Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Chevrolet Impala problems

Owners filed 1,073 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA between Feb 2004 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (681).

Complaints
1,073
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
43
Reported by owners
Fires
21
Reported by owners
Injuries
41
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system681
  2. Exterior lighting104
  3. Engine72
  4. Steering63
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic51
  6. Power train47
  7. Vehicle speed control41
  8. Service brakes37
  9. Engine and engine cooling36
  10. Air bags31
  11. Fuel system, gasoline19
  12. Structure18
  13. Equipment17
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)15

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200423
200529
200631
200784
2008183
2009138
2010139
201176
201235
201344
2014129
201568
201643
201723
20186
20197
20206
20213
20221
20230
20241
20252
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

681 reports8 crashes8 fires1 related recall
“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!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2025Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11702052

Exterior lighting

104 reports1 crash3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS FAILED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE BEING OPERATED AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 260,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11098522

Engine

72 reports3 crashes11 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2025Electrical system, EngineODI 11685324

Steering

63 reports12 crashes2 fires2 related recalls
“Car has turned off 3 times while sitting at a light and took hours to turn back on, car shudders when breaking sometimes and abs/traction control/air bag lights will come on, and will shudder and turn off while driving.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2026Steering, Air bags, Service brakesODI 11768570

Service brakes, hydraulic

51 reports6 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL LINES AND BRAKE LINES CORROSION. CONSUMER HAS ANOTHER VEHICLE CORRESPONDENCE LISTED IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH THE FLOOR BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2016Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10929088

Power train

47 reports1 fire
“I HAVE A 2004 IMPALA AND I'M NOTICING THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MESS UP A WHOLE LOT IN THESE TYPE OF CARS WHY IS THAT AND WHY DID Y'ALL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2019Power trainODI 11246256
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.