2003 Chevrolet Impala reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2003 Chevrolet Impala — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 935
- 17 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 231 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 44 reported crashes · 35 injuries · 45 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#450
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+627
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2001-2005
+683
median 252 complaints in 794 records
Top component share
25%
Electrical System: 231 complaints
What owners report fails — 2003 Chevrolet Impala
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 231
- ENGINE 88
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 57
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 40
- AIR BAGS 28
2 recalls on record for the 2003 Chevrolet Impala
- NHTSA 15V701000 · 2016 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
- NHTSA 14V400000 · 2014 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION 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
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2003 Chevrolet Impala
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2003 Chevrolet Impala units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
NHTSA has 935 consumer complaints on record for the 2003 Chevrolet Impala and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (231 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2003 Chevrolet Impala units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (231), engine (88), exterior lighting (57), engine and engine cooling (40). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2003 Chevrolet Impala?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.