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#BS-2004-CHEIMP-7A56

2004 Chevrolet ImpalaProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,379 owners and 7 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,379
Crashes
80
Fires
34
Recalls
7
TSBs
495
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,379 complaints, 80 crashes, 34 fires, and 7 recalls. Complaint rate is 9.1x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

speedometer gone haywire

187 complaints • Severity 8.1/10

$X,XXX
2

gauge cluster malfunction

79 complaints • Severity 7.5/10

$X,XXX
3

wont start security light comes on

64 complaints • Severity 7.9/10

$X,XXX
4

transmission slips

41 complaints • Severity 7.7/10

$X,XXX
5

shifting hard

34 complaints • Severity 8.1/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

407 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 70K miles.

!Inspect the Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panelMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

129
0–30K
310
30–60K
273
60–90K
163
90–120K
134
120–150K
104
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (310 reports) • Median: 70K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (407 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical407 (30%)
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel252 (18%)
Engine100 (7%)
Lights75 (5%)
Brakes67 (5%)
Steering52 (4%)
Speed Control38 (3%)
Other35 (3%)

2004 Chevrolet Impala: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 30% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala, with 407 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 70K-mile mark.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel Issues

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala, with 252 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system: instrument cluster/panel-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala, with 100 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Lights Issues

Lights complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala, with 75 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

31
04
31
05
36
06
124
07
218
08
149
09
153
10
93
11
43
12
69
13
197
14
97
15
53
16
37
17
11
18
9
19
10
20
5
21
3
22
1
24
5
25
4
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Chevrolet Impala. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (7 recalls)

04V287000Jun 2004

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

07E021000Apr 2007

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

08E063000Oct 2008

STEERING

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

09E005000Feb 2009

STEERING

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

14V400000Sep 2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

+ 2 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Chevrolet Impala is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

2004 Chevrolet Impala vs. Class Average (Large Cars)

This vehicle

1,379

Class avg

152

9.1x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical large cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,379 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 7 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Chevrolet Impala Model Years

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199619951994199319921991198519831982198119801979197819771976197419731972197119691968196719661965
View all Chevrolet Impala years →

2004 Chevrolet Impala: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Impala?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2004 Chevrolet Impala is related to the electrical, with 407 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
The 2004 Chevrolet Impala has 1,379 complaints, 80 crash reports, and 34 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 9.1x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Chevrolet Impala problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes, the 2004 Chevrolet Impala has 7 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet Impala problems start?
Based on 1113 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2004 Chevrolet Impala data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,379 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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