RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Jun 28, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 507 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Jun 28, 2014

I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY REAR GLASS WINDOW HINGE HAS POPPED OUT OF ITS PLASTIC HOUSING IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED TO VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO GET TWISTED AROUND BIT LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10606631
Incident
Jun 18, 2014
Mileage
132,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 21, 2014

THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR HAS STARTED DISTORTING AND LEAKING A BROWN LIQUID SUBSTANCE. IT HAS DISCOLORED THE PAINT ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE STEP BAR. OBJECTS APPEAR DISTORTED/DOUBLED AND MIRROR HAS A HAZE TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593310
Incident
May 16, 2014
Mileage
129,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 2, 2013

WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF BY SWITCH. THEY WILL ONLY GO SLOW OR FAST NO DELAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10496161
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
155,453 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 31, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED DISCOLORATION OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDEVIEW MIRROR, REDUCING HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID
10482791
Incident
Apr 15, 2011
Mileage
52,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 29, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED AND WOULD ONLY EMIT EXTREMELY HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BLOWER RESISTER AND PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 05/21/12

NHTSA ID
10441645
Incident
Dec 22, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed May 13, 2011

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
Visibility
Filed Jun 30, 2010

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE VENTS BLOW OUT HOT AIR WHEN HEATER OR A/C IS ON.. TEMP WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS HIGHER THAN 150 DEGREES... VERY VERY HOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10340811
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Visibility
Filed Sep 9, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. IF THE GLASS FROM THE WINDOW WOULD HAVE SHATTERED THEN THE SHARP FRAGMENTS OF GLASS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10283446
Incident
Aug 1, 2009
Mileage
68,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 20, 2009

HINGE SEPARATED FROM WINDOW AND CAUSED THE REAR WINDOW TO SHATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10277415
Incident
May 12, 2009
Mileage
113,520 mi
SteeringSuspensionVisibility
Filed Mar 2, 2009

THERE A NOTICABLE SHAKING WHEN IT COMING TO A STOP AND SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN OFF. IT ALSO TURNS OFF WHEN MAKING A RIGHT / LEFT TURN AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN TRUCK IS RUNNING. THERE A CLICK NOISE THEN TURNING. ALSO WINDOW'S WILL GET STUCK AND WILL NOT GO UP COMPLETELY AND NOW THE LEFT SIDE WINDOWS ARE COMPLETELY DEAD (DO NOT GO UP OR DOWN). *TR

NHTSA ID
10260474
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
65,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 21, 2008

ON OCTOBER 20, 2008 AT ABOUT 11:21AM ON PALI HIGH WAY TOWN BOUND THERE WAS WEED WHACKING IN THE CENTER MEDIAN AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK HITTING MY WINDSHIELD AND I SAW A SMALL SPIDERWEB CRACK ON THE BOTTOM OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS ABOUT 1" BY 1". WHAT STEPS DO I TAKE TO FIX MY WINDSHIELD AND/OR GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246184
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Visibility
Filed Sep 6, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROOF IS LEAKING AND WATER SETTLES IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR. WHEN HE TURNS THE VEHICLE, WATER FALLS INTO THE REAR AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RUBBER DRAIN TUBE, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE LEAK IS NOW CAUSING THE SUN VISOR'S ELECTRICAL WIRES TO LOOSEN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DETAILED FOR THE MILDEW SMELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL PANEL WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ELSEWHERE AND IT IS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,159 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

NHTSA ID
10202098
Incident
Aug 1, 2007
Mileage
600 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 30, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DOOR MODULE AND THE WINDOWS WORKED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE RESIDENCE. AT THE RESIDENCE THE FUSE BOX BEGAN TO SPARK AND THE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. AGAIN, WHEN THE VEHICLE ARRIVED AT THE RESIDENCE THE FUSE BOX BEGAN TO SPARK AND THE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A FUSE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE WINDOWS REMAINED INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ID
10167065
Incident
Aug 29, 2006
Mileage
45,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jun 20, 2006

REAR SEAT AUDIO AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLS QUIT WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10160233
Incident
Jun 6, 2006
Mileage
69,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 6, 2005

DT: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE REAR WINDOW HAS A PLASTIC HINGE THAT IS CRACKED AND IS COMING OFF. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM , AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 50% TO HAVE WINDOW HINGE FIXED ,AND THAT THIS PROBLEM WENT BACK TO THE 2000 MODEL VEHICLES. THIS PLASTIC HINGE KEPT REAR WINDOW FROM CLOSING. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER TALKED WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DID A REPORT, I.D. NUMBER WAS 1367044105. THE HINGE IN REAR WINDOW HAS BEEN CRACKING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE REAR WINDOW HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED TOGETHER WITH OTEHR ITEMS, SUCH AS THE WINDOW, THE HINGE AND THE FRAME.*AK

NHTSA ID
10138923
Incident
Aug 1, 2005
Visibility
Filed Jan 25, 2005

I OWN A 2003 CHEVY TAHOE LT, ON FRIDAY JANUARY 21, 2005 THE BACK LIFT GATE WINDOW OF MY TAHOE EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS UNSURE OF WHAT HAPPENED SINCE I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR FREEWAY AT THE TIME. HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED SINCE IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST TO MY WINDOW. HPD INFORMED ME IT APPEARED TO BE A MALFUNCTION OF THE WINDOW. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT (NORMAN FREDE CHEVROLET) IN WEBSTER TEXAS. THE SERVICE MANAGER INSPECTED THE WINDOW AND INFORMED ME THIS WAS THE THIRD TAHOE IN WHICH THE BACK GLASS EXPLODED IN THIS MANNER. I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AND THANK GOODNESS I HAD NO PASSENGERS IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED IF THERE HAVE BEEN 3 OF THESE INCIDENTS AT 1 DEALERSHIP, SURELY THERE ARE OTHERS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10107861
Incident
Jan 21, 2005
Mileage
29,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system+2 more
Filed Oct 5, 2004

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER COMES ON BY ITSELF. BLINKER SENSOR WILL TELL ME THAT THE BLINKER IS ON WHEN IT ISN'T. CD/RADIO LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF. REAR PASSENGER WINDOW ROLLS DOWN BY ITSELF. FUEL GUAGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND WILL OFTEN SAY IT'S FULL WHEN IT'S EMPTY OR IT'S EMPTY WHEN IT'S FULL OR HALF A TANK WHEN IT IS EMPTY. FUEL INJECTORS KEEP CLOGGING UP WITH CARBON. TRANSMISSION FAILURE FROM STOP AND DELAY ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10093644
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
SteeringSuspensionVisibility
Filed Jul 29, 2004

STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. THUMPING NOISE FROM STERING WHEEL. ALSO LOUD CRACKING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING IN DRIVEWAY. LOUD CRACKING NOISE FROM LOWER FRONT WINDSHIELD ESPECIALLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10082927
Incident
Jul 20, 2004
Mileage
10,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .