2003 Chevrolet Impala

◆ Worse than typical
2003 Chevrolet Impala
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Impala Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 1980: 0 complaints 1980 1981: 2 complaints 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 0 complaints 1985: 1 complaints 1985 1987: 1 complaints 1991: 0 complaints 1992: 0 complaints 1993: 2 complaints 1994: 15 complaints 1994 1995: 44 complaints 1996: 88 complaints 1997: 1 complaints 1998: 2 complaints 1999: 4 complaints 1999 2000: 818 complaints 2001: 742 complaints 2002: 795 complaints 2003: 694 complaints 2003 2004: 1072 complaints 2004 2005: 609 complaints 2006: 524 complaints 2007: 627 complaints 2008: 810 complaints 2009: 824 complaints 2009 2010: 441 complaints 2011: 505 complaints 2012: 258 complaints 2013: 270 complaints 2014: 630 complaints 2014 2015: 298 complaints 2016: 110 complaints 2017: 116 complaints 2018: 59 complaints 2019: 28 complaints 2019 2020: 14 complaints 2020
2003: 694 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
2003694
20041072
2005609
2006524
2007627
2008810
2009824
2010441
2011505
2012258
2013270
2014630
2015298
2016110
2017116
201859
201928
202014

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%

33% of complaints: electrical system — 231 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
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, 20180612

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, 20231016

ENGINE 13%

13% of complaints: engine — 88 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
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, 20180612

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, 20121105

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8%

8% of complaints: exterior lighting — 57 distinct reports on file.

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 them

NHTSA ODI report, 20240910

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%

6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 40 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
AIR BAGS 4%

4% of complaints: air bags — 28 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20020815 — air bags

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 O

Campaign 02V222000 — check if this car was fixed

2003 — complaint volume: 694
R 20030311 — air bags

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 SERVICE

Campaign 03V051000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20060515 — PE (closed 20061025)

ALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILURE

R 20070427 — fuel system, other

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 UNI

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.

Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081016 — steering

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 (SOL

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.

Campaign 08E063000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090223 — steering

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 REPLACEM

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 D

Campaign 09E005000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090409 — engine and engine cooling

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 EQUIPP

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE

Campaign 09V116000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20140908 — electrical system

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.

Campaign 14V400000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160219 — engine and engine cooling

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.

Campaign 15V701000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 Chevrolet Impala — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (231 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine issues (88 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for exterior lighting issues (57 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 02V222000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V051000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08E063000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E005000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V400000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1995 ▲ 2018 ▲ 1996

WORST YEARS

■ 2004 ◆ 2000 ◆ 2009

See all years ranked →

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 33% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala have?

8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.