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.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON 2003 TAHOE NEAR THE SPARE TIRE. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE LINE PRESSURE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS ~ 84,000 MILES. VEHICLE OPERATED IN OHIO AND MASSACHUSETTS. REFERENCE EXISTING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (EA11001) ON CHEVROLET VEHICLES. *TR
JUST HOOKED UP MY BOAT AND TRAILER AND PROCEEDED TO HEAD OUT MY LANE, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A MESSAGE CAME ON DASH TO SERVICE BRAKES. I GOT MY WIFE TO PRESS ON BRAKES WHILE I LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE, BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING DOWN ON GROUND. WHEN I SAW THE STEEL LINE WAS RUSTED AND BURST I WONDERED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM SO I LOOKED FOR A NOTICE OR RECALL. I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INVESTIGATED SEVERAL TIME BUT NO NOTICE OR RECALL SENT OUT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I HAVE HAD OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT HAD SEVERE RUST PROBLEMS. MY AVALANCHE WAS RECALLED AFTER I HAD PUT ALL NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PARTS ON FROM RUST. AFTER READING OF SEVERAL OTHER FAILURES I CANT BELIEVE GM DIDN'T EVEN SEND NOTICES OUT. *TR
REAR BRAKE LINE BURST... FLUID LEAKING AND NO BRAKES!!! THIS IS DANGEROUS... LUCKY I WAS GOING SLOW WHEN THIS LINE BURST... BRAKE LINES COMPLETELY RUSTED.. THIS TRUCK IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD, BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED... GM NEEDS TO USE BETTER STEEL... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN IT FELT SPONGY AND STOCKED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A NEAR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION.THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE BRAKE LINES WHICH WERE CORRODED WITH HOLES THAT CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,349. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500.
I TOOK MY 2003 CHEVY TAHOE INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF PERFORMANCE AND GAS ISSUES AND WAS TOLD I HAD 2 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED TO OVER $1000. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH GMC AND CHEVY ENGINES WITH MANY COMPLAINTS. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF MAKING THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR A DEFECT THAT EXISTS WITH THEIR PRODUCT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION WITHOUT THIS FIX. *TR
MY 2003 TAHOE Z71 HAS ALWAYS MADE POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING AND YOU ARE ABLE TO FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT IS VERY APPARENT THAT THIS IS EXPERIENCED BY ALMOST EVERYONE. TODAY I WAS BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WITH A TRAILER OF MULCH ATTACHED AND WHEN I CUT THE WHEEL, THE STEERING WAS LOST. THERE IS FLUID IN THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND THERE WAS NO LEAKS OR FLUID ANYWHERE. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TAHOE AND THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY BROKEN SWAY-BARS OR STEERING SHAFT. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS THE PUMP WHICH WOULD BE STRANGE IN THE MANNER THAT IT GAVE OUT BUT READING ALL OF THE ISSUES OTHERS HAVE HAD, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GM IS NOT FIXING THE SITUATION. SOMEONE IS GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TRYING TO TURN AND IT IS GOING TO GIVE OUT LIKE MINE (& EVERYONE ELSE'S) DID AND CAUSE A HEAD ON COLLISION. I CALLED GM & ALTHOUGH THERE ARE 9 TSB #'S ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE, THERE IS STILL NO RECALL OR HELP ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS TIME TO SELL THE TAHOE THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW BTW AND MOVE ON TO A NEW FORD TRUCK AS THEY SEEM TO HAVE REALLY GOOD TRUCKS NOW. IT IS SAD BECAUSE I HAVE LOVED MY TAHOE Z71 AND NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD GET RID OF IT. THE STEERING HAS NEVER BEEN RIGHT ON THIS TAHOE SINCE DAY 1 AND GM KNOWS IT BUT BURIES THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND ABOUT IT RATHER THAN DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THE ISSUE. MINE STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW BUT THE POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING HAS ALWAYS IRRITATED ME & NOW THAT IT GAVE OUT, I AM DONE WITH IT. I AM THANKFUL THAT MINE OCCURRED WHEN IT DID AND NOT WHEN I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WITH 6 YARDS OF MULCH IN A DUMP TRAILER AND MAKING A TURN THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND SOMEONE ELSE COMING THE OTHER WAY. FIX YOUR KNOWN ISSUE GM, BEFORE SOMEONE INNOCENT DIES BECAUSE OF YOUR NEGLIGENCE!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BLOWER RELAY RESISTER MODULE FAILED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL AND IT SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC WAS BURNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000. *TR
I STARTED MY 2003 TAHOE UP TO DRIVE TO YORK AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. WE TOOK IT DOWN THE ROAD BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO OUR LOCAL SHOP. THEY SAID ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
MY WIFE AND 3 SONS AND 2 OTHER KIDS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT. SHE WAS STOPPED WHILE A DRIVER IN FRONT OF HER WAS MAKING A U TURN. SHE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER IN THE REAR MOSTLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CORNER OF OUR TAHOE. THAT CAR WENT UNDER OUR TAHOE AND KNOCKED OUR TRUCK SIDEWAYS. THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT HIT HER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 50MPH. MY 11 YEAR OLD SON WAS SEAT BELTED IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHERE THE IMPACT WAS LOCATED. UPON IMPACT HIS SEAT BELT CAME UNFASTENED CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE SEAT IN FRONT OF HIM. *TR
DRIVING WEST ON I-78 IN NJ. WENT TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY SLOW DOWN TO ALLOW ME TO ENTER THE EXIT RAMP. USED THE TRANSMISSION TO HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. I DROVE A 1978 SUBURBAN FOR OVER 20 YEARS WITH 250,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE FAIL. *TR
YOU CAN NOT LOWER THE SPARE TIRE,UNDER THE VEHICLE,THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE PART THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE HAS A SPRING LOADED LOCK ON IT THAT CANNOT RELEASE BECAUSE OF A BAD DESIGN OFF IT,THEIR IS A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE ABOUT IT (GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT IT) YOU NEED TO CUT THE TIRE DOWN WITH A CUTTING TORCH, THIS IS A BAD IDEA AROUND A GAS TANK, I CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW MAD I AM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF THAT MANY CUSS WORDS,AND IT IS GOING INTO HEART A TACK MODE, I WOULD LOVE TO MEET THE ENGINEER THAT DESIGNED THIS, AND HAVE HIM CHANGE THE TIRE, FIRST YOU NEED A TOW TRUCK THEN A SHOP WITH A LIFT THEN TWO MECHANICS IF NOT THREE AND YOU THEN NEED A TRANSMISSION JACK TO PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE TIRE TO RELEASE THE TENSION OF THE LOCKING DEVICE THAT HOLDS THE TIRE, AFTER YOU LET THE AIR OUT OF THE TIRE, I CAN OVERHAUL THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO THIS OR ANY OTHER CAR,BUT THIS IS A BIG BIG MISTAKE IN DESIGN,CAN YOU IMAGINE A LADY HAVING TO CHANGE A TIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! IF A MECHANIC (MALE OR FEMALE) CANT DO IT,HOW CAN THE AVERAGE CONSUMER, DO IT? AND WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN A RECALL,I KNOW WHY IT HASN'T BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR IT AND FORGET IT,WELL I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT LOOKING FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS AND SONS HAVE ALL BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM,BUT IT CAN'T BE DONE ON THIS VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER CHEVY VEHICLE OF THIS MAKE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU CAN NOT DO THIS SAFELY,NO I DON'T HAVE A FLAT TIRE EITHER I WAS JUST EXPLAINING TO THE WIFE THAT IT MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT SO I WANTED HER TO SEE IT JUST INCASE SHE HAD A PROBLEM AND SHE WOULD BE PREPARED ON HOW TO HANDLE IT (WRONG) IT SHOULD TAKE TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES TO DO, CAN'T BE DONE,AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IT PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR
WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF BY SWITCH. THEY WILL ONLY GO SLOW OR FAST NO DELAY. *TR
REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND LOST BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR LOSING 95% OF BRAKING ABILITY. I WASN'T IN THE CAR, WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN. IF THIS HAD BEEN AT A HIGHER SPEED OR GOING DOWN A HILL I SHUTTER AT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. MECHANIC REPLACED 90% OF THE BRAKE LINES AS HE SAID THEY WERE IN BAD SHAPE. THOUSAND DOLLAR JOB. MY WIFE'S HIGHLANDER (OTHER VEHICLE) HAS 175K ON IT, SAME YEAR AND WE DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I WILL DOUBLE CHECK THEM THOUGH. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF HE SEES A LOT OF TOYOTA'S IN HERE FOR BRAKE LINES, NOPE. THEY USE BETTER STUFF WITH A SPECIAL COATING. MOSTLY CHEVY, DODGE, FORD COME THROUGH. YOU WOULD THINK THESE MANUFACTURERS WOULD KNOW BETTER WITH SOME STATES BEING IN THE "SALT" BELT. *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY TAHOE! MY SPEEDOMETER JUST STOP WORKING ONE DAY WHEN DRIVING. IT WILL STICK ON A 120 OR 35 OR SOMETIMES IT WONT MOVE AT ALL. I DO HAVE A PICTURE OF BEING PARKED AND TAHOE SHUT OFF AND ITS SHOWING 120. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE..PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TICKETS FOR GOING OVER AND UNDER SND I ALSO HAVE THE TOW PKG AND OWN A POP UP AND REALLY SCARED TO TRAVEL WITH IT. CANT AFFORD THE 600 THEY IT WILL COST..CANT GET INTO A NON CHEVY. THIS IS MY FIRST CHEVY I BOUGHT AND THINK IT WILL BE MY LAST. .GM STEP UP AND GET THIS RECALLED. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR INDEPENDENTLY OPENED WHENEVER THE POWER WINDOW DEVICE WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN FAILED TO MENTION WHICH PART WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,430.
WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED AROUND 80 AND IT WAS ON A ROAD THAT I NORMALLY GO ABOUT 55. MANY OTHERS WERE PASSING ME, AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE WOULD BE GOING 90 OR 100. AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T FEEL I WAS GOING 80. I SLOWED DOWN TO 55, AND I WAS CRAWLING. I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, AND MY SPEEDOMETER WENT DOWN TO 15 AT A STAND STILL. I SPED UP AGAIN, AND THE SAME THING. NOW IT IS STUCK AT 40 WHEN SITTING STILL AND GOES TO ABOUT 100 WHEN I DRIVE. APPARENTLY GOOGLING THIS, IT APPEARS TO BE A MASSIVE PROBLEM AND NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED. THE DEALER TOLD ME A BAD CLUSTER AT $650 TO REPAIR. THIS NEEDS TO BE ESCALATED AND CHEVROLET NEEDS TO COVER THIS PROBLEM. IT IS AN EXTREME HAZARD ON THE ROAD, AND PROBABLY HAS CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES BECAUSE OF FAULTY READINGS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO TO GET RESOLUTION. *TR
MY WIFE WENT TO START THE VEHICLE BY PLACING FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT START-UP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND SHE REALIZED SHE HAD NO BRAKING POWER. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM VERY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. LUCKILY, WE WERE TWO BLOCKS FROM A REPAIR SHOP. ONCE AT THE REPAIR SHOP THEY ADVISED THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE FRONT BRAKE LINES LEAKING BUT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THIS REPAIR COST ME OVER $815.00 ON A 9 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I'VE NEVER HAD BRAKE LINES GO BAD ON ANY VEHICLE I'VE OWNED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE BACKED UP AND APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE DRIVER WAS SECURED BY THE SEAT VEHICLE SAFETY BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 182,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND A TRUCK CUT ME OFF. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND SAW BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. AS I WAS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM HOME, I CRAWLED HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ,FROM FRONT TO BACK, WERE RUSTED AND ROTTED. I PAID A MECHANIC SHOP TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINES. IN ALL OF MY YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER SEEN BRAKE LINES ROT OUT AFTER ONLY NINE YEARS AND 40,000 MILES. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED BY CHEVY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE LINES. A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. AND TO THINK THAT JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK! *TR
I WAS ADVISED BY A GM TECHNICIAN DURING VISIT TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE TO REPLACE CORRODED BRAKE LINES IF I INTENDED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE. COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $2,000 TO $2,500 AND THAT I SHOULDN'T WAIT TOO LONG TO DO SO FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS. SERVICE MANAGER AT THIS GM DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED A "TON" OF THEM AT OWNERS' EXPENSE. MY VEHICLE IS NEVER DRIVEN IN SNOW OR ICE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES ON ANY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWNED OVER THE PAST 50+ YEARS - VERY DISHEARTENING. *TR
TIRE TYPE: SIGMA STAMPEDE RADIAL SUV P265/70R16 111S, 6N-93 USA65,000 TIRE PURCHASED FROM TIRE KINGDOM KINGSLAND GA ON 09/24/08. HAD BLOWOUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION ON 10/14/12 CAUSED $2,050.00 DAMAGE TO MY 2003 TAHOE. I SEE WHERE THE P265/70R17 HAS BEEN RECALLED. I BELIEVE MY TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AS WELL. I NEED INFO IF AVAILABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TIRE, THE SERVICE CALL AND THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I DO HAVE THE REMAINS OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRE. *TR
RETURNED TO A FRIENDS FROM A TRIP TO ACCESS MY VEHICLE AND HEAD FOR HOME. BRAKES PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE A LITTLE, CAR WOULDN'T STOP WITH EITHER THE BRAKE OR EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL FORWARD INTO A STEEP EMBANKMENT IN FRONT OF MY FRIEND'S HOME. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED BUT NEEDED ALL THE BRAKES REPAIRED AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REPLACED. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WAITING TO HEAR FROM MY CLAIMS ADJUSTER. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 10 MPH AND THEN WENT FOR MY BRAKES AND THE BUT THEY WERE GONE . PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BELLS STARTED RINGING AND MY WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED (CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM) BAD BRAKE LINES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ALL FAILED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, THERMOMETER, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,286.
ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2012 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 CHEVY TAHOE AND I HAD JUST PULLED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER AND AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN, BUT, LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AT THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR AND GUIDE IT INTO A PARKING SPOT AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK, I COULD SEE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINE FLUID POURING OUT OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE TAHOE WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. DURING THE REPAIR, THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES AND THEY WERE ALL SEVERELY CORRODED. EVERY BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO OTHER CORROSION ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTINUOUSLY HEARD A TICKING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 196,000. UPDATED 10/15/12 *CN UPDATED 10/23/2012 *JS
THE BRAKES FAILED APPROACHING A DOWNHILL T INTERSECTION WITH A BUSY HIGHWAY. A SEVERE COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. *TR
COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS SECONDARY TO RUST. TRUCK (A GM TAHOE) WAS INSPECTED AT THE DEALER ONE MONTH AGO AND PASSED PA INSPECTION. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER (1000 HIGHWAY MILES) MY TRUCK HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER TO RECTIFY SOMETHING THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN FIXED, UNRELATED TO THE BRAKES. UPON PICKING UP THE TRUCK AFTER THAT REPAIR, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AFTER STARTING THE CAR TO PUT INTO GEAR AND THE ENTIRE BREAK SYSTEM BLEW. THANK GOODNESS, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION BECAUSE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. THE DEALER THEM PUT THE CAR UP ON THE LIFT AND I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS RUSTED, INCLUDING ALL THE BOLTS TO THE SYSTEM. THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR WAS TO CUT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM OFF AND REPLACE. THE REAR CALIPER COVERS ALSO BEGAN TO RUST, SO THEY ARE ALSO BEING REPLACED. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF ALL AREAS PRIOR TO REPAIR. *TR
MY BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY GOING UP HILL. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT GO ON UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE FAILING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR SERVICE STATION AND HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
ON THE EVENING OF JULY 13 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TAHOE WHEN THE CHECK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. SHE WAS ABLE TO ENTER OUR DRIVEWAY AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD I FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOUND THE REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD AND HAS 116,184 MILES AND I FEEL THAT IT IS A BIT PREMATURE FOR THE BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO RUST. I OWNED TWO CHEVROLET'S AND A FORD PRODUCT FOR OVER 20 YEARS EACH AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. *TR
VEHICLE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY (7/12/12) ALL FRONT BRAKE LINES REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THEN ON 2/11/14, HAD LEFT UM HOSPITAL WITH WIFE, NOTED SOMETHING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WITH BRAKES BUT CONTINUED TO A RESTAURANT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF RESTAURANT, ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT FROM CURB AND HAD NO BRAKES. ALL REAR BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. BOTH OCCASIONS REQUIRED A FLATBED TOW TRUCK FROM AAA. TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS WAS $2050.74. *TR
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN DOWN A HILL OUT OF A PARKING LOT I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING BROKE ON MY VEHICLE. WENT HOME ABOUT 6 BLOCKS AWAY LOOKED TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I ONLY LOOKED AT THE FRONT END; DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE PULLING UP TO MY DRIVEWAY IN A DIFFERENT VEHICLE I NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDER THE REAR END OF MY TAHOE. PROCEEDED TO CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND THAT MY SWAY BAR IS COMPLETELY BROKE WHERE IT'S MOUNTED ON A BRACKET. I RESEARCHED THIS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY MAKE, YEAR. *TR
RIGHT HINGE ON REAR HATCH DEBONDED GLASS LOOSE. *TR
MY ACCELERATION PEDAL ENGAGED AND RAN THRU CENTER BLOCK FENCE. NO AIRBAG ON EITHER SIDE....THANKS A LOT..... DRIVER. *TR
BRAKE LINE FAILURE, LOSS OF STOPPING, EMERGENCY BRAKE USED TO STOP VEHICLE. NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. BRAKE LINES BEHIND LEFT FRONT WHEEL RUSTED AND FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING LEAVING STUDS IN THE HEADS, HEATING UP ENGINE COMPARTMENTS, RELEASES CARBON MONOXIDE, AFFECTS O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS IN SOME STATES. GM NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS 1999-2008 ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. GM MECHANICS DENYING ANY SUCH ISSUES. PLEASE CHECK- IN TO THIS. OUR WHOLE FLEET AND OUR PERSONAL TRUCKS AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR
TAHOE HAS 93,000 MILES ,NOT DRIVEN THAT MUCH ,LIVE IN MARYLAND -.NOT THAT MUCH SALT.TRIED TO COME TO A STOP ,BRAKE PEDAL FAILED-USED EMERG. BRAKES TO HELP STOP. GOT IT HOME LOOK AT THE LINES COMPLETE RUST JOB. ALL LINES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACE.THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL,HAVE 95 LINCOLN NO PROBLEM-88 FORD P/U NO PROBLEM-93 CAMARO NO PROBLEM AND A 66 PONTIAC NO PROBLEM .KNOWING THE DIFFICULTY OF REPLACING THESE LINES ,GM SHOULD HAVE USED STAINLESS STEEL LINES.TO ME A ENGINEERING BLUNDER/DEFECT AND SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER TOYOTA PROBLEM.ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS ON $35,000 PLUS VEHICLE TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IS NOT MUCH TO ASK. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 03 TAHOE, WHEN AN EXPLOSION WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. MY ENTIRE BACK END OF MY TAHOE WAS LITERALLY BLOW TO BITS. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE AROUND ME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE POLICE DEPT. THEY WERE SHOCKED TO SEE THE CONDITION OF MY VEHICLE AND SAID IT LOOKED TO THEM, THAT IT WAS A CHEVY MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY RIGHT AWAY. THEY CAME OUT AND TOWED THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ALSO SHOCKED TO SEE THE DAMAGE, AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT OR WHY IT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER ASSESSING ALL THE DAMAGE THEY FOUND IT WOULD COST $2000 TO FIX THE DAMAGE. INS. SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO COVER THE DAMAGE, WE HAD TO PAY A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. I HAVE FIVE KIDS WHO ARE NORMALLY IN THE TRUCK WITH ME, THANK GOD THAT MORNING, THEY WERE NOT. GLASS WAS BLOWN ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY TRUCK, THE NOISE ALONE WOULD HAVE DAMAGED THEIR EARS, MINE WERE RINGING ALL DAY. I ALSO CONTACTED CHEVY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. I SPOKE WITH AN AGENT THERE WHO AS NO HELP, ASKED TO SPEAK TO HER SUPERVISOR, AND SHE WAS NO HELP. I THEN ASKED FOR WHOEVER WAS ABOVE HER, AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO HELP ME. I ASKED FOR A NAME, A PHONE NUMBER, AN EMAIL ANYTHING FOR SOMEONE WITH MORE AUTHORITY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO ONE. THIS IS WRONG! WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN I95, OR WHAT IF I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME?? THEN ID BE SUING CHEVY FOR MILLIONS! IM ASKING IS THAT THEY COVER THE $500 DEDUCTIBLE SINCE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS WASN'T NORMAL WEAR AND TARE, THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND ISN'T COVERED. THIS IS CRAZY! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CHEVY DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM SENDING PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE HOW HORRIBLE THIS WAS. THIS WASN'T JUST THE BACK GLASS SHATTERED, THIS WAS LIKE A BOMB LITERALLY BLEW OFF MY BACK DOOR, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHEVY NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR
I HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES WITH IN ONE YEAR. *TR
I HAD DRIVEN TO A DOCTORS OFFICE AND PARKED IN THE LOT. I CAME OUT, STARTED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. I HAD THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE LINE REPLACED. ON JUNE 24TH 2013, I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I WAS GOING 40 MILES PER HOUR, CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT TURNED YELLOW, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WENT THROUGH THE LIGHT AND MANAGED TO STOP USING THE LOWER TRANSMISSION GEARS AND FINALLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD THE LINE REPAIRED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. THE LINE RUSTED THROUGH NEAR THE ABS UNIT. THE TRUCK HAD JUST OVER FIFTY THOUSAND MILES AT THIS TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED AND WOULD ONLY EMIT EXTREMELY HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BLOWER RESISTER AND PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 05/21/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF BRAKES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS GM DOES NOT CARE. MY SPEEDOMETER IS NEVER CORRECT. IT RUNS 20-30 MPH OVER (AND SOMETIMES UNDER) WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING. THIS FIRST WAS NOTICED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO (PRIOR TO ACTUALLY FAILING) WHEN IT APPEARED THAT THE NEEDLE WOULD JERK (OR STEP ACTION) UP OR DOWN, I KNOW CHEVROLET SENT OUT A NOTICE ON THIS A YEAR OR SO AGO, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THEIR (GM) MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. I FEEL THAT THEIR "BEAN COUNTERS" KNEW THIS AT THE TIME AND IT WAS AGAINST THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. ANYWAY, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN BY NOT ONLY GM, BUT DOT AS WELL SIMPLY ON THE FACT THAT ONE DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING. IF CAUGHT OFF GUARD - THINKING THEY ARE GOING 70 MPH BUT DOING 90 MPH, LOOSE CONTROL OR RUN INTO SOMEONE. ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, DOING 70 MPH, GLANCE DOWN AND SEE THAT THEY ARE DOING 90 MPH, THEY MAY HIT THE BRAKE TOO HARD TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOSE CONTROL OR GET REAR ENDED. I COULD GO ON MORE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY NOT HELP (EXCEPT ADD TO THE PILES OF COMPLAINTS YOU ARE ALREADY RECEIVING), SO I'LL QUIT FOR NOW. THANK YOU AND PLEASE "LIGHT A FIRE" UNDER GM'S CORPORATE PEOPLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OVER THIS. *TR
IN NOV. 2011, WITH 79,800 MILES, WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR. TWO FRONT BRAKE LINES BURST WITH NO WARNING. THERE WAS ALMOST NO REAR BRAKING POWER AT ALL. I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BEFORE THE REAR BRAKES ENGAGED AND BARELY STOPPED THE TAHOE IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH. MY 03 TAHOE AND MY DAD'S 06 TAHOE HAVE THE WEAKEST BRAKES, OF ANY VEHICLE WE'VE EVER OWNED. LOVE THE TAHOE-HATE THE BRAKES. I HAD THE LINES REPLACE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CALIPERS AS WELL. THE AFTERMARKET CALIPERS HELPED THE WEAK BRAKING PROBLEM A LITTLE, BUT THERE IS STILL A DESIGN FLAW SOMEWHERE. NOW IN AUG. 2013, WITH 90,200 MILES, TWO MORE BRAKE LINES BURST WITH NO WARNING, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, AGAIN WITH ALMOST NO REAR BRAKE POWER TO STOP. I BARELY MISSED CRASHING THE TRUCK. IT'S IN THE REPAIR SHOP NOW AND THE TAHOE NEEDS SEVERAL LINES REPLACED, 2 THAT BURST AND OTHERS THAT ARE EXTREMELY RUSTED, OBVIOUSLY ABOUT TO BURST. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK AT, NOT ONLY THE RUSTING BRAKE LINES, BUT ALSO INTO THE WEAK BREAKING SYSTEM ON THESE TRUCKS, INCLUDING WHY THE REAR BRAKES ARE SO WEAK. SEEMS THAT ABOUT 90-95% OF THE BRAKING POWER IS THE FRONT BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THE TAHOE, FROM 2000-2006, AND THIS ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD EXAMINED AND EVEN RECALLED, IT'S WEAK, DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.
BRAKE LINE RUSTED THRU TWICE NOW. I LOST MOST OF MY BRAKING POWER SUDDENLY. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS IS COMMON. *TR
WIFE AND 3 YEAR OLD CHILD IN VEHICLE WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND HEARD A POP, BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED COMPLETELY TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKING POWER. VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A PARKING LOT WHERE IT STOPPED, NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND BRAKES WHERE PUMPED BY DRIVER. BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE BURST. SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11001. *TR