Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2003)

695 consumer complaints on file.

#10326959April 22, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
2003 CHEVY IMPALA. PASSLOCK STYSTEM THINKS THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN, DISABLING THE IGNITION FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES AT A TIME. SOMETIMES LEAVING YOU STRANDED. ALSO ABS AND TRAC CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AT 100,00 MILES. NO MORE ABS OR TRAC CONTROL AS PARTS ARE OVER $3,000. OIL SPILL OUT OF FILLER NECK ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND RECALL ONLY MOVED SPARK PLUG WIRES, OIL PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS DIM TO COMPLETE DARKENESS, OR SUPER BIRGHT AT ALL DIFFERENT TIMES. ISSUE IS THE DIMMER SWITCH. PISS POOR DESIGN BY GM. THEY SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SELLING VEHICLES UNTIL THEY PULL THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325879April 15, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA MOTOR WENT ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325491April 13, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CHEVY, IMPALA CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324652April 9, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER ADVISED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BEFORE REPAIRS COULD BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLIANT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324694April 9, 2010
STRUCTURE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324743April 9, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323376April 1, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE IMPALA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN CHARGING PEOPLE $600 TO CHANGE THE IGNITIAN THAT DOESN'T EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM. THAT IS WHAT THEY CHARGED ME 3 YEARS AGO. THE CAR WILL NOT START ONCE IN AWHILE AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT 15-20 MINUTES FOR IT TO FINALLY START. IT STARTED OUT EVERY OTHER MONTH THEN EVERY MONTH THEN TWICE A MONTH. NOW IN 2010 IT HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES A WEEK FOR ME. HERE IS ONE OF THE MANY FORUMS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HTTP://64.13.204.178/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2002/ELECTRICAL/PASSLOCK_PROBLEM_WONT_START_AND_SECURITY_LIGHT_IS_ON.SHTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320305March 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2003 CHEV. IMPALA, LS AND CANNOT DRIVE WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AS THEY ONLY REMAIN ON 3-TO-5 MINUTES AND GO OUT COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY NERVE WRACKING AND DANGEROUS. THUS, I NO LONGER USE HIGH BEAM AND WAS TOLD A NEW SWITCH FOR $500.00 PLUS INSTALLATION WAS NEEDED. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED WITH WARRANTY LEFT, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A ONCE OR TWICE OCCURRENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318444March 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA THAT HAS STARTING PROBLEMS(NO START) . SINCE 2004, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 4 BCM AND PCM MODULES INSTALLED ON THIS CAR FROM THE GM DEALERS IN WHICH I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FOR. FOR THE FIRST YEAR, THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN CAR WOULDN'T START FOR 10-15MINS. THEN THE SECOND YEAR CAR WOULDN'T START FOR 30-45MINS. TAKE TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SO THE THIRD YEAR, AFTER MISSING ALOT OF TIME FROM WORK, IT STARTING DOING THE SAME THING AND I HAD IT TOWED TO GM. THEY HAD IT A WEEK AND STILL FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND TOWED AGAIN- THIS TIME THEY STARTED THROWING PARTS AT IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE( BILL HEARD IN PLANT CITY,FL). SO AFTER NEW PARTS, IT RAN FOR ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS AND STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. I AGAIN TOOK TO DEALER AND NO PROBLEM FOUND BUT THEY DECIDED TO PUT ANOTHER BCM ON IT. THEN IT WOULD WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN THE SECURITY LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT,ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND NEXT TIME I TRY TO START IT THEN NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. SO THIS IS HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY NOW. THIS CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SO MANY TIMES THAT I AM SICK OF IT AND I KEEP PUTTING MONEY OUT FOR TOWING BILLS AND ALL THE GM DEALER CAN TELL ME IS TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I HAVE PUT OUT ALOT OF MONEY FOR BCMS EVERY YEAR NOW AND NO WARRANTY NOR MY MONEY BACK FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. I THINK GM HAS DONE A POOR JOB AT EVALUATING THESE CONCERNS AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ON ALL OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE PASSLOCK II SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318446March 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA THAT HAS STARTING PROBLEMS(NO START) . SINCE 2004, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 4 BCM AND PCM MODULES INSTALLED ON THIS CAR FROM THE GM DEALERS IN WHICH I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FOR. FOR THE FIRST YEAR, THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN CAR WOULDN'T START FOR 10-15MINS. THEN THE SECOND YEAR CAR WOULDN'T START FOR 30-45MINS. TAKE TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SO THE THIRD YEAR, AFTER MISSING ALOT OF TIME FROM WORK, IT STARTING DOING THE SAME THING AND I HAD IT TOWED TO GM. THEY HAD IT A WEEK AND STILL FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND TOWED AGAIN- THIS TIME THEY STARTED THROWING PARTS AT IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE( BILL HEARD IN PLANT CITY,FL). SO AFTER NEW PARTS, IT RAN FOR ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS AND STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. I AGAIN TOOK TO DEALER AND NO PROBLEM FOUND BUT THEY DECIDED TO PUT ANOTHER BCM ON IT. THEN IT WOULD WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN THE SECURITY LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT,ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND NEXT TIME I TRY TO START IT THEN NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. SO THIS IS HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY NOW. THIS CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SO MANY TIMES THAT I AM SICK OF IT AND I KEEP PUTTING MONEY OUT FOR TOWING BILLS AND ALL THE GM DEALER CAN TELL ME IS TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I HAVE PUT OUT ALOT OF MONEY FOR BCMS EVERY YEAR NOW AND NO WARRANTY NOR MY MONEY BACK FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. I THINK GM HAS DONE A POOR JOB AT EVALUATING THESE CONCERNS AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ON ALL OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE PASSLOCK II SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313558February 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT WAITED TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES AND THE ENGINE STARTED AS NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH OR POSSIBLY AN ELECTRONIC CHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312523February 21, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
I HAD PURCHASED FOUR DOUGLAS BRAND TIRES FROM WAL-MART MODEL X-TRAC 2. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THREE (3) OF THE TIRES HAVE HAD SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS, TWO AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ONE WHILE PARKED. THE DOT NUMBER ON THE TIRES ARE PJX3011R3507. ALL THREE BLOWOUTS WERE PRECEDED BY A SLOW AIR LEAK THAT COULD NOT BE FOUND AND ALL THREE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON A VERTICAL LINE FROM THE BASE OF THE TIRES TREAD, ON THE SIDEWALL, TO JUST ABOVE THE BEAD. ALSO, IN ALL THREE CASES, THERE WAS NOT EVIDENCE OF CORD SEPARATION AND BULGING AT THE SITE OF FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311739February 18, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304156February 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RECURRING PROBLEM: WHEN CLICKING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM OR HIGH/LOW USING THE TURN SIGNAL ARM THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. I'VE BEEN FORCED TO TRAVEL WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON TO INSURE THAT I HAVE SOME VISION WHEN SWITCHING HIGH/LOW. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND LOSING YOUR HEADLIGHTS! I HAVE FOUND OVER 30 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON-LINE WITHOUT TO MUCH SEARCHING EFFORT. MANY OF THE RESPONDENTS HAVE SAID THAT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE TURN SIGNAL ARM RUNS ABOUT $700. IN VISITING WITH MY DEALER HE HAS INDICATED HE HAS NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM--BUT MY RESEARCH INDICATES IT OCCURS OFTEN? THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED IN LATE DEC. 2009. WE ARE HESITANT TO USE THIS VEHICLE AFTER DARK DUE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303499February 1, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHEVROLET IMPALA 2003: CAR WON'T START OR EVEN TURN OVER WHEN HOT. AFTER ENGINE COOL DOWN START AGAIN AS NORMAL AS NEW. IF I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AFTER DRIVING FEW MILES I SEE ON THE INFORMATION CENTRE THE PASSLOCK WARNING, RADIO IS DEAD, INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE DEAD, AND IF I TRY TO CRANK THE ENGINE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPEN. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING OK LET'S SAY THE NIGHT BEFORE, NEXT DAY IN THE MORNING IN A SUNNY DAY THE CAR GETS WARM WITH THE SUN JUST BY SEATING ON MY DRIVEWAY AND IF I TRY TO START THE ENGINE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TO PUSH IT UNDER A TREE, OPEN HOOD AND DOORS LET IT SEATING ON THE SHADE FOR FEW MINUTES AND WHEN THE BODY IS COLD, THE CAR START NORMALLY. THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY BECAUSE I CANT USE MY CAR DURING THE SUMMER (IT WON'T START), AND DURING SPRING, FALL, AND WINTER I HAVE TO LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILE I DO MY SHOPPING AND OTHER STUFF. THIS IS A RISK, MY CAR CAN BE STOLEN AND IS TOO MUCH GAS CONSUMPTION. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. HOW CAN I FIX THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO GM DEALER BUT THEY CHANGED BCM AND BATTERY BUT NEVER FIX THE REAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303620February 1, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 CHEVY IMPALA 4 DOOR. WHENEVER WE DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH BEAMS THE GO OFF COMPLETELY. SO WHEN WE ARE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT LIKE 65 IT BECOMES VERY INTERESTING. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONE MINUTE AFTER HIGH BEAMS ARE TURNED ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE PURCHASE IN FEBRUARY 2009. WE WANT A VEHICLE RECALL, AS THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBB. DOES ANYBODY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN BY THE GOV OR GENERAL MOTORS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH THE IMPALA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301804January 21, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
LEAKING HEAD GASKET CAUSING ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298376January 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296808December 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
(1) NOTHING APPEARS TO LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. AT LEAST THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT. (2) THE FAILURE IS THE CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH APPROX. 26M MILES ON IT. IT DID NOT DO THIS FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAD IT, THEN IT STARTED IT. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SINCE THE CAR WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD AT THAT TIME. THAT DIDN'T STOP IT FROM DOING IT. SOMEONE WHERE WE GO TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED SAID HE KNEW WHAT TO DO WHEN IT DOES IT WHICH WAS DISCONNECTING A BATTERY CABLE. THAT SEEMED TO WORK FOR AWHILE AND THEN THAT STOPPED WORKING. AT FIRST WHEN IT DID IT, IT WOULD ONLY BE APPROX. 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. NOW IT IS UP TO OVER AN HOUR. (3) THE ONLY MONEY WE HAVE SOCKED INTO IT HAS BEEN FOR A BATTERY. FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296594December 21, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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