There are 50 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Impalain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL LINES AND BRAKE LINES CORROSION. CONSUMER HAS ANOTHER VEHICLE CORRESPONDENCE LISTED IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH THE FLOOR BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. *JS
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.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I SAW SOME SMOKE OR STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE RIGHT DASH . I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS , SO I CHECK MY GAUGES AND EVERY THING LOOKED OK , I CONTINUE TO DRIVING TRYING TO MAKE IT TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE. THE CAR CUT ITSELF OFF AND I SHIFT TO N AND ROLL INTO THE DRIVEWAY. I GOT OUT WENT INTO THE HOUSE FOR A COUPLE OF MIN. WHEN I RETURN THE CAR WAS SMOKING , I DASH WATER ON TOP OF THE HOOD BUT THE SMOKE TURN INTO FLAMES THAT'S WHEN I CALLED 911. HELP CAME AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE DRIVER REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING LIGHT PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLENISHED THE BRAKE FLUID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 04/07/15*LJ THE BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING AND CORRODED AND RUSTED. UPDATED 06/04/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 09/17/14*LJ UPDATED 02/12/2015 *JS
ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I START THE CAR AND STAY ON TILL I TURN IT OFF. CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT. *TR
SINCE LAST YEAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS TWICE BECAUSE OF A GRINDING/SQUEALING NOISE. NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN ( 4-19-14 ). WHEN EVER I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL VIBRATE AND MAKES NOISES,IF I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL (VIBRATES A LOT )AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WICKED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER SHIP ( BALISE OF WARWICK,RI )WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT FROM(MY FATHER-IN-LAW BOUGHT THE CAR THERE)AND ASK ABOUT ANY RECALLS....THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR MY CAR. GEE I WONDER IF THE PERSON THAT TOLD ME THAT WAS JUST LAZY OR IF THERE AREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR IT. CAN SOMEONE LET ME KNOW PLEASE...I HAVE MY GRANDSON IN THE CAR A LOT. *TR
I HAVE HAD MY 2004 IMPALA INTO THE SHOP THREE TIMES NOW WITH REGARDS TO THE TRACTION LIGHT GOING ON WHEN I TURNED ALONG WITH TRAC OFF AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON. INITIALLY THE SERVICE LIGHTS WOULD GO ON WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. THE ABS WOULD MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS CYCLING. JUST LAST WEEK ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRACTION SERVICE LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. I HAVE HAD TO STOP AND THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE WITH NO BRAKING CAPABILITIES THEN IT WOULD CATCH AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP WITH PUMPING THE BRAKE. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST TIME A REPAIR WAS MADE TWO WEEKS AGO AND REPLACED WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES ON BOTH FRONT TIRES AND FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THIS IS TIME FRAME WENT THE BRAKES WENT OUT. I WAS TOLD THE BACK BRAKES WERE OK. THE SECOND TIME - THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RIGHT BEARING AFTER THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN AFTER 5 DAYS OF DRIVING. NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE TRACTION AND ABS WHEN THE SERVICE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN. THE WIRE IS ROCK HARD. *TR
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. BRAKE PEDAL HAS BUZZING NOISE AND PRESSURE WHILE BRAKING FROM AROUND 35 MPH. CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, WHEN THE TCS ACTIVATES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ACCELERATION AND HAS LEFT ME PULLING OUT OF A SIDE STREET TO ALMOST GETTING STRUCK BY CROSS TRAFFIC. BOTH ARE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS! *TR
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, MORE OFTEN WHEN SLIPPERY WINTER CONDITIONS EXIST BUT THIS CAN HAPPEN EVEN ON PERFECTLY DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN I BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT MY IMPALA INTO DRIVE AND START TO ACCELERATE THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT FOR TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS BRAKING SYSTEMS. THIS HAPPENS WITH A NOTICEABLY LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. AUTOMATICALLY I RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR AND THE SYSTEMS HALF THE TIME SEEMS TO RESET ITSELF AS THE GRINDING NOISE STOPS, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT GOES OUT AS WELL. I BEGIN TO ACCELERATE WITH NO PROBLEM AT THAT POINT. THE OTHER HALF OF THE TIME THE LIGHTS ALL STAY ON FOR THE LENGTH OF MY DRIVE, WITH THE GRINDING SUBSIDING WHEN I RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE A SPEED SENSOR GOING BAD. THEY WOULD HAVE TO DIAGNOSE IT AND POSSIBLY REPLACE THE SENSOR AND QUITE A LARGE COST. I ARGUED THAT IF MY BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY THAN THIS MAY WELL BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND CHEVROLET SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. NO CHANCE. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER WITH THE SAME RESULT. PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME DIFICULT TO DEPRESS AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ARM, THE THUMB AND THE ROTATOR CUP, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I HAVE A CHEVY IMPALA AND THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, THE TRACTION OFF LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON THEN WHEN YOU USE YOUR BRAKES IT IS LIKE THE BRAKE IS PUSHING YOUR FOOT BACK UP. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET HURT. I HAVE REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS 5-6 TIMES IN A YEAR. IT WILL WORK FOR A VERY FEW MONTHS AND THEN IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. LAST THURSDAY I HAD PUT AN EXPENSIVE SET OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON IT AND BRAKES ALL WAY ROUND ON THE CAR. IT DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF THE SHOP BEFORE ALL OF THESE LIGHTS STARTED COMING BACK ON. SO I HAD NEW WHEEL BEARINGS PUT BACK ON IT AGAIN TODAY AND IT IS STILL DOING THIS. GM NEEDS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM, FROM WHAT I CAN READ ON THE INTERNET THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE AND IT IS COSTING EVERYONE A LOT OF MONEY. *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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A SHOPPING CENTER WHERE A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS AND HOSES WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 04V287000 (SERVICE BRAKE, HYDRAULIC) BUT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,032.
BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR. AT 14,584 & 49,883 MILES PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS & REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. PADS BECAUSE OF SEVERE WEAR. REAR ROTORS ON BOTH OCASSIONS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND WARPED CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO PROVIDE ALL THE BRAKING FORCE RESULTING IN SEVERE WEAR & DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PADS. AT 14584MILES TOOK CAR TO CHEVY. DEALER BECAUSE OF NOISE AT REAR WHEN STOPPING. REAR ROTORS & PADS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, FRONT PADS AT OUR COST. AT ABOUT 35000 HAD FRONT BRAKES CHECKED BECAUSE OF LOUD SQUEALING, FOUND FRONT PADS TO BE GLAZED. REARS NOT CHECKED AT THIS TIME. AT49884 MILES BRAKES GAVE OUT WHEN EXITING X-WAY. WHEN THE WHEELS WERE PULLED REAR ROTORS WERE AGAIN FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED & WARPED . ONE OF THE FRONT PADS HAD BROKEN & FALLEN OUT, THE OTHER PADS WERE SEVERELY WORN. ONCE AGAIN THE FRONT BRAKES WERE DOING ALL THE STOPPING BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE REAR ROTORS. THIS TIME WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE WHOLE REPAIR. CHEVY. DEALER SAID GM FELT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. TWO SETS OF WARPED & RUSTED ROTORS IN LESS THAN 50000 MILES DOES NOT SEEM LIKE NORMAL WEAR, IT APPEARS MORE LIKELY TO BE A DEFECT IN THE QUALITY OR DESIGN OF THE ROTORS & THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE PADS IS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. A WEB SEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM SHOWS THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE HAVING THIS DEFECT WITH RUSTY & WARPED REAR ROTORS ON GM PRODUCTS OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR. SERVICE TECH'S I'VE TALK TO ABOUT IT TELL ME IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND AND EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE. ALSO, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE ABS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT A LOW SPEED, THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. THE LEAKING BRAKE LINE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,388 . UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/03/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN HE WOULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY RESISTANT. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE THREE BRAKE LINES. THE BRAKES LINES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 51,220. UPDAETD 07/20/11*LJ UPDATED 02/28/12
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026