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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Chevrolet TAHOE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

507 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

74,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 407 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 124 of 507 complaints (24.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior11923.5%
Steering behavior5210.3%
Fuel system concerns193.7%
Electrical and battery issues132.6%
Transmission and shifting122.4%
Engine operation81.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
124
Service Brakes
84
Electrical System
65
Steering
30
Vehicle Speed Control
26
Air Bags
16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16
Fuel System, Gasoline
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel124
Service Brakes84
Electrical System65
Steering30
Vehicle Speed Control26
Air Bags16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic16
Fuel System, Gasoline14

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 124; Service Brakes: 84; Electrical System: 65; Steering: 30; Vehicle Speed Control: 26; Air Bags: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 16; Fuel System, Gasoline: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
59
25,000 to 49,999
58
50,000 to 74,999
88
75,000 to 99,999
73
100,000 to 149,999
89
150,000 and above
40
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00059
25,000 to 49,99958
50,000 to 74,99988
75,000 to 99,99973
100,000 to 149,99989
150,000 and above40

Under 25,000: 59; 25,000 to 49,999: 58; 50,000 to 74,999: 88; 75,000 to 99,999: 73; 100,000 to 149,999: 89; 150,000 and above: 40

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (89). 100 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002
1
2003
21
2004
39
2005
27
2006
32
2007
85
2008
52
2009
45
2010
25
2011
22
2012
25
2013
31
2014
43
2015
23
2016
10
2017
13
2018
4
2019
3
2020
2
2021
2
2022
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20021
200321
200439
200527
200632
200785
200852
200945
201025
201122
201225
201331
201443
201523
201610
201713
20184
20193
20202
20212
20221
20231

2002: 1; 2003: 21; 2004: 39; 2005: 27; 2006: 32; 2007: 85; 2008: 52; 2009: 45; 2010: 25; 2011: 22; 2012: 25; 2013: 31; 2014: 43; 2015: 23; 2016: 10; 2017: 13; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 119 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10001882 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)

WHILE SLOWING DOWN, CONSUMER STATES" VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ENGINE WAS RACING, WHICH RESULTED IN CONSUMER CRASHING VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. CONSUMER STATES FOOT WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR ON BRAKE PEDAL, AFTER HITTING WALL ENGINE WAS STILL RACING LIKE WALL WAS STOPPING IT FROM TAKING OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009482 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED, WHICH WAS DUE TO A LOOSE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 723 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009482 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011002 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)

TIRE FAILURE. NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE WAS REPLACED BY FIRESTONE AT NO CHARGE. FIRESTONE PERSONEL MAINTAIN THAT DRIVER RAN OVER SOMETHING AND FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY PUNCTURE. THE SIZE OF THE HOLE IN THE TREAD NOT CONSISTENT WITH THAT THEORY.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011002 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011686 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)

THE RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION/BLOWOUT.*JB *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011686 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10012047 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AIR COMES THOUGH THE SIDE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012047 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015585 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)

THE SEAT FAILED TO ATTACH TO THE BASE AND HARNESS FAILED TO FASTENED.MR *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015585 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015764 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)

WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE "START" POSITION, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK. THE CONSUMER'S 4 YEAR CHILD CHANGED THE GEAR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO A DITCH. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015764 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10017384 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)

THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS FAILED TO LOCK PROPERLY. THE DEALER CHANGED THE SENSOR, LOCK SYSTEM, AND MODULES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 8,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017384 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

03V037000 · Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments

Reported: 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH FOUR WELDS ON THE REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, ONE OR TWO OF THE WELDS MAY NOT BE TO SPECIFICATION.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR STRENGTH MAY BE DEGRADED DURING A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS ON THE LEFT REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. IF A WELD IS FOUND OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, A BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED TO SECURE THE HINGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 17, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
03V094000 · Structure

Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported: 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
05V163000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other

Reported: 2005-04-22 (April 22, 2005)

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.

Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.

NHTSA campaign record ↗