2004 Chevrolet IMPALA: complaints, problems and recalls

ON GOING PROBLEM OF MOISTURE BUILD UP IN HEAD LIGHT HOUSING. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL CHEVY IMPALAS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE EXCEPT TO "BLOW OUT" THE MOISTURE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS EVERYTIME LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. DEALER CALLS THIS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT. ILLUMINATION OF ROADWAY AT NIGHT IS EFFECTED. PROBLEM REPORTED TO GM HOWEVER, COMPLAINT NUMBER 1-188065149, THEY DID NOT INDICATE THAT THIS WOULD BE LOOKED OR ADDRESSED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058327 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER SAYS "EVERY TIME THEY GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR THEY GET SHOCKED." OWNER HAS TRIED SCOTCH GUARD AND FABRIC SOFTENER AND NOTHING HELPS. OWNER LATER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE SHOWS NO SIGN OF DEFECTS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064855 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN AT 30 MPH CONSUMER'S CHILD SEAT BELT BECAME UNATTACHED. THE BUCKLE OF THE BELT STRUCK ANOTHER CHILD IN THE FACE, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. DEALER EXAMINED THE SEAT BELT AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079440 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CUT. THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE THE ROTORS CUT. *AK WITHIN 10 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, THE BRAKES BEGUN TO SHUTTER AND VIBRATE. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079964 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET AND KNUCKLE.

Consequence: DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Reported: 2015-04-06 (April 6, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.