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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
13 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,155 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Chevrolet Impala seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

Feb 172021

Impala

  • 119,022 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #27

May 012019

Impala

  • 120,000 miles
ABS/traction control.when ABS and traction control lights come on makes grinding noise /brakes grab has become dangerous to have on the road. Only have 125,950 miles has been causing problems for last 5,000 miles. Took to shop mechanic.could not identify problem. Can not turn traction control off/ on manually does it on its own..has to be a recall for this problem. As many complaints for this same dangerous problem there should be a factory recall before someone gets hurt or worse.this problem happens when in motion turning and while applying brake. City street and highway.

- Big Sandy, TN, USA

problem #26

Feb 052015

Impala

  • 160,000 miles
Had front end accident twice and air bags never inflated.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #25

Apr 062019

Impala

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Recall id 240424 received this from credit karma. Currently our car is having overheating issues. Engine cooling issues, exhaust manifold/header/muffler/tailpipe, oil leaking on to my exhaust I'm afraid to drive it, afraid it may catch fire.

- Marceline, MO, USA

problem #24

Apr 212018

Impala

  • 100,000 miles
My air bag lights are on all the time, I have to change my brakes ever 2 months bc they start to lock up and go through brake pads like nothing. I also have electronical problems my blinkers work when they want to an when it starts to not work my lights dim if the radio is on it turns down it's happening more an more

- Peru, NY, USA

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problem #23

Apr 262018

Impala 6-cyl

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 45 mph, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact was concerned that the air bag would deploy. The vehicle was taken to coad Chevrolet in cape girardeau, Missouri, 573-335-5581 to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system) in approximately April of 2017. The dealer provided the contact with a two key ring holder. The vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure according to specifications on the letter originally received, which specified that an insert in the key slot was supposed to be provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 8/28/18

- Jackson, MO, USA

problem #22

Jan 102017

Impala

  • 189,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Chevy Impala lights don't work at night daytime lights work off and on high beams at night only.

- Peekskill, NY, USA

problem #21

Feb 062017

Impala

  • miles
The contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact crashed into the driver side of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained lacerations to the lips, chest bruises, and pain to the jaw. The contact was treated and released. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was not available.

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #20

Jan 072017

Impala

  • miles
When I turn ignition switch on 10 times and finally star running engine then later I saw that airbags light on 5 mins self off all clusters but still running engine. Then, I turn off ignition then turn back on same things 15 times. I don't know what's wrong with car. The battery is good.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #19

Sep 152016

Impala

  • 122,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 30 mph, both frontal air bags deployed at the same time. The contact had to maneuver to the side of the road to a complete stop. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was deemed destroyed. Th repair cost would have exceeded the worth of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

- Mayport, PA, USA

problem #18

Oct 092016

Impala

  • 102,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving on the freeway at night no traffic. My airbags deploy destroying the inside of my car. No crash took place. Made a claim with GM my claim was denied. I am afraid to fix this car and drive it any longer. I did have the engine fire recall fixed 5 days prior to this happening.

- New Berlin, WI, USA

problem #17

Jul 052016

Impala

  • 86,000 miles
Vehicle was traveling 45 mph when air bags deployed. No collision occurred, no one was injured, road was dry and smooth, traffic was light, road was very familiar. Called GM and they took vehicle to walter jackson Chevrolet in ringgold, ga for inspection. The cause, they found, was a persistent water leak behind the glove box which caused corrosion and caused the airbags to deploy. We have attempted to have this leak repaired multiple times, but attempts only succeeded temporarily, if at all. Found from internet searches that this is a common problem with GM vehicles. As I also drive a 2004 Impala that has had the same leak, I am concerned that its airbags could also deploy at any time. We are the second owners of this vehicle but are familiar with the car's history, as it was purchased from a family member. Kelley blue book values it at $2,000 and repairs are estimated at $4,000. Following is a list of repairs on the car, excepting routine maintenance: 12-20-2007- right side cowl panel seal- to fix leak under glove box 5-15-2010- body repair- grass fire got close enough to blister paint on right side of car before fire dept. Put it out. (we weren't there to move it.) 11-19-2013- windshield and gasket- leaking again. 5-13-2016- repair water leak- leaking again. This is a design flaw. There are several different after-market fixes on the internet that mechanically inclined people have devised, but this should not be necessary. The vehicle should be safe from this problem when it rolls off the assembly line.

- Hixson, TN, USA

problem #16

Mar 012016

Impala

  • miles
I was in an accident where the car was a total loss and the airbags never deployed.it happened in philadelphia on hunting park and front

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #15

Jun 202015

Impala

  • 100,000 miles
The airbag light constantly flashes off and on while driving.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #14

Oct 062014

Impala

  • 197,000 miles
I was traveling on a 2 lane road. A truck pulling an enclosed trailer was in front of me turned on his right blinker and began to brake to make the turn. I was traveling 77 mph, so I moved to the oncoming traffic lane (the left lane) in order to pass the truck. At the last second the truck swerved into the left lane in order to make a wide turn. I abruptly jerked the steering wheel right to avoid collision with the truck, but the vehicle seemed to lose power steering as well as power brakes. I was unable to straighten the steering wheel back after jerking it to the right to go back into the right lane; my vehicle hit the back of the enclosed trailer and then hit steep ditch where my back passenger tire popped and the vehicle flipped onto its roof. The vehicles airbags failed to deploy even though the vehicle has significant damage to the front, top and sides of it. I regained conscientiousness I attempted to turn the car off and remove the keys from the ignition. But I realized that the keys were not I N the ignition.I crawled out of the passenger window to exit the vehicle. The keys were later found by my husband loose in the vehicle. I hit my head hard when the vehicle flipped, good deal of blood on me from what ended up being multiple superficial lacerations as well as a deep wound in my left knee, which required 12 stitches to close up. I will have a scar from it for the rest of my life. I was rushed by ambulance to the hospital and was released around 9 pm. 2 days later we received the ignition switch recall notice in the mail GM refuses to answer any of our questions regarding this wreck. GM did retrieve the black box info from the vehicle., they refuse to provide us with any explanation to why the airbags failed to deploy or why there seemed to be a malfunction within the car which led to the accident.

- Norman , OK, USA

problem #13

Mar 122014

Impala

  • miles
The contact owns 2003 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was not diagnosed. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unavailable.

- Chicago , IL, USA

problem #12

Sep 122014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 103,407 miles
Driver observed traffic coming to a stop, his brakes gave out, he could not steer left or right to avoid a car in front of him which caused him to rear-end the unit. His air-bag did not deploy.

- Pleasant Grove, AL, USA

problem #11

Dec 252012

Impala

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 35 mph, the contact's vehicle stalled and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and minor injuries were sustained. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system).the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.

- Jacksonville , FL, USA

problem #10

Sep 052014

Impala

  • 130,941 miles
Lost control of vehicle suddenly causing me to swerve across the road at high speeds. When I regained control of the vehicle I noticed the airbags had deployed. There was no impact with any other objects!

- Evanston, WY, USA

problem #9

Nov 032012

Impala 4-cyl

  • 226,000 miles
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 updated 4/7/2015

- Mer Rouge, LA, USA

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