Problems · by component

2003 Chevrolet Impala engine and engine cooling problems

82 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala cite engine and engine cooling, 11% of all 722 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
82
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2018Engine and engine coolingODI 10862867
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF UPDATED 07/21/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10863114
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME SO THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/14/16*LJ THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND TRQUE BOLTS WRER REPLACED. UPDATED 06/27/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10860918
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 29, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10838926
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ UPDATED 04/19/16”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10837163
“2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE AFTER OIL SPILLED ONTO ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES RECEIVED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES RECALL NOTICE AFTER INCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE, SHE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE, BECAUSE HER INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2016Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10838287

Showing 6 of 82 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

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Engine and engine coolingReported Oct 26, 2015NHTSA 15V701000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Engine and engine coolingReported Apr 8, 2009NHTSA 09V116000
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.