Chevrolet›Impala›2003›Overview/chevrolet/impala/2003/base/

2003 Chevrolet Impala

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Impala.

Body PASSENGER CAR

Classified as a passenger car requiring 5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil, the 2003 Chevrolet Impala occupies a notably troubled space within the nameplate's broader timeline. The vehicle has accumulated 721 total owner complaints predominantly focused on the electrical system, a figure further compounded by 8 separate recalls. When contextualized against the model's complaint history spanning from 1991 to 2020, this year sits just beneath the all-time peak of 1,071 complaints in 2004 and drastically above the 1997 low of a single complaint, meaning the 2003 model represents a distinct period of heightened reliability risk for the nameplate.

Model year2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2013 2012 2003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeSEDAN, LS P225/60R16;OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 25322835
Engine air filter	15221217
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	12681664
Front wiper blades	19120758 alt 15214346
Serpentine belt	12588411 alt 12588410
Thermostat	10226107 alt 24506985
Cabin air filter	84557894

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	200 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	110.6 in
Curb weight	3422 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.2 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Impala of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.6–8.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.60 sec — 2006 SS V8

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2002	LS V6 3.8L V6	8.60 sec	16.60 sec	200 hp	FWD
2000	LS V6 3.8L V6	7.50 sec	15.70 sec	200 hp	FWD
2000	LS V6 3.8L V6	7.60 sec	15.80 sec	200 hp	FWD
2000	LS V6 3.8L V6	7.70 sec	15.90 sec	200 hp	FWD
2006	SS V8 5.3L V8	5.60 sec	14.20 sec	303 hp	FWD
2006	LT V6 3.5L V6	8.30 sec	16.70 sec	211 hp	FWD
2007	LTZ V6 3.9L V6	7.40 sec	15.60 sec	233 hp	FWD
2007	Police 3.9L V6	7.50 sec	15.60 sec	240 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Lower: 11 ft-lbs; Upper: 7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	22 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-7000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-7000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-940
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.20 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	59.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	52-59

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	133 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs / 85 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.27 in / 0.43 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.27 in / 0.43 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.224 in / 0.39 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

52 ft. lbs., step 2: 72

52 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

111 ft. lbs., step 2: 76

111 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	95

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	37 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
2	120

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

5 ft. lbs., step 2: bolts 1-4, 9.6 ft. lbs., step 3: bolts 5-8, 18 ft. lbs., upper 18

5 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2003 Chevrolet Impala generated 721 complaints and 8 recalls, down slightly from 2002’s 809 complaints but below the 1,071 spike recorded in 2004, placing it within a sustained high-activity block that began when filings jumped to 856 in 2000. Federal records show a generational shift from minimal pre-2000 activity to a prolonged plateau of hundreds of annual complaints and robust recall counts, with 2003 representing a mid-plateau year before the 2004 peak. That model year accumulated 493 TSBs and one investigation, with the highest complaint volume directed to the electrical system (194), exterior lighting (74), engine and engine cooling (58), and engine (53), though the data does not specify root causes. Crash-related complaints totaled 33 and fire-related complaints reached 32. Because 2003 offers no material improvement in complaints or recalls over adjacent high-volume years and sits squarely within a generation defined by sustained elevated federal activity, it is not a standout choice and should be viewed cautiously relative to lower-volume alternatives.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

493

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

721

Owner complaints

33 involved a crash · 32 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02’03’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 721 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System194

Exterior Lighting74

Engine & Engine Cooling58

Engine53

Service Brakes, Hydraulic36

Air Bags24

Power Train18

Steering13

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V701000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 26/10/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo… Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve…

14V400000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 03/07/2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 493 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Impala. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 15221217 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 12681664

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 Impala take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 Impala have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.