2004 Chevrolet Impala Complaint Log

WHILE USING MANUFACTURER SUPPLIED SCISSORS JACK TO RAISE 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA TO CHANGE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, JACK FOLDED OVER CAUSING VEHICLE TO DROP TO GROUND AND ROLL BACK SLIGHTLY. VEHICLE WAS ON SMOOTH, CLEAN, LEVEL CONCRETE GARAGE FLOOR AT THE TIME. SCISSORS JACK HAD COME APART AS A RESULT AND IS NO LONGER SERVICEABLE. IT HAS BEEN RETAINED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLIED CAUSING A INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. IN JULY OF 2005 THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONE SET OF BRAKE ROTORS AND RESURFACED THE OTHER SET. IN SEPTEMBER ANOTHER DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OTHER SET OF ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER, WHICH DETERMINED THE ROTORS NEED TO BE RESURFACED DUE TO RUST BUILD UP. THEY DID NOT RESURFACE THE ROTORS BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

LACK OF CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO CHILD SAFETY LOCKS AND I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS CAR. HAD TO FIND OUT THE HARD WAY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND TO MY SURPRISE I HEARD THE WARNING SOUND AND SEEN THE LIGHT FLASH THAT A CAR DOOR WAS OPEN. THAT WAS WHEN I TURNED TO SEE MY SON OPENING THE DOOR. HIGHLY RECOMMEND A RECALL ON THIS TO HAVE THE LOCKS INSTALLED. WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED THAT THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED BUT YET IT'S SHOWN AS A FAMILY STYLE CAR. *NM

2004 IMPALA HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE DEALER REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WHILE IGNITION IS IN ACC. POSITION. WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS TO RELEASE THE SHIFTER AS PER SHIFTER INTERLOCK. *NM

ON OCT 6TH 2005, WHILE DRIVING THE DEPARTMENT ISSUED 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA, POLICE PATROL SQUAD CAR, I NOTICED A UNFAMILUAR VERY STRONG FOUL ODOR WHEN I WOULD TURN ON THE HEATER. UNKNOWN TO ME AT THE TIME, BUT AFTER I SUFFERRED INITIALLY AN INHALATION INJURY WHICH NEARLY KILLED ME BY SUFFICATING ME CAUSING MY BLOOD PRESSURE TO ESCALATE THEREBY CAUSING ME TO SUFFER DUEL ANYURSM' OF THE UPPER THORACIC VEIN AND THE ABDOMINAL VEIN. I WAS FLOWN VIA FLIGHT-FOR-LIFE HELICOPTER TO A TRAUMA CENTER, HOSPITALIZED IN INTENSIVE CARE, LEFT INCAPACITED ME FOR FOUR MONTHS AND WITHOUT AN INCOME. I AM NOW LEFT WITH INTERNAL SCAR TISSUE ON MY AORTA VEIN. MY POLICE SUPERVISOR VISITED ME IN INTENSIVE CARE IN THE HOSPITAL AND INFORMED ME THAT THE MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH SERVICES OUR FLEET OF LEASED VEHICLE, INSPECTION RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OVERCHARGING THE BATTERY AND AS A RESULT THE BATTERY BEGAN TO OVERHEAT GIVING OFF BATTERY ACID FUMES WHICH EXPLAINED THE FOUL ODOR. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND MANIPULATE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTING/ELECTRICITY TO RETURN. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE IGNITION KEY WHERE THE KEY WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANIPULATE THE KEY IN THE START POSITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,536.

ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 I RENTED A CHEVROLET IMPALA FROM AVIS ON W 76TH ST IN NEW YORK CITY. WHILE SITTING STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT LATER THAT DAY IN HARTFORD, CT, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE FULL THROTTLE INTO THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT WHILE FULL BRAKE PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED. ABOUT ONE SECOND WENT BY AND IT HAPPENED ONCE MORE, STRIKING THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. SINCE THERE WAS SUCH A SMALL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CARS THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO REACH A HIGH SPEED, BUT THERE WAS A STRONG JOLT WHEN STRIKING THE OTHER CAR. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND INSPECTING FOR DAMAGE NONE WAS FOUND TO EITHER VEHICLE BUT IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DANGEROUS. I CALLED AVIS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND REQUESTED THAT A CAR BE BROUGHT TO ME BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY MORE. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE I HAD TO BRING IT TO AN AVIS LOCATION MYSELF. LATER THAT NIGHT, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE AVIS LOCATION AT THE BRADLEY AIRPORT IN HARTFORD AND THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AGAIN. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I RETURNED THE CAR AND WAS GIVEN AN EXCHANGE.*JB

I HAVE A 2004 IMPALA, THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD AND I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR ROTORS GROUND DOWN TWICE BECAUSE THEY HAD WARPED AND WERE COVERED WITH RUST. THE DEALER DID THE REPAIR AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A NEW VEHICLE. *NM

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, LOCKS THE IGNITION, AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE CAR TO CRANK AT ANYTIME. *TR

MY FOOT IS QUITE OFTEN FALLING OFF THE GAS PEDAL

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WITH THE BRAKES ON. IT IS PULSATED/SQUEALED WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REAR BRAKES PULSATED DUE TO WARPED REAR BRAKE ROTORS. THE FIRST TIME DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE THEY FOUND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND OUT OF ROUND. THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKES OVERHEATED, CAUSING THEM TO WARP. *AK

2004 CHEVY IMPALA TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 80. THE FAILURE HAS COST $100'S OF DOLLARS IN TOW TRUCK FEES, RENTAL FEES ETC. COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO GREY CHEVROLET IN STROUDSBURG PENNSYLVANIA OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS REGARDING A NOISE COME FROM EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE ENGINE AND UP TO THE POINT OF THE FAILURE THE SERVICE DEPARTEMENT AT THE DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER PROPERTY ASSESSED. GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WAS ALSO CONTACTED REGARDING OUR UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE MY THIS DEALER OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AS I WRITE THIS COMPLAIN 7/7/05 MY CAR IS STILL SITTING IN THE LOT OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AWAITING WORD FROM GMC ON WHAT TO DO.

I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A RENTED CHEVY IMPALA. I INTENDED TO LEAN MY ARM ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, BUT FOREARM ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED THE SEATBELT BUCKLE (WHICH I HAD ALREADY FASTENED). MY FOREARM WAS PINCHED INTO THE SEATBELT BUCKLE CAUSING A ONE INCH SQUARE BLOOD BLISTER AND BRUISING. IT WAS NOT A SERIOUS INJURY, BUT DID HURT NONETHELESS. AND, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE HURT A CHILD OR EDERLY PERSON MORE.

MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN FLORIDA AND WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH AND A LINE OF VEHICLES IN FRONT OF US STOPPED, NOT REAL FAST, BUT THEY STOPPED AND WE WERE ABOUT 80 YARDS IN BACK OF THEM AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKE PETAL THE CAR JUST DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. IT WAS SKIDDING ALL ALONG, SQUEALING TIRES, UNTIL I LOST CONTROL OF IT AND STARTED TO FISHTAIL. ABOUT 1 FOOT MORE OR SO, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT! I DIDN'T SLAM THEM ON OR ANYTHING. IT WAS KIND OF A SUDDEN STOP, BUT NOT REALLY TOO SUDDEN. ALL OF THE VEHICLES AROUND US STOPPED PREFECTLY NORMAL. I'VE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS! MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRENTY, HOWEVER I HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT IN. I THINK I SHOULD THOUGH. BUT STILL, GENERAL MORORS AND CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR RELEASING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE LIKE THIS! ANOTHER SMALL COMPLAINT I HAVE, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARLY A SAFETY CONCERN, IS THE FACT THAT THE STEERING IS RATHER POOR ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN YOU GO AROUND TURNS, YOU HAVE A MAKE AN EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND GET THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT AGAIN. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT NEW CARS SHOULD BE BETTER THAN OLD ONE'S, HOWEVER MY EXPERIENCES HAVE OBVIOUSLY PROVEN THAT THEY'RE NOT. THANK YOU FOR READING MY COMPLAINT. I HOPE YOU CAN GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND MAYBE THEN GM CAN MAKE CHANGES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD AREA AND THEN SPREAD TO THE HOOD. THE FIRE OCCURRED TWO TO THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. A RELATIVE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HAND DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL. THERE IS NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THE REPAIR WORK. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OR MORE. THE BRAKES AND THE DISC WERE REPLACED AND ALIGNED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DISC FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT DETECTS THE SMELL OF FUEL WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL GAUGE HAS FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS FULL; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO THE PRESENCE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND AFTER ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL GAGE FAILURE OR THE ODOR. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE FUEL ODOR IN THE INTERIOR. ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED TWICE, THE VIBRATION CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF THE REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED, INCLUDING AN INSURANCE REPORT. THERE IS NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 81,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 08/15/07.*JB

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE DRIVER COMPLAINED THAT HER NECKED HURT. *JB

SPEEDOMETER CHANGED TWICE BY ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF BY ITSELF. CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ABOUT THE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL, ANSWER WAS TO HAVE IT CHECKED, ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED BY THREE DEALERS, ONLY ONE SAID YES IT WAS SLIPPING (TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SLIPPING SINCE I GOT THE CAR). NO PAPERWORK DUE TO COST TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY TWO DEALERS. ONE DEALER (WHERE I GOT THE CAR) NO LONGER IN BUSINESS BUT HAD THE PAPERWORK FOR THE TRANSMISSION COMPLAINT. BUT THEY TOO SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS AND BECAUSE OF THIS THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR. *TR

DT: THE VEHICLE HAS NO CHILD SAFETY LOCKS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND FOUND THAT THE CHILD UNLOCKED THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *SC *JB

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD GLARE. *MR (SOLAR RAY WINDSHIELD) THIS PROBLEM COMPLETELY DISTORTED THE CONSUMERS VISION IN SOME INSTANCES. *SC *JB

CONSUMOR STATES: DOES NOT HAVE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. *AK

THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED ON VARIOUS LONG DISTANCE TRIPS. IT OCCURED ABOUT SIX TIMES SINCE PURCHASE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,400 OVER 9.5 YRS. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH. ONCE IN KANSAS, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, ETC. THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY I FELT THE LOSS OF POWER. I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER AND SAW IT DROP. I SAW AN ENGINE RED LIGHT COME ON. THE TOTAL DURATION OF OUTAGE WAS ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS. UPON RESUMPTION OF ELECTRICAL POWER, NOTHING FURTHER HAPPENED. WE NEVER LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS I CHECKED FOR RECALL NOTICES AND CHECKED WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. NOTHING UNTIL IN JUNE 2012. FROM 2010-12 I HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION ON. NOTHING HAPPENED. I WOULD WAIT FIVE MINUTES OR SEVERAL HOURS AND THEN IT WOULD START. THAT HAPPEN MONTHLY FOR TWO YEARS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED/REPLACED THE IGNITION PART AT THE COST OF ABOUT $600. NO PROBLEM SINCE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL KEY FROM GM WITH THE WIDE HOLE. MY POINT HERE IS THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT VICTIM FROM THESE INCIDENTS. I HAD TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

INSTRUMENT FAILURE, NOTHING CAUSED THE FAILURE, IT JUST STARTED SLOWLY AT 30000 MILES, HAD MILD SPEED MISREADINGS AT NIGHT, BUT SLOWLY BECAME WORSE AND WORSE. BUT NOW TEMPERATURE AND FUEL DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY ANY TIME OF DAY, BUT GOES CRAZY ON HOT DAYS. I TOOK THE CLUSTER APART AND THE MAIN PROCESSOR CHIP HAD A BLOB OF SILICONE DRIP ON IT DURING ASSEMBLY AND NOW HAS A BURN MARK ON IT. I HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS OTHER IMPALA OWNERS WITH SOME PROBEM.

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE RESPONSE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BY THE DEALERSHIP. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN #04V287000. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 3,738 MILES WITHOUT THE CONSUMER BEING NOTIFIED BY GM OR THE DEALERSHIP. *SC *JB

DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE TURNED BROWN AND SLUDGED UP. LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND 16,200 MILES ON VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAD SYSTEM FLUSHED, RESERVOIR REPLACED AND NEW COOLANT ADDED. I WILL TAKE IT BACK FOR THE SAME THING EVERY YEAR. MANY PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN TO WITH GM VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WITH THIS COOLANT.

ALONG WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS ON THIS SAME PAGE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS FAILING. TEMP GAUGE QUIT WORKING A FEW WEEKS AGO, NOW THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED. CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. CHEVROLET DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF DEFECT, BUT DEALER DOES ACKNOWLEDGE; HOWEVER, WILL COST $500-700 TO REPAIR. SINCE THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT, AND A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, WHY DOES NHTSA TAKE NO ACTION? *TR

' RECALL CAMPAIGN' ISSUED ON 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA FOR FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BOLT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED GM STILL HAS NOT SENT HIM AN OFFICIAL RECALL LETTER EVEN AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS', AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO JUDGE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. *AK

SMELL GAS WHEN NOT AROUND GAS STATION AND IGNITION PROBLEMS SOMETIMES I MUST START THE CAR TWICE.

HVAC SYSTEM IN THE 2004 IMPALA HAS A PROBLEM. THE AC COMPRESER RUNS IN THE HEAT ONLY MODE AT TEMPS AS LOW AS 30 DEGREES. THIS CAUSES THE INSIDE WINDOWS TO FOG UP ON THE INSIDE AND IF THE VECH IS LEFT PARKED OUTSIDE ALL THE WINDOWS WILL FOG UP. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP ALL WINDOWS CLEAN IS TO OPEN ONE OF THE WINDOWS A LITTLE AND RUN DEFROST WITH AT LEAST HALF SPEED. IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS THE FRONT AND SIDE WINDOWS FOG UP AND IT IS VERY HARD TO CLEAT THE SIDE WINDOWS. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSING MY GAS MILEAGE TO GO DOWN AND MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS COLD OUT. DEALER SAID IT IS OK. THE MANUAL SAYS THE AC SOULD ONLY RUN ABOVE 40 AND ONLY IN DEFROST OR DEMIST MODES.*AK

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. WHEN I GOT THE "NEW" CAR I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN WRECKED, YEAH, A "NEW" CAR. THEN FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH IT CRANKING. SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE UP TO 2 HOURS TO GET IT TO CRANK. WE HAD HEARD THAT IT COULD BE SOMETHING WITH THE STARTED AND THE DEALER SAID THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE YOU ARE OVER YOUR MILEAGE. THIS IS A VERY KNOWN ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY FOR 24 HOURS AS OF 7/26/2008 AT 10:23 AM BECAUSE IT NOW WILL NOT CRANK. WE HAVE TRIED ALL THE LITTLE SECRETS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE PAST. I AM TAKING IT TO THE SHOP ON MONDAY AND HOPEFULLY IT IS NOT GOING TO COST MY BOTH OF MY LEGS AND ARMS. I THINK THAT GM SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE WELL KNOWN PROBLEMS IF THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KEEP BUYING THEIR CARS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM CAR IF SOMETHING IN THE NEAR FUTURE ISN'T DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WILL SPREAD THE WORD ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND HERE IN TOWN. WORD OF MOUTH CAN MAKE OR BREAK A COMPANY. I KNOW I AM JUST ONE RIGHT NOW BUT SOON I WILL BE MANY AND SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. *TR

SPEEDOMETER GIVES FALSE READINGS. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW SPEED ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS PRE-BRAKING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AND STRUCK THE DASHBOARD, RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND IS CURRENTLY AWAITING REPAIRS. *AK UPDATED 1/19/2006 - *NM

1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - IT ALL STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE BLINKER MECHANISM OF THE TURN SIGNALS. WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK, THE LEVER IS TURNED FOR EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AND THE SIGNAL STAYS LIT, BUT NOT BLINKING. MOST OF THE TIME, THOUGHOUT THE DAY, THE SIGNALS BLINK PROPERLY. 2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES - THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT DRIVERS FOLLOWING ME WOULD NOT BE AS ALERT TO A NON-BLINKING LIGHT AS THEY WOULD BE FOR A BLINKING LIGHT. 3) BOTH MYSELF AND MY LOCAL GAS STATION REMOVED AND AND RESEATED THE POSSIBLE OFFENDING FUSE AND ASSOCIATED RELAY MODULE. HE EVEN INDICATED THAT BOTH CHEVROLET AND PONTIAC CARS HAVE TURN SIGNAL ARMS WITH SHORTS IN THEM. I COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALLS INDICATING A SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNALS.

FRONT END- ABOUT ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE FROM A DEALERSHIP, THE FRONT END FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL IN. THE WHEELS FEEL LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO ROLL OFF, THERE'S A CLICKING NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END IS GOING TO FOLD IN. TOLD INTERMEDIATE SHAFT 100% SAFE TO DRIVE AND STILL WAITING FOR PART FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. WHEN DID PROBLEM FIRST GET REPORTED TO CHEVY? WHEN ARE CONSUMERS GOING TO BE MADE AWARE? AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE TO FIND THEY HAVE A PROBLEM? *JB

SECURITY LIGHT WENT ON LAST MONTH. IT WAS TAKEN IN IMMEDIATELY FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITIION CYLINDER. THE CAR ALSO MAKES A VIBRATING NOISE ON ACCELERATOR. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THE CATALITIC CONVERTER. ALL REPLACED. THE CAR STILL MADE NOISE WHEN LEFT SERVICE AT NORTHEAST AUTO CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA PA WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. YESTERDAY THE LIGHT FOR SECURITY IS BACK ON. 2004 CHEVY IMPALA VERY DISAPPOINTED. CAR HAS 55,000 MILES. AT 36K THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT DURING FUNERAL PROCESSION. *TR

DURING A 40 MPH FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30 MPH, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO CHECK THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAID FOR IT TO BE TOWED TO THEM. *TC

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SQUEAKS INTERMITTENTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN OR ROUGH PAVEMENT. *TS SEVERAL DEALERS HAVE TRIED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. *JB

ENGINE IS CONSUMING OVER A QUART OF OIL APPROX. EVERY 1800-2000 MILES. I WAS SHOWN A BULLETIN THAT SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OIL CONSUMPTION AT THE DEALERSHIP. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TWICE TO THEM EACH TIME THE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND EACH TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BUT TO CHECK IT EVERY DAY OR TWO AND KEEP TRACK THEN COME IN WITH MY NOTES TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY REGULAR GARAGE THE NEXT TIME THE OIL WAS LOW AND 4 MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT THE RATE OF OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NOT REGULAR AND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IF IT IS NOT MAKING IT PASSED 2000 MILES BEFORE IT LOSES OVER A QUART OF OIL.

ODOMETER 1120 MILES - CHEVROLET IMPALA LS - PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2004. SITUATION: AS I WAS EXITING THE LIE VIA THE WOODHAVEN BLVD OFF RAMP GOING WESTBOUND, I WAS GOING THE RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT (20 MILES PER HOUR). AS I WAS FOLLOWING THE CURVE OF THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE LEFT, DIRECTING THE CAR TOWARDS THE ROADSIDE CURB. IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO CORRECT, THERE WAS A LOT OF RESISTANCE AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN. THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL HIT THE CURB. THE CAR MOVED OFF THE CURB IN THE DIRECTION TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GRINDING METAL AND SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY. DAMAGE: MY INSPECTION OF THE CAR REVEALED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WAS PUSHED BACK IN ITS FRAME TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE RIM OF THE WHEEL WAS SCRATCHED AND SMALL CHUNKS OF THE TIRE WERE RIPPED OFF. THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE TIRE APPEARED TO BE SCRAPED AS WELL. I AM UNSURE OF BODY OR FRAME DAMAGE. REPAIR: BUMPER COVER, LT FENDER, LT APRON PANEL, ENGINE CRADLE - PULL & ALIGN STEERING GEAR & LINKAGE, LT ROCKER MOLDING. REPLACED: LT FRONT LINER, LT FRONT & REAR ALLOY WHEELS, LT FRONT TIRE, LT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING, LT AXLE ASSEMBLY 3.8 LITER, LT STRUT SOFT RIDE, LT OUTER TIE ROD, LT INNER TIE ROD PILLARS - ROCKER & FLOOR, CORROSION PROTECTION. OLD PART AVAILABILITY - NO. JB

CAR PARKED ON HILL WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. WHEN BRAKE WAS RELEASED, CAR ROLLED BACKWARDSAS IF IN NEUTRALAL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN PARK. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATES THE SAFETY CONCERN WITH VEHICLE IS THAT THE SEATS ARE MADE TOO LOW FOR SHORTER PEOPLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY STATED IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THERE ARE A SAFETY AND A COMFORT ISSUES IN THE DESIGN OF THE SEATS, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER PEOPLE.*AK

BOUGHT A 2004 FROM RUSS DARROW GROUP IN MADISON WI. THIS CAR WAS A RENTAL CAR WE PAID 19K FOR IT AND IT HAS 30K MILES ON IT. IT SHAKES WHEN DRIVING OVER 50MPH AND THE BRAKES ARE UNRELIABLE. THE SALESMAN COOERICED US INTO THIS CAR, AND WE TRIED TO RECTIFY THE MATTER WITHIN 48 HOURS, BUT THEY WON'T COOPERATE. THERE ARE 2004 CARS WITH 0 MILES FOR LESS MONEY, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THE FRONT END IS OUT OF ALLIGNMENT AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. WE WANT A DIFFERENT, SAFE CAR, WE DO NOT WANT THIS FIXED. THE PAYMENTS ARE ALMOST 500 PER MONTH FOR SIX YEARS. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT MILEAGE AMOUNTS ON THE PAPERS AND ON THE CONTRACT THE ODOMETER SAYS 0 STRIKEN OUT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL FREEZE AND NOT MOVE OR MOVE TO VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT A STEADY SPEED. THIS FAILURE IS OCCURRING ALMOST DAILY, AND STARTED AS A ONCE IN ABOUT A MONTH EPISODE. VEHICLE WILL NEED $900 WORTH OF REPAIRS TO FIX SPEEDOMETER. *TR

MY "LOW OIL LEVEL" LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 2000 MILES. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED, IT WAS A QUART LOW. I WAS TOLD THAT NEW VEHICLES SOMETIMES "ABSORB" OIL THE FIRST TIME. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT 5000 MILES, THE OIL WAS OVER A QUART LOW. IT WAS IMPLIED THAT I WAS NOT RESETTING THE CHANGE OIL LIGHT PROPERLY. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AT 9000 MILES. AT THIS POINT I PAID FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS DONE. THE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT 10,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT, TOPPING OFF THE OIL SINCE IT WAS A QUART LOW AND I SHOULDN'T GO FOUR DAYS WITH THE OIL A QUART LOW. WHEN I RETURNED FOR THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT MY OIL LEVEL WAS ONLY 1/2 QUART LOW. THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THAT THEY TOPPED IT OFF. I HAD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE AND ANOTHER OIL CONSUMPTION (DYE TEST) WAS STARTED. I WAS SHOWN A NOTICE THAT WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING DEFECTIVE GASKETS OR SEALS ON 2004 IMPALAS. TO DATE I HAVE HAD FOUR OIL CHANGES, ALL OF WHICH THE OIL LEVEL WAS OVER A QUART LOW. I WOULD THINK THAT THERE WAS ENOGH EVIDENCE TO WARRANT THE REPAIR TO MY VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE AND WAIT 2000 MILES. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF OIL IS BEING CONSUMED IT HAS TO EFFECT OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE. THE OIL HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY EFFECT TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING , ALSO, OWNER HAD REPLACED A SET OF BRAKE PADS AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK DUE TO A TANK FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAS 13,000 MILES YET IT HAS BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *LA

THE NEW MODEL YEAR 04 CHEVROLET IMPALA SEDANS HAVE POORLY DESIGNED AND OR MIS-ADJUSTED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, CAUSING BLINDING GLARE TO ON COMING DRIVERS, DRIVERS IN FRONT OF THESE VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS WALKING AT NIGHT. THESE EXCESSIVELY GLARING LIGHTS DISTRACT AND CAUSE EYE PAIN TO OTHER DRIVERS AND TEMPORARY BLINDNESS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ESPECIALLY FOR PEDESTRIANS WALKING AGAINST TRAFFIC AT NIGHT.*AK

I BOUGHT A CAR FOR 18995. ON A DAY LATER THE DEALER PUT ON THE NEWS PAPER THE SAME CAR STOCK # FOR 12995. IM TRYING TO FIX THIS MATTER WITH THE DEALER BUT THEIR SAY IS JUST TO ATTRACT PEOPLE. *LA

THERE ARE NO THINGS THAT LEAD UP TO THE THE STEERING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WITH CAR THAT HAS 3018 MILES ON IT I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS. THE STEERING CLICKS WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. DEALER WILL GET ME A RENTAL CAR IF THE CAR WARRENTY WORK IS MORE THEN 2 HOURS OR CAR NEEDS TO BE KEPT OVERNIGHT. *AK