Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
HAD FRONT END ACCIDENT TWICE AND AIR BAGS NEVER INFLATED.
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.
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
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
CHEVY IMPALA LIGHTS DON'T WORK AT NIGHT DAYTIME LIGHTS WORK OFF AND ON HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT ONLY.
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.
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.
TL* 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.
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.
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.
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
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING.
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. *TR
TL* 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.
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. *TR
TL* 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.
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! *TR
TL* 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*LJ UPDATED 4/7/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED ON AND IN PARK, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 212,000. UPDATED 10/2/14*CN
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON MAY 4, 2014. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE YET MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. AS A RESULT I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY MOUTH. I ALSO HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE TOP OF MY HEAD. MY TEETH CUT INTO MY BOTTOM LIP AND I HAD TO GO TO THE ER LATER THAT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN. I FEEL THAT HAD THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED I WOULDN'T HAVE SUSTAINED THE INJURY THAT I DID. *TR
I HAVE HAD INCIDENTS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS WHERE I WOULD HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND MY CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY CAR TURNED OFF ON ME. I HAD TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT TO CONTINUE GOING. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
ON MON. NOV. 25, 2013 I WAS DRIVING SB I-75 ABOUT 10 P.M. THERE WAS A LIGHT DRIZZLE AND AS I APPROACHED THE BRIDGEPORT AREA I NOTICED SOMETHING ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF THE HIGHWAY. I STARTED TO BRAKE AND HIT BLACK ICE AND SLAMMED HEAD ON INTO A BLACK JACKKNIFED SEMI WITH NO LIGHTS OR FLARES. I DID TRY TO GO BETWEEN THE MIDDEN AND THE TRUCK BUT THERE WAS NO ROOM CAUSING MOST OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE FRONT END WAS SO SMASHED THAT THE BATTERY DISINTEGRATED. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL GETTING A CONTUSION ON MY FOREHEAD AS WELL AS TWO BLACK EYES. I ALSO HAD BRUISES ON MY HAND, KNEE, AND RIGHT BREAST. IN ADDITION TO THESE I ALSO HAD SOME LE FRANC FRACTURES TO MY LEFT FOOT WHICH I REQUIRED SURGERY FOR. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THANK GOODNESS, BUT I JUST DO NOT KNOW WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE DUE TO BROKEN GLASS. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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