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BrakesPart report

2003 Chevrolet Impala Brakes Problems

Complaints
76about this part
Share
11%of 695 total for the year
Median mileage
39,300miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 76 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Chevrolet Impala, 11% of the 695 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 39,300 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My air bag lights are on all the time, I have to change my brakes ever 2 months bc they start to lock up and go through brake pads like nothing. I also have electronical problems my blinkers work when they want to an when it starts to not work my lights dim if the radio is on it turns down it's happening more an more”

NHTSA complaint #11166488, filed 2019-01, 100,000 miles

“Abs, traction, and break lights come on........ Then when I push on the gas paddle its often like the brakes want to lock up , with a scrubbing sound.... Also when I push the break paddle down it often makes a sound and the break paddle feels like it comes back up with the break still down,.........but then when I drive like 20-25 miles the lights go off and hardly come on until I stop again”

NHTSA complaint #10925752, filed 2016-11, 150,000 miles

“This problem a started happening around 90000 miles. While I was going around a right turn the traction action would come on. Now it seems sometimes when I am just driving down a straight road. I can also feel my ABS come on when trying to stop.”

NHTSA complaint #10971491, filed 2017-04, 90,000 miles

“Rear right brake line leaking fluid. This could be a fatal accident if I was on the highway. My 2003 chevy Impala rear right brake line is rusted badly. The brake line actually rubbing against an across line that has a bunch of electric lines bundled together which is going over the rusted brake line and ends up causing the brake line worn out and brake fluid leakage. This could be a serious safety issue. Is it possible the administration could conduct a research on the model of this car for this issue?”

NHTSA complaint #11185824, filed 2019-03, 135,000 miles

“My 2003 Impala has a security passlock feature which either does not allow vehicle to start or shut vehicle off when it thinks it's being stolen. My vehicle randomly shuts off while driving when this security light comes on, at this point I lose all control of vehicle functions. This is an apparent problem with thousands os GM vehicles that they know about but give no solution or recall to. Instead, consumers are being stuck footing the bill to try and find a solution to a problem no one seems to know how to solve. …”

NHTSA complaint #10678452, filed 2015-01, 108,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2019311%
2018814%
201743%
201687%
2015269%
20149114%
20135319%
20123313%
2011398%
2010307%
2009759%
2008405%
2007599%
2006357%
2005498%
2004898%
20037611%
2002749%
2001709%
2000567%
199678%
1995818%

Other parts of the 2003 Chevrolet Impala

Electrical system
264 complaints
Exterior lighting
103 complaints
Engine
88 complaints
Engine cooling
80 complaints
Other or unknown
41 complaints
Air bags
39 complaints
Steering
30 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
30 complaints
Fuel system
26 complaints
Vehicle speed control
23 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaints
Body and structure
15 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Chevrolet Impala

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology