2004 Chevrolet Impala: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1375 complaints
1375
Total Complaints
70,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
80
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

45,000 25th Percentile
70,000 Median Mileage
107,581 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
407
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
252
ENGINE
71
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
69
STEERING
51
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
38
SERVICE BRAKES
36
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
29
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
28

Severity Assessment

80
Crashes
34
Fires
73
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ON GOING PROBLEM OF MOISTURE BUILD UP IN HEAD LIGHT HOUSING. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL CHEVY IMPALAS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE EXCEPT TO "BLOW OUT" THE MOISTURE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS EVERYTIME LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. DEALER CALLS THIS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT. ILLUMINATION OF ROADWAY ..."
"DRIVER SAYS "EVERY TIME THEY GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR THEY GET SHOCKED." OWNER HAS TRIED SCOTCH GUARD AND FABRIC SOFTENER AND NOTHING HELPS. OWNER LATER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE SHOWS NO SIGN OF DEFECTS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONA..."
"WHEN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES OR STOPPING THERE WAS A NOISE AND A LOUD BOOM. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE FUEL TANK. *AK THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28