2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine Problems

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!

NHTSA ID

11034450

Incident

Sep 27, 2017

Mileage

285,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10817036

Incident

Feb 14, 2015

Mileage

166,000 mi

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).

NHTSA ID

10811565

Incident

Jun 26, 2015

Mileage

191,420 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10789277

Incident

Nov 5, 2015

Mileage

118,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10733591

Incident

Jul 8, 2015

Mileage

208,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT ,OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO ,BUT HAD NO MOTOR SYMPTOMS.ALSO 3 CHIMES RANG.WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HISTORY OF REPAIRS AND PREVIOUS CODES. THANK YOU. [XXX] PLEASE EMAIL TO ME OR I CAN DOWNLOAD FROM MY P/C INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10692728

Incident

Mar 18, 2009

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.

NHTSA ID

10643429

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

104,000 mi

YESTERDAY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND CAME TO A ROUND ABOUT, SLOWED DOWN AND VEHICLE DIED (ALTERNATOR GAUGE WENT BELOW 14, OIL PRESSURE DROPPED BELOW 40, AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON). I LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF. NOW VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY IDLES ROUGH AND WILL STALL OUT IF NOT ON THE THROTTLE, IDLES 500 AND LOWER. I HAVE REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AIR FILTER, PLUGS, WIRES, O2 SENSORS, FUEL FILTER, EVAP CANISTER, ALTERNATOR, AND HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FILED OF THE SAME ISSUES AND WONDERING IF ANYONE AT GM HAS FOUND A SOLUTION. ALSO HAVE NOTICED GM HAS RECALLED THE INTAKE GASKET BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638595

Incident

Sep 22, 2014

Mileage

166,514 mi

ABS, BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT COMES, DOOR LOCKS CYCLE REPEATEDLY, LOSES POWER AND WON'T START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10572519

Incident

Mar 13, 2014

Mileage

177,980 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10515917

Incident

Jun 6, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10473722

Incident

Aug 28, 2012

Mileage

196,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10448280

Incident

Feb 17, 2012

AIR CONDITIONER, COMPRESSOR, CLUTCH AND BELT TENSIONOR ON CHEVROLET TAHOE. BELT TENSIONOR BREAKS LOCKING UP CAUSING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH TO SIEZE THEN CAUSING COMPRESSOR TO DISENTERGRATE INTERNALLY SHOOTING INTERNAL COMPONENTS THRU ACCUMALATOR AND INSIDE VEHICLE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. SERPENTINE BELT TENSTSIONOR COULD CAUSE BELT TO BREAK WHICH DRIVES THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TO INCLUDE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHEVROLET MODELS, HOWEVER IT MAY ONLY BEGIN HAVING THE PROBLEM AT 3-4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THEREFORE APPEARING TO BE A NORMAL BREAKDOWN OF COMPONENTS. THE PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH THE DEALERS AND EXPERIENCED MECHANICS MAINTAIN THE PARTS AS BASIC STOCKED ITEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10415420

Incident

Jun 13, 2006

Mileage

37,000 mi

THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED THE CAR'S POWER TO ONLY BE ABLE TO GO 20 MPH. I DID REACH 30 MPH WITH A DOWN-SLOPE. I WAS VERY SCARED AND HAD MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE WITH MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. THE ENGINE'S POWER JUST PULLED BACK WITHOUT WARNING! I AM TAKING THE CAR TO BE SERVICED TOMORROW BUT CANNOT FATHOM TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED!

NHTSA ID

10406492

Incident

Jun 10, 2011

Mileage

104,000 mi

LTR ON BEHALF OF, WHO SUFFERED BURNS WHEN THEIR 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING; THEY DID NOT REC'D RESPONSE TO 3/23/10 LTR FWD TO NHTSA; REPLY ATTN KEITH NELSON/ROSEVILLE OFC; ES HAVE NO REC OF PREV CORRESPOND *TGW THE FAN MOTOR DID NOT SHUT OFF EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10346591

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE CAUGHT ON FIRE *GR THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAN MOTOR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED HER FATHER RECEIVED 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON HIS WHEN TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10324248

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

GM MODELS 2003-2007 LIGHT PICK-UPS AND SPORT UTILITY. CONSUMER STATES DEFECTIVE DASH CLUSTERS. *TGW THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. SHE STATED SHE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READING 70 MPH ALSO, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10319797

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

BOUGHT VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2009 USED AFTER DRIVING TRUCK FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS WE REALIZED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT MOVING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THEN AFTER THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOVE UP IN SPEED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BUT THEN STAY AT THE 30MPH WHEN STOPPED ONCE THE CAR WOULD BEGIN MOVING AGAIN THE SPEED WOULD CONTINUE TO GO UP FROM THE 30MPH MARK RESULTING IN THE SPEEDOMETER READING 60MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY ONLY GOING 30MPH. THIS HAS CONTINUED EVERY DAY SINCE IT WAS NOTICED SO WHEN DRIVING THE CAR YOU NEVER KNOW HOW FAST THE CAR IS ACTUALLY TRAVELING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264217

Incident

Feb 26, 2009

Mileage

76,000 mi

A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE ON MY 2003 CHEVY TAHOE REVEALED BROKEN METAL PIECES. CORMIER CHEVROLET WHO IS MY SERVICE/PURCHASE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE DEBRIS CAME FROM 3 BROKEN ROCKER ARMS. CORMIER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, 3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF AGAIN. THIS TIME CORMIER REPLACED ALL 16 ROCKER ARMS, BUT I HAD TO PAY A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. *TR I FEEL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY AND/OR PARTS. ESPECIALLY WHEN MY VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 98% OF THE TIME ON LOCAL ROADS ONLY, AND HAS JUST 35,015 TOTAL MILES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ID

10239190

Incident

May 15, 2008

Mileage

35,015 mi

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND DASH SAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. VEHICLE WILL ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR. UPON RESEARCHING THIS THROUGH VARIOUS INTERNET WEBSITES, THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS AND IS HAPPENING TO A HUGE AMOUNT OF 2003 TAHOE OWNER'S AND IT'S ALWAYS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM - YET GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. ON A SIDE NOTE, HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY DIM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232146

Incident

Jun 23, 2008

Mileage

38,416 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. NECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS/ TANSMISSION, AND INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT, BUT VIBRATION CONTINUED. THERE WAS NO FINAL SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111088

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

Mileage

10,300 mi

EVER SINCE PURCHASING MY CHEVROLET TAHOE LT BRAND-NEW IN AUGUST OF 2003, THE MUFFLER AND/OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS MADE AN EXPLODING SOUND BOTH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND AFTER IT IS SHUT OFF. AT STOPLIGHTS AND AFTER BEING PARKED, YOU BOTH HEAR AND FEEL EXPLOSIONS FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. GM CONTENDS THE SOUND IS STEAM BUILDING UP IN THE MUFFLER AND EXPLODING, BUT ADMITS IT IS NOT A "NORMAL" BACKFIRE, AND STATES THAT SOME TAHOES DO IT, AND SOME DO NOT. THEY HAVE RELEASED TWO SEPARATE FIXES FOR THE PROBLEM BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE, AND THE LAST ONE CAME OUT OVER A YEAR AGO. OFFICIAL GM POLICY PROHIBITS REPLACING ANY MUFFLERS/EXHAUST SYSTEMS ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING THIS PROBLEM - OWNERS ARE SIMPLY TOLD THE EXPLOSIONS ARE NORMAL. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, GM REPLACED MY MUFFLER, AND THE SECOND ONE DOES THE SAME THING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS AN ALARMING SOUND AND FEELING TO HAVE IN A NEW VEHICLE, AND LOGIC DICTATES THAT STEAM EXPLOSIONS INSIDE A METAL BOX CAN ONLY GO ON FOR SO LONG BEFORE SERIOUS DAMAGE IS DONE (I.E. THE MUFFLER ITSELF EXPLODES NEAR THE GAS TANK.) I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE NHTSA CAN DO, BUT ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE IS MOST WELCOME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105662

Incident

Aug 30, 2003

Mileage

2,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089737

Incident

Aug 9, 2004

Mileage

18,971 mi

ENGINE KNOCKS WHEN IT STARTED AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE UNTILL OIL PUMP PICKS UP.I PERSONALLY KNOW OF FIVE OTHER 5.3 LITER V8S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM,BUT MY DEALERSHIP HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS .I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE. A FRIEND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A TSB REGUARDING A CHECK VALVE OF SOME KIND THAT WOULD STOP THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062084

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

Mileage

50 mi

"REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE DISPLAYED 3 TIMES WITHIN 4100 MILES OF BRAND NEW TAHOE. ON 4TH VISIT, DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY WITH A NEW ONE AT 4366 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060602

Incident

Jul 3, 2003