2004 Chevrolet Impala: won't start

Filed Sep 10, 2019 · Electrical · 179,583 miles · TN

I own a 2004 chevy impala 3.8l with approx 179,000 milew.my complaint is in relation to the passlock iii system and the overwhelming amount of "no start" complaints from all the different models of gm car owners across the board with this faulty anti-theft system. I live right smack in the heart of the south in a very small town in tennessee and keep in mind, it is really hot and humidity is ridiculous this time of year. I picked up my daughter at a friends house after work, about 5:25 pm last thurday, 9/5/19, and my car died as I'm driving down the road, like the engine jus shut off for no reason at all , I had filled my tank a few days prior and knew that was not the problem. My first thought was to put in neutral before losing much speed and tried to crank several times before hitting my flashers because there were a few cars behind me on a 2 lane road with very little shoulder room to pull over off road. I popped the good to see if I could see or maybe even smell anything that may have caused this problem. I'm making sure my battery cables aren't loose, no fluids leaking or spewing and luckily a state trooper was passing thru and stopped to see if I needed help and turned his lights on so traffic would know there were problems and could slowly go around. To my surprise, after explaining what happened, he said he had this problem before with his daughters car, 2002 impala, and told me to try the 10 minute reset procedure and sure enough, after that 10 minute reset, she fired right home and was able to get home, home had he not come along and already known bout this faulty system prior, my daughter and I would have been stuck for some time on the side of a 2 lane highway in the early september humidity most likely waiting for a tow. Upon researching after, found gm are aware of this problem and should have to fix it, been neglected long enough! Thank you!

Filed May 30, 2017 · Engine · 139,000 miles · TN

When trying to start my vehicle, the security light comes on and the vehicle will not start for 10 minutes. This occurs on a weekly basis and occurs in many locations. Some of the locations include very rural areas with no phone signal, during high temperature days when a child is present in the vehicle. Ten minutes is a long time to sit with no cooling available and no ability to contact anyone. This occurs with no warning and no certain weather. Gmc is aware of the passcode/passkey failures but has refused to recall such malfunctions, even though it affects thousands of vehicles.

Filed Apr 9, 2017 · 159,000 miles · MN

I have had many problems with my car starting to due a security glitch. For the past few years many times my car will not start because it technically thinks I'm trying to break into my own car. The security light starts blinking and when I turn the ignition it doesn't start. I have to turn the key to 'on' on the ignition and sit for about 10 or sometimes 20 minutes until the car starts. This has been very frustrating situation for me and depending on the situation I'm in it also could be dangerous. I've seen many complaints online about this problem with chevy impalas in general.

Filed Jul 18, 2016 · Electrical · KY

For the past few weeks I will go to start my car and it will not crank over. But the security light in the message center will blink constantly. At times while I'm driving it will begin to flash also. It takes about 15-20 minutes before my vechile will start after multiple tries.

Filed Mar 24, 2016 · KY

They did a recall the paper said ignition switch and they replaced 2 keys my car won't start without turning the key to on and wait 10 minutes 3 times. I went to the dealer and I was told my electrical system was all messed up and they charged me 500 plus dollars and still having the same problem .they told me to take it to a locksmith I did that before they told me it was a electrical problem. Now the dealer wants another 500 plus to put in a new ignition. I'm never doing another recall. My car was fine until then I've had the car since 2006 and it's been kept up by firestone. My son is in the army and it was the first car he ever brought and it was a great car. The dealer also did the 2nd recall while they had it now I'm told it's leaking oil. So disappointed [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 23, 2016 · Electrical · 155,000 miles · WA

The car is equipped with an passlock antitheft system that regularly fails. There are hundreds of the same complaints by owners all over the internet. The car won't start for at lease 10 minuted because it thinks it's being stolen. Sometime it won't start at all and I have to unhook the battery and try to bypass the system. I learned that this has happened to others while driving almost causing a collission. The dealership I go to acts like they've never heard of it and can't fix it. It's unsafe for my wife and kid to be riding in.

Filed Oct 6, 2015 · 249,000 miles · WI

When I go to start my car I have no lights and no sign of turning over. Then I wait 10 to 20 minutes and I get some lights on the dash, then finally it will start. (this was happening june & july of 2015) now, I have lights, it just doesn't want to turn over. If it does try to turn over, it doesn't stay running. Wait 5 to 20 minutes then it will start. It usually happens after I have been driving then stop somewhere for a while, then when I go to leave I have the issues. But there have been times when I first start the car after its been sitting for a long period of time like over night it won't start this issue has begun around august of 2015 took to two different garages, one independent the other a chevy dealership. Neither want do anything because there are no codes, because of wasting money on parts that may not be needed, which I appreciate, but yet is frustrating. When I google my issue online there are many who are having the same issues. There are many different ideas on what to replace but no specifics. Seems like many are having issues with dealerships....stating chevy needs to look into the problem and have a recall of some sort. I can't afford to be replacing parts just to see if it's the problem. I have already paid $42 to the dealership to drive my car all day to see if it would do the problem. Online ideas are stating as simple as replace the gas tank cap to electrical system failure. I had similar issues back in 6/2009, code was read and they replaced the passlock sensor, then had to replace it again in 7/2010

Filed Aug 26, 2015 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · IN

The transmission shift sensor has had to be replaced 2times in the past 8 year due to it being faulty. I am not sure what kind of a safety issue this could be but it really starts just randomly jerking into gear for no reason, I had it replaced 8 years ago and now again it is getting done, on top of that the ignition pass lock sensor has been causing the car not to start and from everything I have research this is a problem on gm cars from 2000-2004, I filed several complaints on car complaints.com and you can clearly see there is a problem. It's going to cost me over 1100.00 to get theses two things fixed. I am very upset that chevy chooses to ignore these problems. Over the past 4 months I have been stranded over 10 times because my car just wouldn't start. It took the shop a few days to even diagnosis it because they had to get them both to act up due to the computer not storing codes.it seems to me there is some electrical issues with this year but gm chooses to ignore these complaints

Filed Jul 13, 2015 · Electrical · 95,500 miles · IA

After replacing: battery, starter, starter module, ignition module, and tumbler lock assembly the security light comes on and car will not start.

Filed Jul 12, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 90,000 miles · NY

When you try start vehicle security light comes on and vehicle does not start. There are many reports of this issue noted online and customers are spending money on batteries and other parts without a fix. Gm needs to fix this issue seems like many notes are indicating disgust with the company not responding to this issue.

Filed Jul 6, 2015 · 220,000 miles · MN

The car started making a loud screeching noise, haven't been able to drive the car. The car would start for a couple of days and all of a sudden the battery was dead and its a new battery absolutely nothing when the key was turned. Had it jumped car finally started and the screeching was loud and cloud of smoke started. Turned it off wouldn't start again. I believe it is coming from the serpentine pulley.

Filed Jun 24, 2015 · 89,000 miles · VA

When I try to start my car, it will not start. I have to wait 10 minutes and then try again. It is getting worse and I have had to wait up until one hour to be able to start car. I have taken it to the dealership where I purchased it at on three separate occasions to try to get the problem resolved and they have not fixed it. Sometimes, I can go a week without this happening and at other times, it happens to me several times in a day. I have been late to work countless times due to this and been inconvenienced. It is scary because I am not sure if it could be an electrical issue or what else could happen as a result of this defect. I'm not sure if the problem could be the key, ignition switch or something even more detailed.