Model year record

2004 Chevrolet Impala

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,380 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V701000

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

Component: Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected: 1,003,556
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-10-26
Owners notified: 2016-02-19

Defect description

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 previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Safety risk

Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

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 engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V201000

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Component: Engine and engine cooling: engine
Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected: 330,742
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-04-06
Owners notified: 2015-04-24

Defect description

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 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

Safety risk

The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

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 recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V400000

Electrical system: ignition

Component: Electrical system: ignition
Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected: 5,877,718
Reported to NHTSA: 2014-07-03
Owners notified: 2014-09-08

Defect description

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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V287000

Service brakes, hydraulic

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 47,991
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-06-23
Owners notified: 2004-06-28

Defect description

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 AND KNUCKLE.

Safety 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 THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Electrical system	409	78,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	252	59,000 mi
Engine	72	120,567 mi
Exterior lighting	69	102,000 mi
Steering	51	70,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	39	60,000 mi
Service brakes	36	110,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	29	51,220 mi
Unknown or other	29	73,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	28	77,000 mi
Power train	23	87,000 mi
Air bags	22	104,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	21	49,487 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	17	51,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	16	55,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	15	135,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	13	87,324 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	11	34,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module	10	72,388 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: high/low beam dimmer switch	10	67,919 mi
Structure: body	10	115,450 mi
Traction control system	10	127,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch	9	132,000 mi
Wheels	9	75,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	8	34,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	6	100,000 mi
Equipment	6	48,000 mi
Interior lighting	6	94,700 mi
Suspension	6	6,984 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light	5	41,555 mi
Steering: column	5	25,000 mi
Structure	5	80,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module	4	55,550 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	4	3,634 mi
Fuel system, other	4	65,569 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	4	48,874 mi
Visibility/wiper	4	110,000 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch	3	61,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit	3	11,800 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	3	50,000 mi
Tires	3	52,400 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window	3	30,000 mi
Child seat	2	1,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	2	30,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	2	87,550 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	2	109 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	2	13,000 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	2	36,075 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	2	2 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	2	—
Power train: driveline	2	5,900 mi
Seat belts: rear/other	2	2,400 mi
Seats	2	80,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp	2	41,555 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	2	2 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	51,220 mi
Steering: rack and pinion	2	2 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: pinion shaft	2	60,132 mi
Structure: frame and members	2	—
Suspension: front	2	4 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	2	116,900 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	2	3,900 mi
Visibility	2	27,200 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor	2	30,000 mi
Child seat: latch connector/clip	1	—
Electrical system: horn	1	13,000 mi
Electrical system: software	1	56,278 mi
Electrical system: starter assembly	1	—
Electrical system: wiring	1	30,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	39,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	1	26,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	1	48,000 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights	1	—
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: unit	1	42,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: concealment devices	1	—
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	1	55,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	42,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal	1	—
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch	1	—
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	20,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system	1	150,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	1	60,000 mi
Parking brake	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift	1	4,000 mi
Power train: axle hubs	1	—
Power train: driveline: driveshaft	1	55,550 mi
Seat belts	1	107,442 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	1	—
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	48,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: wheel speed sensor/tone ring	1	48,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	9,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper	1	38,000 mi
Steering: electric power assist system	1	—
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)	1	18,000 mi
Steering: gear box: shaft pitman	1	25,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	9,800 mi
Steering: linkages	1	25,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: rack	1	60,132 mi
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments	1	58,000 mi
Unknown	1	106,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	75,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	200 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core	1	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	—
Wheels: hub	1	30,000 mi

The 2003 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.