10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,612 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #16

Jan 122014

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • 130,667 miles
Not sure what is happening to my car but it is very scary when it happens. Shortly after I start my car and it is warmed up, when I am driving it and I put the brakes on to slow down on a corner or at a intersection, my car will shut off. I can't steer and the brakes are hard to push. Please help, don't want to kill myself or my family.

- Oroville, CA, USA

problem #15

Jul 032013

Tahoe

  • 83,978 miles
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.

- Beavercreek, OH, USA

problem #14

Mar 162012

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • 126,000 miles
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.

- Old Lyme, CT, USA

problem #13

Feb 162012

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • miles
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.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #12

Dec 182011

Tahoe

  • 45,000 miles
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.

- Bethpage, NY, USA

problem #11

Nov 012011

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
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.

- St Charles, MO, USA

problem #10

Nov 112011

Tahoe

  • 55,000 miles
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.

- Barnegat, NJ, USA

problem #9

Oct 182011

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • 116,000 miles
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.

- Montague, NJ, USA

problem #8

Jun 212011

Tahoe

  • 107,000 miles
Brake fluid discovered dripping from under front left frame onto driveway. Found brake line rusted and pitted and wet with fluid. Master cylinder was down approximately 10% below full mark. Many items in left side engine compartment rusted and corroded. Have experienced numerous component failures related to rust and corrosion under left side hood and chassis, ... rear brake rotors, brake control module, brake modulator valve, corroded and stuck spare tire release cable, left front wheel bearing assembly, wind shield wiper control module replaced, speed sensor replaced, steering shaft replaced.

- Nashville, IN, USA

problem #7

Jun 082010

Tahoe 4WD 8-cyl

  • 49,000 miles
Anti lock brakes activating at low speed on dry pavement, requiring harder braking effort. Also hearing four chimes when turning at low speeds.

- Florence, NJ, USA

problem #6

Feb 282011

Tahoe 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
I had to have the wheel speed sensor cleaned 1and 1/2 years ago on my Chevy Tahoe. It recently started acting up again. Then yesterday during a hard brake to avoid debris in the road the brakes failed completely. I do not know yet what failed but there is very little brake fluid left in the reservoir. I see that there are more than 1 recall for Tahoe regarding brakes, but my vehicle is not included?

- Kimbolton, OH, USA

problem #5

Aug 222010

Tahoe

  • miles
No accident yet. Smelled gas so I looked under 2003 Tahoe for leaks and noticed filler neck plus fuel lines along with brake lines with extreme rust. I understand rust forms on all metals. But this is something you should find on twenty year or older vehicles. I am a licensed Apr. And run a quality shop and have work on vehicles for a living for over thirty years and only see this on substandard or low grade materials. So why do these lines have this problem? this is a safety issue that really should be addressed. I've seen other manufacturers recall much less problems why not this. If you price out these pieces for replacement you or your costumer better be sitting down. Parts are normally in stock. We all know they only stock what's sells regularly. Please again this is safety problem Chevy should own up to.

- Feeding Hills, MA, USA

problem #4

Jan 142010

Tahoe

  • 115,000 miles
Feels like ABS brakes are trying to function at low speeds. Tahoe hesitates to stop at slow speeds.

- Jackson Center, OH, USA

problem #3

Nov 012008

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • miles
In Nov of 2008 we started having problems with the speedometer. Took it to our dealer and they replaced the ipc and it did not fix the problem, after we got the Tahoe back we started having problems with the cruise control as well. The speedometer becomes jerky and if we use the cruise the Tahoe speeds up and we have to turn cruise off to stop it from speeding out of control. Also when the speedometer becomes jerky the service brake system alarm goes off after it makes it hard to stop. (we have almost rear ended someone several times.)recently 12-2009 our service engine light is on. We have taken the Tahoe to our dealer and replaced several parts and nothing seems to make these problems go away. Please help as we have three kids and one on the way. The parts we have replaced are as follows: The front brake sensor and hub, the instrument panel cluster, ebc electronic brake control module and the fuel filter. Which is everything recommended by our dealer. I just want it fixed!!!!

- Huntington, IN, USA

problem #2

Jan 012008

Tahoe 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 5 mph downhill and approaching a stop, the antilock brakes pushed back on the contact's foot. The vehicle became difficult to stop and another vehicle nearly crashed into the contact's vehicle. The dealer repaired the brakes under NHTSA campaign id number 04V045000 (service brakes, hydraulic). When the failure occurred a second time, the dealer had a technician inspect the vehicle. It was discovered that the antilock brakes failed and the vehicle was repaired at the cost of $200. The failure mileage was 53,000 and current mileage was 59,000. Updated 10/16/08 updated 10/20/08.

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #1

Aug 092006

Tahoe 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,143 miles
: the contact stated the ABS warning light illuminated on the instrument panel while the vehicle traveled 40 mph. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer who determined the ABS hydraulic brake pump failed. The manufacturer was not contacted.

- Phelps, NY, USA