2003 Chevrolet Impala complaints

NOTICED IT TOOK LONGER FOR THE CAR TO HEAT UP LAST WINTER; THIS WINTER STARTED OUT THE SAME, AND I NOTICED THE BLOWER WOULDN'T WORK ON SETTING 5 SOMETIMES. THEN IT QUIT HEATING ALTOGETHER, AND THE FAN WOULD QUIT BUT START BACK UP. NOW THE FAN QUIT BLOWING ALTOGETHER. NO HEAT, NO DEFROST, IN SUB-ZERO WEATHER, AND I'M LOOKING AT ABOUT $1000 IN "REPAIRS" WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED AS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THANKS GM. I'LL BE SURE TO BUY ANOTHER OF YOUR VEHICLES. THERE IS A MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, AND THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

OUR 2003 IMPALA LS @ 50K MILES HAD A VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THAT GREATLY INCREASED WITH HARDER BRAKING AND ALSO A STEADY VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END THAT INCREASED AS SPEED INCREASED. MY RETIRED FATHER IN LAW BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, BRIAN HARRIS CHEVROLET IN BATON ROUGE, LA AND HE FELT THAT HE WAS TREATED POORLY BY THE SERVICE DEPT. WE THEN TOOK THE CAR TO ALL STAR CHEVROLET WHERE WE WERE TREATED PROFESSIONALLY. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEMS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND WARPED ROTORS, BUT SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL IT WAS APPROVED BY THE WARRANTY CARRIER, WHICH COULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. THEY SAID THAT RENTAL CAR REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE MADE IF WARRANTY REPAIR WAS APPROVED. WE PAID A DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND PICKED UP OUR CAR AND THEN TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH FOR YEARS AND PAID FOR THE REPAIR OURSELVES. THEY RESURFACED THE BRAKE ROTOR AND REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY. NOW @ 80K MILES WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME WARPED ROTOR PROBLEMS AGAIN. *NM

FREQUENTLY AT NIGHT, WHEN SWITCHING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM ALL THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT.....FOUND BY FLICKERING BACK TO LOW BEAM THEY WILL COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES THEY GO OUT W/O SWITCHING TO HIGH BEAM. SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK! *NM

TL* - ON DECEMBER 25, 2006, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HER CHILD GOT OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SECURED HER CHILD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE CONTACT HAS SINCE CALLED THOROBRED CHEVROLET FROM WHOM SHE PURCHASED THE CAR TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR DID NOT HAVE CHILD PROOF SAFETY LOCKS. THE DEALER TRIED TO SELL HER A NEW CAR INSTEAD OF PROVIDING HER WITH INFORMATION ON HOW SHE COULD GET SOME CHILD PROOF SAFETY LOCKS FOR THIS CAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY DEALERSHIP THAT SHE HAS CONTACTED CONCERNING THE CHILD PROOF LOCKS . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHE WOULD LIKE THE CHILD PROOF SAFETY LOCKS ADDED TO THE CAR AT NO COST, OR TO BE PROVIDED WITH A CAR THAT DID HAVE CHILD PROOF LOCKS. *AK UPDATED 02/09/07. *JB

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STRAPS THAT TIGHTENED THE HARNESS ON THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WERE WEARING ON THE EDGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS A DJG ALPHA OMEGA 3IN1 22-151 BLA.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STRAPS THAT TIGHTENED THE HARNESS ON THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WERE WEARING ON THE EDGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS A DJG ALPHA OMEGA 3IN1 22-151 BLA.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT DOWN WITHIN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF TURNING ON. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED.

WHEN HIGH BEAMS ARE ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OUT ENTIRELY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED US TO QUIT USING THE HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK. *NM

ABOUT 9:00 PM I WAS DRIVING ABOUT TWO KM. FROM HOME WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I HAD HAZARD LIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS. I TRIED HIGH AND LOW BEAMS TURNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF BUT THEY WOULD NOT TURN ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THE NEXT MORNING AND STILL NO LIGHTS. WHEN THEY FLIPP THE HI-LOW BEAMS THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON-THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED. *NM

COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE ALWAYS ENDED WITH NO FOUND PROBLEMS ON VEHICLE OWNED AND SERVICED REGULARLY SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2003. REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND ENGINE COOLANT FLUSH AS RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER WERE COMPLETED AND STILL NO PROBLEMS FOUND. AT 75,671 MILES DEALER FOUND INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING AND SAID ENGINE DAMAGE WOULD OCCUR IF NOT REPLACED. REPAIR COST $658. FOUND THAT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS INDICATE THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM IN A HOST OF GM VEHICLES FROM 2000. PUBLIC IS BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS FOR POOR ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER. ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT FOR THE LESS THAN KNOWLEDGEABLE DRIVER. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WITH POOR LESS THAN OPTIMAL ENGINE PERFORMANCE, LOSS OF COOLANT, OIL, ETC. SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED. HOW MANY OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE OVER THE SPAN OF YEARS BY THE MANUFACTURER? HOW MANY UNINFORMED CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN DUPED BY THIS LACK OF MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY?*JB

RECENTLY, I HAVE HAD 3 OR 4 INSTANCES WHERE THE LIGHTS ON MY 2003 IMPALA WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD SWITCHED THE LIGHTS BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM. THIS IS RATHER CONCERTING. MY FRIEND REPORTED THAT HER 2002 IMPALA HAS ALSO RECENTLY BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. MY LIMITED RESEARCH LED ME TO THIS SITE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ENGAGED, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. UPDATED 12/12/2006 - ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHEN SWITCHED FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM. THE LIGHTS DID NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL THE CONSUMER BEGUN TO JIGGLE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH. *NM

MY 2003 IMPALA STARTED WITH A SLOW LOOSE OF COOLANT. EVERY WEEK OR SO WOULD HAVE TO ADD TO THE OVERFLOW, BUT NEVER SAW A LEAK. WAS OVER-HEATING TOO. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD HAVE A TICKING FROM THE ENGINE AREA WHEN STARTING CAR. IT WASN'T ALL THE TIME THOUGH. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS OIL ON MY DRIVEWAY AND THE OIL WAS ABOUT A 1/2 QUART LOW. CHECKED AGAIN IN COUPLE DAYS AND NEEDED TO ADD A QUART BECAUSE LIGHT CAME ON. TWO DAYS LATER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE GASKET NEEDED REPLACING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BECAUSE COOLANT MIXED WITH OIL. ALSO NEEDED COOLANT FLUSH, AND OIL CHANGE AND ANOTHER GASKET. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS LOTS OF SLUDGE IN ENGINE AND COULD CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. THE CAR HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT AND IT COST ME OVER $1300 TO REPAIR. WHAT A SHOCK TO THE POCKET BOOK. *NM

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED MULTIPLE UNKNOWN COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

I HAVE 34000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE TO TAKE IT IN SOON AS THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN PULSATING. THIS WILL BE THE 6TH TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED. THERE IS A CONSTANT RUBBING SOUND WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER IS A "NORMAL" SOUND IN AN IMPALA. THERE IS NOTHING "NORMAL" ABOUT THIS SOUND. 12/11/03 IS THE FIRST TIME I REPORTED A BRAKE PROBLEM AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL THE PRESENT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING ADEQUATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FOUR ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED, HOWEVER THE PADS WERE STILL IN GOOD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 14950 MILES.

THE CAR STARTING SMELLING LIKE ANTI-FREEZE AND THEN A BIG PUDDLE APPEARED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE ONLY THING WE DID WAS DRIVE FROM NAMPA, ID TO BILLINGS, MT, WHICH WE HAVE DONE FOUR TIMES BEFORE. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE HEATER CORE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT NOW AS OF JULY 28TH, 2006. IN NOVEMEBER OF 2003, THREE MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED AT 31,000 BY THE LITHIA DEALERSHIP IN HELENA, MT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS ALSO REPLACED IN MAY 2006 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND MAKING A TICKING NOISE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON RIGHT AFTER, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER FIVE MINUTES WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TOGGLE SWITCH OF THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 8/1/2006 - *NM

IGNITION - KEY WOULD NOT TURN. UNABLE TO MOVE CAR. WARM, SUNNY DAY AT A LOCAL STORE PARKING LOT. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. CAUSE: FROZEN LOCK CYLINDER. DEALERSHIP HAD CAR FOR TWO (2) DAYS TO ORDER PART, REPROGRAM AND REPLACED. SAFETY WAS A ISSUE. COST TO REPLACE WAS $600. *JB

SINCE JUNE 2006, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE OF MY CHEVROLET IMPALA, 2003 (3.4L; 72,000 MILES) HAVE BEEN DISPLAYING INCORRECTLY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN SHOWING FULL DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE LESS THAN HALF TANK OF GAS. I HAVE BEEN USING THE TRIP ODOMETER TO GUIDE ME IN MY FUEL CONSUMPTION ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY WHEN I MADE LONG TRIP. ARE THERE OTHER REPORTS REGARDING THE ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION IN THIS YEAR MODEL OF CHEVROLET IMPALA 2003? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SERVICE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE BREAK ROTORS WERE CRACKED. THE BREAK ROTORS AND BREAK PADS WERE REPLACED.

2003 IMPALA LS - HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. JUST SHUT OFF. DOESN'T MATTER IF MANUAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS ENGAGED OR NOT. INTERMITTENT FAILURE, SOMETIMES NOT FOR TWO HOURS, SOMETIME EVERY FEW SECONDS, SOMETIMES WHEN SWITCHING LOW TO HIGH BEAMS, NO SPECIFIC SPEED OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS APPEAR TO REMAIN ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL. SOMETIMES CAN GET HEADLIGHTS BACK ON BY SWITCHING OFF AND ON AGAIN, SOMETIMES BY FLASHING LOW TO HIGH, BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS COME BACK ON REGARDLESS OF ACTION. SOMETIMES JUST HAVE TO PARK THE CAR UNTIL DAYLIGHT. CAR HAD JUST OVER 44,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. DROVE FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT NEVER AT NIGHT, SO NOT EXACTLY SURE OF MILEAGE OF FIRST INCIDENT. HAPPENED SECOND TIME I DROVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. UNABLE TO REPEAT INCIDENT AT DEALER, BUT CAR WAS IN "PARK" WHEN THEY LOOKED AT IT, AND IT WAS DAYTIME. IT COULD BE HAPPENING WHILE DAYTIME, TOO, BUT I CAN'T TELL FROM INSIDE THE CAR. I COULD GET A TICKET IN MARYLAND FOR DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS WHILE USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FIRST WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES STARTING MAKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR DOWN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO DETERMINE ALL FOUR TIRE SHOULD BE REPLACED AT A COST. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED BY THE CONTACT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 8/1/2006 - *NM

I PURCHASED MY CHEVY IMPALA 2003 BRAND NEW IN MARCH OF 2003. EVERY SINCE THEN WHEN I TURN ON MY HEADLAMPS, THEY TURN OFF AT RANDOM, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ON A DARKENED ROAD AT NIGHT. EVERYTHING GOES OFF (INTERIOR, TAIL LIGHTS, ECT). *NM

HAD TO HAVE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED ON 2003 IMPALA. SOUND OF WATER WITHIN THE DASH. TSB ON SAME ISSUE BACK IN 2000 GM IS AWARE OF THIS WHY AREN'T OWNERS BEING HELPED WITH FAULTY GASKETS. TBS #03034 NHTSA #10003430. WHY ARE WE IN A POSITION TO DAMAGE AN ENGINE OR WORSE AND GM HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY IN SUCH A CRUCIAL COMPONET. ITS AFFECTED EVERY MODEL YEAR IMPALA 2000-2003 MANY TBS'S LISTED EACH YEAR. THEY REPAIRED MY IMPALA AT FULL COST TO(48K.) ME. I WOULD NOT PURCHASE A NEW CAR WITH THIS BEING A HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I WAS JUST SURPRISED NO REACTION UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT. ALSO A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A NEWER CAR. *JB

AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES THE BRAKE WARNING TAB STARTED MAKING THE SCRATCHING NOISE WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR FRONT BRAKE SERVICE. I WAS EXPECTING JUST PADS WERE NEEDED, BUT NOT THE CASE. I WAS TOLD AND SHOWN THE ROTORS HAD WORN DOWN TOO FAR TO CUT. BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE BELOW SAFE DEPTH. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WITH ONLY 45,000 ON THE CAR. THE ROTORS WERE JUNKED AND MY REPAIR BILL WENT TO TWICE AS MUCH. IS THIS AMERICAN QUALITY OR WHAT! OTHER THAN THIS, I HAVE AND DO LIKE MY IMPALA. CHEVY COULD CALL AND MAKE THIS RIGHT WOULD PUT THING 100% RIGHT WITH ME. WILL THEY DO THAT??? JB

I OWN CHEVROLET IMPALA WHICH IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. THE COOLANT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 100,000 MILES OR MORE. BUT THE SYSTEM HAS PROBLEMS AND IT LEAKS. THE CAR GETS OVERHEATED AND PRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD. *NM

HEATER QUIT WORKING, THEN CAR STARTED OVERHEATING. TURNING OFF HEATER/DEFROSTER CAUSES IT TO STOP OVERHEATING SO MUCH, BUT TEMPERATURE STILL RISES WHEN WAITING AT LIGHTS. CAR IS ALSO NEEDING OIL REPLACEMENT, AFTER HAVING AN OIL CHANGE 2 MONTHS AND 1500 MI AGO. MILEAGE IS AROUND 60,000. THERE IS OIL LEAKING OUT IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE ENGINE. *JB

BRIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF WITHOUT NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE SWITCH WORK, RESULTING IN A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS, AND SELF DUE TO DISTRACTION. *JB

CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES ITSELF WHEN CLIMBING MODERATE RISES IN ROAD. *JB

HEATER QUIT WORKING, THEN CAR STARTED OVERHEATING. TURNING OFF HEATER/DEFROSTER CAUSES IT TO STOP OVERHEATING SO MUCH, BUT TEMPERATURE STILL RISES WHEN WAITING AT LIGHTS. CAR IS ALSO NEEDING OIL REPLACEMENT, AFTER HAVING AN OIL CHANGE 2 MONTHS AND 1500 MI AGO. MILEAGE IS AROUND 60,000. THERE IS OIL LEAKING OUT IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE ENGINE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. A CODE INDICATED THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE MULTI FUNCTION HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES OVER A MONTH SPAN. DEALER REPLACED MULTI FUNCTION HEADLIHTS. *AK

IGNITION - KEY WOULD NOT TURN. UNABLE TO MOVE CAR. WARM , SUNNY DAY. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. CAUSE: FROZEN LOCK CYLINDER. DEALERSHIP HAD CAR FOR THREE (3) DAYS TO ORDER PART, REPROGRAM AND REPLACE. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD THREE (3) OTHER CARS WITH SAME PROBLEM DURING THAT ONE WEEK! SAFETY: THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE SUCH AS WHILE PUMPING GAS OR STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSEQUENCE: CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. I LOST THREE (3) DAYS USE OF MY CAR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. THIS FEATURE LOCKS THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE. DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK, THE DOORS MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE CORRECTED. ALSO THE KEYLESS ENTRY HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR REPROGRAMMING. THIS ONLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SRS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SIR COIL AND THEN DETERMINED THE AIR BAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 02V222000, REGARDING THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/28/06/. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LAMPS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE SYSTEMS WOULD FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE WIRING HARNESS HAD RUSTED AND CAUSED THE SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SIR COIL AND CLOSED THE DRIVER DEPLOYMENT LOOP, WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER QUIT MOVING AND GOT BENT BY THE OTHER WIPER HITTING IT , SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF TURNING THEM ON WHEN THERE WAS TOO MUCH SNOW ON THEM. THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE ARM, WHICH WAS STRIPPED. IT WORKED OK FOR A WHILE, THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE QUIT AGAIN, BEFORE IT SNOWED. TOOK OFF ARM AND SAW THAT THE ARM WAS STRIPPED AGAIN. SWITCHED THE ARMS SO I'D HAVE AT LEAST ONE WORKING WIPER. *NM

EXPERIENCED ENGINE TEMP FLUCTUATIONS DURING THIS TIME THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT WORK, AFTER THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND WARMED UP PROBLEM WOULD STOP. CAR HEATED UP TO JUST BELOW THE OVER HEAT POINT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO REPAIR SHOP THEY STATED THE INTAKE GASKET NEED TO BE REPLACED ($900.00). THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR ROTORS RUSTED. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED WHILE CHANGING THE FRONT BRAKES. EVEN THOUGH THE REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTED THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE FINE. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE ROTORS MAY HAVE RUSTED DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

AT APP. 32,000 MILES I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED AND NEEDED TO REPLACE 2 ROTORS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 IMPALA, NOT DRIVEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TERRAIN IS FLAT, MILD WINTERS WITH LITTLE ROAD SALT EXPOSURE. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE HIGH BEAM WAS ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHING LIGHTS ENGAGED. THE SECOND TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BUT CAME BACK ON AFTER THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS PRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. *AK UPDATED 3/3/2006 - *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED A SCREW IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS LOOSE. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD ONLY APPEAR IN FREEZING CONDITIONS. HOWEVER IT HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS RAINING. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WIPER WAS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THEY TIGHTEN THE SCREW LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE WIPER. THERE HAS BEEN NO PERMANENT SOLUTION. *AK UPDATED 1/25/2006. *NM

2003 CHEVY IMPALA, BOUGHT NEW. ALL FOUR BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. WARPED, SCORED ROTORS. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT ROTORS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID MY DRIVING HABITS AND THE CLIMATE WERE TO BLAME. I'VE BEEN DRIVING GM CARS IN THIS AREA FOR 40 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TO REPORT DEFECTIVE PARTS. HAVE PARTS. CLAIM DENIED. I HAD MY OWN MECHANIC REPLACE PARTS WITH HEAVY DUTY ROTORS. LIGHTWEIGHT ROTORS SHOULD NEVER BE STANDARD ON CARS SOLD ON LOTS IN NORTH CONWAY, NH. *JB

PUNGENT SMELL COMING FROM THE A/C WHEN ON COLD. FILTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS WERE MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. WHEN HE TRIED TO LOCK THE DOORS, THEY WOULD SLOWLY UNLOCK. THE BATTERY DIED BEFORE HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE BCM, AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATE IT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.*AK

I OWN A 2003 IMPALA I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH MY VEHICLE,EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS AND BRAKES FIXED TWICE STILL PLEASED OVERALL. HOWEVER, ABOUT A MONTH AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A NORMAL OIL CHANGE AFTER RETURNING HOME, I NOTICED I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANTI-FREEZE IN MY CAR. I CALLED A SPOKE TO A SERVICE TECH HE INFORMED ME THAT I PROBABLY HAD A LEAK SOMEWHERE. I BROUGHT IT IN HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS A HAIR LINE CRACK IN MY GASKET AND I NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP. THE COST TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY DID MY LOW COOLANT INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON. WHY DID I HAVE TO DISCOVER THIS PROBLEM ON MY OWN? AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS I FIND I AM NOT ALONE WITH HAVING A COOLANT CONCERN. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO MORE CAREFULLY. IT IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM IN THE 2003 IMPALA AND THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRUNK LATCH ON 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS DESIGNED INCORRECTLY. WHEN HE PUT A SUIT CASE IN THE TRUNK OR ANYTHING HEAVY, THE LATCH STUCK VERY HIGH, BENT, AND EVENTUALLY THE TRUNK WOULD NOT SHUT. THE DEALER CHANGED THE LATCH ONCE. THE FOREMAN AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE WARRANTY WAS SOON TO RUN OUT. *AK (11/18/05) PER INVOICE, THE DRIVEABILITY SEEMED TO IDLE HIGH. *SC