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2003 Chevrolet Impala Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 695 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala, most often about the electrical (38% of complaints, typically around 98,000 miles). It is 7th of 21 Impala model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2003 Chevrolet Impala problems
Electrical
264 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 98,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
My security light started to flash then everything went crazy from there lights blinking on and off doors locking and unlocking then the radio will show locked on it trunk will open while driving down the road. The vehicle would start on cool days now that it has turned hot it will not start at all. I have read all…
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…
Engine
168 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
My Impala began to have issues with the thermostat reading going from cool to hot extremely quick and the red check engine light came on. I had the vehicle towed to a local dealership and was told that these vehicles are notorious for intake manifold issues and that this is the cause of my problem. I was also told…
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…
Lights
104 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, hazard flashing warning lights, turn signal, fog lights.
My wife stated that her 2003 Impala the headlights did not come on one night auto mode so she turned on manually. 2 weeks later, she is driving in the dark and the fog, and headlights go out. Stopped along road and tried high, low, and pull light switch with no luck. Very dangerous if would have been in busy area.…
Headlights fail without warning. Occurs intermittently when high beams are engaged. Headlight dimmer switch was replaced. Old part is available.
Brakes
75 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, conventional.
Vehicle braking system malfunction. Refer to odi # 10134740. System failure resulted in loss of vehicle control resulting in vehicle accident resulting in major vehicle damage to right rear of vehicle from passenger door to the bumper.
: the contact stated the rear rotors rusted. This was first noticed while changing the front brakes. Even though the rear rotors were rusted the rear brake pads were fine. The manufacturer determined the rotors may have rusted due to the environment. Updated 01/25/06.
Air bags
39 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 119,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Vehicle shuts off when moving,turning or stopped at a traffic light. By switching to neutral, the engine may start after 1 or more tries. So far the failures have been on city streets and highways. But not interstates. The failures are many but unpredictable.
I have had incidents several times over the years where I would hit a bump in the road and my car would completely shut off. I have also had several incidents where I was traveling down the expressway and my car turned off on me. I had to shift my car into neutral and restart it to continue going. I was fortunate not…
Transmission
30 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle hubs.
After several trips to the repair shop at two dearlerships for my slipping transmission on my 2003 Impala, the transmission finally failed after the warranty has expired on the car.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the traction and brake warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked during acceleration. The failure occurred on a daily basis. The dealer stated that the hub sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
Steering
30 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: gear box, hydraulic power assist system, column.
Clunking noise in front end especially when you are in a turn. Also could feel a "thump" through the steering wheel at same time. We are stationed in germany in the air force. Took it to the opel dealer (chevy equiv. In germany) and they diagnosed it as the intermediate shaft needing to be replaced. After $300 and a…
The intermediate steering shaft in my 2003 Chevrolet Impala had to be replaced at 25,000 miles. Now at 45,000 miles the steering shaft needs to be replaced again also, both rear brake rotors were replaced at 25,000 and need to be replaced again at 45,000 miles.
Fuel system
26 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
Vehicle is in parked and im about to start the vehicle it seems to slowly fail or backfires during multiple times of trying. While in motion on the streets driving at 10-35 MPH or in motion on hwy 40-65 MPH the vehicle will shut off or sometimes it would loss power even if my foot is on the gas petal. On hwy this…
Since june 2006, I have noticed that the fuel gauge of my Chevrolet Impala, 2003 (3.4l; 72,000 miles) have been displaying incorrectly the amount of fuel in the gas tank. The fuel gauge has been showing full despite the fact that I have less than half tank of gas. I have been using the trip odometer to guide me in my…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Chevrolet Impala recalls
Engine: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, and 15v-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, or 15v-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on february 19, 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and pontiac customer s
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 chevrolet lumina and oldsmobile intrigue, 1997-2004 buick regal and pontiac grand prix, 2000-2004 chevrolet impala, and 1998-2004 chevrolet monte carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, and 15v-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on september 9, 2014. Gm's number for this recall is 14350.
Full defect summary
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General motors llc (gm) notified the agency on july 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 chevrolet impala and monte carlo, 1997-2003 chevrolet malibu, 2004-2005 malibu classic, 1999-2004 oldsmobile alero, 1998-2002 oldsmobile intrigue, 1999-2005 pontiac grand am and 2004-2008 pontiac grand prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâs plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Alleged headlight failure
Summary
A total of 646,038 subject vehicles were sold during my 2001-2003, and the complaint and warranty data tabulated above apply to the total vehicle population.complaint reports alleging headlight outage represent slightly more that one-half of the total number of complaints and the balance are allegations of flickering and dimming.investigation disclosed the root cause of the malfunction to be wear of a contact plunger in the multifunction switch that may result in a temporary open circuit, with the plunger in a neutral position between high- and low-beam contact points.consumers consistently reported that manipulation of the switch handle on the steering column restores either high or low bea
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (264 complaints, typically around 98,000 miles); engine (168 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); lights (104 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 26, 2015 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Chevrolet Impala?
- It is 7th of 21 Impala model years by number of complaints, with 695 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.