MYRModel Year Report

2003 Chevrolet Impala

◆ Worse than typical
2003 Chevrolet Impala
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
695
Recalls
8

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electrical system

39% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 2 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 0 complaints 1985: 1 complaint 1987: 1 complaint 1987 1991: 0 complaints 1992: 0 complaints 1993: 2 complaints 1994: 15 complaints 1995: 44 complaints 1995 1996: 88 complaints 1997: 1 complaint 1998: 2 complaints 1999: 4 complaints 2000: 818 complaints 2001: 742 complaints 2002: 795 complaints 2003: 695 complaints 2003 695 2004: 1,073 complaints 2005: 609 complaints 2006: 524 complaints 2007: 627 complaints 2008: 810 complaints 2009: 824 complaints 2010: 441 complaints 2010 2011: 505 complaints 2012: 258 complaints 2013: 272 complaints 2014: 635 complaints 2015: 300 complaints 2015 2016: 111 complaints 2017: 116 complaints 2018: 59 complaints 2019: 28 complaints 2020: 15 complaints 2020
1981: 2 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 0 complaints 1984 1985: 1 complaint 1987: 1 complaint 1991: 0 complaints 1991 1992: 0 complaints 1993: 2 complaints 1994: 15 complaints 1994 1995: 44 complaints 1996: 88 complaints 1997: 1 complaint 1997 1998: 2 complaints 1999: 4 complaints 2000: 818 complaints 2000 2001: 742 complaints 2002: 795 complaints 2003: 695 complaints 2003 695 2004: 1,073 complaints 2005: 609 complaints 2006: 524 complaints 2006 2007: 627 complaints 2008: 810 complaints 2009: 824 complaints 2009 2010: 441 complaints 2011: 505 complaints 2012: 258 complaints 2012 2013: 272 complaints 2014: 635 complaints 2015: 300 complaints 2015 2016: 111 complaints 2017: 116 complaints 2018: 59 complaints 2018 2019: 28 complaints 2020: 15 complaints
1981: 2 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 0 complaints 1985: 1 complaint 1985 1987: 1 complaint 1991: 0 complaints 1991 1992: 0 complaints 1993: 2 complaints 1993 1994: 15 complaints 1995: 44 complaints 1995 1996: 88 complaints 1997: 1 complaint 1997 1998: 2 complaints 1999: 4 complaints 1999 2000: 818 complaints 2001: 742 complaints 2001 2002: 795 complaints 2003: 695 complaints 2003 695 2004: 1,073 complaints 2005: 609 complaints 2005 2006: 524 complaints 2007: 627 complaints 2007 2008: 810 complaints 2009: 824 complaints 2009 2010: 441 complaints 2011: 505 complaints 2011 2012: 258 complaints 2013: 272 complaints 2013 2014: 635 complaints 2015: 300 complaints 2015 2016: 111 complaints 2017: 116 complaints 2017 2018: 59 complaints 2019: 28 complaints 2019 2020: 15 complaints

2003: 695 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19812
19822
19833
19840
19851
19871
19910
19920
19932
199415
199544
199688
19971
19982
19994
2000818
2001742
2002795
2003695
20041,073
2005609
2006524
2007627
2008810
2009824
2010441
2011505
2012258
2013272
2014635
2015300
2016111
2017116
201859
201928
202015

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

39% · 271 reports

Most commonly citing switch and ignition.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Under the hood fire and unintended key rotation. Maybe 5 days after I took my vehicle into tc chevy (In ashland Oregon) to have the 2 recalls repaired on it.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-06-12

Also filed under Engine and fuel/propulsion system

I have a 2003 Chevrolet Impala! Look it up on the internet, and you will see that the failure rate of the GM passlock system is huge, and massively expensive to repair!

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-16

Exterior lighting

16% · 109 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and high/low beam dimmer switch.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

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…

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-09-10

Engine

13% · 88 reports
CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that she was putting oil in the vehicle when she began to smell plastic burning and then saw sparking coming from underneath the engine.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-11-05

Engine and engine cooling

12% · 86 reports

Most commonly citing engine and cooling system.

FIRE

Service brakes

11% · 78 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

ABS traction control lights on intermittently for 3 years. Had this checked by dealer numerous times and was not able to diagnose a problem. The lights now stay on for the last 8 months.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-08-30

Also filed under Electronic stability control (esc)

Safety timeline

8 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2002-08-15Air bags02V222000 Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    2003Complaint volume 695 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    2003-03-11Air bags03V051000 On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on March 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2006-05-15Preliminary evaluationClosed 2006-10-25 Alleged headlight failure
  5. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after January 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2008-10-16Steering08E063000 Dorman products is recalling 3,900 intermediate steering shafts dorman part nos. 425-151, 425-152, and 425-153, (Sold under dorman's "Oe solutions" Brand name), balkamp #'s 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059…

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners and replace the steering shafts free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2008. Owners may contact dorman toll free at 1-800-523-2492.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2009-02-23Steering09E005000 Dorman is recalling 979 steering knuckles, dorman p/nos. 697-902 and 697-903, sold under dorman's "Oe solutions<sup>tm</sup>" Brand name, and napa p/nos. 7-8502 and 7-8503 which were sold for…

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners and replace the defective steering knuckles free of charge and reimburse the repair facility or owner for labor. The recall began on February 23, 2009. Owners may contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2009-04-09Engine and engine cooling09V116000 General Motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and Impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2014-09-08Electrical system14V400000 This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2016-02-19Engine and engine cooling15V701000 General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.

    Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Chevrolet Impala — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 271 reports on file for this year.
  • Exterior lighting: 109 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 88 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02V222000 · Air bags
  • Recall 03V051000 · Air bags
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 08E063000 · Steering
  • Recall 09E005000 · Steering
  • Recall 09V116000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 14V400000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 15V701000 · Engine and engine cooling
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Chevrolet Impala is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 39% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala have?
8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.