2003 Chevrolet Impala SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

UNDER HARD HIGH SPEED BRAKING THE FRONT BRAKES SHUDDER BADLY CAUSING A SEVERE FRONT END SHIMMY DUE TO WARPED ROTORS MAKING STOPPING DIFFICULT. IF PRESSURE ON PEDAL IS NOT RELEASED THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH. IT IS WORSE IF GOING DOWNHILL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON GM CARS BUILD IN THE LAST 8 YEARS. THERE ARE POSTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS. THE PROBLEM IS WITH POORLY MADE BRAKE ROTORS THAT WARP AT UNDER 15,000 MILES OF NORMAL USE. I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY WIFE'S 2003 IMPALA. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE ROTORS REPLACED WITH PARTS OF ADEQUATE QUALITY. IF YOU CAN GET THE ISSUE ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER WILL ONLY EITHER TURN THE DEFECTIVE ROTORS OR REPLACE THEM WITH THE SAME OEM JUNK. THE ONLY FIX I HAVE FOUND IT TO REPLACE THEM WITH AFTERMARKET ROTORS AND PADS. *TR

FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE IN A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA. COULD BE DANGEROUS, AND AFTER DOING SOME INTERNET SEARCHING, APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES. *KB

THE IMPALA HAS BRAKES THAT HAVE A LOT OF CHATTER. THE BRAKES PULSATE AND HAVE A VIOLENT SHAKING FIT. I HAD THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AT 66,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED WITHIN 15000 MILES AND IT CONTINUES. THE QUALITY IS POOR AND IS A ROAD HAZARD. *TR

MILEAGE THE FIRST TIME WAS 18,368 WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER HAN GRAFF CHEV DURAND MICHIGAN. FINDINGS WERE "ALL FOUR ROTORS HAD LATERAL RUNOUT BEYOND SPECS". THEY RESURFACED FRONT AND REAR ROTORS. MILEAGE SECOND TIME WAS 31,038 AND AGAIN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER HAN GRAFF CHEVROLET DURAND MICHIGAN. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE ROTORS AND QUESTIONED ME IF I WAS A 2 FOOT DRIVER. ALWAYS BLAME THE CONSUMER--THAT WAS SMART. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE GARAGE IN MY AREA AND GUESS WHAT AGAIN THEY HAD TO RESURFACE THE FRONT & REAR ROTORS. I WROTE TO GM'S CEO WAGONER DOCUMENTING ALL THE FACTS AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM A YOUNG LADY WHO TOLD ME "THINGS WEAR OUT" . *TR

20003 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH 45,242 MILES NEEDED BRAKE ROTORS TURNED DUE TO WARPING. $190 *JB

AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES THE BRAKE WARNING TAB STARTED MAKING THE SCRATCHING NOISE WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR FRONT BRAKE SERVICE. I WAS EXPECTING JUST PADS WERE NEEDED, BUT NOT THE CASE. I WAS TOLD AND SHOWN THE ROTORS HAD WORN DOWN TOO FAR TO CUT. BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE BELOW SAFE DEPTH. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WITH ONLY 45,000 ON THE CAR. THE ROTORS WERE JUNKED AND MY REPAIR BILL WENT TO TWICE AS MUCH. IS THIS AMERICAN QUALITY OR WHAT! OTHER THAN THIS, I HAVE AND DO LIKE MY IMPALA. CHEVY COULD CALL AND MAKE THIS RIGHT WOULD PUT THING 100% RIGHT WITH ME. WILL THEY DO THAT??? JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED MULTIPLE UNKNOWN COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

I HAVE 34000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE TO TAKE IT IN SOON AS THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN PULSATING. THIS WILL BE THE 6TH TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED. THERE IS A CONSTANT RUBBING SOUND WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER IS A "NORMAL" SOUND IN AN IMPALA. THERE IS NOTHING "NORMAL" ABOUT THIS SOUND. 12/11/03 IS THE FIRST TIME I REPORTED A BRAKE PROBLEM AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL THE PRESENT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING ADEQUATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FOUR ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED, HOWEVER THE PADS WERE STILL IN GOOD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 14950 MILES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SERVICE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE BREAK ROTORS WERE CRACKED. THE BREAK ROTORS AND BREAK PADS WERE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR ROTORS RUSTED. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED WHILE CHANGING THE FRONT BRAKES. EVEN THOUGH THE REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTED THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE FINE. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE ROTORS MAY HAVE RUSTED DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

AT APP. 32,000 MILES I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED AND NEEDED TO REPLACE 2 ROTORS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 IMPALA, NOT DRIVEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TERRAIN IS FLAT, MILD WINTERS WITH LITTLE ROAD SALT EXPOSURE. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS DID PERFORM AS DESIGNED. *JB

BRAKES MADE GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLIED ( 7403 MILES ), PULSATION HEARD AND FELT,RIGHT REAR ROTOR SEVERALLY PITTED,TURNEDREMAINING 3 ROTORS AND SANDED PADS.PERFORMED ROAD VARIATION TEST ON TIRES RIGHT FRONT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. AT 15334 MILES SAME PROBLEM, SURFACE OF ROTORS FOUND TO BE VERY CORRODED,RESURFACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND REPLACED REAR BRAKE ROTORS, ALSO SENT A PRODUCT REPORT TO GM AND ATTENTION OF SHOP FOREMAN AND FACTORY REP. AT 18728 MILES ROTORS CORRODED AGAIN RESURFACED.THIS IS THIRD TIME FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS I AM NOT CONFIDENT IN DRIVING THIS 2003 CHEV IMPALA AND I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ( UNSAFE ) THE FACTORY REP. OFFERED ME $1000 VOUCHER TOWARD A NEW CAR. I HAVE ALL THE NAMES AND DOCUMENTION IN MY FILES.*AK

BRAKES FADE WHEN STOPPING HARD. *JB

REFER TO THE GM RECALL ON 800,000 VEHICLES DUE CORROSION AFFECTS ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. I OWN A CHEVY IMPALA 2003 4DR SDN V6 FWD W/ANTILOCK BRAKES AND AWS. THE SYSTEM FAILED MUCH LIKE IN THE ABOVE STATED RECALL LAST WINTER IN MICHIGAN. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, UPON ATTEMPTING SLOW THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKE SYSTEM IT FAILED DOING JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. THERE WERE GRINDING NOISES, VEHICLE PULLING TO ONE SIDE, LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE TOOK OVER. THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 5 MPH. THE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTED IN SAID VEHICLE ENDING UP IN A 70 FOOT DITCH WHEREUPON IT HAD TO BE TOWED OUT OF. DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE FRONT LEFT FENDER, BUMPER AND DRIVING LIGHT. *NM

RE: CHEVROLET IMPALA 2003 PURCHASED 4/7/2003 VIN [XXX] IN GENERAL I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE ABOVE, BUT I HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASE THE CAR AND IT ONLY HAS 11,225 MILES OF DRIVING. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND MY APARTMENT IS ON THE BEACH SO I PARK CLOSE TO THE OCEAN ABOUT 8 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 6,289 MILES WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A VIBRATION OR GRABBING FEELING UNLIKE NORMAL SMOOTH BRAKING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK CHEVROLET IN QUINCY, MA ON AUG 16, 2004. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE BRAKES WERE RUSTED OR PITTED AND NEEDED TO BE GROUND DOWN OR REPLACED (SEE COPY OF WORK ORDER FROM QUIRK ATTACHED). I ASKED HIM HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKE MECHANISM IS EXPOSED TO THE AIR AND NOT PROTECTED IN ANY WAY, SO THAT THE SALT AIR FROM THE OCEAN ENVIRONMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PITTING IN THE BRAKES. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 11,225 MILES WHEN THE SAME FEELING IN BRAKING WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE DRIVER. AGAIN I TOOK THE CAR FOR REPAIR AT QUIRK AND THEY REPORTED ''INSPECTED AND FOUND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES RUSTED BADLY, REMOVED AND REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE COST ABOUT $725! PS: I TALKED WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE, VIKIE SMITH AT 1 800 222 1020 REGARDING THIS MATTER ON THIS DATE AND SHE STARTED A FILE OR REPORT IN THE COMPUTER AT THAT TIME. HER DIRECT LINE IS 866 932 4368 EXT 35336, FILE NUMBER [XXX]. ON THIS DATE WE HAD A CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE QUIRK SERVICE DEPT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I LIVE ON THE BEACH AND I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ENOUGH TO KEEP THE RUST FROM BUILDING UP ON THE BRAKES. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE METAL TO METAL. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO JIMS MUFFLERS TO GET THE BRAKES FIXED. THE MECHANIC TOOK OFF ALL FOUR TIRES AND SHOWED THE CONSUMER THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE FRONT AND BACK ROTORS AND PADS. THE MECHANIC THE CLEANED CALIPERS. THE CONSUMER SPENT ABOUT $500.00 FOR REPAIRS. WHEN THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE BRAKES HE STATED THAT THEY LOOKED AS IF THEY HAD SAT IN WATER. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN WATER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT MAYBE THE ROTORS OR CALIPERS WERE CONTAMINATED BECAUSE BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE LOOKED THAT BAD FOR THE MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED CALIPERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WORKING PROPERLY SINCE THE ROTORS WERE SO RUSTY.*AK *JB

2003 IMPALA. BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE SEVERELY AT SLIGHTLY OVER 36000 MILES. SINCE BRAKE PROBLEMS ARE USUALLY NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY (AND IT HAD EXPIRED ANYHOW), I TOOK IT TO A LOCALLY RELIABLE AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. HE SUSPECTED A WARPED FRONT ROTOR (AS I DID ALSO). REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE PULSATION WAS STILL THERE. REMOVED BOTH REAR ROTORS. BOTH WERE BADLY SCORED ON THE INSIDE - NOT VISIBLE DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION. IN ADDITION, BOTH ROTORS WERE PARTIALLY CRYSTALIZED, AGAIN ON THE INSIDE. THE PADS HERE WERE ALSO SCORED BADLY. AFTER READING REPORTS ON 2003 IMPALAS ON MYCARSTATS.COM, I DECIDED TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST THERE, ALL SIMILAR IN NATURE. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

THE CONSUMER HAS TWO VEHICLES A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA BOTH ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT. *MR THE IMPALA HAD BADLY WARPED ROTORS ON THE RIGHT REAR. ONLY ONE ROTOR WAS BADLY WARPED. BOTH REAR ROTORS WERE SO CORRODED THAT THEY RUINED THE BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 18K MILES ON IT. THE SUBURBAN HAD 33K MILES WHEN THE BRAKES PRODUCED A SERIOUS GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR. THE ROTORS WERE SO BADLY CORRODED THAT THEY DID NOT GIVE ANY WARNING. THE WEAR SENSORS WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE DESTROYED DOWN TO THE BARE METAL AGAINST THE METAL ON ONE WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SUBURBANS AND GMC PICK-UPS. 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA VIN: [XXX] AND 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN VIN: [XXX]. *SC *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. REFER TO ODI # 10134740. SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN MAJOR VEHICLE DAMAGE TO RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE FROM PASSENGER DOOR TO THE BUMPER. *JB

CONTACT STATED: HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ON CAR THAT INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED ON. THE BRAKES WERE GRIPPING AND VEHICLE KEPT GOING. VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT IT TOOK SOMETIME TO DO SO. ONLY HAPPENED IN THE WINTER.*AK

THIS IS NOT IN REPECT TO A ACCIDENT OR PART FAILURE. BUT I READ TODAY IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION INTO GM TRUCKS IN THE SALT-BELT THAT HAD IMPROPER CORROSION ON THE BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. I JUST BROUGHT MY 2003 CHEVY IMPALA FOR A TIRE ROTATION AT MY CALIFORNIA MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED MY THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE SHOWING AN UNUSUAL CORROSION. HE SAID THAT ROAD SALT IN ILLINOIS, WHERE THE CAR IS USED 50% OF THE YEAR, MAY HAVE BEEN A REASON, BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE USUAL CORROSION HE IS USED TO SEEING ON SALT BELT CARS. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN PULSING RATHER STRANGELY AND MY BRAKING DISTANCE SEEMS INCREASED SINCE THE LAST TIME I LEFT ILLINOIS. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE OTHER NON-TRUCK COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE, GIVEN THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MY EXPERIANCE AND THE TRUCK INVESTIGATION?

I OWN A 2003 IMPALA. AT 16000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS.*AK

2003 CHEVY IMPALA, BOUGHT NEW. ALL FOUR BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. WARPED, SCORED ROTORS. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT ROTORS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID MY DRIVING HABITS AND THE CLIMATE WERE TO BLAME. I'VE BEEN DRIVING GM CARS IN THIS AREA FOR 40 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TO REPORT DEFECTIVE PARTS. HAVE PARTS. CLAIM DENIED. I HAD MY OWN MECHANIC REPLACE PARTS WITH HEAVY DUTY ROTORS. LIGHTWEIGHT ROTORS SHOULD NEVER BE STANDARD ON CARS SOLD ON LOTS IN NORTH CONWAY, NH. *JB