Chevrolet Tahoe Complaints (2003)

507 consumer complaints on file.

#10560070January 15, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
UPON STARTING VEHICLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A GENTLE DOWNWARD SLOPE, I STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKE WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE, RED DASH ALERTS LIT UP. UPON INVESTIGATION, BRAKE FLUID WAS SEEN LEAKING OUT FROM A RUSTED BRAKE LINE LOCATED ALONG THE CAR FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE DRIVER DOOR AREA. NO SIGN OF OTHER DAMAGE WAS APPARENT AT THE TIME. DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE LEAK AREA WERE OBTAINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558718January 6, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
HATCHBACK LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556312December 17, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
MY ACCELERATION PEDAL ENGAGED AND RAN THRU CENTER BLOCK FENCE. NO AIRBAG ON EITHER SIDE....THANKS A LOT..... DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554045November 27, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES LINE BURST DUE TO EXCESS AMOUNT OF RUST UNDER VEHICLE. CALLED DEALER WHERE IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR LAST 8 YEARS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS WELL AWARE OF PROBLEM AND THAT REPLACEMENT LINES...NOT REVISED ONE BUT OEM ONES WHICH WILL DO THE SAME AGAIN WE'RE BACK ORDERED DUE TO DEMAND. HE SAID A LOT OF CLIENTS WERE HAVING THEIR VEHICLES RESOLVED AND THAT REPLACEMENT PART COULD POSSIBLY BE MONTHS TO OBTAIN.. IDIOTS AND WHEN IS CHEVY GOING TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE? CLASSICTUBE.COM HAS A STAINLESS KIT FOR $450. REPLACES EVERY PART BRAKE FLUID RUNS THROUGH. WE'LL WORTH IT FOR PEACE OF MIND. HATE GM FOR DENYING CLAIM. HOPE A LOT OF THEM DRIVE SAME VEHICLES AND LEARNS ABOUT THE LIFE THREATENING ISSUE FIRST HAND OR HAS FAMILY AFFECTED... ANGRY FATHER, HUSBAND AND OWNER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550896November 4, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES LINES RUSTED OUT. BRAKE FLUID EXPELLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550013October 29, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE HAS LIVED IN THE GARAGE FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 1200 MILES PER YEAR. TOOK IT OUT YESTERDAY TO GET IT INSPECTED AND THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AT THE STOP SIGN A FEW DOORS DOWN. THERE WAS NO STOPPING POWER AND I GOT IT STOPPED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE BRAKE LINES LOOK AWFUL, COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE REST OF THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE IT DID THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW, PERFECT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED. THIS VEHICLE SAW HIGH MILEAGE THE FIRST 3-4 YEARS BUT HAS BEEN STORED INSIDE SINCE THAT. IT LOOKS NEW. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND COULD HAVE COST LIVES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NO STOPPING POWER WHAT SO EVER. I SEE NOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE BUT NO RECALL. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, TWO AND A HALF TON VEHICLES WITH NO BRAKES AUGHT TO CONCERN YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548539October 19, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BAD WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART BUT ONLY UP TO 7YEARS OR 70, 000 MILES. FROM WHAT I KNOW, GM WAS WELL AWARE THAT THEY MADE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND DON'T WANT TO REPLACE THEM. I HAVE 6 CHILDREN TO TRANSPORT BACK AND FORTH FROM SCHOOL AND PRACTICE, MY SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING IS UNSAFE FOR MY CHILDREN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548460October 18, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
MY WIFE AN I WERE TRAVELING HOME FROM SHOPPING AS WE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I SWERVED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN A LOWER GEAR. PASSING THREE OTHER VEHICLES IN OUR LANE AND GOING THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO A STOP. INSPECTION UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SHOWED THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED THROUGH. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE INSPECTION THERE REVEALED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT YOU COULD COLLAPSE THEM WITH YOUR HAND. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE CHEVY DEALER STATED HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545625September 27, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT AVOIDED A COLLISION BY DRIVING ON A GRASSY AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,945. ...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF UPDATED 11/18/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536051August 19, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535878August 17, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE BRAKES BECAME SOFT, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING POWER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP WITHOUT COLLISION OR INJURY. BRAKE FLUID WAS DRIPPING ALL OVER. TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, BUT APPEARS THAT BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WILL NEED REPLACEMENT. FOUND INFORMATION ON-LINE THAT BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION ON THESE VEHICLES AS IT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533491August 4, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I STARTED THE VEHICLE ON 2/27/13 TO GO TO AN AFTERNOON WEDDING. BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AND SOUND ALARM WENT OFF - NO BRAKES. BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. THANK GOODNESS THE BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN MY WIFE HAD GONE TO A LUNCHEON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON MONDAY (7/29/13) TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES PLUS RUSTED FRONT ROTORS AND BACK PLATES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT A COST OF OVER $3500.00. RUSTED REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO. AS A LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER, I NEVER, EVER HAD A PROBLEM, SUCH AS THIS, WITH BRAKE LINES AND COMPONENTS. THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE, FOR ITS AGE, AND NEVER DRIVEN IN THE SNOW OR ON SALTY ROADWAYS. I AM VERY SKEPTICAL OF PURCHASING ANOTHER GM PRODUCT IF THEY INSIST ON USING INFERIOR PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533001August 1, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A RUPTURE IN THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED BY RUST. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE LEFT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532444July 29, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531584July 24, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525671July 18, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE TRAVELING ON A 4 LANE US HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC CONDITIONS REQUIRED A RAPID DECELERATION FROM 55MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. THE VEHICLE SLOWED NORMALLY, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED MUCH FURTHER THAN USUAL. WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS DUE TO THE ABS ACTIVATION, THE TRIP WAS CONTINUED. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES LATER A DOWNHILL SLOPING EXIT WAS TAKEN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WENT FULL TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, A RED 'BRAKES' LIGHT ON THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL ILLUMINATED, THE DRIVER MESSAGE CENTER READ 'SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM' AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING RAPIDLY ENOUGH FOR THE SPACE REMAINING SO THE PARKING / EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE OFF-RAMP, BUT FORTUNATELY, THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE PAST THE STOP POINT INTO AN ADJOINING ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR OTHER DRIVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE, UPON INSPECTION A STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES FORWARD OF THE ABS VALVE BODY. COINCIDENTALLY, THREE OTHER LINES IN THE SAME AREA WERE IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525112July 16, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523240July 5, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521283June 23, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520822June 20, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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