The 2003 Chevrolet Impala was one of GM's most popular cars in that year. With an average highway fuel economy of between 29 and 32 mpg, according to Cars.com, this make of car is extremely efficient and fairly reliable. Though no serious problems were ever documented by GM and Chevrolet, there are numerous electrical problems that consumers have had with the car. These electrical problems range from as minor as lights turning on without notice to the engine shutting down while driving.
One of the more common problems in the 2003 Chevrolet Impala, according to Carcomplaints.com, this usually happens around the 80,000-mile mark of the car and costs about $500 to repair. What often happens is that the key is unable to turn the ignition and therefore the engine is unable to start. What occurs inside the ignition is that parts have moved around or shifted and the key is unable to reach each part of the inside of the car. When this happens the best thing to do is to have it repaired by the dealer or a mechanic. However, many have found it possible to start the car by putting some kind of lubricant on the key and moving it in and out of the ignition hole to coat the inside. This sometimes allows the key to hit the parts it needs to be able to turn the ignition and start the engine. In fact, Chevrolet even had a small recall early in the model's existence to fix this problem.
Occurring most often around 100,000 miles, the security light often can come on when it is extremely hot outside. When this happens, the interior and exterior lights flash and other electrical features, like the air conditioning, do not work, according to Carcomplaints.com. If it occurs when the car is off, the engine will not start and you will need to either get the car jumped or get it towed to a mechanic. This problem also can occur after driving long distances. It can be fixed by taking it to the dealer or a mechanic to get the problem diagnosed and healed.
Though not as common as other electrical problems, this 2003 Chevrolet Impala problem is one of the major and most dangerous problems the car has. It happens at about 95,000 miles and can cost over $1,500 to repair. When the problem occurs, the engine shuts down completely, with no response from the transmission, acceleration or brake. It is extremely dangerous and can cause accidents and other car problems. Many mechanics have been unable to find a cure for this problem, so the best antidote is to contact the Chevrolet dealer and have them examine the car and perhaps even replace the model.
