2004 Chevrolet Impala Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala.

20032005
Complaints
1,375
Crashes
80
Fires
34
Injuries
73
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2004 Chevrolet Impala Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1407 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:84,789 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:7
#2252 complaints

Instrument Cluster

Avg mileage:62,720 mi
#371 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:115,351 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:11
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala.

Electrical Faults
407
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
7
Avg Miles
84,789
Instrument Cluster
252
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,720
Engine Problems
71
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
11
Avg Miles
115,351
Headlight/Taillight Failures
69
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
127,744
Steering Defects
51
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Avg Miles
82,349
Unintended Acceleration
38
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
68,125
Brakes
36
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
110,419
Hydraulic Brakes
29
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
70,259
Engine & Cooling
28
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,571
Airbags
22
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
Avg Miles
104,537
Transmission / Drivetrain
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
90,466
Automatic Transmission
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
49,351
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
72,908
Gasoline Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
70,950
Electronic Stability Control
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
122,145
Fuel System
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
104,645
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
30,812
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,323
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
77,898
Body Structure
10
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
113,026
Traction Control System
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
104,831
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
111,286
Wheel Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
106,486
Air Bags:Frontal
8
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
36,429
Electrical System:Ignition
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
107,155
Other Equipment
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
48,946
Interior Lighting
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,920
Suspension Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
38,244
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,891

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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.

15V701000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~1,003,556 affected

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.

15V201000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~330,742 affected

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.

14V400000Electrical System:ignition
~5,877,718 affected

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?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2004 Chevrolet Impala has 1,375 NHTSA complaints, 80 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 407 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (407 complaints, avg 84,789 mi); Instrument Cluster (252 complaints, avg 62,720 mi); Engine Problems (71 complaints, avg 115,351 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 83,700 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala include 80 crash-related reports, 34 fire reports, 73 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 7,212,016 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (electrical faults) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

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.

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