NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Chevrolet Impala. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN STALL OUT. THE MOTOR WOULD VIBRATE LIKE IT WAS JUMPING. HARD TO START DIE AFTER PUTTING INTO DRIVE. HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CONVERTER IN 2011, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. THE CAR HAS BLOWN SENSORS A MONTH AFTER GETTING IT OUT OF THE SHOP. HAVE SPENT OVER 6000 DOLLARS TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING AND THE SAME THING KEEPS HAPPENING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PERSISTENT BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE POURING OIL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER. A FEW UNKNOWN COMPONENTS WERE DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. SHE LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, WHICH STATED THAT THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO DROPS OF ENGINE OIL DEPOSITED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 124,864. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. PRIOR TO THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. UPDATED 07/15/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HOWEVER FOLLOWING REPAIRS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED REPLACING THE SENSOR BUT THE CONTACT HAD RECENTLY HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT STILL, DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,500.
PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA ON 4/09 AND 3 DAYS LATER THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHICH WILL BE CORRECTED; HOWEVER, I'VE NOTICED THAT NUMEROUS OTHER CHEVY IMPALA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OF A DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. *TR
2003 CHEVY IMPALA. "SECURITY" WARNING LIGHT ON DASH, THEN RANDOM WONT-START EPISODE. WAIT 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTS. NO CONFIDENCE THAT GM DEALERSHIPS KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, OR WILL PERMANENTLY FIX IT. *TR
UPON GOING FOR STATE INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTING AND FLAKING AND IF THIS WAS NOT CORRECTED, CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION NEXT YEAR. WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO NOT DRIVING THE CAR ENOUGH (UNDERUSAGE). MY CAR IS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA 4 DOOR SEDAN. THE COST WAS $344.50 TO REPAIR. ON TODAY'S NEWS I NOTICED THAT GENERAL MOTORS PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUV'S ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MIGHT ALSO INVOLVE THE IMPALA. *TR
WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS, IN MY 2003 IMPALA, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR FLOOD. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LITTLE OR HOW MUCH IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS ALWAYS FLOOD. THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE WATER WAS PAST MY ANKLES. THE WATER IS DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BOX AREA AND IT RUNS ALONG THE DOOR SEAL TO THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD FROM MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS POSSIBLE A BAD CABIN SEAL. AFTER FINALLY GETTING FED UP WITH THE SITUATION I LOOKED FOR A POSSIBLE SOLUTION ONLINE AND WHILE I DIDN'T FIND A SOLUTION I FOUND MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS LASTED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO. *TR
IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, MY VEHICLE HAS BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, ESPECIALLY IN LOW RPM RANGE. THE VEHICLE SPITS ON SPUTTERS ON HARD ACCELERATION AND TAKES SEVERAL (30 OR BETTER) SECONDS TO REACH 55 MPH. I AM AN ASE TRAINED MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A VACUUM TEST DETERMINED THAT THE PRESSURE DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE 2500 RPM'S AND TO 0 BY 4000 (WHEN IT MISFIRES). THE CAT MAKES NOISE AND EVEN JUMPED THE HANGER (TELLING ME THE CONVERTER IS TWISTING FROM THE BACK PRESSURE). ONCE I DIAGNOSED IT, I LOOKED AT A LIST OF GM TSB'S FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THIS WAS LISTED ON THERE ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEALER / TECH TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE UNTIL THE SERVICE LIFE HAS REACHED 10 YEARS OR 120K. MY VEHICLE FITS BOTH CONDITIONS AS IT IS A 2003 WITH 99K. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT FREE AS THE WARRANTY ON EMISSIONS ITEMS IS 80K. WHEN I EVEN GAVE THEM THE TSB NUMBER (SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT - CATALYTIC CONVERTER # 05551 - (9/14/05)) THEY SAID THAT WAS JUST IN THE CASE OF PLENUM DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE CLOGGED CONVERTER. DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IN NO WAY EVEN MENTIONS THE PLENUM. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I CURRENTLY OWN AND I HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR A WHILE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT, NOR TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TIED UP FOR DAYS TO DO A 2 HOUR JOB. HOWEVER, IF IT CONTINUES, IT WILL BLOW UP. HOW CAN I RESOLVE THIS? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATED AND WHEN INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE DRAINED THE BATTERY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE PASS LOCK KEY WAS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE AND ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST . THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA WITH ABOUT 77,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY COME ON AND CAUSE THE CAR NOT TO START. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART NUMEROUS TIMES AND PLAYING WITH THE GEAR SHIFT, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR WOULD START AND BE FINE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. DURING THE LAST INSPECTION, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED HIM TO CHECK IT. SINCE THE LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON FOR 3 OR 4 WEEKS AT THAT TIME, HE SAID THAT IT MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD NOT SHOW ANYTHING ON THE DIAGNOSTICS. HE SAID IT COULD ALSO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. THEY CHARGED ME $80 TO CHECK THE CONNECTIONS TO THE STARTER AND I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT MORE THAN LIKELY IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR AND WOULD COST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT A RANDOM PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I HAVE OWNED BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN CARS IN THE PAST, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD AS MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FOREIGN ONES AS I DO WITH THE DOMESTIC. I DON'T PLAN ON BUYING ANOTHER AMERICAN MADE CAR ANYTIME SOON. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA AND AT 132,000 MY IGNITION SWITCH LOCK. I GOT THE SWITCH CHANGED THEN HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT REPROGRAMMED I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO I LOOKED ONLINE AND WHAT DID I SEE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE AS OWNERS OF THIS CAR NEED IT RECALLED. MY COST AS OF 3/7/09 TO 3/11/09 IS 400.00 AND COUNTING. *TR
PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE ON BOTH BACK DOORS HAVE BROKEN OFF, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF LIKE IMPALAS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM!*TR
THE PASS LOCK SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING THEN IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAPPEN AT FIRST 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH AT FIRST THEN THE LAST THREE OF FOUR MONTHS IT TAKES PLACE ABOUT 3 TO FOR TIMES A DAY. FIRST THE SECURITY PASS LOCK WOULD COME ON THEN THE CAR DASH BOARDS ANT EVERY THING ELSE WOULD WORK BUT I JUST COULD NOT CRACK THE CAR. THEN THE PASS LOCK SECURITY WOULD MAKE EVERYTHING THE CAR TURN OFF THE CAR WOULD NOT MAKE A SOUND. THEN IT STARTED RUNNING MY BATTERY DOWN. THEN IT WOULD RUN DOWN THE BATTERY EVERY OTHER DAY. THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED LATE A NIGHT AND ALSO DURING THE DAY. I HAVE MISSED WORK DUE TO THIS DEFECT. I HOPE CHEVY WILL DO A RECALL. I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THOU NO DEATH OR ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE DUE TO THIS DEFECT THIS IS STILL A SERIOUS MATTER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS COST ME WAGES AND REST. I A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY THIS CAR COULD COST A LIFE ALL BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT TO START. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. ON VALENTINES DAY I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A FUNERAL, THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY THEN BOYFRIEND NOW HUSBAND TOLD ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THE WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE GOT MY THEN FIVE MONTH OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAD NO IDEA THAT COULD HAPPEN. MY FATHER CALLED AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOW A RECALL ON THAT MODEL CAR. THE CAR BURNT COMPLETELY. ON THE RECALL MY FATHER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS FOR 3.8 LITER. I DO NOT BELIEVE MINE WAS A 3.8 LITER BUT MY VEHICLE WAS A V6. IT WAS EITHER A 3.4 OR A 3.6 LITER. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. I LOST EVERYTHING IN THAT VEHICLE. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *TR
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE SERVICE TRACTION SERVICE, ABS, FAILURE STARTING (PASS/LOCK SYSTEM), AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ON FOR NO REASON. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I HAD THE ABS AND TRACTION SYSTEM WORKED ON FOR A TOTAL OF AROUND $250. ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO MY ABS AND TRACTION CAUTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND HAVE STAYED ON TO PRESENT DAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT MUST ACTIVATE THE HAZARD LIGHTS. FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS, SHE HAS NOT DRIVEN AT NIGHT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
MY CAR WENT OFF ROAD AFTER CONTACT WITH A DEER LANDING FRONT END FIRST 75FT OFF ROAD DOING BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
MY 2003 CHEVY IMPALA SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON DURING DRIVING CAR WILL STALL OR DIE CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO CROSS TRAFFIC A T COAST TO GET THE EMERGENCY LANE OF ROAD WHICH IS DANGEROUS. MANY TIMES WHEN I GO TO START VEHICLE IT DOES NOTHING. AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR
MY 2003 CHEVY IMPALA HAD LOST ALL THE DEX COOL ANTIFREEZE AND WAS OVERHEATING W/THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE DEX COOL COOLANT AS THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THAT PARTICULAR COOLANT CLOGGING UP AND DESTROYING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I CHECKED OUT THE WEBSITE FOR DEXCOOL AND YOU HAD TO BE IN ON THE CLAIM BY OCTOBER 2008 TO GET ANY TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT. IT IS JANUARY 09 SO I GUESS I AM NOW STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM????? I AM REQUESTING A TOTAL RECALL OF ALL THE VEHICLE MADE WITH DEX COOL AS THIS IS EATING THROUGH AND DESTROYING THE CHEAPLY MADE PARTS OF MY CAR. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AMAZINGLY BROUGHT UP SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE POORLY MADE PARTS IT IS SICKENING. I AM UPSET THAT I RECEIVED NOTHING FROM MY DEALER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM OR FROM GM FOR THAT MATTER. RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE THE AUTOMAKER RESPONSIBLE. BY THE WAY, MY CAR HAS ONLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. TAKE THAT FOR A CAR IN NEED OF A COSTLY REPAIR WITH THAT FEW OF MILES! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER AS IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AS A CONSUMER. *TR
THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH 2003 CHEVY IMPALA DUE TO IT WILL NOT START AT TIMES DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AS I AM A FEMALE WHO AT MANY TIMES IS ALONE AT NIGHT GOING TO AND FRO FROM WORK AND SCHOOL AND MUST SIT IN MY CAR UNTIL IT DECIDES TO START. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER GM WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS. *TR
2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED, THEN AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP RUNNING SUDDENLY. THE ONLY EXPLANATION SEEMED TO BE THE KEY WAS HIT INADVERTENTLY GOING OVER A BUMP, KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE DRIVE POSITION. IN JANUARY 2009, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE IGNITION TUMBLER WAS BAD. A NEW IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS INSTALLED. FEBRUARY 2009, THE ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY, WHICH REQUIRED CONSTANT BRAKING AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP. IN OCTOBER 2011, THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AGAIN. MARCH 2012, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A MAJOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILURE. ALL OF THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. JULY 2013, THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND THEN STALL. SEPTEMBER 2014, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, REGARDING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEAT AND LEAK ANTIFREEZE. WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, THE CONTACT WOULD MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THE INTAKE AND MANIFOLD GASKETS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HER SPECIFIC VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 157,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULE WAS REPLACED IN 2008. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH TIMES THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED WAS WHEN THE WEATHER WAS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V051000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,461 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,600.
MY 03 CHEVY IMPALA LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF ALL DAY LONG WHETHER THE CAR IS ON, OFF, OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO CHARGE ME $800 TO TRY TO FIX IT. ALSO THE CAR DOES NOT START AFTER IT HAS RAINED. *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA. ABOUT ONCE A WEEK FOR THE LAST MONTH, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES ON THE INFORMATION PANEL INDICATING THAT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS LOCKED OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. SPOKE TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. *TR
2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA, HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CHANGING TO HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. CONTINUAL MOVING OF THE LEVER GOT THEM TO COME BACK ON. LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THIS TIME I WAS NOT TRYING TO CHANGE TO BRIGHT LIGHTS. *TR
HEADLIGHTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HIGH BEAMS ARE ENGAGED. HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
I AM FILING A SAFETY COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, SWITCHING LIGHTS FROM DIM TO BRIGHT, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN OF CAR, AND RESTART TO GET DIM LIGHTS ON. WHAT CAN THIS PROBLEM BE AND WHAT MIGHT THE CURE BE. I HAVE CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON LIGHTING AND FOUND NONE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START FOUR(4) TIMES. SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATES ALONG WITH SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY REPAIR AT A DEALER. PART WAS REPLACED. NO CODE CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WAS CHARGED FOR IT ANYWAY. PART REPLACED WAS THE BCM. *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA. IN 2007 I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR DOORS NOT LOCKING AND THEN THE HORN GOING OFF WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR. A FUSE WAS BLOWING OUT SO I WAS INSTRUCTED BY ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BUY SOME FUSES AND CHANGE THEM AS THEY GO OUT. I ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR NOT WANTING TO START. I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES. THE LAST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT IN VIA TOW TRUCK BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. NO COMPUTER CODES EVER REGISTERED. IN EXASPERATION THEY REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THIS SEEMED TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. NOW A YEAR AND A HALF LATER AND OUT OF BOTH MY WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY WE'RE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. I'VE TAKEN IT AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DROVE IT FOR THREE DAYS. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AGAIN. I DROVE IT AND TODAY IT WOULDN'T LOCK AND OR START. I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO START AGAIN. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 80,000 MILES ON IT AND I'M SICK OF THESE PROBLEMS! THIS CAR IS NOT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR ME ANYMORE AND THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CONCERNED. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS? I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO TRADE IN MY CAR FOR SOMETHING MORE RELIABLE SINCE NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THESE ISSUES NOR REPAIR THEM! *TR
DRIVE CAR AND PARK AND TURN OFF. RETURN 1 HOUR TO 1 DAY LATER CAR WILL NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. ALL LIGHTS CAME ON BUT CAR WILL NOT CRANK. KEEP TRYING AND WITHIN A HALF HOUR CAR WILL START. HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE OCCURRENCE HAPPENED 1 MONTH LATER. MECHANIC WANTED ME TO DROP OFF CAR AND LEAVE IT THERE UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE MY CAR SITTING AT A MECHANIC FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG AND EVEN THEN THEY STILL MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. HAVE BEEN TO MANY ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NO KNOWN FIXES. AS OF THIS WRITING THE NO START PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE KEY HAD TO REMAIN IN ACC MODE FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE PASS LOCK KEY SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WITH BOTH KEYS USED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS I HAD NOTICED THAT THE DOORS OF MY 2003 CHEVY IMPALA WERE NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKING. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO OCCUR WHEN GEARSHIFT IS MOVED INTO PARK POSITION. AT THE TIME I DID NOT VIEW THIS AS IMPORTANT. IN THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY. ON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE GEARSHIFT WAS IN THE PHYSICAL POSITION FOR PARK, THE DASH INDICATOR DID NOT INDICATE "P" ON THE DISPLAY. I MOVED THE GEARSHIFT INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. TODAY, WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE I MOVED THE GEARSHIFT TO THE PHYSICAL PARK POSITION BUT AGAIN THE DASH INDICATOR DID NOT SHOW THE "P" FOR GEARSHIFT POSITION. AFTER REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE INCLINE. I REAPPLIED THE BRAKE AND FIDGETED WITH THE GEARSHIFT LEVER AND EVENTUALLY THE DASH INDICATOR EVENTUALLY SHOWED "P" INDICATING THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. ON REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE REMAINED STATIONARY. THERE APPEARS TO ME TO BE SOME MALFUNCTION WITH THE SWITCH SENDING THE GEARSHIFT POSITION INDICATION TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GO OUT TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT START. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES, I CAN BELIEVE THIS SINCE THE SECURITY LIGHT DOES NOT FLASH WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. THIS IS VERY TROUBLING SINCE IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOU WILL GET THE CAR TO START. SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE GM OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND GET IT FIXED, AS I AM SURE IT IS NOT JUST ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
IT WAS RAINING, CAR STARTED TO SKID TO THE RIGHT, STEERED LEFT TO CORRECT, LOST CONTROL AND STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. SERIOUS INJURIES TO BELTED DRIVER. *TR
WE BOUGHT MY SON A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS QUIT FUNCTIONING ALL OF THE SUDDEN. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. HE DRIVES OVER TWO HOURS BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE AND I FEEL IT IS QUITE A SAFETY ISSUE AND CHEVY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! I DON'T HAVE $500.00 FOR THE REPAIR WHICH MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY! *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA AND WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WHEN I SWITCH FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS MY LIGHTS GO OUT....JUST RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, MY LIGHT JUST WENT DARK...AFTER WORKING THE DIMMER SWITCH THEY CAME BY ON, THIS IS SCARY AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL .*TR
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON WHEN I DRIVE OR A FEW MINUTES AFTER SOMETIMES IT WONT START TOO. HAS NEW FUEL PUMP,FILTER,COMPLETE TUNE UP, EVERYTHING IS UP TO DATE ON MY CAR BUT THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STILL COME ON. I HAVE HEARD PLENTY OF COMPLAINS AND THEY ALL LEAD DOWN TO THE " PASSLOCK SYSTEM" SO FAR NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. THEY SAID THE IGNITIONS WIRE MUST BE SOLDERED DIRECTLY TO THE PASSLOCK SENSOR? BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW. *TR
THE BCM IN THE 2003 CHEVY IMPALA HAS BEEN A VERY VERY BIG PROBLEM IN MY NEW CAR. I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR, AND HAD ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCKS, LIGHT, RADIO, STARTING THE CAR, SECURITY LOCK, ETC. *TR
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET CARS WITH "PASSLOCK" SECURITY. THE SECURITY BANNER WILL APPEAR IN THE DASH MONITOR. SHORTLY AFTER THIS THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES,AFTER BEING SHUT OFF. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER. DURING THIS TIME THE SECURITY BANNER ALTERNATES WITH THE BATTERY ICON. WITH THE IGN SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION. AFTER THE 10 TO 15 MINUTES THE CAR WILL CORRECT ITSELF AND START AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. MY TRUE CONCERN HERE IS THAT,THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND NOW SHE TELLS ME SHE LEAVES IT RUNNING AT THE GAS PUMP. FOR FEAR OF IT NOT STARTING. THIS IS WHERE SAFETY COMES IN. IS IT NOT POSTED ON ALL GAS PUMPS. TO SHUT OFF ENGINE? MANY OF THESE CARS ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AND THE DEALERS FROM REPORTS I'VE READ SEEM TO THROW PARTS AT THIS PROBLEM AT THE CAR OWNERS COST. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED AT A GAS PUMP, WITH THEIR CAR LEFT RUNNING BECAUSE IT MAY NOT START. THANK YOU *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON HIGH BEAM, ALMOST WENT OFF ROAD, IN JULY OF 2008. DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT MUCH. THE LIGHTS STILL GO OUT AT NIGHT ON HIGHBEAM, DO NOT COME BACK ON FOR UP TO 40 SECONDS. HAVE STARTED TO LEAVE THE LOWBEAMS ON ALL THE TIME, HAS NOT YET GONE OUT ON LOWBEAM. *TR
ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO MY 2003 IMPALAS HEAT GAUGE STARTED ACTING FUNNY LIKE THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING BUT THEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT WAS COOL OUT ABOUT THAT TIME OF YEAR AND I ALSO NOTICED THE CAR HAD NO HEAT. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT HELP AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. MY HUSBAND THEN NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW AND ADDED MORE. THAT ALSO DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER WE NOTICED THE COOLANT WAS LOW AGAIN. WE LOOKED FOR THE LEAK AND COULD NOT FIND ONE. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 3400 SERIES ENGINE. WE PAID NEARLY $700 TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL AGAIN IS LOW BUT CAN NOT DETECT ANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AS BEFORE, I STILL HAVE HEAT AND A/C AND THE HEAT GAUGE IS NOT FLUCTUATING BUT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AROUND AT RECALLS SOME FORUMS ABOUT THE SAME TYPE OF CAR AND HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 3400 SERIES MOTOR AS THERE IS FOR THE 3800. *TR
SECURITY LIGHT ON, LIGHTS FLASHING INSIDE CAR, CAR WILL NOT START, TOWED TO DEALER WHILE ON WARRANTY, THEY SAID NO PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, LAST TIME CAR HAS FAILED TO START AND HAS SAT FOR 3 MONTHS. NO WARNING PRIOR TO THIS , IT JUST DOESN'T START. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE MECHANIC CALLED TO FILE THE COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE CONTACT DOES NOT REMEMBER MOST OF THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONTACT, A POLICE OFFICER, WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
ABS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR 3 YEARS. HAD THIS CHECKED BY DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS NOW STAY ON FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER DRIVING FOR FIVE MINUTES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK TO THE FLOOR. USUALLY AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE PEDAL WILL RELEASE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLEAN OUT THE ACCELERATOR BOX. THE REPAIR COST OVER $100.00 AND IT TAKES BETWEEN 15 TO 20 MINUTES FOR COMPLETION. THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WILL REMEDY THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62000.
WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 4:00 AM MY HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I COULD NOT GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON, AND COULD NOT SEE WHERE I WAS AT ON THE ROAD. I DID MANAGE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, AND AFTER TRYING SEVERAL THINGS TO RESTORE LIGHTS, I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK AND GET HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TRIM TO WORK, USING ONLY HIGH BEAMS. EVERY TIME I TRIED TO USE LOW BEAMS THE LIGHTS WOULD COMPLETELY GO OUT. *TR
MY 2003 CHEVY IMPALA HAS THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM AND OUT THE BLUE MY CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. THE 1ST TIME IT STARTED RIGHT UP AT THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON FATHERS DAY AND I WAITED 10 MINUTES AND IT STARTED UP. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY JUST SAID WITHOUT A CODE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. THIRD TIME I AGAIN WAITED 10 MINUTES AND IT STARTED. I JUST KNOW SOME DAY THAT TRICK IS NOT GOING TO WORK. WHY CAN'T GM ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. ITS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND PEOPLE ARE SPENDING TONS OF MONEY ON FIXES THAT DON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
DURING OUR VACATION ABOUT 200 MILES FROM OUR HOME, WITHOUT WARNING, OUR 2003 IMPALA LS WITH 114K MILES STARTED RUNNING VERY BADLY. AFTER GOING TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP AND 8 HOURS LATER RODNEY'S MUFFLER IN MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR A VERY REASONABLE PRICE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT YET. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON EMISSION PARTS AND WONDER IF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026