2004 Chevrolet Impala SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A SHOPPING CENTER WHERE A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS AND HOSES WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 04V287000 (SERVICE BRAKE, HYDRAULIC) BUT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,032.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT A LOW SPEED, THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. THE LEAKING BRAKE LINE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,388 . UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/03/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE THREE BRAKE LINES. THE BRAKES LINES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 51,220. UPDAETD 07/20/11*LJ UPDATED 02/28/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND AND EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE. ALSO, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE ABS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD MODERATE PULSATING FOR APPROXIMATELY 25, 000 MILES *TGW THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. WHEN HE DISSEMBLED THE FRONT BRAKES, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE INNER BRAKE PAD FRICTION MATERIAL HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BACKING PLATE (BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT). THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE FRICTION MATERIAL WAS FLOATING LOOSE INSIDE OF THE CALIPER FRAMES CAUSING THE EDGES OF THE FRICTION MATERIAL TO BECOME JAGGED AS A RESULT OF CONTACTING THE CALIPERS. THE INSIDE PORTION OF THE ROTOR HAD UNUSUAL WEAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE HAD REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED ALL OF THE PADS AND THE ROTORS AT HIS EXPENSE. *JB

HAVE CHANGED ROTORS MULTIPLE TIMES, AFTER ABOUT A MONTH WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS 45MPH OR HIGHER, CAR SHAKES FROM PULSATING BRAKES. IN WET WEATHER MAKES THE CAR A LITTLE UNCONTROLLABLE DEALER SAYS OH ITS HOW IT IS, GM IS AWARE BUT THEY DON'T FEEL IT IS A REAL ISSUE. THIS AMONG THE INABILITY OF THE HEATING SYSTEM TO WORK FOR MORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE ITS COMPONENTS NEED TO BE REPLACED IS RIDICULOUS. I HAD BEEN A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER. SO SORRY WONT BE ANYMORE THIS IS INSANE TO PAY THIS MUCH FOR A VEHICLE AND IT HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5MPH THE BRAKES WOULD START MAKING A GRINDING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULSATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY TURNED THE REAR ROTORS AND STATED THAT THEY COULD ONLY BE TURNED ONE TIME. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THIS TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE "FROZEN" BECAUSE THE OWNER DIDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFTEN ENOUGH. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE TURNED AND THEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED, THIS TIME, THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ROTORS, CALIPERS AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN THE FRONT AND REAR. THE FAILURE HAS RETURNED. THE CONTACT HAS CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. HE PREVIOUSLY HAD THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROTORS WERE DELAMINATING AND THE CALIPERS WERE STUCK. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN OFTEN ENOUGH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

2004 IMPALA, BRAKE ROTORS WARPING. CAR HAS APPROX 73,000 MILES. IN THAT TIME BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR RESURFACED APPROX 4-5 TIMES DUE TO PULSING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *TR

2004 CHEVY IMPALA - ABS LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT HAVE INTERMITTENTLY GOING ON AND OFF, THEN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, NOW THE TACHOMETER GOES HAYWIRE AND IS STUCK OVER THE MAX. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. *TR

2004 CHEVY IMPALA WITH SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WARPED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE ROTORS ARE POOR QUALITY AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED CONSTANTLY. *KB

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS FOR THIS CAR A FEW TIMES A YEAR. THE ROTORS ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING WARPED WITH ORIGINAL GM ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. IN 2005, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE WHEELS LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM CRASHING INTO A CURB INSIDE A HEAVILY TRAVELED TUNNEL. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE WET ROADS DUE TO RAIN. HOWEVER, AFTER REPLACING ROTOR AND BRAKES CONSTANTLY, I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT A NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL FOR BRAKES IN JUNE OF 2004. THE CAMPAIGN # IS 04V28700. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ISSUED FOR MY VIN#. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE NHTSA RECALL DID NOT SPECIFY PARTICULAR 2004 IMPALAS BUT THE WHOLE MODEL YEAR. THEY GAVE ME THE CASE #71-546836626 AND SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF A RECALL FOR MY CAR. WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHUTTERS AND SHAKES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

MY 2004 IMPALA'S ABS TROUBLE LIGHT CAME ON AS DID THE "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" LIGHT. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS BASED UPON ABS SCANNER CODES WAS THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HAD FAILED/SHORTED. GM'S SEALED WHEEL HUB DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLE MEANT THAT IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR THE ENTIRE HUB HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 40K MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY, MY TOTAL COST WAS OVER $690 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR, AND TAXES. THIS IS ABSURD AND RIDICULOUS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF OUTRAGEOUS COST SIMPLY TO GET A SENSOR REPLACED. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE NECESSITY OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE HUB, THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD EVEN COST $100. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I RECOGNIZE POOR DESIGN AND POOR LOGIC WHEN I SEE IT, AND THIS SITUATION CERTAINLY FALLS UNDER THOSE CATEGORIES. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED THAT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY THIS IN ORDER TO RESTORE OPERATION OF THE ABS AND TRACTION SYSTEMS. IF THIS IS STANDARD GM DESIGN PRACTICE, I WILL DEFINITELY CONSIDER THAT A NEGATIVE WHEN PURCHASING MY NEXT VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE PEDAL PULSATED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONCE. THE SHAKING STOPPED FOR ONE WEEK, BUT THEN THE SHAKING PERSISTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V287000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE AT ANY SPEED. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 04V287000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLIED CAUSING A INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. IN JULY OF 2005 THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONE SET OF BRAKE ROTORS AND RESURFACED THE OTHER SET. IN SEPTEMBER ANOTHER DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OTHER SET OF ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER, WHICH DETERMINED THE ROTORS NEED TO BE RESURFACED DUE TO RUST BUILD UP. THEY DID NOT RESURFACE THE ROTORS BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

I HAVE HAD MY 2004 IMPALA FOR 18 MONTHS, OF THAT 18 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOR BRAKES FOUR TIMES. THE ROTORS KEEP WARPING UP. SOME DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE EVEN REPLACED THE ROTORS ONE TIME. THIS HAS GOTTEN TO BE SUCH A PROBLEM THAT MY FAMILY WILL NOT RIDE IN THIS CAR. WHY CAN'T GM DESIGN A CAR WITHOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THE IMPALA HAS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WITH THE BRAKES ON. IT IS PULSATED/SQUEALED WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REAR BRAKES PULSATED DUE TO WARPED REAR BRAKE ROTORS. THE FIRST TIME DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE THEY FOUND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND OUT OF ROUND. THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKES OVERHEATED, CAUSING THEM TO WARP. *AK

MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN FLORIDA AND WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH AND A LINE OF VEHICLES IN FRONT OF US STOPPED, NOT REAL FAST, BUT THEY STOPPED AND WE WERE ABOUT 80 YARDS IN BACK OF THEM AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKE PETAL THE CAR JUST DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. IT WAS SKIDDING ALL ALONG, SQUEALING TIRES, UNTIL I LOST CONTROL OF IT AND STARTED TO FISHTAIL. ABOUT 1 FOOT MORE OR SO, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT! I DIDN'T SLAM THEM ON OR ANYTHING. IT WAS KIND OF A SUDDEN STOP, BUT NOT REALLY TOO SUDDEN. ALL OF THE VEHICLES AROUND US STOPPED PREFECTLY NORMAL. I'VE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS! MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRENTY, HOWEVER I HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT IN. I THINK I SHOULD THOUGH. BUT STILL, GENERAL MORORS AND CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR RELEASING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE LIKE THIS! ANOTHER SMALL COMPLAINT I HAVE, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARLY A SAFETY CONCERN, IS THE FACT THAT THE STEERING IS RATHER POOR ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN YOU GO AROUND TURNS, YOU HAVE A MAKE AN EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND GET THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT AGAIN. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT NEW CARS SHOULD BE BETTER THAN OLD ONE'S, HOWEVER MY EXPERIENCES HAVE OBVIOUSLY PROVEN THAT THEY'RE NOT. THANK YOU FOR READING MY COMPLAINT. I HOPE YOU CAN GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND MAYBE THEN GM CAN MAKE CHANGES.

I HAVE A 2004 IMPALA, THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD AND I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR ROTORS GROUND DOWN TWICE BECAUSE THEY HAD WARPED AND WERE COVERED WITH RUST. THE DEALER DID THE REPAIR AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A NEW VEHICLE. *NM

' RECALL CAMPAIGN' ISSUED ON 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA FOR FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BOLT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED GM STILL HAS NOT SENT HIM AN OFFICIAL RECALL LETTER EVEN AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. *JB

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE RESPONSE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BY THE DEALERSHIP. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN #04V287000. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 3,738 MILES WITHOUT THE CONSUMER BEING NOTIFIED BY GM OR THE DEALERSHIP. *SC *JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CUT. THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE THE ROTORS CUT. *AK WITHIN 10 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, THE BRAKES BEGUN TO SHUTTER AND VIBRATE. *SC *JB