2003 Chevrolet Impala Interior & seats Problems

2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STARTING PROBLEMS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ IGNITION RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STARTING PROBLEMS BEGAN TWO YEARS INTO OWNING THE VEHICLE. EVERY MECHANIC CHARGED HIM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN PARTS AND LABOR, ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO RETURN. IN SEPTEMBER 2014, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY PUT TWO RINGS ON HIS KEY FOB. THEY ALSO INFORMED HIM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH COST HIM SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STARTING PROBLEM HAS CEASED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS PROBLEM QUALIFIED TO BE RECALLED, SINCE SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WERE BEING RECALLED FOR IGNITION PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10682301

Incident

Dec 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE HIGH BEAMS WERE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/20/14 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD HAVE TO BE SWITCHED OFF THEN ON IN ORDER TO WORK AGAIN. THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW IF THE FAILURE OCCURS DURING THE DAY ALSO. UPDATED 5/5/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10640778

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN MY DRIVERSIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT SO I STOPPED AND BOUGHT A NEW BULB AT THE CLOSEST STORE WHEN I REPLACED THE BULB THE LIGHT STILL DIDNT COME BACK ON THEN THE DTR LIGHT ALSO STARTED HAVING ISSUES THE ONLY TIME YOU GET ANY LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS WHEN YOU MOVE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AROUND THEN YOU GET DIM LIGHTING SO FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS WE HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO USE OUR CAR AT NIGHT. I KEEP CHECKING FOR RECALLS BUT I HAVENT SEEN ANY AND WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR DTR LIGHTING INCLUDING THE ONES THAT CONTROL OUR DASH LIGHTS. CAUSE WE HAVE NONE THEY WORK DURING TH EDAY WHEN THEY WANT TOO BUT AT NIGHT WE HAVE NO LIGHTS IN OUR DASH. ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT HAS QUIT WORKING. IT ALL OCCURED ROUGHLY AROUND THE SAME TIME. NOBODYS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10592973

Incident

Apr 17, 2014

DRIVER ACTIVATED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATING UNIT DURING A COMMUTE SOMETIME IN DECEMBER 2013. AT SOME POINT DURING TRIP, SEAT BACK HEATING UNIT BURNED LEATHER SEAT AND BURNED DRIVERS COAT. OVAL BURN MARK APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES WIDE AND 1/2 INCH TALL RESULTED. SEAT HEATING UNIT NO LONGER WORKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564554

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BUT IT WOULD NOT OPEN. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD ALSO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT COULD ONLY MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. HE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR HIMSELF BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

10359215

Incident

Jul 5, 2010

Mileage

137,000 mi

WE ARE DEALING WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH/ SECURITY SYSTEM ON OUR CAR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK NOW. THIS ISSUE BEGAN ABOUT SIX MONTHS BACK AND IS DEFINITELY WORSENING. WE ARE EXPERIENCING WAIT TIMES OF ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO CLEAR THE SECURITY SYSTEM BEFORE WE CAN START THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS WILL EVENTUALLY END UP COMPLETELY FAILING SOON. NOW THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS TO FAIL AND WE CANNOT JUDGE SPEED AT NIGHT WITHOUT A FLASHLIGHT. I JUDGE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND SHE OFTEN HAS TO DEPEND ON THE CAR AT NIGHTS AND ALONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10355048

Incident

Sep 6, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

2003 CHEVY IMPALA. PASSLOCK STYSTEM THINKS THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN, DISABLING THE IGNITION FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES AT A TIME. SOMETIMES LEAVING YOU STRANDED. ALSO ABS AND TRAC CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AT 100,00 MILES. NO MORE ABS OR TRAC CONTROL AS PARTS ARE OVER $3,000. OIL SPILL OUT OF FILLER NECK ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND RECALL ONLY MOVED SPARK PLUG WIRES, OIL PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS DIM TO COMPLETE DARKENESS, OR SUPER BIRGHT AT ALL DIFFERENT TIMES. ISSUE IS THE DIMMER SWITCH. PISS POOR DESIGN BY GM. THEY SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SELLING VEHICLES UNTIL THEY PULL THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10326959

Incident

Apr 21, 2010

TL* - ON DECEMBER 25, 2006, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HER CHILD GOT OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SECURED HER CHILD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE CONTACT HAS SINCE CALLED THOROBRED CHEVROLET FROM WHOM SHE PURCHASED THE CAR TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR DID NOT HAVE CHILD PROOF SAFETY LOCKS. THE DEALER TRIED TO SELL HER A NEW CAR INSTEAD OF PROVIDING HER WITH INFORMATION ON HOW SHE COULD GET SOME CHILD PROOF SAFETY LOCKS FOR THIS CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY DEALERSHIP THAT SHE HAS CONTACTED CONCERNING THE CHILD PROOF LOCKS . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHE WOULD LIKE THE CHILD PROOF SAFETY LOCKS ADDED TO THE CAR AT NO COST, OR TO BE PROVIDED WITH A CAR THAT DID HAVE CHILD PROOF LOCKS. *AK UPDATED 02/09/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177338

Incident

Dec 25, 2006

Mileage

56,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. THIS FEATURE LOCKS THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE. DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK, THE DOORS MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE CORRECTED. ALSO THE KEYLESS ENTRY HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR REPROGRAMMING. THIS ONLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10153241

Incident

Mar 20, 2006

Mileage

36,900 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS WERE MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. WHEN HE TRIED TO LOCK THE DOORS, THEY WOULD SLOWLY UNLOCK. THE BATTERY DIED BEFORE HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE BCM, AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATE IT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10142390

Incident

Nov 3, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRUNK LATCH ON 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS DESIGNED INCORRECTLY. WHEN HE PUT A SUIT CASE IN THE TRUNK OR ANYTHING HEAVY, THE LATCH STUCK VERY HIGH, BENT, AND EVENTUALLY THE TRUNK WOULD NOT SHUT. THE DEALER CHANGED THE LATCH ONCE. THE FOREMAN AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE WARRANTY WAS SOON TO RUN OUT. *AK (11/18/05) PER INVOICE, THE DRIVEABILITY SEEMED TO IDLE HIGH. *SC

NHTSA ID

10138702

Incident

Oct 9, 2004

Mileage

1,807 mi

HIT FROM BEHIND THE SEAT LUMBAR ROLL MADE MY BACK INJURY WORST

NHTSA ID

10129786

Incident

Nov 18, 2004

CONSUMER IS COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ABSENCE OF CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS ON THE 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA.*MR CONSUMER'S CHILD FELL OUT OF THE BACK SEAT, HIT HER FACE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR FRAME, THEN FELL FACE FIRST ON TO THE ROCKS WHICH HAD TO BE HAND PICKED OUT OF HER FACE. WHILE HER FACE ON THE GROUND THE AUTOMATIC CLOSING DOORS WERE CLOSING ON HER LEGS, PREVENTING HER FROM REMOVING HERSELF FROM THIS HORRIBLE POSITION. NOTIFIED GM ABOUT THE CAR NOT HAVE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS. *BF

NHTSA ID

10122634

Incident

May 1, 2005

BOUGHT IMPALA 2003 THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY, RETURNED TO HAVE FIXED, SAID IT WAS WORKING. IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DURING WARMER MONTHS THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, HAD TO OPEN FROM FRONT DOOR REACHING AROUND TO BACK. THEY NOTED NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.. MY WARRENTY RAN OUT, TWO MONTHS LATER PASSANGER SIDE BACK DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. 6 MONTHS AFTER THE OTHER DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM, VERY VERY CHEAPLY MADE. THE FRONT DOOR HANDLES AT TIMES STICK AND ARE ALSO HARD TO OPEN. THIS ISNT A ISOLATED INCIDENT, ALL THE HANDLES SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I AM WAITING FOR THE DAY I CANNOT OPEN ANY OF THEM. CHEVROLET HAS IGNORED MY COMPLAINTS. THE GEARS INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR PANEL WAS NEVER OILED. OVERLOOKED, TOO QUICK TO MAKE AND MASS PRODUCE. I AM VERY VERY UNHAPPY!*AK

NHTSA ID

10116776

Incident

Apr 11, 2005

Mileage

34 mi

I OWN A 2003 IMPALA. EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKED ON THEIR OWN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED MY GRANDSON WAS LOCKED INSIDE ON A HOT SUMMER DAY. MY DEALERSHIP IN CONJUNCTION WITH GM HAS TRIED TO FIX THIS SEVERAL TIMES, WITHOUT SUCCESS. IN ADDITION TO ALL DOORS LOCKING {HAS NOT OCCURRED RECENTLY} SOMETIMES THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES FROM JUST CLOSING THE DOOR. I DO NOT BELEIVE I CAN NOT GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. MY DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THE HAD ANOTHER GM VEHICLE THAT THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND , THAT HAD PROBLEMS WITH A GM VEHICLE DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10090997

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

WHILE DRIVING WITH CHILDREN BUCKLED IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND WITH SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND OPEN THEM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10071768

LEATHER ON FRONT LOWER SEATS STREACHED OUT OF SHAPE,ABLE TO PINCH LEATHER TOGETHER AND LIFT OFF CUSHION.POOR PADDING OR POOR LEATHER. VEHICLE HAS 1000 MILES . SEATS LOOK LIKE 50,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052443

Incident

Jan 5, 2004

Mileage

500 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED A RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED ON. CONSUMER WAS UNSURE OF THE WARNING SYMBOL. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

10034343

Mileage

3,200 mi

CONSUMER STATES OF VEHICLE NOT HAVING A CHILD LOCK SYSTEM. MANUFACTURE HAS REMOVE THIS FROM THE VEHICLE. TS CONSUMER STATES WHEN SHE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE SHE THOUGHT THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS A FEATURE. PH 09-DEC-2002

NHTSA ID

8021528