Problems · by component

2003 Chevrolet Impala air bags problems

41 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala cite air bags, 6% of all 722 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
41
6% of all complaints
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2021Air bags, Service brakes, EngineODI 11398056
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2019Power train, Air bagsODI 11287638
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2019Air bags, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11194403
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, Service brakesODI 11166488
“TL* 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. *TT UPDATED 8/28/18*JB *TT *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2018Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11090410
“TL* 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10953899

Showing 6 of 41 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.

Air bagsReported Feb 14, 2003NHTSA 03V051000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Air bagsReported Aug 9, 2002NHTSA 02V222000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.