2004 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,375 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2004 Chevrolet Impala sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1995–1996, 2016–2019.
Avoid
Where 2004 sits among all Impala years
What owners report
“Turn signals do not opera rate all the time, when they fail hitting the hazard lights button seams to make them operate.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Impala
“Engine shuts off while at a red light and then will turnover but will not restart.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Impala
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Impala
“Pass lock system fails. Car will not start. Have to wait 10 min. To try it again. Heard of others with same complaint. If so many complaints, why has there not been a recall. Have read that even getting it fixed will not always solve the problem. Very expensive to.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Impala
“I have replaced the power steering pump but steering wheel still hard to turn, this has been going on since early 2014”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Impala
“Takata recall key falls out while i am driving speedometer gas gauge and comtrol panel not working car jumps in reverse”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Impala
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,078 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 72,444 miles. Half of those reports fall between 49,487 and 110,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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…
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket.…
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…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The…
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.…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.…
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL…
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S…
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN…
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET…
Fix: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.
Technical service bulletins
495 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2004 Impala TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
The 2004 Chevrolet Impala drew 1,375 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2004 Chevrolet Impala problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala are electrical (809 complaints), engine (107), and brakes & stability (98).
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Impala problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Chevrolet Impala problems around 72,444 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 49,487 and 110,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Impala have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Chevrolet Impala. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.