Problems · by component

2003 Chevrolet Impala exterior lighting problems

106 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala cite exterior lighting, 15% of all 722 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
106
15% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2017Exterior lightingODI 11051171
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10919327
“MY TURNING SIGNALS WORK ON AND OFF ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OVER AND MY RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL WOULDN'T WORK BUT THE LEFT TURNING SIGNAL WORKED FINE. THEN AFTER A DAY OR TWO THE RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL WOULD WORK BUT THEN THE LEFT TURNING SIGNAL WON'T WORK. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WOULD BOTH WORK THEN BOTH STOP WORKING. NOW A MONTH HAS PASSED AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM WORK MOST THE TIME, BUT WILL WORK FOR A HOT SECOND AND THEN STOP WORKING. THIS IS ONLY FOR THE REAR TURNING SIGNAL THOUGH THE FRONT TURNING SIGNAL HAVE ALWAYS WORKED PROPERLY AND STILL DO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10883499
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY, THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKERED, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEATER HAD TO BE RUNNING FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DEACTIVATE. IN ADDITION, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FLICKERED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURES WERE UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2015Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 10810905
“SOMETIMES WHEN IM DRIVING AND IM TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE AND I GO TO USE MY SIGNAL LIGHT THEY DO NOT WORK THEN I CAN GO DOWN THE ROAD THEY WILL WORK PLUS MY LIGHTS WONT GO ON BRIGHT WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2015Exterior lightingODI 10704354
“HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING. NO WARNING. COULD ONLY USE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WHEN LEVER CONSTANTLY PRESSED WHEN DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. NOT FUSES, NOT BULBS, ULTIMATELY $800 MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN HAZARD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2015Exterior lightingODI 10676187

Showing 6 of 106 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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