Problems · by component
2004 Chevrolet Impala service brakes problems
37 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Impala cite service brakes, 3% of all 1,073 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
37
3% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER (BILLION AUTO BUICK GMC, 600 W 41ST ST, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57105, (605) 309-0975) WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY MORE THAN ONE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NTHSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V287000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THERE WERE ELEVEN TSBS ON THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“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.”
“TURNED ON MY CAR STARTED PUSHING ON THE GAS MY CAR MADE A WEIRD VIBRATION TYPE SOUND. CAME UP ON MESSAGE BOARD TRACTION CONTROL AFTER A COUPLE TIMES OF IT DOING THAT, THE ABS AND TAX LIGHT COME ON AND ON THE MESSAGE WINDOW IT SAYS SYSTEM TRACTION SERVICE. IT KINDA FREAKED ME OUT CAUSE I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WENT TO GO HIT THE GAS AND IT SAID TRACTION CONTROL AND I MOVED A LITTLE THAN I HAD TO LET GO OF GAS THEN TRY AGAIN. ALSO HAVE HAD A COUPLE INCIDENTS WHERE I GO TO BREAK AND IT MAKES A VIBRATION FEELING ON THE BRAKE AND BRINGS UP TRACTION CONTROL AGAIN. REALLY WOULD LIKE THIS CHECKED OUT VERY CONCERNED. DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSE MY CAR FAILS TO TAKE OFF.”
“I'VE OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS. EVERY YEAR OR SO MY ABS, SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, AND TRACK OFF LIGHTS USUALLY DURING A NON-EVENT SITUATION. I PUT MY BRAKES ON AND THEY LOCK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL MY LIGHTS ARE ON. I'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY CONSTANTLY FIXING THIS PROBLEM. EVERYONE ELSE WITH AN IMPALA SEEMS TO HAVE CONSTANT ISSUES WITH THIS AS WELL. I'M NOW BEING ASKED TO COMPLETELY CHANGE OUT MY ABS MODULE & CONTROLLER FOR A WHOPPING $3K ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 130K MILES AFTER ALREADY SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OVER THE YEARS FOR ABS/TRACTION ISSUES. THIS IS CLEARLY A PERSISTENT SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IS COSTING IMPALA OWNERS AN ARM AND A LEG AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I'VE OWED MANY VEHICLES WITH MUCH HIGHER MILEAGE AND NEVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS BEFORE.”
“I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM. WHEN I MAKE SHARP TURNS THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON, AFTER THIS LIGHT COMES ON IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP AND EVEN SLIDES SOMETIMES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL SPEED SENSORS AND REPLACED THE WIRES AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURING.”
Showing 6 of 37 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.