Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2003)
695 consumer complaints on file.
- #10621089August 9, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT TAKES AT LEAST 2 TRIES OR MORE TO GET THE CAR STARTED. WHILE IN PARK AND THE CAR WAS ON IT SUDDENLY JUST SHUT OFF. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10618897August 5, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BE REPLACED DUE TO MOISTURE INSIDE THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,644.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10618952August 5, 2014AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 226,000. UPDATED 10/23/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/7/2015 *JS
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10619128August 5, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10618666August 4, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN FROM THE OFF POSITION TO AN ON POSITION INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10617576July 30, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING
IN THE SUMMER OF 2013 MY DAUGHTER REPORTED THE MULTIFUNCTION LEVER ON HER CAR WAS HARD TO OPERATE WHEN TRYING TO ACTIVATE HIGH BEAMS. ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A DARK COUNTRY ROAD SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AT THAT TIME SHE PLAYED WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WAS ABLE TO GET LOW BEAMS TO COME BACK. I'VE SPOKEN WITH TWO MECHANICS WHO SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EARLY 2000'S IMPALAS WHICH MEANS THERE MUST BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS / INJURIES ASSOCIATED BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY POPULAR CARS. CHEVROLET SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROLIFIC, WELL-KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10617304July 29, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2003 IMPALA, I WAS UNAWARE AT THE TIME OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE ISSUE OF THE PASSLOCK FEATURE. THE PASSLOCK FEATURE SHUTS DOWN THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DOSEN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE KEY IS THE MATCHING SET FOR THE PASSLOCK. FOR THE SHORT TIME WE HAD THE CAR WE EXPERIENCED A SHUT DOWN DURING OPERATION. LUCKY FOR US NO ONE WAS INJURED, AT APPROXMATE 45 MPH THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO DEAD STEER AND BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP RESULTING IN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD IN THE DITCH. TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, DID NOT EVEN TRY TO CRANK OVER. SECURITY LIGHT WAS ON AT THE DISPLAY HAD TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN THEN THE CAR STARTED. GOT IT HOME FORTUNATELY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENTS. SINCE THEN THERE WERE SEVERAL INSTANCES THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR. I AM VERY AGGRIVATED THAT WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE SUCH ISSUES AS CONSUMERS, WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPTS OR CONCERNS FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO DEAL WITH SUCH A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. THIS A SERIOUS RISK PLACED ON THE OWNERS LIVES WITH THESE VEHICLES. ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS HAS BEEN A LONG ONGOING PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN ANNOTATED HUNDREDS OF TIMES. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS, ARE WE WAITING FOR FATALITIES? *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10616950July 28, 2014STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BECOMING LOOSE, AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING , HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR. SMALL FUEL LEAK IN FUEL TANK. UPDATED 4/24/2015 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10616114July 24, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA, I CALLED THE CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND MY CAR IS NOT ON THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL LIST. I EXPLAINED TO THE LADY THAT ALL OF MY LIGHTS WILL GO OFF WHENEVER I GO OVER SPEED BUMPS INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND RADIO. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START MY CAR I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE KEY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL TURN AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY KEY RINGS WITH MY CAR KEY. THE LADY CLEARLY STATED THAT MY CAR IS HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES, BUT NOT BEING ON THE RECALL LIST I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PAY FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY SPECIFIC VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND WHY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN I WAS TOLD BY A CONTACT AT GM THAT MY CAR HAS THE ISSUE. I JUST WANT THIS FIXED. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR A YEAR NOW AND IT HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT ISSUES. I CAN'T SEE MY SPEED WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT WHICH I COULD GET A TICKET FOR AND IS DANGEROUS. WHO CAN I CONTACT TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10615401July 22, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, AND THE STEREO CONSOLE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT HEAT CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ABNORMALLY TO THE FLOORBOARD FLOOR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED VARIOUS TIMES AS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM).THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610883July 16, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE KEY CYLINDER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,396.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10609950July 11, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
(3) PROBLEMS THAT ARE, AND HAVE BEEN, OCCURING. 1) SECURITY ISSUE: CAR WILL NOT START WHEN KEY IS TURN TO START. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. HAVE TO LET SECURITY RESET ITSELF AFTER 10 MINUTES AND CAR WILL START AGAIN. 2) ABS LIGHT ON: RANDOM. BRAKES WILL GRIND AT CERTAIN TIMES WHEN BRAKING. HARNESS AND/OR SENSOR PROBLEM. 3) TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON: TRACTION KCIKS IN WHEN DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAVE TO TURN TRACTOIN OFF FOR IT TO STOP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10607905July 2, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AND SHIFTING GEARS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10606680June 28, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS PROBLEM HAD CAUSED ME PROBLEMS IN THE YEAR BEFORE IT WOULD NOT START. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN VARIOUS TIMES BEFORE INCLUDING ONE TIME IT CUT OFF LUCKILY NEAR MY HOME AT A VERY LOW SPEED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND IT WOULD FINALLY START. BUT, ON OCTOBER 9, 2013 I WAS ABOUT 65 MILES FROM HOME AND TRIED TO TURN THE KEY TO GO HOME AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO CALL A TOWING COMPANY TO TOW IT HOME. WITHIN A FEW DAYS I HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL CHARGE FOR REPAIR WAS $423.56 ! I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT UNTIL THE RECENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER YEARS. I DO FEEL THIS YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT UNTIL I NOW THINK THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND REPAIRED FURTHER IF NEEDED. I ALSO FEEL MY REPAIR FEE SHOULD BE RETURNED. THANK YOU AND WAITING FOR REPLY TO MY PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10599127June 18, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM SENSOR DATA CIRCUIT, AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY DATA LINK MAY NOT HAVE BEEN READING PROPERLY AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E021000 (AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCHES). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10598729June 17, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR DOESN'T START FOR TEN MINUTES AND AFTER THAT TURN KEY AND THEN IT STARTS. IT IS VARY UPSETTING FOR IT MAKES ME LATE FOR WORK SOMETIMES ARE OTHER PLACES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10599017June 17, 2014POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHENEVEN THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10598271June 14, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SECURITY SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO START THE ENGINE, YOU TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS FOR 10 MINUTES. IF YOU DO NOTHING AFTER THE LIGHT STOPS BLINKING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO START ENGINE, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LET IT CYCLE 2 OR 3 TIMES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY WIFE AS SHE GETS OUT OF WORK AT 9:30 PM AND IS ALONE IN A PARKING LOT. CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING AS THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEATHS BECAUSE OF THIS. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10598333June 14, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
AT SLOW SPEEDS AFTER CONSIDERABLE DRIVING DISTANCES, ON TWO OCCASIONS, ENGINE TURNED OFF, LEAVING NO POWER FOR DRIVE OR STEERING. CAR RE-STARTED BOTH TIMES. NO RECURRENCE TO DATE AFTER IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 5/27/14. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10592973May 21, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN MY DRIVERSIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT SO I STOPPED AND BOUGHT A NEW BULB AT THE CLOSEST STORE WHEN I REPLACED THE BULB THE LIGHT STILL DIDNT COME BACK ON THEN THE DTR LIGHT ALSO STARTED HAVING ISSUES THE ONLY TIME YOU GET ANY LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS WHEN YOU MOVE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AROUND THEN YOU GET DIM LIGHTING SO FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS WE HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO USE OUR CAR AT NIGHT. I KEEP CHECKING FOR RECALLS BUT I HAVENT SEEN ANY AND WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR DTR LIGHTING INCLUDING THE ONES THAT CONTROL OUR DASH LIGHTS. CAUSE WE HAVE NONE THEY WORK DURING TH EDAY WHEN THEY WANT TOO BUT AT NIGHT WE HAVE NO LIGHTS IN OUR DASH. ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT HAS QUIT WORKING. IT ALL OCCURED ROUGHLY AROUND THE SAME TIME. NOBODYS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0