NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
When in drive the car will not go into 3rd gear. It slips from. 2nd and back passes 3rd gear completely and goes into 4th gear and the engine revs up/rpm. The transmition filter/screen has been replaced and all transmission fluids were drained and flushed and replaced with new transmittion fluids. And this did not fix the issue.
I bought my 2003 Chevy Tahoe used and as is at a dealership for $10,000. Yes, I've been robbed. The truck is in great LOOKING condition. Has a little bit of superficial dings and a couple dents but overall exterior is great. Interior isn't shabby. Has wear on the driver's seat but not bad. The first thing that happened, I was on my way to work at 4 in the morning, turned on right blinker to change lanes, about blinded the guy in front of me with high beam lights. I thought I had bumped the switch, I took the right to get off at my exit I was more mindful. Definitely not a me thing. The high beam came on with the right blinker. So, the next thing. CD player runs continuously without a disc in. I cannot put a disc in. There may be discs already in there, it is a 6 disc changer, but it will not play. The radio has a mind of its own. Plays what it wants at anytime its on. My husband drove it, tried to adjust the driver's seat and all it did was growl at him. It doesn't move except forward and back. My speedometer had a glitch one time. I was driving at 35mph and it showed 60mph. I turned it off, then back on, hasn't done that again. My heater works but it's difficult to change the individual temp settings. Almost as if the push buttons are worn inside or have a bad connection. The air conditioner only works when I'm on the freeway and not in stop and go traffic. The first time I turned on the AC, it blew all hot air for longer than 10 minutes. Halfway home I turned it on again but kept the button in off setting, I have cold air. There is a loud popping underneath when I turn left. Also, dropped into 4H driving down the highway at 65mph. Thought I was going to die. I have to drive in auto all wheel because the buttons are messed up. In 2H or 4H I get 4L. It is a mess. The dash is confused. 4 wheel does not go in easily, It bangs when it goes in and comes out. It really isn't safe but I was soaked on the price, I am female and first purchase. Should have bought a Ford
The cable on the rear passenger seat is broken and can't get seat down to escape in an emergency.
WELL MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ON NEVER GOES OVER AND MY DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT EVEN LOCK AT ALL. THEN I KEEP HEAR THIS POPPING NOISE THAT COME FROM HUB AND SHOCKS AND NOTHING ON MY DASH WORKS 1ST IT STARTED OFF BY I COULDNT SEE WHAT GEAR I WAS IN. MY DRIVER SEAT U PUSH THE BUTTON TO GO FORWARD IT MOVES THE SEAT BACK. MY HEAT BLOWER HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH AND IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS PURPLE WIRE ON THE FLOOR BORED. NOW MY TRUCK CANT GET ON THE FREE WAY BECAUSE EVERY THIME I GET ON THE FREEWAY AND ON THE FREE WAY FOUR MORE THEN 10-15 MIN MY TRUCK JUST SHUTS OFF. MY HEATED SEATED ONLY STAY ON FOR 1 TO 2 MIN AND THEN KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. MY BACK SEATS DONT LET DOWN AT ALL. THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUCK WHERE THE OIL PAN IS FOR SOME REASON THERE IS ALWAYS ALOT OF OIL ALL OVER AT THE BOTTOM LIKE SOMEONE JUST DIP MY TRUCK IN A BIG BOWL OF OIL. THEN WHEN MY IGNITION WHERE THE YELLOW BLACK AND RED WIRE GO TO THE TOP OF MY IGNITION THE BLACK PLUG IS REAL LOSE AND CAN'T REPLACE AT ALL. AND WITH EVERYTHING ON NOW WITH MY INCOME IM ALREADY OUT OF $5,000 ALREADY FOR PARTS AND LABOR THIS IS MU ONLY CAR I HAVE AND I REALLY NEED MY CAR RIGHT NOW DONT HAVE MONEY TO GO BUY A NEW TRUCK OR CAR. I REALLY NEED MY TRUCK IT MEAN ALOT TO ME.
WHILE DRIVING THE TAHOE CLOSE TO HOME I STARTED TO SMELL OF BURNING AND I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE DASH. I PULLED OVER AND BY THEN THE WHOLE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES (NOT RECOMMENDED) BUT THE FIRE JUST SPREAD UPWARDS INTO THE DASH AND WAS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF CONTROL. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911 AND WITHIN MINUTES THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE ARRIVED AND EVENTUALLY THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AFTER IT HAD BURNED THROUGH MOST OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON MY OWN AND I SUFFERED NO INJURIES EXCEPT A FEW MINOR BURNS TO MY HANDS. I AM GUESSING THE FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR WIRING WHICH IS A PROBLEM MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. *TR
CABLES FOR SEAT FOLDING MECHANISM BREAKING, PREVENTING THE SECOND ROW 60/40 SEATS FROM FOLDING TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THIRD ROW SEATS (THIRD ROW OCCUPANTS CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE - SAFETY ISSUE). *TR
DESCENDING A GRADE APPROACHING A T INTERSECTION BRAKE PEDDLE WENT NEARLY TO FLOOR. CAUSE WAS A SEVERELY RUSTED REAR BRAKE LINE. THIS LINE IS ROUTED ABOVE THE LEFT FRAME RAIL IN A NEARLY INACCESSIBLE AREA, SO THE NOTION THAT THIS IS AN OWNER MAINTENANCE ISSUE IS GARBAGE.
TAKATA RECALL, TODAY, MAY 31, 2019, I DROVE MY TRUCK TO A MEETING AT 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON AND PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT (IT WAS STATIONARY IN A CITY PARKING LOT). WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AFTER THE MEETING AT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON I OPEN MY CAR AND THE INTERIOR WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE. A COMPONENT OF THE POWER SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTED THE FIRE. IT WAS FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS IN THE TRUCK AT THE TIME AND THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. AFTER THE FIRE IGNITED AND USED UP ALL THE OXYGEN IN THE INTERIOR THE FIRE BURNED OUT ON IT'S OWN. I DID CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. (I'VE INCLUDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATORS CARD AND I CAN OBTAIN A REPORT IF NEEDED). THE INVESTIGATOR WAS THE ONE THAT DETERMINED WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE TOP LAYER OF THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY HAS SOME FIRE RETARDANT BUT THE UNDERSIDE DOES NOT. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SEAT WAS BURNED FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP, THE ELECTRICAL WAS STILL OPERATIONAL AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LIGHTS THAT ARE ON IN THE PHOTOS. I CAN FIND NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN IF I HAD BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND OR HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH ME. I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS CHEVY TAHOE SINCE 2003. I WAS COMPLETELY STOCK AND NO OUTSIDE WORK HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO IT. I HAVE HAD IT REGULARLY SERVICED AND IT WAS RUNNING GREAT. I HAVE NEVER NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY SEATS. I DO NOT SMOKE AND HAD NO OTHER COMBUSTIBLES IN THE CAR. PLEASE SEE PHOTO'S ATTACHED. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVY TAHOE 2003 ##
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE TIRE BLEW THEY MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO DETACHED THE SPARE TIRE, HOWEVER IT DID NOT DETACH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS STATED THAT IF THE SPARE TIRE DID NOT DETACH THE LATCH MECHANISM WAS IN SAFETY MODE. THE CONTACT CALLED A TOW DRIVER AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE SPARE PER GMC OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT REMOVE THE TIRE. THE TOW DRIVER CALLED ANOTHER TOW TRUCK DRIVER, THEY CUT THE LATCH MECHANISM OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THE TIRE WAS LOWERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TIRE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT DUE TO THE SALT ON THE ROAD THE LATCH CORRODED. RYAN CHEVROLET LOCATED 911 HWY 55 BUFFALO, MN WAS CONTACTED AND THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT DUE TO THE STATE THEY WERE LOCATED IN IT WAS AN INHERENT FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS NOT STATED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE CUT AND THE SITUATIONAL FAILURE SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 285,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED WHEEL BLOCKS, ONLY MADE THE VEHICLE LESS STABLE AFTER IT WAS LIFTED UP BY THE SPARE TIRE, BALANCING ACT. DESIGN PROBLEM UPDATED 10/1/18*JB
TAMARA RECALLS
WHILE DRIVING MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING PULLED OVER UNPLUGGED BATTERY STARTED WORKING BUT BEEN HAPPENING A LOT IT HAS 180,000 ON IT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE END OF THE ROAD ON A FLAT AREA ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO IN AUGUST OF 2016 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
I BROUGHT IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE TO CUTTER CHEVROLET IN HONOLULU, HAWAII TO REPORT AN "ENGINE LIGHT ON" CONCERN. SERVICE ADVISOR JULIANNA PARKS REPORTED THAT THE ISSUE MAY BE ATTRIBUTE TO (2) BROKEN EXHAUST BOLTS ON MY VEHICLE'S 5.3 LITER MFI IRON V8 ENGINE. CUTTER CHEVROLET IS AT 711 ALA MOANA BOULEVARD, HONOLULU, HI 96813. IN FOLLOWING UP TODAY OCTOBER 18, 2017, SHOP MANAGER BRAD EISEN REPORTED THAT THESE BOLTS BREAKING IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR SUCH ISSUES. CUTTER CHEVROLET HAS HAD MY VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 01, 2017 AND REPORTED THAT IN ADDITION TO MY $500+ INSPECTION COSTS, THAT MY COSTS FOR REPAIR THUS FAR HAS EXCEEDED $1,400.00 IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THESE BROKEN BOLTS, AND THAT THEY EXPECT THE FINAL COST TO BE MUCH HIGHER BY THE TIME THEY ARE DONE AS THEY HAVE TO CONTRACT A SPECIALIST MECHANIC FROM ANOTHER TOWN TO COME INTO THE CUTTER CHEVROLET REPAIR SHOP THIS COMING SATURDAY OCTOBER 21, 2017 TO MEET WITH MANAGER MS. TINA TO DO SPECIAL WORK TO REMOVE THESE BROKEN BOLTS. THIS IS RIPOFF BY GM TO HAVE SUCH SUB-QUALITY EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING OFF. HELP!!!! GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS!
TAKATA RECALL IS NECESSARY MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON UPON STARTING VEHICLE ALONG WITH SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME AS THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE.
EXITING FROM THE EXPRESSWAY WITH TRAFFIC LIGHT ABOUT 20 YARDS AWAY, CARS WERE STOPED DUE TO RED LIGHT AND I AM COMING DOWN HILL EXITING. APPLYING THE BREAKS AND THE PADDLE GOES TO THE FLOOR, I REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE ON THE FAR RIGHT .
MY TAHOE CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE DASH. IT WAS PARKED, NO ONE HAD DRIVEN IT THAT DAY. I PUT IN A CLAIM WITH GM (CLAIM #SR 8-2955875514) AND IT WAS DENIED AS THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY TAHOE. THIS FIRE STARTED OUT OF NO WHERE. THANK GOODNESS OUR NEIGHBOR CAME BANGING AT THE DOOR TO LET US KNOW THAT OUR TAHOE WAS ON FIRE. WE WEREN'T HOME AT THE TIME BUT MY SON WAS, WE ARRIVED TO FIND HIM WITH THE WATER HOSE EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES THAT WERE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I SENT THE PICS TO GM AND THEY JUST DENIED IT WITH NO OTHER EXPLANATION OTHER THAN THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL. THEY DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME WHY THE FIRE STARTED NO ONE CAME OUT TO SEE THE VEHICLE.
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME COMES AND GOES. IF YOU GIVE VEHICLE A LITTLE GAS IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION. I NOTICE IT MOST IF MY VEHICLE IS MOVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED OR STOPPED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO OFFER ANY IDEAS ON FIXING IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE. THE ABS AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 172,000.
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES AT ALL. VEHICLE HAD TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND STOP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THEN WARNINGS LIGHT TO SERVICE ABS STARTED FLASHING AND BEEPING. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID AND A LARGE RUPTURE WAS FOUND IN THE BRAKE LINE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND LEAKING FLUID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" WARNING LIGHT AND "SERVICE AIRBAG" DISPLAY COMES ON WHEN I START THE VEHICLE--AND STAYS ON. EVERY SO OFTEN, WHEN I START THE CAR, THE WARNINGS DISAPPEAR, ONLY TO REAPPEAR AFTER THE NEXT START OF THE ENGINE.
I HAVE AN 03 TAHOE Z71 200000 MILE AND BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT, NOW I HAVE READ OVER SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE RANGING FROM 40000 MILE ALL THE WAY UP TO 280000 MILE, EVEN COMPLAINTS BACK TO WHERE THIS TRUCK WAS A FEW YEARS OLD, WHY ARE YOU STILL ALLOWING GM TO MASS PRODUCE THESE VEHICLES WITH NO PUNISHMENT WITH FAULTY BRAKE LINES. THERE WHERE 2015 MODEL SILVERADO'S, AND TAHOE WITH THIS ISSUE. DEMAND A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE PLEASE.
WHILE BRAKING A LITTLE HARDER THAN NORMAL TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, THE BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW THE DRIVERS AREA BLEW AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE SERVICE ALARMS WENT OFF ON THE DASH. I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AT THE TIME BUT STILL HAD ENOUGH BRAKE TO STOP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AT THE TIME OF FAILURE.
FRONT BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT JUST AS I WAS PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY.I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED IN JULY OF 2015 THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND PEELING
MY AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS AND 4WD LIGHTS ARE I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THEY REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE FOR THE 4WD BUT LIGHT REMAIN ON AND I STIIL FEEL THE SHIFT FROM 2-4 I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SPECIALIST AGAIN AND AGAIN STILL THE SAME PROBLEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED 12 BROKEN RIBS AND 2 COLLAPSED LUNGS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOWING FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. I WAS FORCED TO STEER INTO THE DITCH TO AVOID A COLLISION. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK TOWED HOME I DISCOVERED A BRAKE LINE HAD POPPED DUE TO RUST. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES WERE ABRUPTLY APPLIED TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
METAL BRAKE LINE UNDER TRUCK BURST . LOOKS LIKE IT RUSTED THROUGH. ALL OTHER LINES RUSTED ALSO. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY.
DRIVING ON ICY ROAD ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED AND BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, ADN WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP.
THE PIECE BROKE OFF THE BOTTEM LATCH TO THE FRAME ON THE SEAT FOR THE 3RD ROW SEATING AND SOMETIMES THE SEATBELT WANT LATCH IN BACK SEAT. DASHBOARD GAUGE LIGHTS BLOWN ALOT OF INSIDE GAGE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING AND HEATER/AIR STOPPED WORKING ON NUMBER 5 FAN.
HARD METAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE DURING EMERGENCY, HIGH PEDAL PRESSURE, STOP. NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO AVOID ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, AS THE LEAD CAR. BRAKING WAS FIRM, BEFORE PEDAL DESCENDED STEADILY TOWARD THE FLOOR. PUMPING PROVIDED SOME FRICTION, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE A MINORITY OF THE SYSTEM'S CAPACITY. THE FAILURE WAS A HOLE DEVELOPED IN THE LINE, ALONG ITS PATH TO THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE CALIPER. THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED ALARMING CORROSION LEVELS, WHICH WHILE POTENTIALLY UNDERSTANDABLE FOR A 13 YEAR OLD NORTHEAST OUTDOOR WINTER TRUCK, WAS A SYMPTOM OF CATASTROPHIC POTENTIAL. *JS
STEERING GOES OUT WHEN BRAKING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN OR WHEN TRYING TO MANEUVER INTO A PARKING PLACE , TO HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL WITH NO STEERING POWER VERY DANGEROUS. IN TRAFFIC. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY OR HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE CABLE SYSTEM TO LAY DOWN THE REAR 60/40 SPLIT BENCH REAR SEAT IS ALL MESSED UP. SEVERAL OF THE CABLES HAVE STRETCHED AND OR BROKEN OFF AT THEIR CONNECTING POINTS UNDER THE SEATS AND IN THE BACK OF THE SEATS UNDER THE UPHOLSTERY. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM, THE TAP PULL TO PULL THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT ON THE 60 SIDE NO LONGER OPERATES PROPERLY IN ORDER TO FLIP THAT PART OF THE SEAT FORWARD. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE VIRTUALLY RENDERED THE THIRD ROW SEATS, AND OR THE EXPANDING OF THE CARGO AREA USELESS. NOT ONLY HAS THIS PROBLEM RENDERED THE MIDDLE AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE USELESS, IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE! THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL THESE MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS TRAPPED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN THE INSTANCE OF A SEVERE WRECK, OR GOD FORBID A FIRE. SOMEONE COULD GET TRAPPED AND BURN TO DEATH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE TOWING A 6000 POUND TRAILER AND DESCENDING DOWN A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO A FIELD TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
ON NOVEMBER 5, 2015, I TOOK MY 2003 TAHOE IN DUE TO THE FACT THAT AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF DRIVING. I BOUGHT MY TAHOE NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICE AT THE MCCARTHY-MORRIS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON OVERLAND PARK, KS. I REALIZE THAT OVER TIME PARTS ON A VEHICLE WILL BREAK AND AT 118,000 MILES I SHOULD EXPECT TO INCUR MAINTENANCE EXPENSES. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY RESEARCH GM USED A SUBSTANDARD BOLT AND THIS ISSUE IMPACTS MILLIONS OF GM V8 MOTORS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, I HAD THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK HAVING EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CAB OF MY VEHICLE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS TYPE OF EXHAUST LEAK COULD HAVE EPA IMPLICATIONS AS WELL. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO PULL THE HEAD BECAUSE ONE OF THE TWO BOLTS THAT SHEARED OFF WAS FLUSH WITH THE HEAD AND HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT. TOTAL COST WAS $1,381.07. THE SAD FACT IS THAT AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK, IT IS RUNNING ROUGH AND CHANCE ARE I WILL HAVE TO RETURN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. I CONTEND THAT WHEN MAJOR REPAIRS LIKE THIS ARE DONE, THE VEHICLE IS SELDOM THE SAME. IT TOOK 5 DAYS TO GET IT BACK DO TO THE WEEKEND. IF THE NHTSA WON'T TAKE ANY ACTIONS OVER CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXHAUST LEAK, I HOPE SOME LAW FIRM MIGHT CONSIDER STARTING A CLASS ACTION SUIT. I HAVE NO ISSUE PAYING FOR REPAIRS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT THAT RESULTED FROM CHEVROLET USING A SUBSTANDARD BOLT.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 CHEVY TAHOE TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE WITHOUT ANY WARNING BRAKES TOTALLY WENT OUT, GOD MUST HAVE BEEN WATCH OVER HER BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY, THANK GOD FOR EMERGENCY BRAKES. GM STATE THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STOP WHEN THE BRAKE LINE GIVE AWAY WILL THAT BULL [XXX]! THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE HAD BRAKES LINE GO OUT ON FIRST MY 2002 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH 41000 MILES ON IT AND NOW OUR 2003 CHEVY TAHOE WITH APPROXIMATELY 90'000 BOTH WITHIN A WEEK OF ONE OTHER. ALSO MY STEPSON HAS A 2006 CHEVY SILVERADO THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON TWO WEEKS AGO IS A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT THAT WAS ALMOST DEVASTATING. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FRONT DASHBOARD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.
I AM ONE OF MILLIONS OF 1999-2007 CHEVROLET V8 TRUCK ENGINE OWNERS, WHO IS TOLD BY THEIR GM MECHANIC THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT(S) HAS BROKEN, LEADING TO EXPENSES RANGING FROM $500 TO $1,500. GM BUILT THE ENGINES WITH SUBSTANDARD BOLTS THAT DO NOT LAST IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE. ONE OR MORE WILL BREAK, WHICH CAUSES AN EXHAUST LEAK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THEREFORE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE AS IT CANNOT PASS STATE EMISSIONS TESTS. ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THE EXHAUST LEAKS ARE NEAR OTHER SENSORS WHICH CAN CAUSE FAULTY READINGS OR UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO SELF-FIX THIS GM-CAUSED PROBLEM FACE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, AS THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO GET TO, REQUIRE A WELDER TO FIX, MAY DAMAGE SURROUNDING EQUIPMENT, ETC. THE NEED FOR A RECALL IS WELL-KNOWN AND VERY LARGE, AND IT IS TIME FOR A RECALL ON THESE, SIMILAR AS HAVE FORD AND TOYOTA HAD RECALLS ON SIMILAR ISSUES. GM SURVIVED DUE TO A BAILOUT FROM TAXPAYERS (MANY OF THEM THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS); IT IS TIME FOR GM TO PERFORM RESPONSIBLY TO A NEEDED RECALL. IN THE PICTURE, THE BROKEN-OFF BOLT HEAD IS EVIDENCED A FEW INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUSTY ONE THAT STILL EXISTS, WHERE THERE IS AN EMPTY HOLE (THE BOLT REMAINS STUCK INSIDE THE ENGINE, AND REQUIRES BORING OUT OR WELDING SOMETHING ON IN ORDER TO BACK IT OUT).
BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT BOAT RAMP, COULD HAVE EASILY LOST TRUCK IN WATER. MASTER CYLINDER NEARLY EMPTY AND NO INDICATION OF ISSUE PRIOR TO FAILURE. THE TRUCK GIVES WARNING WITH LOW WASHER FLUID BUT NOT BRAKE FLUID? MECHANIC REPAIRING BROKEN LINES, BUT HOW SOON UNTIL ANOTHER HAS ISSUE?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DELAYED ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND LEAKED FLUID RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH THE CAR SWITCHED TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND REDUCED SPEED IMMEDIATELY TO 25 MPH, LEAVING ME IN THE POSITION TO NAVIGATE THROUGH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER HAPPENING A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER A 30 PERIOD, IT IS NOW A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. EACH ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO A MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED RESULTS IN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRING AFTERWARDS. MECHANICS SEEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE RESULTING IN A COMPLETELY UNSAFE CAR. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED, WIRE HARNESS, PEDAL SENSOR, AND THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. NOTHING HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM!
WAS BACKING UP TO PARK AND BRAKE LINE RUPTURED SENDING BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE CAR. WHEN I CHECKED ON IT LATER THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID BY THE BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE. UPON EXAMINING THE BRAKE LINES A VISIBLE RUPTURE COULD BE SEEN BEHIND THE BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE BRAKES LINES HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ALREADY GOING SLOW DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDED TO STOP. *TR
STOPPED AT MAILBOX TO COLLECT MAIL. BRAKED, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO PLACE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, FELT 'POP' SENSATION IN THE PEDAL. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, AT LEAST ONE LINE HAS RUPTURED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
ONE DAY THIS WINTER I WENT OUT IN THE GARAGE AND STARTED MY TAHOE. OUT OF THE BLUE MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. TODAY I TOOK MY CARE TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE ERROR CODES (B0051 & B0053) INDICATED THAT THE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION OR THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED, AND THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY GO DO TO COVER THE WORK NEEDED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND GET THE AIRBAGS WORKING AGAIN. THE ESTIMATE IS FOR $1,200. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.I CONTACTED GM VIA CHAT, AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS ISSUE, AND THEY COULD NOT DUE ANYTHING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND ALWAYS KEPT THE VEHICLE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER USING THE ORIGINAL DEALER, AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE. I CAN AFFORD TO GET THE REPAIR DONE, MY CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN'T MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY THIS AND WILL DRIVE THE VEHICLES WITHOUT THE AIR BAGS. *TR
DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKES FAILED, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH(DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION) TO MAKE A TURN BUT NOT ABLE TO STOP AND NARROWLY AVOIDED ANOTHER CAR. *TR
MY PAINT IS POPPING OFF IN LARGE AND SMALL AREAS.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026