2003 Chevrolet Impala Exterior lighting Problems

After I go back and forth between my bright headlights and regular All of a sudden my headlights shut off it happens after so many times going between them

NHTSA ID

11613903

Incident

Apr 3, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11051171

Incident

Nov 22, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

CHEVY IMPALA LIGHTS DON'T WORK AT NIGHT DAYTIME LIGHTS WORK OFF AND ON HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT ONLY.

NHTSA ID

10981459

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

Mileage

189,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10919327

Incident

Oct 26, 2016

Mileage

139,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10883499

Incident

Jul 2, 2016

Mileage

275,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10810905

Incident

May 15, 2014

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

NHTSA ID

10704354

Incident

Mar 31, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10676187

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

90,100 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 78 AT 60 MPH I ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM. ASI DID THAT, I LOST ALL LIGHTS. I JIGGLED THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. *JS

NHTSA ID

10661467

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10660820

Incident

Aug 25, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,300.

NHTSA ID

10643658

Incident

Oct 3, 2014

Mileage

186,300 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BE REPLACED DUE TO MOISTURE INSIDE THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,644.

NHTSA ID

10618897

Incident

Aug 4, 2014

Mileage

120,644 mi

IN THE SUMMER OF 2013 MY DAUGHTER REPORTED THE MULTIFUNCTION LEVER ON HER CAR WAS HARD TO OPERATE WHEN TRYING TO ACTIVATE HIGH BEAMS. ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A DARK COUNTRY ROAD SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AT THAT TIME SHE PLAYED WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WAS ABLE TO GET LOW BEAMS TO COME BACK. I'VE SPOKEN WITH TWO MECHANICS WHO SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EARLY 2000'S IMPALAS WHICH MEANS THERE MUST BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS / INJURIES ASSOCIATED BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY POPULAR CARS. CHEVROLET SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROLIFIC, WELL-KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10617576

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

EVERY TIME IT RAINS MY ENTIRE VEHICLE FLOOR IS FLOODED. MY RADIO HAS STOPPED WORKING AND MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM FROM 2002 TO 2005. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AND CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I PAY A LOT IF MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO BEFORE I AM DONE PAYING FOR IT. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT DEPEND IN THUS CAR ALONG WITH MYSELF IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586112

Incident

May 1, 2014

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEGUN TO GO OFF AUTOMATICALLY. SO FAR, WE CAN CLICK THE LIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM OR VICE-VERSA AND THEY COME BACK ON. THIS STARTED THE LATTER PART OF LAST YEAR, BUT LAST WEEK THEY ACTUALLY STARTED FLICKERING RIGHT BEFORE THEY WENT OFF. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH MANY CONSUMERS. I LIVE IN RURAL AMERICA AND FEAR THE LIGHTS GOING OUT WHERE THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF LIGHTING. THERE ARE MANY CURVES AND HILLS AND FEAR WHAT COULD HAPPEN ESPECIALLY IF MY TEENAGER IS DRIVING AND PANICS. WE HAVE SEARCHED FOR THE "FIX" BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW FOR SURE AND GM HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE READ SO MANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT IT MAY BE BUT NO ONE HAS THE EXACT REMEDY FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583877

Incident

Apr 18, 2014

Mileage

197,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT PULLED OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD, PULLED ON TIMER SWITCH HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT MANY ISSUES RELATED TO HEADLIGHT FAILURE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL MY 16 YR. OLD DAUGHTER 03 IMPALA, BEFORE SHE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564532

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

204,511 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS JUST QUIT WORKING ON 2 5 2014. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563461

Incident

Feb 5, 2014

Mileage

214,000 mi

THE CAR WILL NOT START NO MATTER HOT OR COLD. ONCE STARTED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THROWS MULTIPLE ERRORS, FROM SECURITY, BATTERY, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, ABS LIGHT, SEAT BELT LIGHT, AND BRAKES. THE COMPLETE DASH BOARD GOES DEAD INCLUDING ALL GAUGES, FROM THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THE WARNING BELL CONTINUES TO RING AS THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON - IT DOES THIS CONTINUALLY WHILE DRIVING. OFTEN TIMES IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I AM CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE PUT A NEW BATTER, NEW STARTER AND NEW ALTERNATOR IN THIS CAR. GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RE-CALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552534

Incident

Oct 30, 2013

Mileage

98,740 mi

WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT, THE CAR WILL NOT START. ONCE STARTED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THROWS MULTIPLE ERRORS, FROM SECURITY, BATTERY, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, ABS LIGHT, SEAT BELT LIGHT, AND BRAKES. THE RADIO IS LOCKED OUT AND THE AC FAN RUNS BUT WILL NOT ALLOW THE AC COMPRESSOR TO FUNCTION. ALSO THE HEAD LIGHTS FLASH AND THE COMPLETE DASH BOARD GOES DEAD INCLUDING ALL GAUGES, FROM THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THE WARNING BELL CONTINUES TO RING AS THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS A COULD CAUSE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH NO HEAD LIGHTS AND NO WORKING GAUGES ON THE DASH, AND SHOULD FOR SOME REASON THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTS THE CAR DOWN WHILE DRIVING, COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. GM SEEM TO BE NEGLECTING THIS ISSUE, AND EVEN GM AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS CLAIM TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. YET IN MULTIPLE IMPALA FORUMS, THIS IS THE TOP ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, AND IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THE CONSUMER TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO CHASE THIS ISSUE DOWN. I JUST WISH AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY IS IN QUESTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10537028

Incident

Aug 23, 2013

Mileage

150,400 mi

WE OWN A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE SAFE VEHICLES. IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND OUR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING. WE HAVE LOST ALL FUNCTION TO OUR DASH LIGHTS OUR HEAD LIGHTS ONLY WORK WHEN THEY DECIDE TOO AND MY TRACTION CONTROL FAILS TO WORK AND WHEN I DON'T NEED IT ENGAGES.....THIS IS NOT OK! WE HAVE HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED. ALL FUSES AND BULBS ARE GOOD. WE HAVE HAD DIAGNOSTICS DONE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND NOTHING EVER SHOWS UP. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME STUFF. PLEASE TELL ME NOBODY HAS TO DIE OR GET SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE YOU MAKE THEM FIX THESE ISSUES. WE ALL PAID A LOT FOR THESE CARS THEY NEED TO FIX THEM NOW!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10505461

Incident

Feb 18, 2013

MY TURN SIGNALS WENT OUT. WILL NOT WORK AND IDK WHAT'S GOING ON BUT I HAVE READ MANY SAME COMPLAINTS THE NET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481064

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

Mileage

194,511 mi

HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, HAVE INSTALLED 2 PARTS WILL LAST A COUPLE MONTHS THAN WILL GO OUT AGAIN. WILL GO DIM THAN GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475235

Incident

Apr 5, 2011

Mileage

98,200 mi

LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED TO COME ON AND WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION. HIGH-BEAMS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STILL FUNCTION, BUT AT DUSK THE LOW-BEAMS WILL FAIL TO LIGHT; HOWEVER HIGH-BEAMS CAN BE USED INSTEAD CREATING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. I REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A NEW SWITCH, AND REPLACED THE RELAY WITH A KNOWN GOOD WORKING RELAY. THE RELAY WILL STILL WORK AND ACTUATE INDICATING THAT THE RELAY IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I CHECKED THE BULBS AND THEY ARE STILL GOOD, FUSES ARE FINE, 12V POSITIVE POWER IS PRESENT AT THE BULB, BUT THE GROUND IS NOT ACTIVATED ON EITHER SIDE AT ANY TIME. ALL PROBLEMS POINT TO A BAD BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAIL ON SOMEBODY WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING, IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH AND WITH THAT COMES THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FATALITY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE BCM COMPUTER IS KNOWN TO CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE, FLASHING THE LIGHTS BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR AND THESE WILL CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471288

Incident

Aug 11, 2012

Mileage

148,086 mi