Recall Register

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2003 Chevrolet Impala

NHTSA register · 5 recall campaigns · 673 complaints · 1 investigation · filed by General Motors LLC

8,512,141 units across its campaigns31 complaints reported a crash28 reported a fire

5 recall campaigns and 673 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 2003 Chevrolet Impala; the recalls concern engine and engine cooling, electrical system and air bags.

The component named most often is electrical system: 297.2 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 123.7 per 1,000 across all 2003 model-year vehicles and against 236.1 per 1,000 for the Chevrolet Impala line as a whole.

That is more than the average of 195.0 complaints per model year across the 47 Chevrolet Impala model years on this register; 31 complaints reported a crash and 28 a fire.

Complaints were received in the largest number in 2014 (92); the most recent in the file is dated 27 Apr 2019.

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 1 investigation naming this model year.

Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Recalls by model year:

19630196531966219672196821969419714197221973119743197611977319783197931980319812198221983119850198701993019940199501996019970199801999020007200172002420035200442005120061200722008220095201042011220123201312014122015320160201702018120191

Recall campaigns

  1. 15V701000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPEReported 26 Oct 2015 · 1,003,556 units

    Defect, as filed: 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. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

    Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

    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 engineÂ’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

    Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 15757); components: engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; engine and engine cooling:engine.

  2. 14V400000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONReported 3 Jul 2014 · 5,877,718 units

    Defect, as filed: 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. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    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.

    Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 14350).

  3. 09V116000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGReported 8 Apr 2009 · 1,497,516 units

    Defect, as filed: 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 equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.

    Consequence: If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.

    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, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.

    Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (manufacturer campaign 09047).

  4. 03V051000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEReported 14 Feb 2003 · 130 units

    Defect, as filed: 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.

    Consequence: This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.

    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 date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.

    Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (manufacturer campaign 03008).

  5. 02V222000AIR BAGS:FRONTALReported 9 Aug 2002 · 133,221 units

    Defect, as filed: 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.

    Consequence: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.

    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 on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.

    Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (manufacturer campaign 02032).

Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2003 Chevrolet Impala (black) against all 2003 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.

Engine89.4
Per 1,000 component mentions2003Impala lineAll 2003 vehicles
Electrical System297.2236.1123.7
Exterior Lighting120.750.434.7
Engine and Engine Cooling96.152.677.7
Engine89.479.627.3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic64.835.958.7
Air Bags42.55882.2
ComponentMentionsPer 1,000LineAll 2003
Electrical System266297.2236.1123.7
Exterior Lighting108120.750.434.7
Engine and Engine Cooling8696.152.677.7
Engine8089.479.627.3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5864.835.958.7
Air Bags3842.55882.2
Steering2831.378.147.3
Power Train2730.260.8121
Vehicle Speed Control2123.544.842
Visibility2123.518.640.1
Unknown or Other2022.328.920.2
Service Brakes171927.130.5
Structure1516.817.762
Traction Control System1516.815.42.4
Latches/Locks/Linkages1314.59.112.6
Suspension1314.53257.2
Fuel System, Gasoline1112.315.836.5
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1112.350.17.4
Equipment910.19.221.5
Fuel/Propulsion System910.112.714.3
Seats55.611.813.9
Tires55.616.720.4
Seat Belts44.59.712.9
Wheels44.51410.8
Interior Lighting33.422
Parking Brake22.213.1
Child Seat22.20.51
Fuel System, Other11.12.14.6
Service Brakes, Electric11.10.72.1
Visibility/Wiper11.14.73.1
Fuel System, Diesel11.10.21.9

673 unique complaints, 895 component mentions; 26 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.

Complaints by year received

02
06
10
14
18
22
26
Complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Impala by the year NHTSA received them. Reporting rises after recalls and press coverage; a model year keeps drawing complaints for a decade or more.

Investigations

ActionTypeSubjectComponentOpenedClosedRecall
PE06017Preliminary evaluationALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILUREexterior lighting15 May 200625 Oct 2006—

Other Chevrolet Impala model years

Model yearRecallsComplaintsUnits in campaigns
1963 NHTSA01—
19653010,395,998
1966239,252,998
1967229,252,998
1968209,252,998
1969429,278,411
1971403,727,336
1972203,708,763
1973 NHTSA101,218,387
1974302,009,713
1976 NHTSA1039,278
197731598,441
197830482,149
1979321,817,977
198030128,985
19812223,723
19822298,794
1983 NHTSA1319,108
1985 NHTSA01—
1987 NHTSA01—
1993 NHTSA02—
1994 NHTSA015—
1995044—
1996088—
1997 NHTSA01—
1998 NHTSA02—
1999 NHTSA04—
200078119,572,725
200177298,662,432
200247798,512,011
200356738,512,141
200441,0547,260,007
200515945,877,718
200615023,141,731
200725963,143,333
200827593,178,144
200957293,770,577
201043823,770,498
201124443,178,144
201232053,188,488
201312213,141,731
2014123183,545,484
20153120225,742
2016030—
2017035—
2018 NHTSA18210,628
2019 NHTSA10210,628

Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.

All Chevrolet Impala model years · Chevrolet: 177 model lines

Questions and answers

How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala have?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 15V701000, was reported to NHTSA on 26 Oct 2015 and concerns engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. Across all model years the Chevrolet Impala line has 57 campaigns.

Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?

NHTSA's investigation file lists 1 action naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.

What component do owners of the 2003 Chevrolet Impala complain about most?

Electrical System: 266 of 895 component mentions (297.2 per 1,000). Next is exterior lighting with 108. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

How do I get a recall repaired?

NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.