2003 Chevrolet IMPALA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
694 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
82,872 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 513 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 231 of 694 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 110 | 15.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 101 | 14.6% |
| Steering behavior | 49 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 48 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 20 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 231 |
| Engine | 88 |
| Exterior Lighting | 57 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 40 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 27 |
| Steering | 25 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
Electrical System: 231; Engine: 88; Exterior Lighting: 57; Engine And Engine Cooling: 40; Air Bags: 28; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 27; Steering: 25; Unknown Or Other: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 67 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 66 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 91 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 81 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 121 |
| 150,000 and above | 87 |
Under 25,000: 67; 25,000 to 49,999: 66; 50,000 to 74,999: 91; 75,000 to 99,999: 81; 100,000 to 149,999: 121; 150,000 and above: 87
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (121). 181 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 36 |
| 2005 | 43 |
| 2006 | 41 |
| 2007 | 36 |
| 2008 | 58 |
| 2009 | 39 |
| 2010 | 60 |
| 2011 | 38 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 92 |
| 2015 | 47 |
| 2016 | 72 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
2002: 4; 2003: 20; 2004: 36; 2005: 43; 2006: 41; 2007: 36; 2008: 58; 2009: 39; 2010: 60; 2011: 38; 2012: 25; 2013: 26; 2014: 92; 2015: 47; 2016: 72; 2017: 22; 2018: 9; 2019: 10; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 110 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 101 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10030003 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO, THE WAY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED WAS BAD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT BROKEN ANY LAWS, AND THAT THEIR CARE WAS SAFE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037592 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING WITH THREE PASSENGERS IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, REQUIRING EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO BRING CAR TO A STOP BEFORE HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, LATER THAT EVENING, THIS RECURRED AT 50 MPH (ENGINE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING POWER REQUIRING EMERGENCY STOP IN CENTER MEDIAN 4 LANE HIGHWAY MERGE SITE). THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY WITH THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000028 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ANF AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE CAR BEGAN DOWNSHIFTING ROUGH. AS I INCREASED SPEED OUT OF THE EXIT THE CAR WAS "JERKING" AND SHIFTING VERY ROUGH. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. IT TOOK 2 WEEKS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, WIRING HARNESS, AND SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR ONLY HAD 400 MILES ON IT
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018735 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
INFERIOR LOW GRADE "DESIGNED TO FAIL" ELECTRICAL SWITCHES IN CHEVROLET IMPALA'S YR 2000. SPECIFICALLY: HAZARD "FLASHER" SWITCH COMPROMISES "TURN SIGNALS" FORCING CONSUMER INTO DEALERSHIPS TO PAY EXORBIANT PREDATORY COSTS FOR REPAIR. $5 PART FOR A $190 COST TO REPAIR. ALL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES ARE INFERIOR FROM MFG. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031518 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL WAS TOO SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THERE WASN'T GOOD ARM ROOM FOR STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PEDAL. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034342 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, A RED WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER WAS UNSURE WHAT THE WARNING SIGN MEANT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE STALLED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034343 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED A RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED ON. CONSUMER WAS UNSURE OF THE WARNING SYMBOL. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028861 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN FAILING WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF PURCHASE. TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM AND JERK IN GEARS AND FINALLY BEGAN NOT SHIFTING OUT OF 1ST GEAR UNTIL 50 MPH. WAS FIXED AND THEN ONE WEEK LATER BEGAN FAILING AGAIN. THIS TIME CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR BUT INSTEAD JUST SLIP GEAR AND REV ENGINE. TRANSMISSION FINALLY LOCKED INTO 3RD GEAR AND WOULD NOT DRIVE IN ANY OTHER GEAR. THIS ALL OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST 2400 MILES AND 1 1/2 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044664 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE IN THE GAS TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE WAS UNDETERMINED, ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAD SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. *JB THE BANGING SOUND HAD COME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130812 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SHE GOT OUT AND SMELLED GASOLINE. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A DIFFERENT VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE. THEN THE SMELL WAS NOTICED IN THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THEY COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE CHARCOAL FUEL PURGE CANISTER IN THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THE CONSUMER THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130812 at NHTSA ↗