Worst 2004 Chevrolet Impala Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Instrument Cluster
Engine Problems
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 407 | 7 | 7 | 84,789 mi | |
| Instrument Cluster | 252 | — | — | 62,720 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 71 | 3 | 11 | 115,351 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 69 | 1 | 2 | 127,744 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 51 | 12 | 2 | 82,349 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 38 | 3 | — | 68,125 mi | |
| Brakes | 36 | 4 | 1 | 110,419 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 29 | 4 | 1 | 70,259 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 28 | 1 | 1 | 81,571 mi | |
| Airbags | 22 | 15 | — | 104,537 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 22 | — | 1 | 90,466 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 21 | — | — | 49,351 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 17 | — | 1 | 72,908 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 16 | — | 1 | 70,950 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 15 | 1 | — | 122,145 mi | |
| Fuel System | 13 | 1 | 2 | 104,645 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 11 | 1 | — | 30,812 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 10 | — | — | 78,323 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 10 | — | — | 77,898 mi | |
| Body Structure | 10 | 5 | — | 113,026 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 10 | — | — | 104,831 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 9 | — | — | 111,286 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | 3 | — | 106,486 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 | 8 | — | 36,429 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 | 1 | — | 107,155 mi | |
| Other Equipment | 6 | — | — | 48,946 mi | |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | — | — | 88,920 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | 2 | — | 38,244 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 5 | — | — | 39,891 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 Chevrolet Impala
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~7,212,016 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
Other Chevrolet Impala Years
2004 Chevrolet Impala — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
How safe is the 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Impala reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Chevrolet Impala
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99