Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
WELL THE CODE WAS TELLING ME TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CURRENT ONE IS RATHER LOOSE AND DOESN'T TURN OFF ALL THE WAY WITH OUT A LITTLE EXTRA WHICH HAS BEEN CAUSING OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. AND NOW MY STEERING WHEEL IS LEANING AND PULLING TO THE LEFT OUT OF NOWHERE. AND THESE ALL HAPPEN SITTING STILL OR MOVING. NOT SO BAD ON THE HIGHWAY BUT CITY STREETS ARE HELL
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 60-65 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED FIRST AND THEN 2-3 SECONDS LATER THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. POLICE WERE CALLED AND MADE A VIDEO REPORT OF THE CAR WITH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT, A SAFETY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH ONE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT HAND AND SHOULDER, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE POLICE WAS ON THE SCENE, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE BUT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION FROM HITTING HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN STARTING ENGINE THEN COMES BACK ON AGAIN AND STAYS ON
FOR THE PAST FOUR WEEKS, I HAVE NOTICED THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT ANY INCIDENTS OR DEFECTS TO THE VEHICLE. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME, DUE TO IT MAY BE INEFFECTIVE IF THERE WAS A CRASH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE WET ROAD SURFACE. THE DRIVER FAILED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, HEAD, AND BACK INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT IT WAS NOT CONFIRMED IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
@ 65MPH TRAFFIC CAME TO A SLOW DOWN,I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE 2 STOP IF I HAD 2 IN MY LANE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES & THE WHEELS LOCKED UP & WAS SKIDDING OUT OF CONTROL,IT SURGED INTO THE LANE LEFT OF ME & THE REAR SLID OVER WHERE I WAS SIDEWAYS. I TRIED TO CONTROL MY STEERING BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND,THEN IT WENT INTO THE LANE RIGHT OF ME NEARLY MISSING A TRUCK IT SHOT OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS NOW ON THE SHOULDER WHERE I STILL HAD NO CONTROL OF ANY STEERING AT ALL.THEN THE CAR SLAMMED INTO A CONCRETE RETAINING WALL AND FINELY THE CAR STOPPED.THE AIR BAGS DRIVER AND PASSENGER NEVER INFLATED. DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END WAS A TOTAL LOSS INCLUDING THE HOOD,BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE FENDERS HAD CRUNCHED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS BENT THEN THE BATTERY DIED.I ALREADY REPLACED A BATTERY THREE WEEKS AGO FROM SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 09/17/14*LJ UPDATED 02/12/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND CRASHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED PAIN AND MILD BRUISING ON NECK, BACK, KNEE AND BOTH ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I ENTER AN INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT. THE OTHER PARTY TURNED IN FRONT OF ME EVEN THOUGH HE HAD A RED TURN LIGHT. I HIT HIM HEAD ON INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS DOOR. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES BUT IMPACT WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATE. MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I SUSTAINED PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE IN BOTH MY HANDS AND ARMS. *TR
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. *TR
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND WHILE MY CAR WAS STOPPED AND I WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CRASH INVOLVED 4 CARS AND MY AIRBAGS NEVER DID THEIR JOB. *TR
THE VEHICLE OWNER ALLEGES THAT HE HIT ANOTHER VECHICLE AT 60 MPH INJURIES WERE TO HIS BACK, LEG , HEAD AND CHEST. HIS HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CHEST HIT STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY *BF UPDATED 08/14/14*LJ UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN
WE WHERE RAN INTO ON DRIVER SIDE NO AIRBAG CAME OUT WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF STEERING PROBLEMS. AS OF TODAY THERE IS STILL PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND WE JUST WONT DRIVE ON HIGHWAY AT ALL. *TR
MADE STOP.CONTINUED,DID NOT SEE OTHER VEHICLE IT HIT OUR CAR IN SIDE&FRONT END. WE WERE HIT AT BY ANOTHER CAR,WHICH WAS TRAVELING AT EXTREMELY HIGHER SPEED. OUR AIR-BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE IGNITION TURNED ITSELF OFF LOCKING THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION,THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED OR TURNED EITHER ON OR OFF. *JS
MY FATHER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE ALL THE SIDES AND FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SMASHED. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED EVEN WHEN THE CAR HIT HEAD ON. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE? IT DOES NOT WORK SO WHAT IS IT THERE FOR? THANK GOODNESS HE HAD HIS SEATBELT ON OR HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. THE CHEVROLET COMPANY NEEDS TO REDO THEIR SAFETY FEATURES FOR THE AIRBAGS. MY HUSBANDS 1996 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 WAS TOTALED 4 YEARS AGO AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED IN THAT EITHER. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM DEPLOYING. *TR
MY SHOE GOT JAMMED BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND FLOOR. MY CONCERN WAS I HAD A FRONT IMPACT AND I BELIEVE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH AIR BAG. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND THEN GOING OFF. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP REPAIR SERVICE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AS THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THE IMPACT SENSOR WAS INOP AND THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY . I HAD IT REPAIRED THAT DAY. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME ON THAT PROBLEM AND I SHOULD CALL CHEVY AND SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR. I TALKED TO CHEVY CUSTOMER ASSIST ( TINA ) AND SHE STATED SHE WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH US AFTER SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS ON THE 08 JAN 2010. ON 13JAN2010 THE CALL WAS RETURNED AND TINA STATED " THAT CHEVY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR". ALSO THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD MY CAR REPAIRED AT THE CENTER AND NO PROOF OF ANY SERVICE BEING DO TO IT. I DEAL WITH GOODYEAR FOR MY REPAIRS BRAKES,TIRES,BATTS, AS WELL AS OIL CHANGES EVER 3000 MILES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MY SERVING MY CAR HAS TO DO WITH A SAFETY PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT TAKE A PROBLEM LIKE THAT TO GOODYEAR BUT TO A SERVICE CENTER THAT COULD HANDLE THAT TYPE OF PROBLEM BETTER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM. I THINK A RECALL REVIEW SHOULD BE STARTED BEFORE INJURIES OR DEATH RESULTS FROM THIS IMPACT SENSOR. *TR
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURIES TO MY CHEST AREA. *TR
I WAS COMING DOWN WESTBOUND ON RACQUET CLUB (CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CA) THE LIGHT WAS GREEN AS I WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION. I WAS IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE CURB/SIDEWALK. I DO RECALL SEEING THE TRUCK COMING DOWN SOUTHBOUND FROM A FAR DISTANCE. I WAS HALF WAY ON THE INTERSECTION WHEN I SEE THE TRUCK COMING VERY FAST AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW IT HIT MY CAR IT SPUN ( I BELIEVE TWICE). THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY TWO KIDS WERE WITH ME. MY SON WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SIDE PASSENGER SIDE AND MY DAUGHTER WAS IN HER CARSEAT SITTING BEHIND ON THE BACK ON THE RIGHT. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF MY ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH. THE OTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THE POLICE, AMBULANCE AND FIRE TRUCK CAME TO THE SCENE. MY SON AND I WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. MY SON WHO IS 11 BROKE HIS WRIST DUE TO THE ACCIDENT AND BRUISES ALL OVER HIS BODY. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND I HAD A CUT ON MY FOOT, MAJOR BRUISES ON MY CHEST AND MY LOWER ABDOMEN DUE TO THE SEATBELT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PUSHED HER INTO A METAL POLE. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND ANOTHER OCCUPANT WERE INJURED, ALTHOUGH BOTH WERE WEARING THEIR SEATS BELTS AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
ORIGINALLY RADIO FAILED TO WORK. WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE RADIO. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS CORRODED IN THE PASSENGER REAR SEATING AREA. THIS HARNESS ALSO CONTROLS THE WARNING BELLS FOR THE ENTIRE CAR. THERE IS DEFINITELY A WATER ENTRY ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS COMING ON AND YOU CAN HEAR WATER 'SLOSHING" AROUND IN THE DASHBOARD AREA. WATER IS COMING IN TO THE PASSENGER FLOOR AREA. *TR
COLLISION ON THE INTERSTATE. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND THEY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I HAD THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THEIR CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WHEN I HIT THEM AND KNOCKED THEM INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BODY SHOP OWNER STATED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE WIRES TO THE AIRBAG HAD BEEN SLICED DURING THE ACCIDENT. FRONT BUMPER, HOOD, AND FENDERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. RADIATOR AND CONDENSER HAD TO BE REPLACED. BODY OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SQUARED. ROTORS AND BRAKES REPLACED. *TR
TL-* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN A PICK UP TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED IT TO CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER , A CHILD, WAS IN THE REAR SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DURING THE CRASH, THE REAR SEAT BELT DISENGAGED, AND HIT THE PASSENGER IN THE EYE, RESULTING IN A BLACK EYE AND A CONCUSSION. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE REASON THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY OR WHY THE REAR SEAT BELT DISENGAGED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 36,000. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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