Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Chevrolet Impala problems
Owners filed 722 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA between Oct 2002 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (273).
Complaints
722
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
33
Reported by owners
Fires
32
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system273
- Exterior lighting106
- Engine88
- Engine and engine cooling82
- Service brakes, hydraulic54
- Air bags41
- Steering32
- Power train31
- Vehicle speed control23
- Visibility20
- Service brakes19
- Structure16
- Suspension15
- Traction control system15
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
24
38
49
42
47
58
41
61
38
25
26
92
47
72
22
9
10
5
3
2
3
3
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2004 | 38 |
| 2005 | 49 |
| 2006 | 42 |
| 2007 | 47 |
| 2008 | 58 |
| 2009 | 41 |
| 2010 | 61 |
| 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 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
273 reports5 crashes7 fires1 related recall
“My car sometimes cuts off while driving. Was on highway 301 running about 60 mph in the middle lane and just lost power no warning. No code no nothing. Sacred me, I truly feel that's a safety issue, for me and the cars behind me. It's bad not knowing when or where this will happen again.”
Exterior lighting
106 reports1 fire
“THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS. IN SWITCHING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SWITCH AND EVENTUALLY GO OUT COMPLETELY. BY HOLDING THE HANDLE MANUALLY FOR HIGH BEAMS IT CANCELS CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ACTIVATED.”
Engine
88 reports1 crash20 fires
“Hey my name is [XXX] I recently took my Chevy impala for repairs they told me I need more repairs done I’m like cool my bottom of my car is rusted n my struts are bad n my oil pump n other stuff is not working as well I’m when I gave Chevy a call ball they took my they manager not to bring the car back I’m kinda upset bout this whole thing idk cause they had to fix my head gasket for free but I need help getting these thing fixes.”
Engine and engine cooling
82 reports7 fires2 related recalls
“2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR FLUID LEAKAGE ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE REQUIRED THE MANIFOLD TO BE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL WHICH COULD NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL ANOTHER FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR WAS A FAILURE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE MANIFOLD.*JS”
Service brakes, hydraulic
54 reports4 crashes
“2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIRS ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON. ALSO, THERE WAS A CLICK IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING IT, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, FREON WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. . *JB”
Air bags
41 reports21 crashes2 related recalls
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.