2003 Chevrolet Impala Body & structure Problems

VEHICLE FIRE. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID

11351783

Incident

Aug 20, 2020

Mileage

185,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY FOR 6 YEARS. TRANSMISSION MAKES SQUEAK UPON STARTING FROM DEAD STOP AFTER CHANGING FLUID AND FILTER FOR 2ND TIME. ABS WENT OUT 6 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ID

11270932

Incident

Oct 22, 2019

Mileage

195,000 mi

MY 2003 CHE IMP DEVELOPED A WATER LEAK FROM LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE OF WINDSHIELD, COWLING AREA. WATER LEAKS ONTO RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM CABIN FILOTER AREA, NOT SUSRE.

NHTSA ID

11110179

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

97,000 mi

I BOUGHT A CAR FROM PROGRESSIVE AUTO AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A INSPECT ABLE CAR AND THAT IT SHOULD RUN JUST FINE, I BOUGHT THE CAR FEBRUARY 20TH OF 2015 AND THE INSPECTION WAS DUE ON THE END OF FEBRUARY THAT'S WHEN THEY TOLD ME IT SHOULD INSPECT FINE, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE TOLD ME HE COULDN'T INSPECT IT SO I GOT THE FENDER RUST FIXED. THEN I TOOK IT TO INTEGRITY AUTO TO SEE IF THEY COULD INSPECT IT BUT THEY COULD NOT BECAUSE THE BOTTOM WAS RUSTED OUT THEN I TOOK IT TO TWO MORE MECHANICS WHO ALSO TOOK ME IT WAS WORTH IT BECAUSE ITS ALL ROTTED THE INTAKE GASKET WENT THE CO2 SENSOR WENT AND THE WATER PUMP WENT AND THE PANELS ARE ALL ROTTED... IT WAS A CAR THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SOLD AND I ENDED UP PAYING OVER $1,000 DOLLARS FOR IT... NOW I'M OUT OF A CAR I RELY ON FOR WORK... *TR

NHTSA ID

10705915

Incident

Apr 7, 2015

UPON GOING FOR STATE INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTING AND FLAKING AND IF THIS WAS NOT CORRECTED, CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION NEXT YEAR. WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO NOT DRIVING THE CAR ENOUGH (UNDERUSAGE). MY CAR IS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA 4 DOOR SEDAN. THE COST WAS $344.50 TO REPAIR. ON TODAY'S NEWS I NOTICED THAT GENERAL MOTORS PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUV'S ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MIGHT ALSO INVOLVE THE IMPALA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324694

Incident

Apr 10, 2009

Mileage

9,269 mi

WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS, IN MY 2003 IMPALA, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR FLOOD. FOUND A SOLUTION FOR GM'S POOR DESIGN. THE COWLING GASKET ABOVE THE CABIN FILTER SHOULD BE REPLACED AND GLUED IN POSITION WITH RTV. THIS SHOULD SOLVE PROBLEM. ALSO MAKE SURE DRAINHOLES AROUND CABIN FILTER ARE CLEAR OF ALL DEBRIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280551

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

56,000 mi

WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS, IN MY 2003 IMPALA, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR FLOOD. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LITTLE OR HOW MUCH IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS ALWAYS FLOOD. THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE WATER WAS PAST MY ANKLES. THE WATER IS DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BOX AREA AND IT RUNS ALONG THE DOOR SEAL TO THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD FROM MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS POSSIBLE A BAD CABIN SEAL. AFTER FINALLY GETTING FED UP WITH THE SITUATION I LOOKED FOR A POSSIBLE SOLUTION ONLINE AND WHILE I DIDN'T FIND A SOLUTION I FOUND MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS LASTED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276732

Incident

Apr 1, 2009

PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE ON BOTH BACK DOORS HAVE BROKEN OFF, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF LIKE IMPALAS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM!*TR

NHTSA ID

10268651

Incident

Feb 23, 2009

Mileage

99,000 mi

FAILING PAINT ON FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS OF WHITE IMPALAS. ON ALL WHITE IMPALAS FROM MY AREA THE PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF THE BUMPERS, BOTH FRONT AND REAR, VERTICALLY IN CHUNKS ALONG THE CURVES TOWARD EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS ONLY APPEARS TO BE A CONDITION WITH THE WHITE MODELS, AND LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FLEX ADDED TO THE PAINT BEFORE APPLICATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238642

Incident

Jul 4, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

I DISCOVERED ACCIDENTALLY THAT MY 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT MAY CAUSE SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE LEAD TO DEATH. IN THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE CAR IS A DEVICE THAT IS CALLED A BODY PRESSURE VALVE THAT VENTS CABIN PRESSURE. THE PROBLEM IS IT LETS SNOW AND RAIN IN THE STAGNANT WATER SITS IN YOUR FENDER AND IS A BREEDING GROWN FOR GERMS. THE DEALER WAS SHOCKED WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN AND ASKED ME WHAT MADE ME THINK TO REMOVE THE CARPET AND LOOK IN THE FENDER. ALL THEY COULD DO WAS TAKE THE WATER OUT. STANDING WATER IN A FENDER WILL CAUSE A RUST PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM WHAT COULD BE DONE AND THEY TOLD ME TO PUT A NEW VALVE IN. THAT WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE FLAP IS NOT AIR TIGHT AND IS VENTED WATER AND FUMES SUCH AS CARBON MONOXIDE CAN ENTER THE CAR THROUGH IT . THE EXHAUST IS ONLY 12 INCHES OR LESS FROM IT. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES DO NOT RUN THE CAR WHEN SITTING STILL LETS ME KNOW THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM . WE ALL HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO RUN CARS IN ENCLOSED BUILDINGS BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH. IF IDLING IN TRAFFIC ONE MUST BE ASTUTE ENOUGH TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLE FAN ON AND OUTSIDE AIR COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES SO NOT TO ALLOW THE CAR TO FILL UP WITH FUMES FROM THE TAIL PIPE THAT SITS BENEATH THE PRESSURE VALVE. WHAT A DUMB DESIGN. CAR WAS SERVICED ON 03/04/08 I WAS ALWAYS SPRAYING DEODORIZER IN THE TRUNK AND IT SMELLED LIKE A CESSPOOL AS FAR AS THE REST OF THIS REPORT GOES THE NUMBER OF FAILURES IS TOTAL FAILURE IT HAS NEVER WORKED AND COULD BE CONSTRUED TO BE CRIMINAL NEGLECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220387

Incident

Mar 4, 2008

Mileage

8 mi

MY BLACK IMPALA HAS CHIP IN THE PAINT. MY BLACK IMPALA HAS PLACES WHERE THE PAINT IS COMING OFF. HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER PAINT COLORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215181

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

DT: THE DASH WAS CAVING IN, THE WINDSHIELD WAS OFF LEVEL AND THERE WAS KNOCKING IN THE STEERING, THE UNDERNEATH FRAME WAS HANGING DOWN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE; THERE WAS A GAP IN THE CONNECTION OF THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR, AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED, AND THE WHEELS ALIGNED. THEN, THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT AT FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND THEY REPLACED GEAR SHAFT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10132669

Incident

Feb 3, 2004

Mileage

28,194 mi

RADIO HAS VERY BAD RECEPTION. HAVE TAKEN CARE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED NEW RADIO WITH RECONDITIONED RADIOS TWICE. FIRST REPLACEMENT RADIO, DISPLAY DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. SECOND REPLACEMENT RADIO WAS NOT CALIBRATED PROPERLY WHEN INSTALLED AND WHEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND RE-CALIBRATED, HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DISPLAY AS REPLACEMENT RADIO NUMBER ONE. I NOW SUPPOSEDLY NEED A NEW DIMMER SWITCH. (AM TAKING TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN THE HOPES THAT THEY CAN REPAIR THE PROBLEM) THE FOG LIGHTS CONSTANTLY HAVE EXCESSIVE CONDENSATION. AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND GM THAT THIS IS NORMAL HOWEVER I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE TELL ME THIS IS NOT NORMAL. HAVE NOT OBSERVED THIS TYPE OF CONDENSATION ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE'S FOG LIGHTS. GM WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE UNLESS THERE IS STANDING WATER. GM REFUSED CLAIM. THERE IS AN EXTREMELY LOUD POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE FROM THE DASH. TEMP OUTSIDE DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER. AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO FIX. THE CRACKING NOISE IS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING. IT COMES SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING HARD STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080861

Incident

Mar 18, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL WAS TOO SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THERE WASN'T GOOD ARM ROOM FOR STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PEDAL. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10031518

Incident

May 15, 2003

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXTREME STATIC ELECTRICITY WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS COMMON DURING COOL DRY CONDITIONS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10004526

Incident

Dec 11, 2002

Mileage

2,000 mi