There are 41 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Impalain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Wiring harness has got hot and cause a short not getting fuel and more
I HAVE A 2004 IMPALA AND I'M NOTICING THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MESS UP A WHOLE LOT IN THESE TYPE OF CARS WHY IS THAT AND WHY DID Y'ALL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM
MY CAR WILL NO LONGER MOVE WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR IN ANY OF THE LOWER GEARS. IT MOVES FINE IN REVERSE. THE REPAIR FACILITY TOLD ME IT WAS THE I OUT DRUM. THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE IT IS WITH A NEW DRUM THAT HAS UPDATED SPECIFICATIONS. THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT INPUT DRUM THAT HAS RESULTED IN THE NEED FOR AN I PUT DRUM WITH UPDATED SPECS. IF THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH THE ORIGINAL DRUM SHOULD NOT A RECALL BE ISSUED?
SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY, HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINS TO START VEHICLE. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, MY GAS FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING SO I TRACK THE GAS MY MILES .. FIRST 20 MILES STRUGGLES TO GO, FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR TO THE FUEL PUMP TO TRANNY TO ALTERNATOR NOW IT WONT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ONE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION IS RIDICULOUS
THE ONLY RECALL I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT WAS FOR THE IGNITION,. MY TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT 11/19/2015, IT WILL NOT SWITCH INTO GEAR, IT STARTS JUST FINE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT LEFT ME STRANDED. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN IT DROVE JUST FINE, SO I SLOWLY DROVE IT HOME. I DON'T GET ON THE HIGHWAY NO MORE BECAUSE IT LACKS POWER THE GET UP IS NOT THERE MIND YOU YES I HAVE 225K MILES ON IT BUT I HAVE HAD ABOUT 10 TROUBLE CODES AND I MANAGED TO GET RID OF THEM ALL WHEN I CLEANED THE TPS, AIC, AND MAP SENSOR NEW EGR VALVE, OIL CHANGE TUNE UP TRANSMISSION FLUSH ALL HAS BEEN DONE THIS YEAR AND STILL ON THE HIGHWAY IT STRUGGLES, I DID HAVE ONE CODE THAT POPPED UP 0420 SO AT THIS POINT I HAVE BEEN THINKIN TO JUST REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHEN I GET MY TAXES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS JUST GETTING WORSE AND WORSE, SO THEN I AM THINKING ITS THE FUEL PUMP, I MEAN MY ALTERNATOR IS FINE, I KNOW I AM SICK OF THE SECURITY LIGHT ALWAYS COMING ON, MY LEFT BLINKER ONLY WORKS IN THE DAY TIME AT NIGHT NEVER WHICH IS THE WEIRDEST THING, MY WINDSHIELD BLADES ONLY WORK ON THE FASTEST SETTING, IN THE WINTER WHEN IT RAINS OR SNOWS MY DOORS WHEN WE GET INSIDE TO LOCK THEM THE LOCK AND UNLOCK AND THE PANEL SAYS DOOR AJAR WHEN THERE IS NO DOOR AJAR,IT WILL DRIVE JUST FINE AS IT NOTHING WAS EVER WRONG. INCONSISTENT AND WHATS EVEN WEIRD IS NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WONT EVEN COME ON AFTER MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD YOU WOULD THINK THE COMPUTER WAS ABLE TO RECORD SOMETHING. ONCE TRANNY FIXD I WILL GET THE IGNITION RECALL FIXED ORIGINALLY A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE LIKE A SCREECHING NOISE SO I FIGURED IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR NOW THAT NOISE IS GONE BUT THE MINUTE I FELT IT WASN'T THE TRANNY, MY CAR AT THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO AT ALL UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON. PLEASE HELP ME
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CHEVROLET IMPALA'S TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ADJUSTED HIS DRIVING HABITS OVER THE YEARS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. RECENTLY, WHILE PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE AS IT WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL, LOW 1, AND THEN REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WHILE IN REVERSE AND WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE RPMS INCREASED, THE FRONT END JERKED, AND THE VEHICLE FINALLY REVERSED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED TRANSMISSION FLUID, A GASKET, AND A FILTER AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. DURING THE REPAIR, PROCESS METAL SHAVINGS AND CHUNKS WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED NON-DRIVABLE AND WAS PARKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-4151643491. THE LOCAL DEALER (FOX AUTO GROUP, 150 ROBERT DANN DR, PAINTED POST, NY 14870, (607) 937-5431) WAS CALLED TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER IF HE COULD STAY WITH THE VEHICLE DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD NOT; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CUSTOMER RECEIVED REPAIRS DUE TO RECALL AND IS REQUESTING REPAIRS. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD TO HESITATE AND THEN JERK. PIECES OF METAL WERE DISCOVERED IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN INDICATING AN INTERNAL FAULT. ALSO, THE IGNITION AND CYLINDER WERE REPLACED. *JB
WHEN COMING TO A ALMOST STOP AND U START TO TAKE OFF ITS LIKE THE CAR ISN'T IN GEAR THE AFTER THE RPMS GO UP IT JUMPS IN GEAR SPINNING THE TIRES. THEN IT WILL PAUSE IN BETWEEN GEARS AND MAKE A THUMP WHEN IT GOES IN GEAR FROM 0-55. GM NEEDS TO FIX ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. WE ALREADY PAID FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS WHEN WE ALL BOUGHT THE CARS FROM THE DEALERS AND SOME ARE NOT EVEN GETTING HALF THE MILES I GOT BEFORE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. I HAD CARS I'VE NEVER TOUCH THE TRANSMISSION OTHER THAN MAINTENANCE AND IT OUT LASTED THE CAR! GM NEEDS TO FIX THESE NOW. I JUST GOT THIS CAR AND HAD IT ONLY A YEAR AND TWO MONTHS. I'M DISABLED I CAN'T AFFORD THIS REPAIR! NOTE: THE CAR IS IN MY MOTHERS NAME [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WAS TURNING LEFT FROM STOP WHEN TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON ALSO ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION OFF SWITCH LIGHT, NOW IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE AND SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR. IT MAKES A GROWLING SOUND,IF I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT ALL THE LIGHTS GO OUT. *TR
I NOTICED WHEN I GET TO 30 MPH I NOTICED A KICK IN MY TRANSMISSION, AFTER THAT IT'S SMOOTH SAILING UNTIL TAKE OFF AGAIN. I SPOKE WITH A SEVERAL MECHANIC ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WAS GOING OUT. THEY TOLD ME THE CHEVROLET IMPALA WERE FAMOUS FOR THAT. SO I BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS SITUATION AND FOUND OUT THAT EVERY PERSON I SPOKE WITH HAVE THE SAME SITUATION GOING ON. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS AN 2005 IMPALA AS WELL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE STARTED A GROUP FOR THIS. WILL YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. IT WILL BE APPRECIATED. ... IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE STARTING A PETITION. *TR
TRACTION CONTROL TRIES TO KICK WHEN BRAKING. BRAKES ACT AS THOUGH THEY ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST MY FOOT PRESSURE AT THIS TIME. TRACTION CONTROL MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STOPPING. TRACTION CONTROL SHUTS OFF, WARNING LIGHT TO SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON, ABS SHUTS OFF AND LIGHT COMES ON, AND RED "BRAKES" LIGHT TURNS ON. VEHICLE DRIVES AND BRAKES JUST FINE AFTER THAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE. ON OCCASION THESE EVENTS HAPPEN WHEN GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACKS OR OTHER SIMILAR BUMPS AND BRAKES ARE NOT INVOLVED. *TR
THERE IS A LITTLE VIBRATION. WHEN I ACCELERATE AND BEGIN TO PICK UP SPEED IT HESITATES. WHEN GOING FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR THE CAR SHIFTS HARD AND EVEN INTO THIRD GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET A TRANSMISSION SERVICE THINKING IT WOULD HELP, BUT IT DIDN'T. ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. I HAVE BEEN ASKING AROUND TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND EVERYONE IS SAYING THAT ITS HARD TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT COULD BE S NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF THINGS WRONG. MOST OF THE MECHANICS I SPOKE TO THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $1800 TO GET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS CAR THAT'S HAVING THIS ISSUE. I WOULD HATE TO BE SOMEWHERE AND THE CAR JUST QUIT ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN VERY RELIABLE TO ME UP UNTIL THIS YEAR. I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP THE CAR BUT I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE WASTING MONEY GETTING PARTS FIXED ON IT AND ITS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
THE CAR IS SHIFTING HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN I SLOW DOWN AROUND A CURVE AND THEN THE CAR HAS TO SHIFT DOWN AND BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. THIS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING, IT PROBABLY ISN'T THE TRANSMISSION BUT WITH THE VACUUM MODULAR OR TORQUE CONVERTER. I ALSO HAD A 2005 AND RECENTLY TRADED IT IN FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE, BUT IT HAD THE SAME THING WITH SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. *TR
MY VEHICLE HAS 73000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD SINCE NOV 2011. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AS ADVISED BY A DEALERSHIP. NO CHANGE I HAVE A N EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE PROBLEM IF THE DEALER SHIP FINDS THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE PLACE I BOUGHT THAT CAR FROM . THEY HAD A MECHANIC GET IN TEST DRIVE IT WITH A HAND HELD METER FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES A. THEY REPORTED THAT NOTHING SHOWED UP AND THE TRANS IS FINE. I TOOK IT HOME AND THE ENTIRE WAY THERE IT SLIPPED FROM ASTOP POSITION AND SHIFTED HARD INTO GEAR. I OWE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF STILL IN PAYMENT'S FOR THE CAR AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES ON APRIL 22 20012 . I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO GO WHAT DO I DO. JOHN B I HAVE REPORTED THE CAR A ND DEALER TO BBS FOR WHAT THAT IS WORTH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO ALL GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE PASSING GEAR WOULD GET ROUGH GOING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,273.
VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY QUITS FUNCTIONING. SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY SHOWS HIGH SPEED (EXAMPLE 120 MPH) WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SPEEDOMETER REMAINS STUCK IN THIS POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE ERROR AFTER RETURNING HOME AND CYCLING THE IGNITION FROM OFF TO ON MANY MANY TIMES. NOW THE TACH JUST '!@#$% OUT AND STAYS AT 6:00. I BEEN ALSO HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES TO WHERE THE TRANNY WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHIFT HARD THEN BE FINE FOR A WHILE THEN BACK TO SHIFTING HARD? *TR
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 IMPALA HAS SLIP SO BAD THAT I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. IT KICKED SO HARD IN RAINING WEATHER THE CAR SWERVE ON THE ROAD. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 76,000 MILE'S ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING A TON OF PROBLEMS WITH IT EVEN AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN SHOP FEES TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM'S, THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS OR JUST DOESN'T WORK AT ALL SO I CAN NEVER TELL HOW FAST I'M GOING ALONG WITH THE TEMP. GAUGE SO I CAN'T TELL IF THE CAR IS OVER HEATING OR NOT. THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS FAULTY AND THE GAUGES ONLY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING FROM 1-2, THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH DOESN'T WORK UNLESS YOU HOLD IT AND ANY TIME YOU USE A WINDOW OF HAVE THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST ON THE RADIO IS ALL STATIC. *TR
MY 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALAS TRANSMISSION JUMPS INTO GEAR MAKING THE CAR GO FORWARD IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY TOLD ME TOUGH LUCK. THE CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WON'T FIX THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. I WENT TO CAR COMPLAINTS DOT COM AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 41 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 26, 2026