This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The speedometer failed to report the proper speed while driving. The speedometer needle was stuck at the 120 mph mark while travelling at a rate of 50 miles per hour.
2004 Chevy Impala. I go out to start the car and it will not start. I wait 15-20 minutes and it starts. The transmission also shifts hard. The speedometer says I am going 10 when I am going faster than that or it may say 100 when it is parked. Please, recall this.
Was driving along and all of a sudden my speedometer started "floating". it would be all over the place, some times it would go all the way around to 120 and other times it would be right on.
I bought a used 2004 Chevrolet Impala and October 19, 2007 and a few months after I had the vehicle the speedometer stopped working. My speed odometer said I was doing forty when I got pulled over for doing 55mph, and as I pulled off and looked at the speedometer it was stuck at 40mph. Also the lights go out at any given time on their own. I was driving home one night and my head lights shut off in the middle of a curve and I hit the brakes and slid off the road. This is a real safety hazard. After I fooled around with the highbeam switch for a while the lights started working again.
- Citronelle, AL, USA
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The headlights keep cutting out with increased frequency with all exterior lights including the dash lights. Also, the speedometer will stop working and just keep increasing until it points straight down. Both have happened several times.
While driving on the open highway, the speed odometer incorrectly records the speed. It will get stuck at a number higher than zero, eg. Speed odometer shows 60 yet rate of speed may only be 40, thus causing a safety hazard on the highway. This issue is well documented on the internet.
The speedometer started getting stuck about six months ago. For about eight months I have noticed that when I turn the steering wheel I hear a noise in the front of the car, like a knock or something. Also within the last couple of months I have also smelled gas when I first start the car, my husband could not see any leakage or anything until last week. It was leaking from the fuel regulator valve. Now the transmission is starting to shift hard sometimes. I haven't had the money to get it all checked out by the manufacturer but I was wondering if there have been any complaints on any of these things. Also I can hear a whistling sound when I press the accelerator. And my husband just informed me that he bought a regulator valve for it and some O rings because something is leaking antifreeze slightly. Can you help please!!!!!!!!
2004 Impala ls, speedodmeter erratic then just failed. In park I am going approx 160 mph. Contacted GM to try and get it covered, the said no. In time car has now gone over 70K miles. Will have to fix on my dime ( approx $700). Many other 2004 GM types all having the same issue. Service dept agrees and had 2 other 2004 Impala's in shop for the same failure.
We bought an Impala Chevrolet 2004 new in 2004. There were a few problems with it. Instrument panel cluster -and speedometer gauge did not work and noises came from the instrument panel. Steering gear popped/clanking noise heard and sensed from front end. Also, seemed like something was wrong with the transmission because it did not change gears correctly, and it kind of bumped when accelerating, appeared as if engine did not want to accelerate. There was a delayed start, may be necessary to hold key in start several seconds until starting or turning back and trying again. Sometimes key locked in and won't turn. Took to dealer, but it did not do it for them. On the steering gear the steering intermediate shaft was replaced on 11/19/05. Again the noise was back and on 07/17/07 the steering intermediate shaft was lubricated. On other issues repairs are to costly. Do not feel secure on vehicle these problems have been going on for the past two years.
: the contact stated the speedometer failed while traveling 70 mph. When the vehicle was stopped, the speedometer remained at the 70 mph mark. The service dealer and manufacturer were notified.
: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the speedometer intermittently provided an incorrect reading. The dealer and manufacturer were not alerted.
: the contact stated after starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse, the engine revved without warning and accelerated out of control hitting several obstacles. The vehicle was totaled. The dealer has been alerted.
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.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Strasburg, VA, USA