Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 682 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 682, in the owner's own words
Cars acceleration causes me to be unable to pick up speed it decelerates up hills small or latg ramps cats constantly fly pass to avoid a multi car pile up it’s very dangerous!
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to approximately 20 MPH, and the instrument panel went black. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and then lost motive power and stalled. The contact was assisted by persons nearby to push the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
The contact owned a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DYER CHEVROLET FORT PIERCE (4200 S. US HWY 1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE AND THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF
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
I OWN A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA 3.8L WITH APPROX 179,000 MILEW.MY COMPLAINT IS IN RELATION TO THE PASSLOCK III SYSTEM AND THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF "NO START" COMPLAINTS FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT MODELS OF GM CAR OWNERS ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THIS FAULTY ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I LIVE RIGHT SMACK IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH IN A VERY SMALL TOWN IN TENNESSEE AND KEEP IN MIND, IT IS REALLY HOT AND HUMIDITY IS RIDICULOUS THIS TIME OF YEAR. I PICKED UP MY DAUGHTER AT A FRIENDS HOUSE AFTER WORK, ABOUT 5:25 PM LAST THURDAY, 9/5/19, AND MY CAR DIED AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LIKE THE ENGINE JUS SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON AT ALL , I HAD FILLED MY TANK A FEW DAYS PRIOR AND KNEW THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO PUT IN NEUTRAL BEFORE LOSING MUCH SPEED AND TRIED TO CRANK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HITTING MY FLASHERS BECAUSE THERE WERE A FEW CARS BEHIND ME ON A 2 LANE ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE SHOULDER ROOM TO PULL OVER OFF ROAD. I POPPED THE GOOD TO SEE IF I COULD SEE OR MAYBE EVEN SMELL ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I'M MAKING SURE MY BATTERY CABLES AREN'T LOOSE, NO FLUIDS LEAKING OR SPEWING AND LUCKILY A STATE TROOPER WAS PASSING THRU AND STOPPED TO SEE IF I NEEDED HELP AND TURNED HIS LIGHTS ON SO TRAFFIC WOULD KNOW THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND COULD SLOWLY GO AROUND. TO MY SURPRISE, AFTER EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED, HE SAID HE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WITH HIS DAUGHTERS CAR, 2002 IMPALA, AND TOLD ME TO TRY THE 10 MINUTE RESET PROCEDURE AND SURE ENOUGH, AFTER THAT 10 MINUTE RESET, SHE FIRED RIGHT HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, HOME HAD HE NOT COME ALONG AND ALREADY KNOWN BOUT THIS FAULTY SYSTEM PRIOR, MY DAUGHTER AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK FOR SOME TIME ON THE SIDE OF A 2 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE EARLY SEPTEMBER HUMIDITY MOST LIKELY WAITING FOR A TOW. UPON RESEARCHING AFTER, FOUND GM ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT, BEEN NEGLECTED LONG ENOUGH! THANK YOU!
POWER STEERING HARD AND TRYING TO RUN HIIT CHANGED WATER PUMP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AT VARIOUS TIMES, THE IGNITION FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR ALMOST AN HOUR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH POSITION WOULD BE TURNED OR THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (FELDMAN CHEVROLET OF NOVI, 42355 GRAND RIVER AVE, NOVI, MI, 48375) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY PAD WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT A RECALL ON THE CAR. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND I WERE TOLD IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL #14V400000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION. THEY HAD IT TOWED TO A CHEVROLET SERVICE PLACE TO BE FIXED. I RECEIVED A CALL THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CHARGES OF THE WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. A KEY WAS MADE UNDER THE RECALL AND THE IGNITION KEY LOCK CYLINDER WAS NOT REPLACED. I PAID THE BILL AND HAD IT TOWED BACK. THE MAN THAT DELIVERED IT PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OR TURN. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES AND THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THE IGNITION KEY LOCK CYLINDER. THE CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN A PERSON WENT TO START THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE STARTED. I FEEL THIS WHOLE RECALL WAS HANDLED IMPROPERLY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES. THE FRUSTRATION OF HOW IT WAS HANDLED I FEEL THEY NEEDED TO BE MORE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS RECALL BEFORE THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE PLACE AND THEN MAKE ME RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES OF WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE AND TOWING VEHICLE BACK NOT FIXED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE IGNITION KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FIVE STAR CHEVROLET OF CARROLLTON, TEXAS LOCATED AT 1735 SOUTH INTERSTATE 35 EAST CARROLLTON, TEXAS, 75006. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
TURN SIGNALS DO NOT OPERA RATE ALL THE TIME, WHEN THEY FAIL HITTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS BUTTON SEAMS TO MAKE THEM OPERATE.
WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND GO TO ACCELERATE THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES AND CAUSES THE CAR TO STOP. IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THE ROAD ONCE U COME TO A STOP AND OR STOP AND TURN ONTO A STREET OR HIGHWAY. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED A FEW TIMES. I READ ONLINE AT ITS HAPPENING ALOT TO PEOPLE ALL OVER. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSTANT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. PREVIOUS OWER ADVISED ME OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL.
THE SHIFTER GOES ALL THE WAY TO PARK BUT THEY KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION SO YOU CANT REMOVE THE KEY.
UNSURE IF MY 04 IMPALA IS AFFECTED IN THE TAKATA RECALL BECAUSE I HAVEN'T RECEIVED NOTICE.HAVE RECENTLY HAD EXTENSIVE REPAIRS COMPLETED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. AND THE ABS, TRAC, CHECK AND BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF. THE SECURITY LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND DISABLES THE CAR NOT ALLOWING IT TO START. CAUSING ME THE BE STRANDED UNANNOUNCED AND AT ANY RANDOM TIME. STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENS AND LOOSENS AT RANDOM TIMES. AFTER RESEARCHING PAST RECALLS BEFORE MY OWNERSHIP I AM UNSURE IF MY CAR HAS HAD THE RECALL ISSUES ADDRESSED. MY CAR HAS SOME TYPE OF MANUFACTURER COMPUTER GLITCH BUT GMC DOESN'T WANT TO OWN UP TO IT. AND I'VE KEPT ALL RECEIPTS ON REPAIRS I'VE COVERED. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ON GOING SINCE THE ESTIMATED DATE ENTERED BELOW.
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAGES WILL NOT FUNCTION, ALL INDICATORS ARE FACING DOWNWARD AND DO NOT MOVE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MOVING OR STANDING STILL.
ON 01/03/2017, ON A BUSY SNOW PACKED INTERSECTION, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROAD BY A LARGE PICKUP TRUCK, INTO A CURB, WHICH CURB IS TALLER THAN MY IMPALA'S FRAME TO GROUND CLEARANCE. MY LEFT FRONT TIRE AND RIM WERE RUINED. THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP CONTINUED NORTH LEAVING THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO GM'S BANKRUPTCY, MY IMPALA SS, WHICH WAS MADE IN CANADA, IS A RUSTY, POORLY PAINTED, HASTILY THROWN TOGETHER PIECE OF JUNK. IT NEEDS MANY USED PARTS WITH WHICH TO MAKE NEEDED REPAIRS. REASONABLY PRICED, QUALITY USED PARTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PASS LOCK SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY.ALSO, THE ENGINE FAILEDTO TURN OVER AND START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TOOK UP TO AN HOUR TO START. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY COMPLETELY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS THE SECURITY LIGHT IN MY CAR HAS COME ON AT RANDOM TIMES. IT WONT ALLOW ME TO START MY CAR FOR 10-15 MINUTES AND ALSO WILL RANDOMLY COME ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TALKED THE MY CHEVY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE COULD REPLACE THE BCM BUT NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE FOR THE IMPALA AND IT COULD BE MULTIPLE THINGS WITH THE TDM(THEFT DETERRENT MODULE) SYSTEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH CHEVY AS WELL AND WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NO PLAN FOR A RECALL ON THIS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS A NEW BCM PLUS INSTALL AND PROGRAMING WILL BE $750 BUT THEY WONT GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. THE WHOLE TDM SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS I WILL GO TO START MY CAR AND IT WILL NOT CRANK OVER. BUT THE SECURITY LIGHT IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WILL BLINK CONSTANTLY. AT TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING IT WILL BEGIN TO FLASH ALSO. IT TAKES ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE MY VECHILE WILL START AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ) AND 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
THE IGNITION SWITCH AT TIMES FAILS TO SEND POWER TO THE STARTER SOLENOID OR THE IGNITION COIL. WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURN ON NOTHING HAPPENS AT TIMES, THE COIL WORKS WHEN CONNECTED TO DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY AND THE ENGINE STARTS BUT STOPS IN A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE BATTERY LEAD IS REMOVED..
THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN PASSLOCK ANTITHEFT SYSTEM THAT REGULARLY FAILS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE CAR WON'T START FOR AT LEASE 10 MINUTED BECAUSE IT THINKS IT'S BEING STOLEN. SOMETIME IT WON'T START AT ALL AND I HAVE TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY AND TRY TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM. I LEARNED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISSION. THE DEALERSHIP I GO TO ACTS LIKE THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT AND CAN'T FIX IT. IT'S UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE AND KID TO BE RIDING IN.
I BOUGHT MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA (3800 V6 ENGINE) NEW, WHICH HAS NOW LESS THAN 12,000 MILES, & I DROVE PRIMARILY FOR RUNNING ERRANDS. ONE MONTH AGO, ITS BODY COMPUTER MEMORY WENT BONKERS. THE DAY AFTER I RETURNED AFTER XMAS, I WENT TO GET GROCERY. AS THE CAR WAS NORMAL THE PREVIOUS DAY, I DID NOT EXPECT ANY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, UPON FINISHING SHOPPING 30 MINUTES LATER, I FOUND THE CAR (1) HONKING NON-STOP, (2) ITS DOME LIGHTS COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF, (3) THE 'DOOR AJAR' WARNING JINGLED ALL THE WAY ' EVEN THOUGH I STOPPED BY ROADSIDE TO ENSURE ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED. ON TOP OF THAT, (4) THE TURNING SIGNALS (BOTH LEFT & RIGHT) STOPPED WORKING. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER RETURNING HOME AND LOCKING UP THE CAR, (5) THE HONKING/DOME LIGHTS/DOOR WARNING STARTED AGAIN. ALTHOUGH I RESET THE CONTROL PANEL, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT GO AWAY. I THEREFORE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, BUT THEIR MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSES OFFHANDEDLY, AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO THOROUGHLY CHECK THE CAR WITH DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS. HOWEVER, ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT (1/26/16), EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN, AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BY THE DEALER. TODAY (2/12/16), THE TURNING SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN BRIEFLY AND WORKED AGAIN, BUT (6) THE INSTRUMENT PANELS WERE ALL ERRONEOUS, WITH READINGS OF FUEL, COOLANT TEMPERATURE, TACHOMETER ABOVE LIMITS - EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY. I EXPECT THAT IT IS A MATTER OF TIME THAT (7) THE SPEEDOMETER WILL ALSO GO DEFECTIVE. AT THAT TIME, THE DASH BOARD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS A WHOLE, COSTING MORE THAN $500 DOLLARS. OBVIOUSLY, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. I SHOULD ADD THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY WITH THE DEALER. I HOPE MY REPORT WILL BRING NHTSA'S ATTENTION TO THE ABOVE PARTS/WORKMANSHIP PROBLEMS OF GM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND MANIPULATE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTING/ELECTRICITY TO RETURN. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE IGNITION KEY WHERE THE KEY WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANIPULATE THE KEY IN THE START POSITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,536.
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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