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2003 Chevrolet Impala Body & Structure Problems

10 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data

10
Complaints
Jan 2008Dec 2007
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (10)

mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jul 2018

MY 2003 CHE IMP DEVELOPED A WATER LEAK FROM LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE OF WINDSHIELD, COWLING AREA. WATER LEAKS ONTO RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM CABIN FILOTER AREA, NOT SUSRE.

NHTSA #: 11110179
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 2009

WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS, IN MY 2003 IMPALA, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR FLOOD. FOUND A SOLUTION FOR GM'S POOR DESIGN. THE COWLING GASKET ABOVE THE CABIN FILTER SHOULD BE REPLACED AND GLUED IN POSITION WITH RTV. THIS SHOULD SOLVE PROBLEM. ALSO MAKE SURE DRAINHOLES AROUND CABIN FILTER ARE CLEAR OF ALL DEBRIS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10280551
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jul 2009

WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS, IN MY 2003 IMPALA, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR FLOOD. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LITTLE OR HOW MUCH IT RAINS, THE FLOORBOARDS ALWAYS FLOOD. THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE WATER WAS PAST MY ANKLES. THE WATER IS DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BOX AREA AND IT RUNS ALONG THE DOOR SEAL TO THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD FROM MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS POSSIBLE A BAD CABIN SEAL. AFTER FINALLY GETTING FED UP WITH THE SITUATION I LOOKED FOR A POSSIBLE SOLUTION ONLINE AND WHILE I DIDN'T FIND A SOLUTION I FOUND MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS LASTED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO. *TR

NHTSA #: 10276732
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: May 2009

PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE ON BOTH BACK DOORS HAVE BROKEN OFF, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF LIKE IMPALAS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM!*TR

NHTSA #: 10268651
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 2008

FAILING PAINT ON FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS OF WHITE IMPALAS. ON ALL WHITE IMPALAS FROM MY AREA THE PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF THE BUMPERS, BOTH FRONT AND REAR, VERTICALLY IN CHUNKS ALONG THE CURVES TOWARD EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS ONLY APPEARS TO BE A CONDITION WITH THE WHITE MODELS, AND LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FLEX ADDED TO THE PAINT BEFORE APPLICATION. *TR

NHTSA #: 10238642
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Mar 2008

I DISCOVERED ACCIDENTALLY THAT MY 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT MAY CAUSE SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE LEAD TO DEATH. IN THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE CAR IS A DEVICE THAT IS CALLED A BODY PRESSURE VALVE THAT VENTS CABIN PRESSURE. THE PROBLEM IS IT LETS SNOW AND RAIN IN THE STAGNANT WATER SITS IN YOUR FENDER AND IS A BREEDING GROWN FOR GERMS. THE DEALER WAS SHOCKED WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN AND ASKED ME WHAT MADE ME THINK TO REMOVE THE CARPET AND LOOK IN THE FENDER. ALL THEY COULD DO WAS TAKE THE WATER OUT. STANDING WATER IN A FENDER WILL CAUSE A RUST PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM WHAT COULD BE DONE AND THEY TOLD ME TO PUT A NEW VALVE IN. THAT WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE FLAP IS NOT AIR TIGHT AND IS VENTED WATER AND FUMES SUCH AS CARBON MONOXIDE CAN ENTER THE CAR THROUGH IT . THE EXHAUST IS ONLY 12 INCHES OR LESS FROM IT. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES DO NOT RUN THE CAR WHEN SITTING STILL LETS ME KNOW THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM . WE ALL HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO RUN CARS IN ENCLOSED BUILDINGS BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH. IF IDLING IN TRAFFIC ONE MUST BE ASTUTE ENOUGH TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLE FAN ON AND OUTSIDE AIR COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES SO NOT TO ALLOW THE CAR TO FILL UP WITH FUMES FROM THE TAIL PIPE THAT SITS BENEATH THE PRESSURE VALVE. WHAT A DUMB DESIGN. CAR WAS SERVICED ON 03/04/08 I WAS ALWAYS SPRAYING DEODORIZER IN THE TRUNK AND IT SMELLED LIKE A CESSPOOL AS FAR AS THE REST OF THIS REPORT GOES THE NUMBER OF FAILURES IS TOTAL FAILURE IT HAS NEVER WORKED AND COULD BE CONSTRUED TO BE CRIMINAL NEGLECT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10220387
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2008

MY BLACK IMPALA HAS CHIP IN THE PAINT. MY BLACK IMPALA HAS PLACES WHERE THE PAINT IS COMING OFF. HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER PAINT COLORS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10215181
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Dec 2007

I PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE LT AND THE BACK GLASS HINGE HAS CAME UNGLUED FROM THE GLASS AND FALLEN ON ONE SIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FOUR GLASS COMPANY'S THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY OF 2003 TAHOES AND SURBURBANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BACK GLASS AND THAT IT IS A DEFECT. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS OVER 100,000 MILES BUT ITS THERE PROBLEM THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GLUED THE HINGES TO THE GLASS AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY 900.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE GLASS ESPECIALLY WHEN I DON'T HAVE IT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE THE CHEVROLET COMPANY FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS CAUSED THE BACK GLASS TO STICK UP OVER THE BACK ABOUT A INCH AND YOU CAN NOT EVEN OPEN IT BECAUSE THE HINGE ON THE GLASS HAS COME COMPLETELY UNGLUED IT FALLS DOWN WHEN YOU OPEN IT AND IS VERY VERY HARD TO CLOSE ONCE YOU OPEN IT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PICK UP ON THE GLASS AND TRY TO CLOSE IT AT THE SAME TIME BELIEVE ME MY FINGERS HAS GOTTEN SMASHED MANY TIMES SO I STOPPED EVEN OPENING IT. BUT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED I REALLY USED IT ALOT TO PUT STUFF IN THE BACK WHEN THE 3RD ROW SEAT WAS BEING USED IF YOU OPENED THE WHOLE DOOR THEN YOUR STUFF FALLS OUT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH ROOM TO PUT YOUR STUFF BACK THERE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10212891
mediumSTRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL WAS TOO SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THERE WASN'T GOOD ARM ROOM FOR STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PEDAL. *SCC *JB

NHTSA #: 10031518
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2003

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXTREME STATIC ELECTRICITY WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS COMMON DURING COOL DRY CONDITIONS. *NLM

NHTSA #: 10004526

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