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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 7 of 21)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #284

Mar 062013

Impala

  • 80,000 miles

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

Head lights will not turn on, blinkers will not turn on, traction control turns itself of and you cannot turn it back on. The following dash lights illuminate. Check engine, battery and ABS. This has been happening for about a year on and off. Started at about 80,000 miles. Sometimes only one of the above conditions occur and sometimes all at once. Problems happen day and night, damp or dry, usually only occur during engine start up, but occasionally has occurred while driving. I found a trick to make the head lights come on (turning on and off my hazard lights). My fog lights are not affected by these issues. I have had the battery and alternator tested multiple times because that is the direction everyone points me too. Both are good. I see others having the same issues. I hope this gets look into.

- Taylor, MI, USA

problem #283

Apr 242014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 131,000 miles
On the night of April 24, 2014 at approximately 10:30 pm I had just got off work and went to start my car and it would not start I got a message displayed on the control panel which says security after sitting about 30 minutes in the rain and cold it started up then I got home and turn it off then tried to turn it back on and it would not start it show security on the dashboard I have reviewed a couple sites on the internet and a lot of people having this problem with Chevrolet Impala's from 2000 to 2004 I think that's a big concern being a electric problem because you can be in the middle-of-the-road and a car just cuts off and will not start back up.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #282

Apr 212014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 118,000 miles
I was driving on the highway thinking I was doing 80 mph and traffic was passing me. When I exited the highway and came to a stop my speedometer still said I was doing 30 mph. From that point on it went haywire. When I am at a stop it now says I am doing 60 mph and when I start to move forward it jumps to 120 mph. I have no idea how fast I am going. I have read hundreds of complaints for the same thing. The cost to repair is close to $500. This is obviously a safety issue and is a widespread problem. Should be a recall.

- Warwick, RI, USA

problem #281

Jan 022012

Impala

  • 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 failed to start and the security light illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer multiple times but they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was not available.

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #280

Apr 152014

Impala

  • miles
I have been having a problem with the fact that my 2004 Chevrolet Impala has a habit of not wanting to start, and also the fact that at any time the car is running, I can pull the key from the ignition and the car continues running. I would like these problems taken care of a.S.a.P. please find a way to fix these problems soon. My job depends on my car being reliable.

- Muncy, PA, USA

problem #279

Apr 112014

Impala

  • miles
I'm experiencing the same affects as the newer models and it has been a problem now for the 1 and a half years I've owned this vechicle. I want this problem fixed.

- Pinckney, MI, USA

problem #278

Mar 172014

Impala

  • 100,000 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 ignition key failed to turn in any direction after numerous attempts. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #277

Sep 092012

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle suddenly stalled and the engine was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch was faulty. The ignition switch was replaced and the defect was remedied. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 113,000. Updated 06/10/14

- Union Town , OH, USA

problem #276

Feb 042013

Impala

  • 189,000 miles
Went out to the car to start it and it wouldn't start or turnover. This happened on various occasions. I had to put it in neutral than slam it into park and then turn the key over. I did this a couple times before it finally started. I was told that it sounded like my neutral safety switch but another mechanic said these cars don't have neutral safety switches. Very annoying especially when your on vacation and far from comfort.

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

problem #275

Aug 012008

Impala

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving various speeds the vehicle would suddenly lose power and stall. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The ignition switch was replaced and the defect was remedied. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Surf Side Beach, SC, USA

problem #274

Mar 312014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 213,459 miles

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

I went out to start my Impala to get ready for work. Unlock my doors as I normally do, and proceed to start the car. It is the Chevy key that comes with the car. Anyway, I turn the key and nothing, all I get on my dash is the flashing security light. So I went back inside and done some research while on the phone with my supervisor letting him know that I was going to be late. Turns out, this is a common problem with the Impala of my body style, the ignition switch or the pass lock module. Very inconvenient, this is the 5th or 6th time this has happened, really hurts when you have kids with you and its hot or cold outside. This issue needs to be looked into!

- Campobello, SC, USA

problem #273

Mar 172010

Impala 6-cyl

  • 15,914 miles
I was driving my father's 2004 Chevy Impala at the time of the mechanical failure. I was making a left hand turn from orchard lake rd onto northwestern hwy (I believe this is farmington mich) at this point I lost power to the vehicle (engine, brakes & power steering dead) and coasted to the right hand lane on northwestern hwy. I proceeded to restart the engine and continued on my merry way. No problems going the rest of the way home. The next day I had a problem starting the vehicle. This went on for several days until I took the vehicle to the auto dealership where they replaced the ignition switch. The dealership charged my father $481.39 to replace the ignition switch. I have the work invoice from the dealership showing the work performed. I also have proof of payment to mastercard showing the work was paid for.

- Southfield, MI, USA

problem #272

Nov 122013

Impala

  • 120,000 miles
The turn signals stopped working. After panicking and turning on hazard lights, then again trying the turn signals, did they decide to begin working again. Now the turn signals randomly decide to stop working, and must use the hazard trick again to get them working. Almost caused numerous accidents, and caused a traffic ticket. Can not figure out the problem as to why they do this, but read up on many different sites that many different people experiencing the same difficulties. Very dangerous for people with children.

- Maple Heights, OH, USA

problem #271

May 042009

Impala 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
While driving on a state highway in Alabama, all of the warning lights in my instrument cluster became illuminated. I determined that my engine had shut down. After shifting into neutral, I restarted the engine while the vehicle was still in motion. After I arrived at home, I decided to try and determine why the engine shut down. I was able to determine that while driving, my driver's seat was positioned so that my knees were close to the ignition switch. My knee bumped the ignition switch, causing the engine to shut down. Further investigation revealed that when I start the engine, if I suddenly release the ignition key (switch), the ignition switch stops just short of the off position. A slight bump or jar causes the ignition switch to move to the off position. I now drive with my driver's seat farther away from dash to ensure I do not accidentally shut down the engine.

- Selma, AL, USA

problem #270

Jun 082011

Impala

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the engine stalled without warning. After restarting the vehicle it resumed normal operation. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Hamilton, MI, USA

problem #269

Apr 112005

Impala 6-cyl

  • 4,000 miles
This is a description of what happened on various long distance trips. It occured about six times since purchase and the current mileage is 71,400 over 9.5 yrs. We were driving down the highway at about 65 mph. Once in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, etc. The total electrical system went out. Immediately I felt the loss of power. I looked at the speedometer and saw it drop. I saw an engine red light come on. The total duration of outage was about 1.5 seconds. Upon resumption of electrical power, nothing further happened. We never lost control of the car. Over the years I checked for recall notices and checked with local dealerships. Nothing until in June 2012. From 2010-12 I had trouble starting the car when I turned the ignition on. Nothing happened. I would wait five minutes or several hours and then it would start. That happen monthly for two years. I took the car to a dealership and they repaired/replaced the ignition part at the cost of about $600. No problem since. I still have the original key from GM with the wide hole. My point here is that I could have been an accident victim from these incidents. I had to pay to get it fixed.

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #268

May 062005

Impala

  • 30,000 miles
Speedometer changed twice by another Chevy dealer, transmission slipping, all lights went off while driving at night, cruise control went off by itself. Called GM customer service and about the lights and cruise control, answer was to have it checked, also had the transmission checked by three dealers, only one said yes it was slipping (transmission had been slipping since I got the car). No paperwork due to cost to have it checked by two dealers. One dealer (where I got the car) no longer in business but had the paperwork for the transmission complaint. But they too said they could not duplicate the problems and because of this they refused to work on the car.

- Franklin, IN, USA

problem #267

Dec 172012

Impala

  • miles
When I tried to turn the ignition key nothing would happen this happened 3 separate occasions. After sitting for several minutes it would start this also happened to my brothers 2004 Impala. Took it to my mechanic and he fixed it with a new ignition switch have had no trouble since then. The part cost $195.95 and the labor was $100. We took our cars to 2 different mechanics and was charged the same price with the same problem.

- Wheatfield, IN, USA

problem #266

Feb 212014

Impala

  • 87,324 miles
My mechanic has been doing a lot of work on this car for the past month trying to figure out why my car completely powers off if I am driving on the road. After taking the diagnostic test again for the 3rd time it says we need two 02 sensors replaced and a new mass airflow sensor. Once we turned the key into the ignition the car began to smoke and burst into flames we pulled the keys out of the ignition and the fire department arrived and tried to put the fire out but gas leaked out and made a huge fire. The car tried to start up and we did not have the keys in the car the fire department had to cut my car battery out because it would not go out. Fortunately my fiance' and I made it out of the car alive. With all of the money I have been putting into this car to have it fixed and it catches on fire this makes me not want to ever purchase another Chevy car in my life and I am only 22 years old.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #265

Aug 012012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 200,000 miles
Engine hesitates, stalls, and shifts hard. Had to replace ignition switch and lock cylinder, heat sensor, fuel cap, reprogram antitheft, water pump, always getting bubbles in tires, gauges dnt work, puddle on pass side, heater core, 2 sets of warped rotors, traction control(ABS) keeps going off, found wires under hood chaffed( by rubbing on belt I believe)which caused no start. New problems are lights on dash and head lights will turn off at night while driving, I have a coolant leak which I think its due to blown gasket, and tonight I am driving in fog and my front window fogs up in 2 seconds. I wiped w hand and realized I was heading towards a person walkn. Way to dangerous!!!!! I have had car for only 2 yrs. I am divorced w 3 kids and 1 special needs child w lots of appts. I need a reliable car, cant afford new car or a shop to fix car. I have had to become a mechanic cause of this car and I have no time for that, thank god for internet, I wnt take kids in car after dark, it unreliable and thats sad. Please look into issues.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

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