2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Interior & seats Problems

I bought my 2003 Chevy Tahoe used and as is at a dealership for $10,000. Yes, I've been robbed. The truck is in great LOOKING condition. Has a little bit of superficial dings and a couple dents but overall exterior is great. Interior isn't shabby. Has wear on the driver's seat but not bad. The first thing that happened, I was on my way to work at 4 in the morning, turned on right blinker to change lanes, about blinded the guy in front of me with high beam lights. I thought I had bumped the switch, I took the right to get off at my exit I was more mindful. Definitely not a me thing. The high beam came on with the right blinker. So, the next thing. CD player runs continuously without a disc in. I cannot put a disc in. There may be discs already in there, it is a 6 disc changer, but it will not play. The radio has a mind of its own. Plays what it wants at anytime its on. My husband drove it, tried to adjust the driver's seat and all it did was growl at him. It doesn't move except forward and back. My speedometer had a glitch one time. I was driving at 35mph and it showed 60mph. I turned it off, then back on, hasn't done that again. My heater works but it's difficult to change the individual temp settings. Almost as if the push buttons are worn inside or have a bad connection. The air conditioner only works when I'm on the freeway and not in stop and go traffic. The first time I turned on the AC, it blew all hot air for longer than 10 minutes. Halfway home I turned it on again but kept the button in off setting, I have cold air. There is a loud popping underneath when I turn left. Also, dropped into 4H driving down the highway at 65mph. Thought I was going to die. I have to drive in auto all wheel because the buttons are messed up. In 2H or 4H I get 4L. It is a mess. The dash is confused. 4 wheel does not go in easily, It bangs when it goes in and comes out. It really isn't safe but I was soaked on the price, I am female and first purchase. Should have bought a Ford

NHTSA ID

11482032

Incident

Apr 4, 2022

The cable on the rear passenger seat is broken and can't get seat down to escape in an emergency.

NHTSA ID

11423878

Incident

Jun 3, 2021

CABLES FOR SEAT FOLDING MECHANISM BREAKING, PREVENTING THE SECOND ROW 60/40 SEATS FROM FOLDING TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THIRD ROW SEATS (THIRD ROW OCCUPANTS CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE - SAFETY ISSUE). *TR

NHTSA ID

11328654

Incident

Jun 4, 2020

Mileage

203,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL, TODAY, MAY 31, 2019, I DROVE MY TRUCK TO A MEETING AT 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON AND PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT (IT WAS STATIONARY IN A CITY PARKING LOT). WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AFTER THE MEETING AT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON I OPEN MY CAR AND THE INTERIOR WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE. A COMPONENT OF THE POWER SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTED THE FIRE. IT WAS FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS IN THE TRUCK AT THE TIME AND THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. AFTER THE FIRE IGNITED AND USED UP ALL THE OXYGEN IN THE INTERIOR THE FIRE BURNED OUT ON IT'S OWN. I DID CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. (I'VE INCLUDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATORS CARD AND I CAN OBTAIN A REPORT IF NEEDED). THE INVESTIGATOR WAS THE ONE THAT DETERMINED WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE TOP LAYER OF THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY HAS SOME FIRE RETARDANT BUT THE UNDERSIDE DOES NOT. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SEAT WAS BURNED FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP, THE ELECTRICAL WAS STILL OPERATIONAL AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LIGHTS THAT ARE ON IN THE PHOTOS. I CAN FIND NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN IF I HAD BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND OR HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH ME. I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS CHEVY TAHOE SINCE 2003. I WAS COMPLETELY STOCK AND NO OUTSIDE WORK HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO IT. I HAVE HAD IT REGULARLY SERVICED AND IT WAS RUNNING GREAT. I HAVE NEVER NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY SEATS. I DO NOT SMOKE AND HAD NO OTHER COMBUSTIBLES IN THE CAR. PLEASE SEE PHOTO'S ATTACHED. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVY TAHOE 2003 ##

NHTSA ID

11217202

Incident

May 31, 2019

Mileage

276 mi

MY CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS AND HEAT AND AIR CONTROL KNOBS ARE GOING OUT. MY BACK SEAT SEATBELT SOMETIMES WANT LATCH AND MY 3RD ROW SEATING WILL NOT LATCH TO THE BRACKET. MY STEARING IS BAD IT WILL NOT LINE UP AND THATS JUST THE BEGINING OF THE PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. MY GRANDKIDS RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11207580

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

83,000 mi

THE PIECE BROKE OFF THE BOTTEM LATCH TO THE FRAME ON THE SEAT FOR THE 3RD ROW SEATING AND SOMETIMES THE SEATBELT WANT LATCH IN BACK SEAT. DASHBOARD GAUGE LIGHTS BLOWN ALOT OF INSIDE GAGE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING AND HEATER/AIR STOPPED WORKING ON NUMBER 5 FAN.

NHTSA ID

11089236

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE TIRE BLEW THEY MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO DETACHED THE SPARE TIRE, HOWEVER IT DID NOT DETACH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS STATED THAT IF THE SPARE TIRE DID NOT DETACH THE LATCH MECHANISM WAS IN SAFETY MODE. THE CONTACT CALLED A TOW DRIVER AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE SPARE PER GMC OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT REMOVE THE TIRE. THE TOW DRIVER CALLED ANOTHER TOW TRUCK DRIVER, THEY CUT THE LATCH MECHANISM OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THE TIRE WAS LOWERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TIRE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT DUE TO THE SALT ON THE ROAD THE LATCH CORRODED. RYAN CHEVROLET LOCATED 911 HWY 55 BUFFALO, MN WAS CONTACTED AND THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT DUE TO THE STATE THEY WERE LOCATED IN IT WAS AN INHERENT FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS NOT STATED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE CUT AND THE SITUATIONAL FAILURE SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 285,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED WHEEL BLOCKS, ONLY MADE THE VEHICLE LESS STABLE AFTER IT WAS LIFTED UP BY THE SPARE TIRE, BALANCING ACT. DESIGN PROBLEM UPDATED 10/1/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11055981

Incident

Dec 19, 2017

Mileage

285,000 mi

THE CABLE SYSTEM TO LAY DOWN THE REAR 60/40 SPLIT BENCH REAR SEAT IS ALL MESSED UP. SEVERAL OF THE CABLES HAVE STRETCHED AND OR BROKEN OFF AT THEIR CONNECTING POINTS UNDER THE SEATS AND IN THE BACK OF THE SEATS UNDER THE UPHOLSTERY. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM, THE TAP PULL TO PULL THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT ON THE 60 SIDE NO LONGER OPERATES PROPERLY IN ORDER TO FLIP THAT PART OF THE SEAT FORWARD. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE VIRTUALLY RENDERED THE THIRD ROW SEATS, AND OR THE EXPANDING OF THE CARGO AREA USELESS. NOT ONLY HAS THIS PROBLEM RENDERED THE MIDDLE AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE USELESS, IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE! THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL THESE MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS TRAPPED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN THE INSTANCE OF A SEVERE WRECK, OR GOD FORBID A FIRE. SOMEONE COULD GET TRAPPED AND BURN TO DEATH.

NHTSA ID

10819152

Incident

Nov 25, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE 2ND ROW SEATS WILL NOT OPEN, PREVENTING ACCESS TO THE 3RD ROW SEATS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN B/C IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THE 3RD ROW PASSENGERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THE CABLE MECHANISM THAT OPENS THE 2ND ROW SEATS IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

10750281

Incident

Jun 30, 2009

Mileage

52,000 mi

WHEN I TURN THERE IS A POPPING NOISE THAT CAN ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING AND FEEL A BUMP. THE FUEL WILL AT TIMES SHOW A FULL TANK THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN GO TO 1/4 TANK IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME AND IS NOT ACCURATE, I CANNOT DEPEND ON IT BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IT ACTUALLY HAS. THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER GOT EXTREMELY HOT AND WE WILL NOT USE BECAUSE ARE SCARED IT MIGHT BURN THRU THE SEAT SINCE IT ALREADY LEFT A SMALL BURN MARK. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE ALSO DID THE SAME ON ANOTHER CHEVROLET WE HAD AND HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS IS A BIG ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658829

Incident

Feb 4, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

BACK SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER WILL NOT RELEASE TO LAY FLAT. WE HAVE HAD MECHANICS LOOK AT AND ONLY ONE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. AS LONG AS THE SEAT IS PUT GENTLY BACK INTO UPRIGHT POSITION IT WILL WORK. HOWEVER, IF IT IS NOT, IT WON'T BUDGE. AT THIS POINT IT WILL NOT RELEASE. THE OTHER SEAT WORKS OKAY FOR NOW BUT WE ARE CONCERNED IT MAY DO THE SAME. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN AN EMERGENCY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE THIRD SEAT. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM? WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THANK YOU FOR WHATEVER HELP YOU MAY HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595196

Incident

Oct 25, 2013

Mileage

8,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER WAS ACTIVATED AND AN UNEXPECTED HIGH AMOUNT OF HEAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAT RASH TO HER BACK. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL BURN MARK ON THE SEAT BACK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.

NHTSA ID

10561288

Incident

Jan 24, 2014

Mileage

174,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10492168

Incident

Dec 27, 2012

Mileage

73,430 mi

IHAVE A 2003 CHEVY TAHOE AND THE DRIVERS HEATED SEAT COMES ON BY ITS SELF YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY SHUT IT OFF. *TT

NHTSA ID

10414663

Incident

Jul 5, 2011

Mileage

139,283 mi

REAR GLASS HINGE IN 2003 TAHOE RIPPING FROM HINGE. WINDOW MUST NOW BE FORCED SIDEWAYS TO ENGAGE LOCKING MECHANISM TO CLOSE REAR GLASS HATCH. LIFTING ENTIRE HATCH EFFECTS THE GLASS HINGE AS WELL. RT CORNER OF WINDOW NOW PROTRUDES ABOVE ROOF LINE AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL "CATCH" DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND BLOW OFF AS HAS BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY. LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITY INFORMED ME THIS IS COMMON AND THEY HAVE REPAIRED 2 THAT WEEK FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEIR REPAIR STATISTICS DO NOT GO UP TOWARDS CHEVY CORPORATE FOR TREND AND FAILURE ANALYSIS. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CALLED AND THEY CONDUCTED A 2 HOUR INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE HINGE DEFECTS ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. CURRENT COSTS TO REPAIR ARE APPROX $1000.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400837

Incident

May 13, 2011

Mileage

79,670 mi

2003 CHEVY TAHOE WITH SEAT HEATERS. HEATER DRIVER SIDE COMES ON BY ITSELF AND CAN NOT SHUT IT OFF. SEAT GETS EXTREMELY HOT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER THAT WE HAVE TO REPLACE SEAT MODULE CONTROL COST $500. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358315

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

PLASTIC/RUBBER ATTACHING HINGE ON REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW CRACKED, SEPARATING GLASS WINDOW FROM BODY. REPORTED TO CHEVROLET ON 6/3/2010. THEY HAD ME TAKE TO WILLIAMS CHEVROLET TO INSPECT ON 6/4 AND SAID THEY WOULD CALL BACK THAT AFTERNOON WITH A CONCLUSION. SERVICE MANAGER FIRST SAID ADHESIVE FAILED, THEN PART WAS MISSING THAT ATTACHES HINGE. NO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL ARE MISSING, TWO SIDES FIT BACK TOGETHER WITH A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE. HINGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY PHYSICAL ATTACHMENT TO GLASS OTHER THAN MOLDED RUBBER THAT BONDS TO GLASS, SANDWICHING HINGE IN-BETWEEN. DEALER INSPECTED OTHER HINGE AND FOUND IT TO BE CRACKING ALSO. CHEVROLET DIDN'T CALL ME BACK, I HAD TO CALL ALMOST DAILY AND LEAVE MESSAGES UNTIL FINALLY SOMEONE CALLED ON 6/30 AND SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT BE A DEFECT AND GENERAL MOTORS WOULD NOT ASSIST IN RESOLVING THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 55,000 MILES ON IT. I FIND A FAILURE LIKE THIS TO TOO SOON IN A VEHICLES LIFE AND APPEAR TO BE EITHER A FLAW IN THE FASTENER DESIGN OR ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340977

Incident

Jun 3, 2010

Mileage

52,500 mi

THE SPEEDOMETER HAVE A HABIT OF NOT WORKING. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220867

Incident

Mar 10, 2008

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRIC DRIVER SEAT MOVED FORWARD ON ITS OWN WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING PARKED ENTRAPPING THE DRIVERS LEGS UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND UPPER BODY AGAINST THE WHEEL. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT MODULE. UPDATE 12/1/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10171268

Incident

Sep 14, 2006

Mileage

62,000 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WOULDN'T ACTIVATE THE AIR BAGS FOR 80 POUNDS OR LESS, BUT IT DID WHEN THEIR 62 POUND CHILD WAS IN THE SEAT. *PH OTHER PROBLEM ARE AS FOLLOWED: DRIVER'S DOOR EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT RATTLES, STEERING VIBRATIONS/GRINDING WHEN TURNED TO LEFT, SUNROOF LEAKED HEAVILY WHEN IT RAINED OR WHEN GOING THROUGH THE CAR WASH, DASH LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, WINDOW MOLDING WAS LOOSE, STEREO LIGHTS FLICKERED, SEAT MEMORY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE TO PRESET MEMORY POSITIONS AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED, AND THE FRONT POWER WINDOW ALONG WITH THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WERE INOPERATIVE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10065117

4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *LA THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT DID NOT ENGAGE. AFTER TRYING A SECOND TIME IF ENGAGED AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GO INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN, THE EMBLEM FELL OFF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, THE SEAT MECHANISM DID NOT WORK AND THERE WAS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE RUNNING BOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10059453

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

Mileage

5,000 mi

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LAMP IS TOO BRIGHT. DIFFICULT TO SEE PAST IT TO VIEW THE ROAD AHEAD.

NHTSA ID

10019169

Incident

May 16, 2003

Mileage

5,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10017384

Incident

Apr 22, 2003

Mileage

8,100 mi