Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ||||||||||||||||
| 09V116000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | V (Vehicle) | 1497516 | 04/09/2009 | ODI | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/08/2009 | 04/08/2009 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | 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 Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will remove the spark plug wire retention channel at the front of engine and install two new spark plug wire retainers free of charge. the recall is expected to begin during may 2009. 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Gm recall no. 09047.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 3820B | 10019229 | Tachometer and temperature gauge inoperative after ipc setup. *ak | 02/21/2006 | ||
| 709 | 09/01/2005 | 10018126 | Oil life system reset procedures - cars. gm tech link. *tt | 12/15/2005 | |
| 050604002 | 01/01/2005 | 10013475 | Whistle noise on light acceleration. *eh | 04/19/2005 | |
| 11212002 | 11/21/2002 | 10013174 | Engine exhibit a whine noise during a cold start particularly in ambient temperatures below 60 degrees fahrenheit. *eh | 04/11/2005 | |
| 03034 | 07/01/2003 | 10003430 | Engine coolant may leak at the upper intake manifold throttle body gasket, or at the upper intake manifold to lower intake manifold to lower intake manifold gasket. this condition may result in a low engine coolant level and higher engine | 10/20/2003 | |
| 030601010 | 03/01/2003 | 10001282 | Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt | 04/25/2003 | |
| 020601039 | 12/01/2002 | 10000724 | Whine or growl noise from engine after cold start. *tt | 03/27/2003 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||||
| 03019 | 07/18/2003 | 10006144 | Engine coolant may leak at the upper intake manifold throttle body gasket, or at the upper intake manifold to lower intake manifold to lower intake manifold gasket. this condition may result in a low engine coolant level and higher engine | 04/22/2004 | |
| 070803 | 07/08/2003 | 10003814 | The vme message is to provide information about a new product field action regarding a customer satisfaction program for an engine coolant leak. the engine coolant may leak at the upper intake manifold throttle body gasket or at the upper | 11/03/2003 | |
| 030601016 | 05/01/2003 | 10002372 | Loss of coolant, milky colored oil. *tt | 08/26/2003 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 3157A | 10017172 | Engine whine or buzz noise sounds like a generator type noise on 3.1l or 3.8l engines. *tt | 10/26/2005 | ||
| 0804 | 08/01/2004 | 10014346 | Oil life system reset procedures - cars. *nm | 04/29/2005 | |
| 040601021 | 06/01/2004 | 10012148 | New rear main seal and special tool for installation. *tt | 02/15/2005 | |
| 040604066A | 09/01/2005 | 040604066B | 10011048 | Clunk/bang from rear of vehicle. *tt | 12/27/2004 |
| 04062 | 08/01/2004 | 10009814 | Engine oil cooler adaptor fittings. customer satisfaction program bulletin. *tt | 10/25/2004 | |
| 3045 | 01/01/2004 | 3045A | 10009671 | Engine overheat and, or cooling fans inoperative intermittently. *tt | 10/14/2004 |
| 04062 | 10/05/2004 | 04062A | 10009629 | Engine oil cooler adaptor fittings. customer satisfaction program 04062 product field action announcement. *tt | 10/13/2004 |
| 3007 | 01/01/2004 | 10008786 | 3.8l engine oil consumption. *tt | 08/23/2004 | |
| 040602004 | 08/01/2004 | 040602004A | 10008500 | Engine oil leak from right side of engine. *mj this bulletin replaced previous bulletin dated 05/01/2004. *tt | 08/03/2004 |
| 01353 | 01/01/2004 | 01353A | 10007937 | Engine misfire due to injector fretting corrosion. *tt | 07/16/2004 |
| 00867 | 01/01/2004 | 00867A | 10007605 | Engine frame area noise - supplement to 02-08-61-001 - repair hints - service vme. *tt | 07/02/2004 |
| 01527 | 01/01/2004 | 10005464 | A whistle type noise coming from the engine. sit bulletin 1406534. *tt | 02/27/2004 | |
| 01556 | 01/01/2004 | 01556A | 10005396 | Engine cranks but does not run. *tt | 02/24/2004 |
| 000604049B | 12/01/2003 | 000604049A | 10005145 | Some vehicles built prior to vin breakpoint 1f136536 may exhibit intermittent malfunction indicator lamp / service engine soon indicator illumination; anti-lock brake system warning light illumination; stall / no start condition; various el | 02/09/2004 |
| 03-06-01-010 | 04/01/2008 | 030601010C | 10004768 | Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt gm reminder. *tt install new lower intake manifold gasket. updated 7/18/08 *pe | 01/06/2004 |
| 01347 | 11/18/2003 | 10004130 | 3.8l l37 l67 engine recommended sae viscosity grade engine oils. *tt | 11/19/2003 | |
| 121302 | 12/13/2002 | 10002750 | Engine frame click or snap noise during low speed maneuvers. *tt | 09/12/2003 | |
| 030604030 | 03/01/2007 | 030604030C | 10002166 | Multiple driveability symptoms of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire due to clogged fuel injectors. *tt | 08/14/2003 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||||
| 040601017 | 06/01/2004 | 10008471 | New upper intake manifold and gasket kits. *tt | 08/02/2004 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 02/04/2012 | 140000 | ||
| When to start car and would not start. lights and radio would come on. had a new battery put in and the alternator checked. 2 weeks later when to pick up neice from the baby sitter, was inside for 3 minutes came back out car would not start again. after 45 minitues of trying to start it it finally started. yesterday, went out to my car to drive to a meeting and once again it would not start. about 40 minutes later i went back out to try it again and it started right up. i did research online and found several complaints. aparently this is a pass code issue. i do not feel i should have to go and get all this work done when there is no real solution. the code will not always come up so nobody knows what exactly is wrong with the car. in summary, the security system thinks that i am trying to steel my own car. this has left me stranded in the cold 3 different times. i am a 25 year old lady. that is totally unsafe and as there is no real solution to the problem that anyone can find how and i supposed to get it fixed. i have a child on the way. this is not the only year that does it either. all impalas have this issue from the years 2003-2005. how can a recall not be issued. i called chevy and they basically said to go to a dealer but that is not an acceptable answer when i read that several people have spent thousands of dollars at their dealer on the same issue and are still having issues. please help!! here are several articles on the issue: http://www.justautorepair.com/chevrolet/impala/589-security-light-not-starting-ignition-2003.html http://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=30631. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081001165133aacvyjchttp://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/chevy_impala.html | |||
| 09/15/2011 | 160000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, a warning light illuminated advising that the engine was overheating. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that one of the head gaskets failed. the vehicle was in the process of being repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were 160,000. kmj | |||
| 09/15/2011 | 160000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, a warning light indicated that the engine was overheating. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and the contact was informed that one of the head gaskets blew out. the vehicle was in the process of being repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were 160,000. sm. | |||
| 03/11/2011 | 60111 | ||
| Intake manifold gasket failure. | |||
| 12/26/2001 | 1 | ||
| 2003 chevrolet impala, traveling westbound in the center lane when unit unit 1 engine compartment caught fire. driver pulled vehicle onto the berm and was able to put the fire out. *bf (ohio traffic crash report # 10-0911-90) | |||
| 09/03/2010 | 125900 | ||
| Manifold gasket was leaking on my 2003 chevelote impala. | |||
| 02/15/2007 | 60000 | ||
| During an inspection of my 2003 impala, mechanic advised of a coolant leak in upper intake manifold (a very common defect for this model / year) and it would cost hundreds of dollars to repair. needless to say, i did not have the funds to repair it and all cars of this model / year should be recalled for repair. | |||
| 12/15/2008 | 157000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 chevy impala. she stated that the antifreeze was leaking out and caused corrosion to the system. while driving the vehicle it overheats and contact have to bring the vehicle to a stop which caused it to stop overheating. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop and was informed that the intake gasket and manifold gasket had to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and informed her that her vin was not apart of the recall. the failure and current mileage were 157,000..mr | |||
| 05/13/2010 | 72000 | ||
| I noticed a couple of times in stop and go traffic that my temperture indicator started to inch its way over to hot, never reaching the mark. i told my husband and he said i probably need a flush and new coolant. took the car to dealership and i had a leaking intake gasket and needed to be repaired. very expensive! had oil in the radiator with hardly any liquid left. i started to read about other complaints and there were several so decided to report this so others will know they are not alone. | |||
| 03/25/2003 | 160000 | ||
| 2003 chevrolet impala motor went on fire | |||
| 03/01/2010 | 129000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet impala. the contact stated while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle overheated without warning. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic but the failure could not be duplicated. the dealer advised diagnostic testing before repairs could be made to the vehicle. the contact declined. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the compliant. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 129,000 and the current mileage was 130,000. | |||
| 02/16/2010 | 115000 | 1 | |
| Catalytic converter has failed. *tr | |||
| 06/10/1999 | 1 | ||
| Chevrolet impala 2003: car won't start or even turn over when hot. after engine cool down start again as normal as new. if i turn the engine off after driving few miles i see on the information centre the passlock warning, radio is dead, interior lights are dead, and if i try to crank the engine absolutely nothing happen. i have the same problem even when the car was running ok let's say the night before, next day in the morning in a sunny day the car gets warm with the sun just by seating on my driveway and if i try to start the engine i have the same problem. i have to push it under a tree, open hood and doors let it seating on the shade for few minutes and when the body is cold, the car start normally. this is driving me crazy because i cant use my car during the summer (it won't start), and during spring, fall, and winter i have to leave the engine running while i do my shopping and other stuff. this is a risk, my car can be stolen and is too much gas consumption. thanks for your attention. how can i fix this problem. i took my car to gm dealer but they changed bcm and battery but never fix the real problem. *tr | |||
| 11/06/2009 | 1 | ||
| My 2003 impala has trouble starting when the car is hot: when we drive the car for over a hour sometimes less we can not get it to re-start until it cools down for a least a hour. have taken it to the dealer they can not get it to duplicate they replaced all kinds of parts and have no idea , had it towed several times to the dealer when it happens (there request). makes it difficult to travel as you have to leave it running to get gas etc. unless you want to sit for a hour every time. *tr | |||
| 10/20/2009 | 50651 | 5 | 12/01/2002 |
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet impala. the vehicle will stall without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. since the dealer could not duplicate the failure, they could not provide a remedy. the current and failure mileages were 50651. updated 12/09/09 *bf the consuemr stated the vehicle will turn over, but will not start. updated 12/10/09 | |||
| 06/01/2009 | 124864 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that there was a persistent burning odor in the vehicle. while pouring oil into the vehicle, the engine compartment erupted into flames. the contact extinguished the fire with water. a few unknown components were damaged; however, the vehicle was still able to be driven. she later received a recall notice, which stated that there could potentially be a fire under the hood due to drops of engine oil deposited into the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair. the nhtsa campaign id number was unknown. the current and failure mileages were less than 124,864. updated 07/14/09 *bf after the recall repair was completed, it was discovered the vehicle had an intake manifold leak which caused the vehicle to overheat. prior to the recall, the consumer stated she never had a problem with the vehicle overheating. updated 07/15/09.*jb | |||
| 02/14/2009 | 1 | ||
| I bought a 2003 chevrolet impala about a year and a half ago. on valentines day i pulled over on the side of the road for a funeral, the next thing i know my then boyfriend now husband told me to get out of the car the whole passenger side of the vehicle was on fire. i am grateful that we got my then five month old daughter out of the vehicle. we had no idea that could happen. my father called and informed me that there is now a recall on that model car. the car burnt completely. on the recall my father informed me that it was for 3.8 liter. i do not believe mine was a 3.8 liter but my vehicle was a v6. it was either a 3.4 or a 3.6 liter. i was wondering if there was anything that could be done about this incident. i lost everything in that vehicle. it would be great if there is anything that could be done. the police were not contacted but the fire department was present to put out the fire. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 36300 | 1 | |
| My 2003 chevy impala had lost all the dex cool antifreeze and was overheating w/the engine light coming on. on further investigation, my mechanic says it is the intake manifold and is likely caused by the dex cool coolant as this has been an ongoing problem with that particular coolant clogging up and destroying the intake manifold. i checked out the website for dexcool and you had to be in on the claim by october 2008 to get any type of reimbursement. it is january 09 so i guess i am now stuck with the problem????? i am requesting a total recall of all the vehicle made with dex cool as this is eating through and destroying the cheaply made parts of my car. a search on the internet amazingly brought up so many problems with these poorly made parts it is sickening. i am upset that i received nothing from my dealer regarding this problem or from gm for that matter. recall this problem and make the automaker responsible. by the way, my car has only 36,000 miles on it. take that for a car in need of a costly repair with that few of miles! thanks for your help in this matter as it is very frustrating as a consumer. *tr | |||
| 10/15/2007 | 61437 | 1 | |
| 2003 chevy impala with 61,000 miles had transmission rebuilt, replace radiator, heater core, water pump and intake manifold all due to dexcool dumping into all the above from radiator called chervolet and dexcool manufacture they blamed one another for the problem, neither did anything about. resulting in $2293.87 worth of repairs and not to mention no vehicle for over 3 weeks does not include price of rental for a week or so and time off for running vehicle to repair shops. *tr | |||
| 11/05/2005 | 83694 | 1 | 02/11/2005 |
| Took vehicle in to dealer for regular maintenance, told that lower intake gasket was leaking bad and needs immediate replacement as well as coolant flush. total for repair is $1450. vehicle has only 83k miles. *tr | |||
| 04/08/2007 | 129991 | 3 | 08/24/2003 |
| My 2003 impala cuts off at low speed high speed and while in idle the car has been to the dealership for repairs they cannot answer what is wrong with the car, but i keep getting billed for them to diagnose the issue, i got my car back on 4/11/2007 and on the next morning while the car was warming in the drive way it shut off and was hard to restart i was advised by the dealership my fuel filter was the issue | |||
| 03/04/2007 | 1 | ||
| Bought chevrolet impala in 2002 car had 5 miles on it and i put the 5 miles by test driving the car i wouldn't recommend anyone to by a chevrolet . chevrolet doesn't stand by their cars i had to replaces the intake gaskets and a catalytic and a water pump and this week i had to put a transmission in it this week and that cost me 2400 and chevrolet would nt help us a all ,chevrolet said that it had to many miles on it what do they want for a car to have no miles on it i drive to work and back. i don't think chevrolet should had to paid for the transmission but i would like them to help us and stand by a american made car. *jb | |||
| 02/12/2007 | 67275 | 2 | 03/29/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 12/18/2006 | 46904 | 3 | 09/19/2002 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/11/2006 | 75671 | 1 | 04/14/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/24/2006 | 68000 | 2 | 08/12/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 05/25/2006 | 48350 | 1 | 03/21/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 01/06/2006 | 42000 | 1 | 04/12/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/20/2005 | 1 | ||
| Took car to have a simple oil change, i get a phone call informing that i need major work done. i purchased my chevrolet impala in 2003, and now i'm being told i have almost a thousand dollars of work that needs to be done. i recently found out that a close relative and a neighbor who also have 2003, chevrolet vehicles (cars) needed the same work done to their car. the cars coolant is somehow mixing with the oil, becoming a slude like substance causing the oil to dirty. this is causing all kinds of problems, the car is running hot, and the temperature guage is jumping frantically. three different cars, all the same year/make, and egine setup; i think there is definitely a defect in here somewhere.*ak | |||
| 01/05/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at various speeds vehicle intermittently stalled. consumer towed the vehicle to the dealer, technician could not duplicate or correct the problem.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 05/06/2010 | 111439 | ||
| I took my 2003 chevy impala, v6 2.4 l, to a jiffylube for a standard oil change. there they informed me that i had a coolant leak, and they topped-off my antifreeze for only $4.00. since repairs aren't afforadable at the moment, i continued to drive my impala to school and work only. i was on my way to class early one afternoon, about a week after my oil change and my engine was over heating and engine coolant was completely gone. luckily i was only 2 miles from my home and had a friend run some antifreeze and water to my break-down location. i put enough antifreeze and water into the radiator to get me home, where my car will sit until repaired. it is to my understanding that all 2003 v6 2.4 l impalas have this problem. if that is the case, why hasn't gm recalled this vehicle for proper repairs? an investigation into this matter would be greatly appreciated from a struggling american that lives in a region of the country where public transportation is obsolete and a motorized vehicle is a neccessity. | |||
| 11/15/2009 | 64000 | 1 | |
| Leaking head gasket causing engine cooling system problems. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 36300 | 1 | |
| My 2003 chevy impala had lost all the dex cool antifreeze and was overheating w/the engine light coming on. on further investigation, my mechanic says it is the intake manifold and is likely caused by the dex cool coolant as this has been an ongoing problem with that particular coolant clogging up and destroying the intake manifold. i checked out the website for dexcool and you had to be in on the claim by october 2008 to get any type of reimbursement. it is january 09 so i guess i am now stuck with the problem????? i am requesting a total recall of all the vehicle made with dex cool as this is eating through and destroying the cheaply made parts of my car. a search on the internet amazingly brought up so many problems with these poorly made parts it is sickening. i am upset that i received nothing from my dealer regarding this problem or from gm for that matter. recall this problem and make the automaker responsible. by the way, my car has only 36,000 miles on it. take that for a car in need of a costly repair with that few of miles! thanks for your help in this matter as it is very frustrating as a consumer. *tr | |||
| 09/14/2007 | 150000 | ||
| Tl*the 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. the combination switch was replaced and the mechanic stated that the repair was unsuccessful; therefore, the original part was reinstalled. after the failed attempt to repair the failure, the mechanic performed a diagnostic test and stated that the failure was due to the combination switch. the manufacturer and dealer have not been notified. the current mileage was 171,920 and failure mileage was 150,000. | |||
| 03/10/2006 | 72000 | 3 | |
| 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 | |||
| 10/03/2005 | 1 | 09/25/2002 | |
| 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 | |||
| 02/06/2004 | 3900 | 09/26/2003 | |
| Driving 2003 impala in rain when engine died suddenly in the middle of street,causing traffic hazard. starter refused to turn overeven though elctricsl system continued to function, dealer said water got into engine and chevy was not responcible, engine would have to be rebuilt at owners expense. | |||
| 10/27/2003 | 2000 | 1 | 07/29/2003 |
| Strong smell of anti-freeze in the passenger area of 2003 chevrolet impala. *la | |||
| 01/22/2003 | 43030 | 03/10/2001 | |
| $688 to replace the upper engine plenum due to anti-freeze leak from engine. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||
| 09/02/2005 | 77248 | 1 | 01/17/2002 |
| Engine started making unusual clanking sound from engine compartment i opened the hood and noticed that the noise was coming from the engine cooling fan. attempted to purchase the part but not available out of stock tried several dealers same outcome temporarily out of stock. *nm | |||
| 9 | 3 | 10/01/2002 | |
| There was a bad odor within the cabin of the vehicle. the odor did not occur when the air conditioner was on . the odor made the occupants sick. the cause and location of the odor was unknown although the dealership serviced the vehicle several times. the vehicle vibrated when the brake pedal was depressed. the dealership indicated that it was caused by the rotors being to thin. *ak the odor was caused by a bad fan motor. the dealer replaced the part. the brake rotor problem continued. gm refused to resolve the problem. *sc *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 11/10/2003 | 2 | ||
| Consumer stated that dashboard light was flashing , indicating that there was a problem. consumer's son in law had the vehicle checked out. it was discovered that there was a problem with the oil leaking in the radiator. also, consumer was advised by the mechanic that there was intake manifold problem. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 07/07/2011 | 113000 | ||
| Intake gasket blown | |||
| 02/01/2011 | 1 | ||
| 2003 chevrolet impala. consumer states vehicle is unreliable, periodically not running *tgw the consumer stated when he turned on the ignition, it would not turn over. it didn't make any type of noise, but the headlights and security light would turn on. after letting the vehicle sit for awhile, it would then start. *jb | |||
| 10/01/2010 | 143000 | ||
| Problem started with the trans - wasn't shifting right, hard shift. took it to rotolo chevy in fontana, ca. dx: catalytic converter, nearly $800 to get new one only to have the car completely die on the side of the road when the tranny disintegrated. replaced under warranty. ever since i have had shifting difficulties - took it back a week later to be told it has a smart adapt in trans and needed approx 1000 miles to sync itself, now the car sputters, has a misfire code in cylinder 2, trans code. hard starts, randomly stalls when making right turns, interior and exterior lights surge when at an idle, car constantly feels like it wants to stall - it can actually make you nauseas when sitting at a stop light because of the surging of the car. this morning the car just stalled when i was at a stop sign. all plugs, plug wires and coil pack for cylinder 2 have been replaced with no correction to how the car runs. sounds and feels worse when you put the car into reverse, but smooths out some when in drive. filed complaint with bar regarding cat replacement, recommended refund to dealer for unnecessary item - dealer refuses to give money back. told me car would never run right after the tranny was replaced because i refused to have them change the motor mounts. the car has not run right since, but a second opinion found that the mounts were ok - recommended that one of the back mounts be replaced as it was more worn than the others. | |||
| 09/25/2010 | 104974 | ||
| While driving at various speeds, the engine would stall and shut off. the problem started at 90,000 miles. have brought the car to the chevy dealer and they have not been able to diagnose the problem. the car is not generating any error codes. i almost got into an accident twice due to shutting off during acceleration. i have noticed that the stalling or shutting off starts after the temperature reaches approximately 125 degrees f and happens randomly. when i am operating the air conditioner, the stalling is more noticeable due to the engine load. so far, the dealer has replaced the crank sensor and ignition module which has not corrected the stalling and shutting down. | |||
| 09/03/2010 | 125900 | ||
| Manifold gasket was leaking on my 2003 chevelote impala. | |||
| 08/10/2010 | 40041 | ||
| Lower intake manifold gaskets need replaced. i only have 40,000 miles on the car that is a 2003 impala ls with 3.8 liter engine. also, coolant hose seal is leaking coolant. | |||
| 03/25/2010 | 163000 | ||
| My chev, impala caught on fire | |||
| 05/10/2009 | 61500 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet impala. while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall. the dealer made repairs to the catalytic converter, however following repairs the vehicle experienced the same failure. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mass air flow sensor was replaced. the repair did not correct the failure. the vehicle was taken to another dealer and the catalytic convertor was repaired a second time. the dealer also advised replacing the sensor but the contact had recently had the sensor replaced. the vehicle continued to stall. the vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic where the fuel pump was replaced but still, did not correct the failure. the vehicle was left in the possession of the dealer where repairs were made to the electrical system. the failure mileage was 61,500. | |||
| 08/17/2009 | 69764 | 1 | |
| I was driving my 2003 chevy impala and tried to signal a lane change and the flashers would not work for either direction. there was not any accident, but the situation was very aggravating. the car also has a history of oil seepage and it has only 70,000 miles on it. we bought the car 4 years ago at a used car dealer, and i change the oil myself every 3000 miles. the car is hard staring at times, and i had put a new battery in it 2 years ago due to the trouble starting. *tr | |||
| 07/17/2009 | 120000 | 1 | |
| Took my car to the dealer in collierville,tn. for another widespread problem, that should have been a recall costing 1,000.00, & was told of another problem with the intake gasket,that will be another $1,000.00, i see many others have this same problem, but of course gm not calling it a recall. i have a 2003 chevrolet impala with approximately 149,000 miles on it. sunrise chevrolet in collierville,tn. has been the prople dealing with me , and states, their computer programmed bcm is not a recall, nor the ignition chip that engages the key , is also not a gm problem but many of their customers. i suffered with my car not starting numerous times , and finally bit the bullet and paid high dollar to the dealership for gm's should be recall. i want someone to listen about everyone's complaint of the intake gasket leaking, and make gm do the right thing! *tr | |||
| 06/28/2008 | 72906 | 1 | |
| About 1 year ago my 2003 impalas heat gauge started acting funny like the car was overheating but then it would go back to normal. it was cool out about that time of year and i also noticed the car had no heat. i replaced the thermostat thinking that was the problem but it did not help and the problem persisted. my husband then noticed that the coolant level was low and added more. that also did not fix the problem, and about a week later we noticed the coolant was low again. we looked for the leak and could not find one. i finally took the car to the dealership and they automatically knew what the problem was and stated it was a problem with the 3400 series engine. we paid nearly $700 to have the car fixed. i have recently noticed that my coolant level again is low but can not detect any of the same problems as before, i still have heat and a/c and the heat gauge is not fluctuating but i have been looking around at recalls some forums about the same type of car and have discovered many others are having the same trouble, but there is no recall for the 3400 series motor as there is for the 3800. *tr | |||
| 10/04/2006 | 68100 | 1 | 08/09/2002 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/30/2006 | 32000 | 04/23/2006 | |
| 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 | |||
| 04/26/2006 | 58000 | 1 | 03/29/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 10/09/2004 | 1807 | 5 | 10/01/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/07/2003 | 13000 | 2 | 10/30/2003 |
| While driving with three passengers in my 2003 chevrolet impala ls at 35 mph the engine shut-off without warning with complete loss of power steering and brakes, requiring emergency maneuver to bring car to a stop before hitting oncoming traffic. a replacement vehicle was not made available. while driving to a medical emergency, later that evening, this recurred at 50 mph (engine shut-off without warning, loss of steering and braking power requiring emergency stop in center median 4 lane highway merge site). this happened previously with this vehicle on 7/4/03 at 50 mph with my wife driving on the van wyck expressway. at that time, after 3 days gm regional service manager stated that there was a defective crank-shaft sensor which was replaced. i advised gm that there were other reports to nhtsa about this problem with chevrolet impalas. i requested that an investigation and possible recall should be initiated and asked for a refund or replacement of my vehicle. this was denied as there were too few episodes to warrant this action and my car was repaired per warranty obligation of general motors corporation. unfortunately this happened to my vehicle again without warning placing myself and my passengers in danger. this is a potentially life threatening defect requiring immediate action to prevent injury or loss of life. the car is presently again at the dealership. i have contacted gm corporate headquarters about this issue. i have been told that they will fulfill their warranty obligations and attempt to repair my vehicle again. *jb | |||
| 09/02/2003 | 13000 | 1 | |
| When driving 35 mph vehicle stalled. consumer lost power steering, but manged to pull over. had notified the dealership, and mechanic had not resolved the problem.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 08/22/2007 | 60000 | 1 | 09/20/2003 |
| Dexcool intake manifold gasket failure in my 2003 cheverolet impala with only aprox 60,000 miles. *tr | |||
| Consumer states engine shuts off while driving and pulling out in the road. consumer feels this is a safety hazard. ph | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 03/25/2003 | 160000 | ||
| 2003 chevrolet impala motor went on fire | |||
| 03/18/2009 | 99104 | 1 | |
| In the past several weeks, my vehicle has began to lose power, especially in low rpm range. the vehicle spits on sputters on hard acceleration and takes several (30 or better) seconds to reach 55 mph. i am an ase trained mechanic and diagnosed the vehicle as having a faulty catalytic converter. a vacuum test determined that the pressure drops significantly above 2500 rpm's and to 0 by 4000 (when it misfires). the cat makes noise and even jumped the hanger (telling me the converter is twisting from the back pressure). once i diagnosed it, i looked at a list of gm tsb's for this vehicle and this was listed on there along with instructions to the dealer / tech to replace free of charge until the service life has reached 10 years or 120k. my vehicle fits both conditions as it is a 2003 with 99k. i contacted my dealer and was told they would not replace it free as the warranty on emissions items is 80k. when i even gave them the tsb number (special policy adjustment - catalytic converter # 05551 - (9/14/05)) they said that was just in the case of plenum damage resulting from the clogged converter. despite the fact that it in no way even mentions the plenum. this is the only vehicle i currently own and i have been out of work for a while. i can't afford to replace it, nor to have my vehicle tied up for days to do a 2 hour job. however, if it continues, it will blow up. how can i resolve this? *tr | |||
| 02/15/2008 | 100000 | 1 | |
| My impala began to have issues with the thermostat reading going from cool to hot extremely quick and the red check engine light came on. i had the vehicle towed to a local dealership and was told that these vehicles are notorious for intake manifold issues and that this is the cause of my problem. i was also told that chevrolet is aware of this problem and still refuses to issue a recall. it will cost approximately $1,500.00 to repair the vehicle and if repairs are not made, the vehicle will continue to have a slow leak or eventually, the engine will go completely. *tr | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | |||
| 03/04/2007 | 1 | ||
| Bought chevrolet impala in 2002 car had 5 miles on it and i put the 5 miles by test driving the car i wouldn't recommend anyone to by a chevrolet . chevrolet doesn't stand by their cars i had to replaces the intake gaskets and a catalytic and a water pump and this week i had to put a transmission in it this week and that cost me 2400 and chevrolet would nt help us a all ,chevrolet said that it had to many miles on it what do they want for a car to have no miles on it i drive to work and back. i don't think chevrolet should had to paid for the transmission but i would like them to help us and stand by a american made car. *jb | |||
| 09/30/2005 | 95000 | 1 | 01/05/2003 |
| Failure of the catalytic converter on a 2003 chevy impala 3.4.l. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 04/21/2008 | 1 | 08/28/2003 | |
| I recently found that the intake manifold gasket fails on the chevrolet 3.8 v6 and that chevrolet has known of the problem for years and has not corrected the problem. i travel cross country regularly in my 2003 impala with the 3.8 engine and am concerned that the engine will fail on the highway and could cause serious accident. before i knew that gm was aware of this problem i owned a 2000 s-10 pick up and had the gasket replaced for over $700 dollars. i now face the same expense or more to fix the impala. i feel that gm should have recalled and fixed his problem because hey were aware of the defect in the gasket and plastic coolant part going through the valve cover. *tr | |||
| 03/31/2008 | 43716 | 1 | |
| 2003 chevy impala -- intake manifold gasket -- told factory puts on plastic ones that do not last, causing oil leakage and possible damage to the motor if not corrected in time - did not see any recall on this issue -- why??? *tr | |||
| 07/06/2007 | 45242 | 1 | 08/16/2005 |
| 2003 chevrolet impala with 45,242 miles had to have an intake manifold gasket replaced due to it leaking antifreeze into the oil. $550. *jb | |||
| 03/23/2007 | 58524 | 2 | 01/17/2005 |
| Tl*- the contact took the 2003 chevrolet impala for an oil change, while she was at the service location, the technician told her that the intake manifold was leaking. also, the high beam switch did not working properly. the high beam switch turned on, but did not stay on. the technician stated that the two failures were common. failure mileage was at 58,524. *ak | |||
| 02/28/2005 | 1 | 10/06/2004 | |
| My 2003 chevrolet impala makes a roaring sound when the road is wet after a rain. i took it back to the dealer, they said it was caused by water being splashed up on the converter,and it could not be fixed | |||
| 11/10/2003 | 2 | ||
| Consumer stated that dashboard light was flashing , indicating that there was a problem. consumer's son in law had the vehicle checked out. it was discovered that there was a problem with the oil leaking in the radiator. also, consumer was advised by the mechanic that there was intake manifold problem. *ak | |||