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 contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the exterior headlights failed independently while being operated at night. The failure occurred without warning. The dealer was not contacted for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.
Multifunction switch randomly fails to turn on low beam in motion and stopped. To operate the vehicle with some lights on at night, left hand has to hold down the high beam as it fails to stay on. Steering wheel must then be operated with only when hand. Replacing the the multi function switch fixes the problem until it fails again. Averaging 6 months between failures and have replaced the switch 3 times already.
I was driving at night and turned on my brights and shortly after my headlights went out. I had to mess with the switch before they would come back on. They kept doing this until I switched back to dims.
After sitting for a couple months, upon driving the car again the low beam headlights don't work. Replaced the multi-function switch, checked all the relays and fuses. Still not working. High beams and daytime running lights work. This basically renders the vehicle undrivable, as it gets dark at 4:30 in the winter, and I am not able to drive it at night.
- Verona, WI, USA
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I bought my 2004 Chevrolet Impala (3800 V6 engine) new, which has now less than 12,000 miles, & I drove primarily for running errands. One month ago, its body computer memory went bonkers. The day after I returned after xmas, I went to get grocery. As the car was normal the previous day, I did not expect any problem. However, upon finishing shopping 30 minutes later, I found the car (1) honking non-stop, (2) its dome lights could not be turned off, (3) the 'door ajar' warning jingled all the way ' even though I stopped by roadside to ensure all doors were closed. On top of that, (4) the turning signals (both left & right) stopped working. About 5 minutes after returning home and locking up the car, (5) the honking/dome lights/door warning started again. Although I reset the control panel, the problems did not go away. I therefore took the car to the dealer, but their mechanic could not find the causes offhandedly, and an appointment was made to thoroughly check the car with diagnostic instruments. However, on the day of the appointment (1/26/16), everything was normal again, and diagnostic tests could not find anything wrong by the dealer. Today (2/12/16), the turning signals malfunctioned again briefly and worked again, but (6) the instrument panels were all erroneous, with readings of fuel, coolant temperature, tachometer above limits - even when the car is stationary. I expect that it is a matter of time that (7) the speedometer will also go defective. At that time, the dash board will have to be replaced as a whole, costing more than $500 dollars. Obviously, the computer system is not working right. I should add that my car has been maintained regularly with the dealer. I hope my report will bring NHTSA's attention to the above parts/workmanship problems of GM.
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.
The headlights no longer work. High beams and low beams both work, but the regular headlights are no longer in service under any circumstance. Now, the low beams go on when the headlights used to go on. When I drive at night, I am forced to keep on the high beams. This has been the case for the last 2 weeks. It never had a problem like this before. It started right around the time the vehicle reached 150,000 miles driven.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. While driving various speeds at night, the headlights flickered and powered off without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 240,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the low beam head lights began to flciker and suddenly failed. The contact indicated that the high beam lights also would not turn on. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the head light switch failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
I was driving down the road last night my head lights flashed 3 or 4 times and then I lost all headlights. And now when I turn my brights I loose all headlight
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. While operating the vehicle, the low beam and high beam lights failed to work. The contact had to maneuver the switch to get the low beams and high beams to work. The contact was concerned that the failure could happen again without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 98,270.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. While driving various speeds, the low beam head lamps failed to work. The contact had to apply the high beams each time the failure recurred. Also, the turn signals failed to work when applied. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. MA 10/19/2015
Come on now, I see the complaints on a bunch of things that is wrong with my 2004 Impala. An there is more than one person saying it. There seems like there is a serious problem here that you guys seem to be ignoring an refusing to fix. I think its about time for some people to get together and file some kind of lawsuit against you guys if you don't address these issues. Now for the same complaints for my Impala, number 1 it does not like to start sometimes and then I have to wait 20 mins to an hour just for it to finally start. Number 2 the security light stays on. Number 3 the gages to my speedometer and gas move all over the place and doesn't give me the accurate reading. Other experiences I've had noticed is that my brights don't always like to shut off the first time, the car pulls mainly to the right, but also back and forth. And all the buttons and light to my radio works but no sound comes threw. I haven't experienced any of the other things in the complaints yet but these ones I have an they need to be addressed like I said before something is done about it by the people. Thank you
Driving down the road with my high beams on, my headlights went out completely. My low beams work ok but if I use high beams they randomly go out. This is the second GM vehicle I have had with this problem. The mechanic at the GM dealership said 4 of his 6 family members have had same problem. A former co-worker had same problem. I contacted GM and was told my car was to old for them to fix it...
I was out running errands. I turn on my left turn signals and it was not working. I depressed my hazard switch, and turned it off and turned my left turn signals again and it started working. I have been having this problem off and on since the beginning of July,2014. I have read numerous complaints about this same issue. This is a safety issue that GM needs to address today!
The day I bought the car used, the lights went out on the way home. After complaining on a Chevy forum, I bought a used multifunction switch which I learned was a common problem in Impala and monti carlos. This year in spring (sorry I don't remember the exact date or miles) that part malfunctioned when on bright. The salvage yard was sold out in used switches because it was such a common defect and I couldn't afford a ne, w one. While driving on dim I hit two deer which caused $100S of dollars in damages. I complained Chevy said they knew it was a problem and that I would have to pay for the part myself. I paid over $300 to replace with my labor. Then my lights went out on dim. Chevy did the math, its cheaper to take the chance O someone dying and suing then to take away this money source for dealers
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- Lincoln, NE, USA