2004 Chevrolet IMPALA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,072 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 860 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 407 of 1,072 complaints (38.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 116 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 95 | 8.9% |
| Steering behavior | 90 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 50 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 37 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 407 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 252 |
| Engine | 71 |
| Exterior Lighting | 69 |
| Steering | 51 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 38 |
| Service Brakes | 36 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 29 |
Electrical System: 407; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 252; Engine: 71; Exterior Lighting: 69; Steering: 51; Vehicle Speed Control: 38; Service Brakes: 36; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 29
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 75 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 153 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 239 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 159 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 158 |
| 150,000 and above | 76 |
Under 25,000: 75; 25,000 to 49,999: 153; 50,000 to 74,999: 239; 75,000 to 99,999: 159; 100,000 to 149,999: 158; 150,000 and above: 76
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (239). 212 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 31 |
| 2007 | 84 |
| 2008 | 183 |
| 2009 | 138 |
| 2010 | 139 |
| 2011 | 76 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 44 |
| 2014 | 130 |
| 2015 | 68 |
| 2016 | 43 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2004: 23; 2005: 29; 2006: 31; 2007: 84; 2008: 183; 2009: 138; 2010: 139; 2011: 76; 2012: 35; 2013: 44; 2014: 130; 2015: 68; 2016: 43; 2017: 23; 2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 116 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 95 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 90 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10072069 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
WHEN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES OR STOPPING THERE WAS A NOISE AND A LOUD BOOM. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE FUEL TANK. *AK THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074818 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
I HAVE RENTED SEVERAL GM VEHICLES OVER THE LAST YEAR AND FOUND THAT IN MOST EVERY ONE OF THEM IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIFT THE CAR FROM PARK WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE WHILE THE KEY IS IN THE ACC POSITION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154207 · 2006-03-30 (March 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE BACK REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ERUPT INTO FLAMES AND ENGULF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT. THE FIRE MARSHALS REPORT STATED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL AND STARTED WITH A SHORT IN THE WIRING TO THE REAR DEFROSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED TOTALED.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189122 · 2007-04-27 (April 27, 2007)
ON OCT 6TH 2005, WHILE DRIVING THE DEPARTMENT ISSUED 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA, POLICE PATROL SQUAD CAR, I NOTICED A UNFAMILUAR VERY STRONG FOUL ODOR WHEN I WOULD TURN ON THE HEATER. UNKNOWN TO ME AT THE TIME, BUT AFTER I SUFFERRED INITIALLY AN INHALATION INJURY WHICH NEARLY KILLED ME BY SUFFICATING ME CAUSING MY BLOOD PRESSURE TO ESCALATE THEREBY CAUSING ME TO SUFFER DUEL ANYURSM' OF THE UPPER THORACIC VEIN AND THE ABDOMINAL VEIN. I WAS FLOWN VIA FLIGHT-FOR-LIFE HELICOPTER TO A TRAUMA CENTER, HOSPITALIZED IN INTENSIVE CARE, LEFT INCAPACITED ME FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,836 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078711 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
ALL PROBS WITH 2004 IMPALA SS STARTED AFTER 3 MONTHS OF PUCHASE DATE. THERE WERE LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON CAR. 1ST INCIDENT - WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, CAR DIED 1/2 WAY THROUGH TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ENDED UP GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY MADE IT TO OPPOSITE SIDE OF ROAD W/ HARM. CAR WOULDNT START AT ALL. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. REPLACE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. 2ND INCIDENT - APPROX 3 WEEKS AFTER 1ST, I WAS STOPPED TO DROP PASSENGER OFF, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND IDLE WAS HIGH, 2 SECONDS LATER CAR DIED. CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078783 · 2004-06-25 (June 25, 2004)
THERE ARE NO THINGS THAT LEAD UP TO THE THE STEERING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WITH CAR THAT HAS 3018 MILES ON IT I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS. THE STEERING CLICKS WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. DEALER WILL GET ME A RENTAL CAR IF THE CAR WARRENTY WORK IS MORE THEN 2 HOURS OR CAR NEEDS TO BE KEPT OVERNIGHT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,018 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127723 · 2005-07-07 (July 7, 2005)
2004 CHEVY IMPALA TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 80. THE FAILURE HAS COST $100'S OF DOLLARS IN TOW TRUCK FEES, RENTAL FEES ETC. COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO GREY CHEVROLET IN STROUDSBURG PENNSYLVANIA OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS REGARDING A NOISE COME FROM EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE ENGINE AND UP TO THE POINT OF THE FAILURE THE SERVICE DEPARTEMENT AT THE DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER PROPERTY ASSESSED. GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WAS ALSO CONTACTED REGARDING OUR UNSATISFACTORY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139986 · 2005-10-17 (October 17, 2005)
VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WHILE IGNITION IS IN ACC. POSITION. WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS TO RELEASE THE SHIFTER AS PER SHIFTER INTERLOCK. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094567 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE HAS STALL A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS BUT NO CODES WERE FOUND DURING TESTING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 3,634 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115102 · 2005-03-14 (March 14, 2005)
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE STARTER WAS REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE STALLED . DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083287 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING , ALSO, OWNER HAD REPLACED A SET OF BRAKE PADS AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK DUE TO A TANK FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAS 13,000 MILES YET IT HAS BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083287 at NHTSA ↗