2003 Chevrolet Impala Other / unspecified Problems

MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING WHEN SHE WENT TO PASS A TURNING VEHICLE PULLING A TRAILER AND WHEN SHE DID SO THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED POWER STEERING AND BRAKES DIDN'T WORK CAUSING HER TO HIT THE REAR OF THE TRAILER WENT INTO THE DITCH WHERE THE CAR ROLLED ONTO THE ROOF. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM A WEEK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WE STILL HAVE BEEN GETTING RECALL NOTICES FOR THE VEHICLE. GM REFUSES ANY LIABILITY IN THE CRASH.

NHTSA ID

10914381

Incident

Oct 5, 2014

Mileage

178,000 mi

2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRAC UNIT REPAIR AND REIMBURSEMENT. * LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY DISCOVERED THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING, AND REPLACED IT. THE CONSUMER DROVE FIVE MILES, AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, AND THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10648090

Incident

Aug 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

NHTSA ID

10640420

Incident

Sep 27, 2014

Mileage

197,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE TRACTION AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED DURING ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HUB SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,300.

NHTSA ID

10631958

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

Mileage

80,300 mi

4 MICHELIN HYDROEDGE ST P225/60R16 97T TIRES HAVE ONLY 11,020 MILES SINCE PURCHASE AND ARE SHOWING HEAVY CRACKS IN THE OUTER CIRCUMFERENCE TREAD PORTION OF THE TIRE.. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE TREAD HAS A BAD COMPOUND MIX.. THREE OF THE TIRES SHOW PRODUCTION CODE M33VF6WX5208. THE OTHER TIRE SHOWS M33VF6W4008.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587144

Incident

Apr 8, 2014

Mileage

37,764 mi

THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON THE DASH PANEL AND MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND PULL TO ONE SIDE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM QUICKLY GREW INTO THE CAT CONSTANTLY PULLS TO ONE SIDE AND THE STEERING FEELS SLOPPY AND LOOSE IF THAT MAKES SENSE. THE TRACTION CONTROL DOESN'T WORK BUT WILL RANDOMLY KICK IN WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR INSTANTLY FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED AND GRINDER BUT THE WORSE PART IS HOW THE PULLING TO ONE SIDE BECOMES A QUICK GRAB AND JERK TO ONE SIDE AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND I CANNOT RELAX AND DRIVE. I AM ALWAYS TENSE AND READY TO FIGHT TO KEEP MY CAR GOING STRAIGHT AND NOW WITH THE BAD MICHIGAN WINTER ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ON SOME DAYS. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW TRACTION CONTROL PUMP WHICH IS GOING TO COST AROUND $2500 AND UP DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY FIND BUT WILL AUTOMATICALLY START AT $2500. THAT COST IS RIDICULOUS AND I HAVE TALKED TO PROB APPROX A HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO EITHER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OR KNEW OF SOMEONE WHO DOES, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. MY CAR IS NOW PARKED AND I HAVE TO BEG FOR RIDES TO WORK BECAUSE ITS WINTER AND I CANNOT PUT MYSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TO WORK AND TRANSPORT KIDS TO DIFFERENT EVENTS AND FEEL THAT THIS PART HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE FROM THE START IF THERE'S THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. AND ALL OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE. PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU TO CHECK INTO THIS ISSUE TO SEE IF A RECALL IS NECESSARY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557383

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

TRACTION ACTIVE MESSAGE COMES ON TURN TRACTION CONTROL TURNS AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I PUT CAR IN REVERSE, PULL FORWARD TURN WHEELS TO RIGHT IT MAKES A NOISE NIT A GRINDING NOISE BUT CLOSE AND WHEN MESSAGE COMES UP AND I APPLY BRAKES IT MAKES THAT NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10544160

Incident

Oct 11, 2012

THE LUG NUTS ON MY VEHICLE SEEM TO SOMEHOW LOOSEN THEMSELVES. THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE WILL MAKE NOISE THEN I LOOK AT THE NUTS TO FIND THAT THEY ARE LOOSE. THEN WHEN I GRAB THE TIRE IRON TO TIGHTEN THEM, THEY EITHER A) CAME LOOSE AGAIN LATER, OR B) THE NUT COMPLETELY COMES OFF...WITH PART OF THE PART THE NUT GOES ON STILL INSIDE. I MEAN THE ENTIRE PART BREAKS AND CAN'T BE FIXED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE AXLE. AS OF RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ONLY 3 OF THE 5 NUTS HOLDING THE TIRE ON AND THE OTHERS BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536843

Incident

Aug 22, 2013

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE TRACTION ACTIVE LIGHT LIGHTS UP AFTER BACKING UP AND BRAKING. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH IMPALAS. THE CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ID

10425684

Incident

Sep 2, 2011

Mileage

79,000 mi

THE TRACTION CONTROL IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGING EVEN UNDER IDEAL DRIVING SITUATIONS. IT ENGAGES WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. ONCE ENGAGED DURING PULLING ONTO A ROAD AND DUE TO HOLDING CAR BACK (NO TRACTION) ALMOST HAD A COLLISION. ALSO WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED A NOISE IS HEARD AND A SLIGHT PUSH BACK OF THE BRAKE PEDAL OCCURS. NOISE IS POSSIBLY FROM THE ABS. SINCE THE TWO (TC AND ABS) ARE LINKED IT COULD BE DISRUPTING ONE OR THE OTHER. I HAVE SEARCHED SEVERAL FORUMS AND MANY CONSUMERS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY HAVE TRIED SEVERAL SOLUTIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WROTE A LETTER TO GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. ALSO NO KNOWN ROOT CAUSE OR EASY FIX AND CUST HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS TO FIX ISSUE AT DEALER YET ISSUE REMAINS. THIS SHOULD BE RESEARCHED AND RECALLED BEFORE ANYONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10414629

Incident

Aug 31, 2003

2003 CHEVY IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALLS FOR VEHICLE AND REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE, THE TRACTION OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE TRAC AND ABS LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME PLAY IN THE STEERING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10380683

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

THE TRACTION CONTROL IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGING EVEN UNDER IDEAL DRIVING SITUATIONS. IT ENGAGES WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. ONCE ENGAGED DURING PULLING ONTO A ROAD AND DUE TO HOLDING CAR BACK (NO TRACTION) ALMOST HAD A COLLISION. ALSO WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED A NOISE IS HEARD AND A SLIGHT PUSH BACK OF THE BRAKE PEDAL OCCURS. NOISE IS POSSIBLY FROM THE ABS. SINCE THE TWO (TC AND ABS) ARE LINKED IT COULD BE DISRUPTING ONE OR THE OTHER. I HAVE SEARCHED SEVERAL FORUMS AND MANY CONSUMERS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY HAVE TRIED SEVERAL SOLUTIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WROTE A LETTER TO GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. ALSO NO KNOWN ROOT CAUSE OR EASY FIX AND CUST HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS TO FIX ISSUE AT DEALER YET ISSUE REMAINS. THIS SHOULD BE RESEARCHED AND RECALLED BEFORE ANYONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375517

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

2003 CHEVY IMPALA 3.8 ENGINE. I HAVE HAD RECURRING, INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKING IN WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP IN DRY WEATHER AND DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. NOT AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR IT TO KICK IN. THEN IT RELEASES. I HAVE HAD THE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE THE COMPUTER DOESN'T FLASH A CODE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL BE UNSAFE IF THE TRACTION CONTROL OPERATES AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356242

Incident

Apr 1, 2007

2000-2004 CHEVY IMPALA ABS/TRAC CONTROL ISSUES AFFECTING BRAKING UNDER WET CONDITIONS AND LOW SPEED. COMPLAINTS AT TOPIX .NET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351560

Incident

Aug 10, 2010

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. FROM A STOP POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD, THEN TEMPORARILY LOSE MOMENTUM RENDERING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED TO THE BRAKES AND THE HUB ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED; THE OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE ISSUE REMAINS UNSOLVED AND POSES A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. DUE TO THIS UNSAFE MALFUNCTION, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR FRONT, REAR AND SIDE COLLISIONS WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348286

Incident

Aug 9, 2010

Mileage

106,000 mi

COMPUTER PROBLEM 2003 CHEVY IMPALA 6 CYL FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC 74000 MILES ---------------------------------------------------------------- THIS RECENTLY STARTED, THE TRACTION ON LIGHT AND THE ABS YELLOW LIGHTS ON DASH STAY ON. RARELY DO THEY GO OFF, ONLY A FEW TIMES. THE SQUARE INDICATOR LIGHT SAYS "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I START THE VEHICLE, STAYS ON FOR 1-2 MINUTES THEN GOES OFF. BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON. HOW CAN I RESET THIS OR WHAT TO NOT HAVE A TRIP TO THE EXPENSIVE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES TO OPERATE CORRECTLY, NO DELAYS OR BRAKE HESITATION WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN USE. HELP ME OUT WITH A GOOD SOLUTION. I WILL GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344203

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

2003 CHEVY IMPALA WILL NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT IS A BCM PROBLEM. THE REMOTE INSTALLED ON THE CAR FOB DOES NOT WORK AND HAS NEVER WORKED. DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AND THE TRUNK WILL SPRING OPEN WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE THE DOORS AND TRUNK DO NOT LOCK, THERE IS NO SECURITY ON THIS VEHICLE. AND AGAIN THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AND THE CAR STILL DOES NOT START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342548

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE TRACTION CONTROL IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGING EVEN UNDER IDEAL DRIVING SITUATIONS. IT ENGAGES WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. ALSO WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED A NOISE IS HEARD AND A SLIGHT PUSH BACK OF THE BRAKE PEDAL OCCURS. NOISE IS POSSIBLY FROM THE ABS. SINCE THE TWO (TC AND ABS) ARE LINKED IT COULD BE DISRUPTING ONE OR THE OTHER. I HAVE SEARCHED SEVERAL FORUMS AND MANY CONSUMERS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY HAVE TRIED SEVERAL SOLUTIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I PERSONALLY HAVE DISCONNECTED AND CLEANED THE CONNECTIONS BEHIND THE WHEELS AS MENTIONED BY OTHERS. THAT WORKED FOR A MONTH OR SO WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I HAVE HEARD OTHERS CHANGE THE WIRING HARNESS TO NO AVAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327872

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

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

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH A 3.8 LITER V-6. THE CAR RADIO QUIT WORKING AND I HAD TO PULL OUT THE FUSE BECAUSE IT WAS SENDING STRANGE ERROR MESSAGES TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. NOW THE BCM IS HAVING EVEN MORE PROBLEMS. THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OF THEN BACK ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. THEN IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I PULLED THE FUSE FOR THE BCM AN THE CAR STARTED AND I MADE IT HOME. WHAT IN THE WORLD DID GENERAL MOTORS DO TO THESE CARS. I HAVE BEEN READING NUMEROUS HORROR STORIES ABOUT THEIR CARS. WAS THERE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR DO I HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER AND SPEND A FORTUNE TO FIX THIS GARBAGE PRETENDING TO BE A CAR. HOW CAN A CAR COMPANY GET AWAY WITH THIS POOR QUALITY CONTROL IN THIS DAY AND AGE? MY SECURITY DISPLAY NOW SHOWS RANDOM ERRORS LIKE LOW FUEL EVEN AFTER I FILLED UP THE TANK. NOT SURE IF ANY MAJOR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CAR BUT NOW THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN IT SHIFTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282226

Incident

Aug 28, 2009

Mileage

129,057 mi

2003 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 61,000 MILES HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT, REPLACE RADIATOR, HEATER CORE, WATER PUMP AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ALL DUE TO DEXCOOL DUMPING INTO ALL THE ABOVE FROM RADIATOR CALLED CHERVOLET AND DEXCOOL MANUFACTURE THEY BLAMED ONE ANOTHER FOR THE PROBLEM, NEITHER DID ANYTHING ABOUT. RESULTING IN $2293.87 WORTH OF REPAIRS AND NOT TO MENTION NO VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 WEEKS DOES NOT INCLUDE PRICE OF RENTAL FOR A WEEK OR SO AND TIME OFF FOR RUNNING VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239256

Incident

Oct 15, 2007

Mileage

61,437 mi

DURING OUR VACATION ABOUT 200 MILES FROM OUR HOME, WITHOUT WARNING, OUR 2003 IMPALA LS WITH 114K MILES STARTED RUNNING VERY BADLY. AFTER GOING TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP AND 8 HOURS LATER RODNEY'S MUFFLER IN MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR A VERY REASONABLE PRICE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT YET. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON EMISSION PARTS AND WONDER IF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232337

Incident

May 30, 2008

Mileage

114,000 mi

2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONTACT STATES THAT THE DEFOGGER FAILED. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BREAKER FOR THE DEFOGGER DID NOT EXIST AS SHOWN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND DIAGRAM ON THE BREAKER COVER. *MC *JB

NHTSA ID

10187896

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA WHICH HAS 46,904 MILES ON IT AND IT REQUIRED THE FOLLOWING AT A COST OF $1,150.00 TO FIX. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR A NO HEAT PROBLEM, UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND TO NEED NEW LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, NEW WATER PUMP, FLUSHING AND NEW DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE BECAUSE OF CONTAMINATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10176868

Incident

Dec 18, 2006