repaired · 2017 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
2004 Chevrolet ImpalaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,074 owner complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Impala, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-400 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 26, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Chevrolet Impala has problems
1,074 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
681Electrical system17 crash/fire/injury
104Exterior lighting4 crash/fire/injury
72Engine
63Steering
51Service brakes, hydraulic
47Power train
41Vehicle speed control
37Service brakes
36Engine and engine cooling
18523 other systems50 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 681 | 17 |
| Exterior lighting | 104 | 4 |
| Engine | 72 | 14 |
| Steering | 63 | 14 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 51 | 8 |
| Power train | 47 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 41 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 37 | 6 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 36 | 3 |
| 23 other systems | 185 | 50 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2004 Chevrolet Impala recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
no report yet
Service brakes, hydraulic
Risk. DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
68kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 565 electrical system complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
33under 30k miles432under 100k miles133100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
74 owners mentioned a cost$500median
Middle half: $477 – $600
Exterior lighting
11 owners mentioned a cost$600median
Middle half: $498 – $743
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other Impala year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impala median. How we score
'65'66'67'68'69'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'85'87'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Chevrolet Impala safety ratings
2004 Chevrolet Impala 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Impala owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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!
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…
The contact owned a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Own a 2004 Impala?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.