Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2003)

695 consumer complaints on file.

#10266399April 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265961April 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265491April 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265378April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL SOMETIMES START AND OFTEN NOT, UNSAFE IF GOING ON A TRIP INTERNET SAYS MOST LIKELY PROBLEM IS PASS KEY OR BCM MODULE.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265379April 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262411March 19, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261928March 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261531March 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261019March 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260963March 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO CRASHES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260376March 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSKEY THEFT DETTERENT SYSTEM FAILS NOT ALLOWING CAR TO START. THERE IS NO WORK AROUND EXCEPT TO RETURN CAR TO DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258263February 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257777February 7, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2003 IMPALA HIGHBEAMS WHEN IN USE DO TOTALLY GO OUT BLINKERS JUST STOP BLINKING AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH COMMON PROBLEM WITH IMPALAS WHICH GM WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. THEY RECALLED THE MALIBU HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. NO BAILOUT FOR THEM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES. I'M STILL PAYING FOR THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256435January 26, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NOTICED FAILURE OF AIR BAGS, DOOR LOCKS, RADIO, A/C, SECURITY LOCKOUT/ NO START BATTERY DRAINED. I AM ASE CERTIFIED AND LOCATED THE BATTERY DRAIN TO THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). AFTER REPLACING IT, IT WAS NECESSARY TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPROGRAMMED. AT THIS TIME ALL FUNCTIONS (BUT THE DOOR LOCKS) WORK. OF COURSE THE DEALER REP SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PRE EXISTING AS ALL THE OTHER FUNCTIONS WORK. I WILL NOW START LOOKING INTO THE CAUSE OF THE DOOR LOCK FAILURE. HERE'S WHY I'M WRITING. THESE PROBLEMS ARE HUGE SAFETY ISSUES NOT TO MENTION THE EXPENSE AND EXTREME INCONVENIENCE AND "DOWN" TIME. AS YOU DRIVE, THE CAR HAS NO AIR BAGS, THE DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK AND WITH MY 4 DOOR CAR I CAN'T EVEN LOCK MY CAR TO PARK IT OUTSIDE OF AN UNLOCKED GARAGE. I WANT THIS TO KNOWN AS THE MOST UNSAFE VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254502January 11, 2009
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254381January 9, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA, HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253658January 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253182December 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WITHIN A FEW MONTH OF GETTING IT MY DOOR LOCK FUSE STARTED BLOWING. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF REPLACING THE FUSE EVERY OTHER DAY MY SECURITY LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. DURING THE PAST YEAR WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR SOMETIMES IT DOES GOOD OTHER TIMES MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AND GO COMPLETELY OUT WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, MY RADIO TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FUSES THAT BLOW THAT CAUSES MY CAR NOT TO START AT ALL, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. MY CAR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252089December 17, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HIGH BEAMS ARE ENGAGED. HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251813December 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Impala