2003 Chevrolet Impala Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA 3.4.L. *JB
DRIVING 2003 IMPALA IN RAIN WHEN ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET,CAUSING TRAFFIC HAZARD. STARTER REFUSED TO TURN OVEREVEN THOUGH ELCTRICSL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, DEALER SAID WATER GOT INTO ENGINE AND CHEVY WAS NOT RESPONCIBLE, ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT AT OWNERS EXPENSE.
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. CONSUMER TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
STRONG SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE IN THE PASSENGER AREA OF 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *LA
CONSUMER STATED THAT DASHBOARD LIGHT WAS FLASHING , INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. CONSUMER'S SON IN LAW HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE OIL LEAKING IN THE RADIATOR. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WITH THREE PASSENGERS IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, REQUIRING EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO BRING CAR TO A STOP BEFORE HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, LATER THAT EVENING, THIS RECURRED AT 50 MPH (ENGINE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING POWER REQUIRING EMERGENCY STOP IN CENTER MEDIAN 4 LANE HIGHWAY MERGE SITE). THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY WITH THIS VEHICLE ON 7/4/03 AT 50 MPH WITH MY WIFE DRIVING ON THE VAN WYCK EXPRESSWAY. AT THAT TIME, AFTER 3 DAYS GM REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE CRANK-SHAFT SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. I ADVISED GM THAT THERE WERE OTHER REPORTS TO NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET IMPALAS. I REQUESTED THAT AN INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED AND ASKED FOR A REFUND OR REPLACEMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THIS WAS DENIED "AS THERE WERE TOO FEW EPISODES TO WARRANT THIS ACTION" AND MY CAR" WAS REPAIRED PER WARRANTY OBLIGATION OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION". UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING PLACING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECT REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PREVENT INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY AGAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONTACTED GM CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL FULFILL THEIR WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS AND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AGAIN. *JB
WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING, BUT MANGED TO PULL OVER. HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC HAD NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK
$688 TO REPLACE THE UPPER ENGINE PLENUM DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAK FROM ENGINE.
CONSUMER STATES ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING OUT IN THE ROAD. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. PH
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2003 Chevrolet Impala has 109 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.