Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My car sometimes cuts off while driving. Was on highway 301 running about 60 mph in the middle lane and just lost power no warning. No code no nothing. Sacred me, I truly feel that's a safety issue, for me and the cars behind me. It's bad not knowing when or where this will happen again.
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. I tried to start my car and it caught on fire down by the front bumper and the flames made it to the back side of the motor and ignited the fuel lines causing a Mini explosion under the hood, mean while I'm sitting in the driver's seat. I jumped out of the car nearly having the life scared out of me, I popped the hood and grabbed my house garden house and started to try and put the fire out and minimize the damage to my vehicle while I waited for the fire department to reach my house. The fire department showed up and was able to get the fire put out almost torching one of the firefighters head when the fuel pump kicked on without the keys in the ignition and started shooting gasoline reigniting the fire. …
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! In fact from a inside relative, says GM makes more money in parts, and repairs than on selling a new vehicle! This is without doubt a premeditated flow to rip off the public! This is in fact insensitive for GM to engineer a constant, and ongoing failure of the of its vehicles! This passlock defect can not be fixed by accessing the cars computer! It should be that easy but it is not a option. Being stranded by this defect is life threatening. The problem is the Passlock system that has failed for me, and hundreds of thousands owners of GM vehicles, and tens of millions of dollars in repairs that GM should be forced to repair, at no costs, past, and present to the owners, and including towing, and a rental car! …
I was in my car moving forward on a state highway with the air conditioning on when smoke stated to come out of the air vents. I turned off the air immediately, when I went to turn it back on it only worked on high sometimes. I took the car to get looked at, when they finished the inspection they said there was an electrical fire. They said the blower motor resistor, and temperature control assembly would need to be replaced, as well as the ac resister and control head needed to be replaced as well.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, odors of smoke were noticed before the passenger seat warmer caught on fire. No police or fire report was filed. The contact extinguished the fire. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Impala. In August of 2007, while driving approximately 25 MPH, the turn signals failed. Immediately following this incident, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle overheated. The contact pulled to the side of the road, lifted the hood, and noticed smoke rising from the engine. She took the vehicle to a local repair shop and the mechanic informed her that the radiator was cracked and needed to be repaired. The repairs were made, but the vehicle overheated again months later. In August of 2008, body work was performed on the vehicle and afterwards the exterior lighting began to illuminate on and off automatically. She took the vehicle back to the body shop and was informed that the failure was due to a defective combination switch. …
May 16, 2014 at 6:30 am I parked the car in my driveway after taking my husband to work. I locked the doors after exiting the vehicle with my keys in hand. I was in my home at about 6:42 am when my neighbor began banging on my door and yelling that the car was on fire, I took a look out of the window and came down to get a closer look,stunned there was smoke everywhere and flames under the hood. I immediately called 911 they came it took a good bit of time putting the fire out.I spoke to the firefighters after and he said he believed it"s origin was electrical. We received a quote to repair,replace the engine coolant tube on May 6,2014 from tire discounters and my plan was to drop the car off the morning of 5/16. My husband and I are both heart patients and the loss of this car was devastating. I also would like to add that we had just purchased this vehicle on April 6, 2014 . …
I was traveling on a 2 lane road. A truck pulling an enclosed trailer was in front of me turned on his right blinker and began to brake to make the turn. I was traveling 77 MPH, so I moved to the oncoming traffic lane (the left lane) in order to pass the truck. At the last second the truck swerved into the left lane in order to make a wide turn. I abruptly jerked the steering wheel right to avoid collision with the truck, but the vehicle seemed to lose power steering as well as power brakes. I was unable to straighten the steering wheel back after jerking it to the right to go back into the right lane; my vehicle hit the back of the enclosed trailer and then hit steep ditch where my back passenger tire popped and the vehicle flipped onto its roof. The vehicles airbags failed to deploy even though the vehicle has significant damage to the front , top and sides of it. …
My passlock system has been malfunctioning for years now (2007-2015) and at random intervals, my car will not start and I have to wait 15 minutes before the engine will start. Sometimes the "security" light will turn on while I am operating the vehicle and after I have parked it, the security light will flash and I can't start the engine until after the 15 minute cycle has concluded. Not only has this issue been an inconvenience, but I have had occasions where it has put me in danger. I am not responsible for the passlock system failure, nor do I have the funds to repair or remove it. I believe that passlock was a faulty system from the beginning and the fact that it has not been recalled shocks me. I am very afraid that one day the passlock system malfunction will occur when the vehicle is in motion and that I will lose power steering, braking, and other vital operational functions. …
Vehicle was traveling 45 MPH when air bags deployed. No collision occurred, no one was injured, road was dry and smooth, traffic was light, road was very familiar. Called GM and they took vehicle to walter jackson Chevrolet in ringgold, ga for inspection. The cause, they found, was a persistent water leak behind the glove box which caused corrosion and caused the airbags to deploy. We have attempted to have this leak repaired multiple times, but attempts only succeeded temporarily, if at all. Found from internet searches that this is a common problem with GM vehicles. As I also drive a 2004 Impala that has had the same leak, I am concerned that its airbags could also deploy at any time. We are the second owners of this vehicle but are familiar with the car's history, as it was purchased from a family member. Kelley blue book values it at $2,000 and repairs are estimated at $4,000. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 264 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Chevrolet Impala, 38% of the model year's 695 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-400 (ignition, Jul 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 7 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.