away ordered the stupid ignition switch and paid for it and now it cant be installed because the key will not turn says it has to be set on acc. Cant do that, cant push it because it wont move owned this car less than a month tax license, title and insurance lots of money I don't have they need to get this car fixed asap or I will have to have a loaner car, to pick up my daughter social security is not enough to live on and I don't have the money paid it all out for what I was told was a good car and it was cheaper on gas bought from an insurance man, please I cant wait I do not have money to drive around in some one else's vehicle help help help pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaze urgent help needed 3. personal information

- Owensboro, KY, USA

problem #299

Jul 112014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 201,600 miles
Brakes making loud noise, had front brake pads put on and now back brakes making loud noises car all of sudden didnt want to stop, now car was pulled into drive, has windows down, and will not start, key does not turn but half of lighting works, we are having bad storms an with a 5 year old child to Transport, cant move the car and has another one blocked in has set for 4 days no way to get the key to turn am able to open door was told it needed iginition switch but cant be put in because car key will not turn so car cannot be put on acc, had to transfer insurance to another vehicle that we are trying to get rid of I cannot take the car anywhere and very devastated, have to tell people when they ask it was a junker gonna try to fix, ha ha junker but mr fix it I am a disabled 68 yesr oldto have it draped in plastic and I live in a very up dated community where there is lots of traffic cannot afford to keep driving the van, licence and title up in two days I am disabled and we have a child to pick up and return fter visitation I need an answer right away ordered the stupid iginition switch and paid for it and now it cant be installed because the key will not turn says it has to be set on acc. Cant do that, cant push it because it wont move owned this car less than a month tax license, title and insurance lots of money I dont have they need to get this car fixed asap or I will have to have a loaner car, to pick up my daughter social security is not enough to live on and I dont have the money paid it all out for what I was told was a good car and it was cheaper on gas bought from an insurance man, please I cant wait I do not have money to drive around in some one else's vehicele help help help pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaze urgent help needed.

- Owensboro, KY, USA

problem #298

Feb 052014

Impala

  • 161,000 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 the vehicle would shake vigorously when the brakes were applied. The failure occurred while driving various speeds. The dealer replaced all four brakes, rotors, and tires and performed an alignment; however, the failure recurred. In addition, the vehicle would fail to restart when turned off for thirty minutes or longer. The starter was replaced twice, but this did not remedy the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 161,000.

- Chubbuck , ID, USA

problem #297

Jul 192014

Impala

  • 132,000 miles
Often my 2004 Chevy Impala will not start on the initial try. I have to wait several minutes with the ignition on for the system to reset. This is a widely known issue and Chevrolet should own up to the mistake and fix the problem.

- Antelope, CA, USA

problem #296

May 152013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 231,000 miles
The day I bought the car used, the lights went out on the way home. After complaining on a Chevy forum, I bought a used multifunction switch which I learned was a common problem in Impala and monti carlos. This year in spring (sorry I don't remember the exact date or miles) that part malfunctioned when on bright. The salvage yard was sold out in used switches because it was such a common defect and I couldn't afford a ne, w one. While driving on dim I hit two deer which caused $100S of dollars in damages. I complained Chevy said they knew it was a problem and that I would have to pay for the part myself. I paid over $300 to replace with my labor. Then my lights went out on dim. Chevy did the math, its cheaper to take the chance O someone dying and suing then to take away this money source for dealers

- Roach, MO, USA

problem #295

Mar 132009

Impala 6-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
My car as well as other GM cars of my year, 2000-2006 have experienced a "no-start" condition when the key is turned to the start position to start the engine. It is a very prevalent problem that occurs with GM's passlock anti-theft system. My car does not start right away at times. The "security" light would illuminate while driving and when I tried to start the car, it would not turn on at all. While it won't start, the "security" light would flash several times. It takes over 10 minutes for the car to start. Although, this may not seem like a life-threatening recall, but it can be. If anyone were to be in a very dangerous area and the car takes over 10 minutes to start, the odds of that person getting hurt or possibly killed are extremely high! GM has never ever recalled their passlock issue, and it can cost over $2,000 to repair the problem for which there is no guarantee that it will fix the problem. Please take this matter seriously, it can cost someone's life, someone's lost wages for work, and a host other unfortunate results if it's going to take a car over 10 minutes to start because of a faulty, anti-theft system.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #294

Jun 272014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 179,000 miles

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

I have had issues with lights for the past 6 months. First started out where if I had my bright lights on every now and again all my lights would go off while driving. The bright lights wouldn't stay on so had to hold to keep them on. Then it came a period of time where all my lights would not work. On Friday, June 27th 2014, I was at work and happened to look out the window and noticed my lights were on. Went outside to see if car was dead. When I got in the car I could see that my steering column was smoking (on fire) coming from the turn signal switch. The bright lights had stuck to on somehow and this is why I could see that my llights were on. I unhooked the battery and the smoking stopped. When I went to hook battery back up there wasn't any more smoking but my windshield wipers were going as fast as they could and I couldn't switch or do anything to make them stop. The hazards or all my lights were blinking on/off repeatedly. Nothing I could do to stop. As of now I'm driving without any fuse to the wipers and the lights work during the daytime but will not work at all after dark. I've been told the part that is needed to replace this is a multi-functional switch. However, this is going to cost $800 to replace. Many complaints out there about the same thing happening to same year/make/model car and no recall??

- Marshall, WI, USA

problem #293

Feb 272014

Impala

  • 180,000 miles
I own a 2004 Chevrolet Impala an in February while driving up tha high way my keys just like popped out of the ignition my car lost power and I hit the guard rail at 60 mph my air bags didn't come out. Me N my girlfriend was in the car. On July 1st I find out there's a recall on my car I tried contacting a few Chevrolet dealership companies near me an I've been denied any car repairs.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #292

May 132014

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
I leased the car 5/10/2014 and I had seven occasions where the car simply wouldn't start and the check engine light came on over night on its own which caused the battery to die.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #291

Jan 162013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 101,267 miles
I was in a K mart parking lot I hit a speed bump and when I did my car just shut off. Recently I was at work I got in my car to go St home and my car wouldn't start I waited 20 minutes tried it again it started up this has occurred quite frequently now and when I took it to my mechanic he hooked it to a car analyzing machine it just says security fault. My mechanic feels it is in the switch and my father is a retired mechanic and he said it is a bad part of the switch also.

- Hickory, NC, USA

problem #290

Jan 102013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
I have a electrical problem with my ignition switch. Sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesn't do anything, sometimes security light comes on. Sometimes it shuts off. Had it looked at and they said it needs a new ignition switch. Is that under a recall. Had problem for about a year or so, but they couldn't say for sure it is the switch"??????????"

- Grafton, WI, USA

problem #289

Mar 122014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
First of all my security light flashed on and off several months before, and then it stayed on right before these times my car would not start. I was out of town at the hospital.went to start my Impala and it wouldn't start. I had to wait 20 minutes and it started up and ran perfect. Got home, shut the car off, went back out to go to the store and it wouldn't start again.waited 10 minutes, still would not work.waited another 15 minutes, car started. Went to the store. Came out of the store started right up. Went home shut the car off, next morning had my husband try and start the car.it started right up. So I thought everythings ok. Got in my car to go to the doctor would not start. Waited 30 minutes started. That's were I'm at now. I was told while im driving my car it might shut down and cause me to wreck, it has something to do with the security passlock system.I've read a lot about other 2004 Chevy Impala doing this also.should'nt GM do a recall before someone gets killed.

- Beverly, WV, USA

problem #288

Mar 222010

Impala 6-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
Vehicle will on occasion not start and displays a flashing security light in the information center. If I wait 10 minutes the security light will go out and the car will start. Dealer stated they could not diagnose as problem was intermittent and not reproducible. Problem happened on occasion over next several years, all with same symptoms. Each time met with the same dealer denial and lack of ability to reproduce the symptoms. This year the problem became frequent and turns out to be a defective passlock II sensor or ignition switch. From reading this is a common problem but was never addressed or acknowledged by GM. Paid $1500 for replacement of ignition switch and BCM at local Chevy dealer, who acknowledged this is a common problem.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #287

May 102014

Impala

  • 114,000 miles
The key does not turn in the ignition. I have switched keys and it still does not work. I've tried pressing the break and turning the steering wheel at the same time as turning the key. I have to try to keep turning the key until it finally decides to turn. There has been no mistreatment of the ignition at all.

- Fredonia, NY, USA

problem #286

Apr 022013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
When I attempt to start the vehicle, sometimes it will not start. No ignition. There is power but not ignition. After I wait 10 minutes it will start. It has something to do with the ignition switch. I have been informed that this is a security switch in the ignition switch, the shuts the car down, so the car cannot be started. And after 10 minutes exactly the vehicle will start. I have talked with other individuals that state that they too have this problem.

- Staunton, IL, USA

problem #285

May 012012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 85,192 miles
Intermittently when driving vehicle at night and switching on high beams, then when switching back to low beams, the headlights go off completely. I have to remember to put the fog lights on, so if the lights go out I will still be able to see.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

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