2004 Chevrolet Impala: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 5, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 71,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to approximately 20 MPH, and the instrument panel went black. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and then lost motive power and stalled. The contact was assisted by persons nearby to push the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Filed Dec 21, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 128,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. Two years ago, the contact noticed that the instrument panel lights dimmed without warning. Two days later, the contact smelled a burning odor and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed a tune up. The failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was never the same after the tune up. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 14v400000 (electrical system) and 15v201000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was 128,000. Parts distribution disconnect. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jun 19, 2015 · Electrical · 145,845 miles · CT

I was going down a steep hill - warner hill road - stratford ct. The car battery light came on and I lost power - including brakes. I was able to use the brakes but they were extremely hard to push but they worked. Luckily there was no cars in front or back and the traffic light was green. I was able to coast across the intersection into the sikorski aircraft plant past the guard and was able to stop. I turned the ignition switch and the car worked fine. This car was recalled for ignition switch problems and all the dealer did was to replace the key fob with a lead weight. I believe that they should have replaced the entire ignition switch. Please let me know if you have any information that the ignition switch should have replaced instead of just a key fob replacement which did not work.

Filed Dec 22, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · VA

2004 chevrolet impala dealer has not received part for recall *cn the consumer stated in december 2013, he began to experience a problem while driving on the interstate at 65 MPH. The vehicle would lose power, including the speedometer dropping to zero. A local repair shop inspected the vehicle, and informed the consumer, the speedometer in the cluster had apparently gone bad. The cluster was replaced. However, the problem happened again. The consumer went to another shop and they stated the speed control sensor was not functioning properly. The part was replaced and the problem did not return.

Filed Nov 25, 2014 · Acceleration, Steering · VA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 chevrolet impala. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated to approximately 70-80 MPH then seized without warning. As a result, the vehicle lost power steering causing the vehicle to crash into a guardrail. The contact sustained a cracked or broken rib, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and was deemed destroyed. The contact received a notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system) after the crash. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 1, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 180,000 miles · AR · crash · 2 injuries

I own a 2004 chevrolet impala an in february while driving up tha high way my keys just like popped out of the ignition my car lost power and I hit the guard rail at 60 MPH my air bags didn't come out. Me n my girlfriend was in the car . On july 1st I find out there's a recall on my car I tried contacting a few chevrolet dealership companies near me an I've been denied any car repairs.

Filed Apr 1, 2014 · Electrical · 30,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. The contact stated while driving various speeds the vehicle would suddenly lose power and stall. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The ignition switch was replaced and the defect was remedied. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

Filed Mar 29, 2014 · Electrical · 15,914 miles · MI

I was driving my father's 2004 chevy impala at the time of the mechanical failure. I was making a left hand turn from orchard lake rd onto northwestern hwy (I believe this is farmington mich) at this point I lost power to the vehicle (engine, brakes & power steering dead) and coasted to the right hand lane on northwestern hwy. I proceeded to restart the engine and continued on my merry way. No problems going the rest of the way home. The next day I had a problem starting the vehicle. This went on for several days until I took the vehicle to the auto dealership where they replaced the ignition switch. The dealership charged my father $481.39 to replace the ignition switch. I have the work invoice from the dealership showing the work performed. I also have proof of payment to mastercard showing the work was paid for.

Filed Mar 13, 2014 · Electrical · 4,000 miles · IL

This is a description of what happened on various long distance trips. It occured about six times since purchase and the current mileage is 71,400 over 9.5 yrs. We were driving down the highway at about 65 MPH. Once in kansas, oklahoma, texas, etc. The total electrical system went out. Immediately I felt the loss of power. I looked at the speedometer and saw it drop. I saw an engine red light come on. The total duration of outage was about 1.5 seconds. Upon resumption of electrical power, nothing further happened. We never lost control of the car. Over the years I checked for recall notices and checked with local dealerships. Nothing until in june 2012. From 2010-12 I had trouble starting the car when I turned the ignition on. Nothing happened. I would wait five minutes or several hours and then it would start. That happen monthly for two years. I took the car to a dealership and they repaired/replaced the ignition part at the cost of about $600. No problem since. I still have the original key from gm with the wide hole. My point here is that I could have been an accident victim from these incidents. I had to pay to get it fixed.

Filed Jul 9, 2008 · Electrical · 52,000 miles · IA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. Occasionally, when the contact attempted to start the vehicle, there was a delayed crank. The vehicle takes several hours to start sometimes. Prior to the failure, all of the warning lights illuminated on the instrument control panel. The vehicle lost all power as if the battery failed; however, the exterior lighting was still operative. The contact also heard a dull humming noise. The contact was advised by another consumer who was experiencing similar failures that the computer chip was not recognizing the key. She took the vehicle to an authorized dealer, but they could not duplicate the failure or provide a sufficient repair. The dealer also stated that there could be several defects with the electrical system: ignition module; however, they were afraid to make repairs because they did not know if either of the remedies would resolve the issue. The starter and battery were replaced, but immediately after the repair the vehicle failed. The failure and current mileages were 52,000.