Problems with 2004 Chevrolet Impala ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The heater completely stopped working but was finally able to get the passenger side to work (it has dual temp. controls). the turn signals work just when they want to and the windshield wipers do the same. they just stop working with no warning what so ever. have taken it to several different places to have it looked at but nobody can determine the cause of these problems. however, upon the research i've done since these problems began i've found i'm not the only one experiencing these same issues yet there has been no kind of recalls to fix it. *tr

Intermittently when driving vehicle at night and switching on high beams, then when switching back to low beams, the headlights go off completely. i have to remember to put the fog lights on, so if the lights go out i will still be able to see. *tr

Every now and then you go to start the car it won't do anything. all the lights, radio, everything comes on as normal but when you turn the key over to start it won't do nothing, click, or anything. one time we left the car over night, locked up, the next day it started like nothing was wrong. another time i let the car sit for 15 mins and it started fine. then another time, i kept trying every 10 to 15 mins for an hr but nothing. then let it sit for 25 to 30 mins then nothing but i left the key in on position for a couple minutes while all the lights ran and then it started fine. some people say its the starter, ignition or even the security. a lot of people have had this problem there's even videos of people complaining. id say that there's something that needs to be looked into so everyone w these vehicles know what's wrong. thanks *tr

I own a 2004 chevy impala and the ignition fails, then you have to let the car sit at least 10 min. then it will start. this is a problem from the factory and from what i've read this seems to be a manufacturing defect. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the instrument panel failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 47,000.

I have a 2004 chevy impala and security light blinks on and off. when it does this my car won't start i read online if i leave the cars key turned over for 10 minutes it will start but here lately its getting worse. i have read online and there are a lot of other people with the same make and the same model that are having the same problem. when hooked up to a computer it says nothing is wrong with it. i have talked to 2 different chevy dealerships and they just bring up hooking it up to a computer. i think it should be recalled if a lot of people are having the same problem. here's other compliments that i have found online. http://www.carcomplaints.com/chevrolet/impala/2004/electrical/wont_start_security_light_comes_on.shtml. *tr

Approximately a year ago my temperature gauge and gas gauge quit working. i was not too concerned because i knew how many miles i could go on a full tank of gas so i just judged my gas by my mileage counter. now this evening my speedometer quit working. while completely stopped, with the engine turned off it said that i was going 30 mph. when i was driving, the needle seemed to "jerk" a lot. also recently my car seems to be sluggish or act like it is going to stall. i have also had some occasions when my car won't start after just turning the key off. if i wait a little while or overnight then it will start like nothing was wrong. i am very concerned because my 17 year old also drives this vehicle and i have to do a lot of highway driving. *tr

The speedometer stopped working. it went to 0 while on interstate. *tt

Speedometer not working properly. same problem as most other people with this vehicle. *tr

The speedometer stopped working correctly. it went to 120 while on interstate while i was only going 70 mph using my gps. i have been stopped at a stop sign and it showed anywhere from 30 to 70 mph. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the security light illuminated. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer multiple times but they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was not available.

Speedometer has started to fail. speedometer registers 80 when parked and well over 120 while driving. no way of knowing how fast the vehicle is really going. *tr

When applying the bright headlights, all exterior and dash lights go out. very scary! when operating switch again lights return, but have dim headlamps only. this has happened several times. now only drive with dims on until i can afford the repair. not safe! *tr

The speedometer on my 2004 chevy impala began acting up while driving on the freeway on 11/21/2011. i was going the posted speed limit of 70 mph and when i let off the gas pedal for slower traffic, i noticed that the speedometer appeared to be stuck at 70mph. this was confirmed when shortly up the road i exited the freeway and came to a complete stop and the speedometer still read 70 mph. when i got home, i called a local auto parts store to inquire what could be causing this. i was informed that this is a common problem for the impala and that eventually my other gauges like the fuel level will also act up. i looked on line and found that there are many out there that have my same issue which i consider a safety issue but that there are no recall notices for the issue. i am just floored to find that there is no recall for an item like this. looking into the matter further, to correct the issue, it must be taken to a gm dealership to have the dashboard cluster replaced at the cost of $600. please look into all the reported issues similar to mine and see if something can be done concerning a recall. thank you in advance! *tr

The car will not start all the time. but if you turn the switch on and off 3 times it may work or may not. *tr

Instrument cluster failing. - while driving home from work, my instrument cluster failed. started jumping around for a min until it finally stuck. now it has progressively gotten to the point where it never has the correct mph. sometimes sticking 20 - 30 mph while in park. other times staying at 0least while on the interstate. very unsafe. should've a recall, after calling the dealer and being quoted nearly 600.00 to repair. after this many complaints chevy needs to fix this problem. no more american cars for me thanks. *tr

When pulling out of my parking spot, the traction control/abs light comes on and stays on for the duration of my drive which is usually just around 9 miles (i drive to and from work). this has been going on for months and happens every time i pull out from a parking spot. on some occasions when trying to stop the brakes make a grinding noise and it takes a bit more effort than usual to stop. what could be causing the traction/abs light to come on everytime i drive my car. *kb

The speedometer on my car has stopped functioning correctly. the needle will no longer return to 0mph after coming to a stop, and will only reduce speed if i repeatedly shut off and start my car. the only way to know my speed is to see where the needle is before driving, but i have noticed that sometimes while driving the needle will not reduce speed even then and i have to come to a complete stop to know how to gauge my speed. i was shocked to learn that this is not already a recall. this is a potentially dangerous problem, but mostly it is irratating and inconvenient. i had this problem diagnosed and the part itself is over $400, and the repair would take a week. my family has always bought gm vehicles and i am disappointed after reading the many complaints online that this problem has not been taken care of by the manufacter. *tr

I drove to the dry cleaners and turned off the car. when i came back the car wouldn't start with the key. i had the problem before. i let it sit for about 10mins and the car started with the key. *tr

Was driving vehicle and the temp gauge went all the way to overheat, shortly after that the gas gauge started to work only intermittantly, and the speedometer has some issues with registering the proper speed. *tr

Security light flashes and has shut car down and will not start, until a system reset. it has done this 8 times in last 3 months. family has been involved every time. after extensive research, the passlock system has been a culprit for many a owner. *tr

04 chevrolet impala. passlock security stops car from starting. 1. nothing led up to failure. car just temporarily wouldn't start. thes starts normally for a few days. then back to no starting. 2.car temporarily doesn't start. happens 2-3 times a week. takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes to get the passlock to reset. has caused me to be late to work and other appointments. 3. taken to dealership $600 to repair passlock security device. *tt

Bad ignition switch in the 2004 impala. *tr

The headlights on my 2004 chevy impala just suddenly went out during night time driving. the only thing that would give me any light was to hold back on the dimmer switch lever. i have since learned that this malfunction has happened to hundreds of owners of impalas. the switch is quoted as costing over $500 and installation another $200. that's alot for a commonly defective plastic part! it's also a very poor design to have all headlights go out simply because the dimmer switch is malfunctioning. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. the contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the engine stalled without warning. after restarting the vehicle it resumed normal operation. the failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

The turn signals stop working for no reason. both right and left turn signals will just not work. i found a temporary fix on a car forum on the web. if you turn the hazard light switch on and off a few times then the turn signals will work again for awhile. at first it happened only occasionally. now it is happening on a daily basis. and you don't find out until you are going to make a turn or switch lanes on the highway. i found so many complaints about this problem on the car forums to indicate to me that mine is not an isolated problem. this is the second electrical complaint i've had to make on this car. the other problem was with the speedometer and other gauges not functioning which required a very expensive fix. *tr

2004 impala- security light will come on and car will not start. must turn key to on position, let sit between 10 and 60 minutes, turn key off and restart, this happens more and more. im pregnant and this happened and i nearly passed out due to the heat. this occurs nearly every time i attempt to start vehicle. *tr

I drive a chevy 2004 impala. when driving my car, the speedometer begin to act randomly. i was able to clock my speed using my gps. my car said i was doing 70 miles per hour, but i was really doing 30 mp/h. now, the speedometer does not work at all. it constantly says i'm doing 0 mp/h. this is a serious issue. the dealership wanted $700 dollars to fix a deadly defect in their own car. many impala drivers have this issue and gm has failed to recall this product. *tr

First my tempature gauge starting reading vehicle was over heating and i had just started the car. now the needle is pinned at the bottom even when the vehicle is off and the gauge is on the top. then the gas gauge started jumping. now it does not read accurately at all, at time is way pass full or doesn't read anything, even when i fill up the gas. finally the speedometer stopped working or gives false speeds. i have been traveling on the highway over 50-60 and the speedometer reads 10mph. the check engine light now has come on also.

I have a chevy 2004 impala in we been having problems since we got it last year one day the car started shaking in it cut off we got it fixed a couple months later it's back doing the same thing it did at i'm sick in tired of spending my money on getting all this self fix in for it to happen again i look on internet in know a lot of people with the same problem and i'm pretty sure you seen a lot of complaints so i think it's time for a recall 2000-2011 these cars are messing up big time. *tr

Event: use the brakes. failure: front end shakes. repair: replace rotors. event: drive at any speed. failure: speedometer gone haywire, says your going 20 when you are going 70? repair: rebuilt instrument cluster. event: any time engine running. failure: temp gauge haywire. you pull over thinking your car is overheating; it's not. repair: rebuilt instrument cluster. event: any time engine running. failure: fuel gauge haywire. don't know how much fuel you have, could run out of gas (did not happen to me). repair: rebuilt instrument cluster. event: using blinkers. failure: blinkers either don't work when activated, or flash randomly. repair: replace blinker/hazard module. event: turning ignition key failure: no crank, no start - security light on. wait a while, car starts like nothing happened. repair: bypassed and disabled security 'passlock' switch. event: using wipers/rain. failure: windshield wipers stop in middle of windshield, continue after turning off, or don't come on when switch turned on. repair: replace wiper motor & pulse board. event: stop at intersection with engine running failure: engine surging and stalling. you must keep your foot planted on the brake so that you don't run into the car in front of you. it stalled out of state in an intersection. repair: replace mass air flow sensor (maf). this most recent maf problem was the last straw. this car has other non-safety related electrical problems, as well as the normal wear items that you would replace on a 'real car'. this car is a rolling electrical disaster. this car is a money pit, just like its manufacturer. good luck with that chevy volt. *tr

The needle on the speedometer does not work. i do not know how fast that i am going. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. the headlights were illuminated and as the low beams were switched to high beams, the interior and exterior lights failed. as the low beams were engaged, the interior and exterior lights came back on the failure recurred whenever the exterior lighting was switched from low beams to high beams. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 82,000. updated 05/04/11 *bf updated 05/11/11

2004 chevrolet impala. consumer writes in regards to problem with gauge *tgw

Several times, i have had my 2004 chevrolet impala just randomly not start. after researching the problem, i have found that it's the passlock system installed in the vehicle. i'm no mechanic but know how to research and the amount of people with these same issues is overwhelming! it appears that there are some nickel pins that were used in the ignition switch that are very picky to oxidation levels to the point of being faulty - the smallest wear and tear or corrosion of these pins can start this problem. it happens with no warning as well! this may not seem like a safety issue, but put yourself in my shoes. i live in north dakota, and when something like this happens in -40 degree weather it becomes a safety issue. something needs to be done about this problem that appears to span many years and models of gm vehicles. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala xf. the contact stated that while traveling 70 mph, the speedometer failed and would not indicate at what speed the contact was traveling. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and current mileage was 101,792.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. the contact was driving approximately 35-40 mph when the engine stalled without prior warning. the engine failed to restart and the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for diagnosis. the technician informed that the pass lock system was designed with two incorrect pins which resulted to the failure. the pass lock system was replaced. the failure was approximately 123,000.

The gauges on my 2004 chevrolet impala ss are acting erratically. the rpm at idle sits at about 3 and when i'm in drive if ranges from 4 to 5 with very little acceleration. the speedometer has started doing the same thing when traveling at about 35 to 40 mph the speedometer registers 140 mph. when turning the car off the gauge indicators don't go back to their designated starting positions. *tr

2004 chevy impala speedometer gives erratic readings. note complaints online are very high with same problem . vehicle should be recalled for safety reasons. *tr

At highway speeds, speedometer began reading erroneously over 100mph before oscillating between 0 and 100. it settled at 0 for several hours but then returned to 100 with vehicle speed approximately 65 mph based on other traffic. vehicle was turned off and back on with no change in symptoms. problems persist. *tr

Speedometer on 2004 acting erratic or non-functioning at times. malfunction occurred with 86,281 miles. *tr

Speedometer frequently indicates the wrong speed. the speedometer needle got stuck at zero mph when outside temperate was about 20 degrees fahrenheit. ever since that time (for 3 months now) the speedometer needle will frequently stick or jitter as vehicle speed changes. when speedometer needle is stuck it fails to reset all the way to zero when car is started. it only moves counter-clockwise a little bit when starting the car; it does not move back to its reset position. the reset problem could be compounded by a programming problem with the signals sent to the stepper motor. the fuel gauge needle can be heard and seen during starting of the car to swing the full range of the fuel dial to reset itself. the speedometer only moves a little bit counter-clockwise during startup; not nearly enough to reset to zero when it gets stuck. *tr

The speedometer ( component 1 ) has failed in the vehicle. it began by operating erratically on the date entered above and has progressed to not working at all most of the time or displaying the wrong speeds i.e. 70 mph while sitting still. the tachometer ( component 2 ) is also showing the same signs to complete failure by displaying unrealistic engine speeds while at idle. i contacted a dealer who ran the vin and found no recalls. i however have researched this matter on the internet and have found numerous complaints of the same nature that appears to point to the stepper motors used in the instrument clusters by gm to be the problem. it also appears that gm has recalled several models of the same era due to this problem but not the impala line. i fail to understand how the same problem is recalled for some but not all affected models.

Vehicle speedometer is floating. sometimes i am doing zero mph. then sometimes i am doing 120mph. this is a safety issue and something needs to be done about it. i never know how fast i am traveling down the road. *tr

My 2004 impala is having passlock security problems, the security light comes on and won't let me start the car. light blinks then goes off and car starts. have had car towed twice and dealer tells me it is a pcm or bcm problem do not know how to fix. also was told it happens to alot of impala's. *tr

Electronic instrument cluster gage not working. i cant tell how fast im going or if i have gas in the car. i wouldn't even know if my car is over heating. this seems to be a common problem on 2003-2005 chevy impala's. i have seen thousands of complains on the internet and its not fair that all these people have to take up this expense. especially when its not cheap. i would understand if it was rare..but it seems like most impala's have this problem. *tr

Entire instrument panel stopped working on my 2004 chevy impala : speedometer, gas gauge, and temperature gauge. called chevy about recalls because 5 other friends having same problems. was told no recalls. front headlights and rear defrost stopped working just yesterday. couldn't see anything. had to park the car. very, very dangerous. someone is going to get hurt. *tr

My oil pressure gauge stopped working, and a few days later the gas gauge went, then the anti-freeze temperature went. i called chevy, they admitted that this happens a lot, but there is no recall. cost 500.00

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the speedometer failed and he was unable to see the actual speed he was traveling. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 31,600. updated 01/31/11 *bf the dealership replaced the instrument cluster. updated 02/03/11*jb

I have a 2004 chevy impala,fuel gauge doesn't work half of the time, also now the speedometer works sometimes, its a safety issue, i got the car for my 17 year old daughter. too many complaints from others about the same problems, g.m. needs to issue a recall and make this right. *tr