Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 GMC Envoy Xl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
MY VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY AND A LOUD SHATTERING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE HOUSE AND WENT OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT WHAT IT WAS AND NOTICED THAT MY BACK WINDOW OF MY VEHICLE WAS IN A MILLION PIECES ON THE GROUND AND ALL OVER MY VEHICLE AND IN MY CAR SEATS FOR MY CHILDREN. THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE FRONT CONTROL QUITE WORKING A WEEK AGO AND THE RIGHT BACK DOOR WILL NOT LATCH.
WHILE OPENING MY TAILGATE WINDOW TO UNLOAD GROCERIES, THE GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED INTO TINY PIECES. OTHER THAN A FEW SCRATCHES, I HAD NO INJURIES DESPITE GLASS RAINING DOWN ON ME. I'VE READ MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER ENVOY OWNERS. GMC NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED! *TR
I WENT INSIDE WAL-MART FOR MAYBE 1/2 HOUR AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE WINDOW WAS BUSTED OUT. WE THOUGHT SOME PUNK SMASHED THE WINDOW SO WE CALLED THE POLICE. THEY WATCHED THE VIDEO OF THE PARKING LOT AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO ONE BY THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED. I DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN JUST "MAGICALLY" SMASH INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES WITH NO ONE AROUND BUT AFTER READING THROUGH OTHER COMPLAINTS I CAN SEE THAT I'M NOT ALONE. OF THE 202 COMPLAINTS ON HERE THERE ARE 10 (THIS MAKES 11) INCIDENCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED AND GMC IS NOT RECALLING THEM? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $500.00 FOR A BRAND NEW WINDOW AND IT IS A WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE CHRISTMAS. WE TRIED TO FIND ONE IN THE JUNKYARDS BUT THEY COST ALMOST AS MUCH AS A NEW ONE. I AM SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW. *TR
I WAS OPENING THE REAR WINDOW TO RETRIEVE BELONGINGS WHEN THE WINDOW EXPLODED GLASS FRAGMENTS ALL OVER ME AS WELL AS THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
FOLLOWING AN INDEPENDENCE DAY BASEBALL GAME AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY, I WENT TO THE PARKING LOT TO LOAD MY FAMILY AND SOME PERSONAL BELONGINGS. I OPENED THE REAR HATCH AND FELT A SLIGHT BAULKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IN THE NEXT FRACTION OF A SECOND A SHOT GUN SOUND WENT OFF AND THE WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY FACE RAINING HEAVY GLASS INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AND THE PARKING LOT. MIRACULOUSLY, I RECEIVED ONLY A MINOR CUT ACROSS MY EYEBROW, BUT A LARGE CHUNK WAS CUT OUT OF THE THUMB OF MY RIGHT HAND FOR WHICH I HAD TO GO TO URGENT CARE AND MAY HAVE TO CONSULT WITH A PLASTIC SURGEON AS IT HEALS/ SCARS IN ORDER TO RETAIN FLEXIBILITY IN MY THUMB. *TR
ON 12/5/2013, I LEFT THE SCHNUCKS GROCERY STORE AROUND 4PM FOR HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED AT HOME, I BACKED IN THE GARAGE AND MY HUSBAND WAS WAITING AT THE GARAGE DOOR FOR ME SO HE COULD GET THE GROCERIES. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF MY 2003 GMC ENVOY XL, MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING THE GROCERIES AND STARTED TO TELL ME SOMETHING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THIS EXTREMELY LOUD POP/EXPLOSION (LIKE A GUN SHOT) AND GLASS SHATTERED EVERYWHERE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND IMMEDIATELY ASKED MY HUSBAND IF HE WAS OK. THE SHATTERED GLASS HAD CUT HIM ON HIS FOREHEAD. THERE WAS GLASS SHATTERED EVERYONE IN THE SUV, IN MY GROCERIES, IN THE GARAGE, IN MY HUSBAND'S HOODIE, AND EVEN ON MY 2013 CHARGER NEXT TO IT. THE HINGES WERE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ENVOY WITH SOME HANGING GLASS STILL ATTACHED. AND WHAT'S EVEN MORE SHOCKING IS THAT THE REAR BROKEN WINDOW KEPT POPPING AT THE HINGES AND PIECES OF REMAINING GLASS WOULD CONTINUE TO BREAK OFF AND DROP. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE VEHICLE TO REPLACE MY WINDOW AND TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THEY SAID THAT SINCE I HAVE 137,000MILES AND HAD THE VEHICLE TEN YEARS, IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHETHER IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY IF THE VEHICLE GM MADE IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY ENVOY UNTIL NOW. I'M PURSUING MATTERS FURTHER SO THEY HAVE NOT HEARD THE LAST FROM ME. I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ALSO CONTACT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE GM HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. I WILL ALSO BE CONTACTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE GM COMPANY BECAUSE MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT AND THEY NEED TO INCUR THE COSTS OF REPAIRS, NOT ME. *TR
I WAS DROPPING MY BOAT OFF AT THE LOCAL STORAGE YARD WHERE I KEEP IT. I OPENED THE REAR HATCH OF MY ENVOY TO GET A BUCKET OUT OF THE INSIDE WHERE I KEEP THE BOAT'S ACCESSORIES.. THE HATCH WAS OPEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES WHEN IT EXPLODED AND RAINED GLASS ALL OVER ME AND INTO MY RIGHT EYE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN WENT OFF, BUT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON AROUND. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR EARLIER, THE CHMSL PLASTIC FLEW OFF ON THE HIGHWAY ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR THAT SWERVED TO AVOID IT BEHIND ME. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT AND GM HAS REDESIGNED THE BACK DOOR . MINE SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I AM NOT ABOUT TO SPEND 700 ON GLASS SO IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN AND POSSIBLY HURT SOMEONE ELSE. *JS
MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND 11 YEAR OLD SON OPENED THE REAR GLASS HATCH TO GRAB A SHOPPING BAG OUT OF THE BACK. AS THE GLASS HATCH OPENED IT SHATTERED SPRAYING GLASS ON BOTH OF THEM CAUSING MINOR CUTS TO THEIR FACE, HANDS SCALP. I WAS JUST WALKING UP TO THEM WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD SON AND HAD GLASS FLUNG ONTO US WITH NO INJURIES. *TR
AFTER UNLOCKING AND USING THE REAR WINDOW GLASS MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY, AND TWICE EARLIER TODAY, IT EXPLODED ON THE WAY UP. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 1 INCH OF TRAVEL SWINGING UP AND REARWARD FROM BEING CLOSED WITH VERY MINIMAL MANUAL FORCE APPLIED. THE TEMPERATURE TODAY IS 27DEG.F , WHICH IS NOT THE COLDEST USE THIS VEHICLE HAS SEEN. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE REAR GLASS OR GATE, OR ANYTHING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WRITE THIS AT THE ADVICE OF MANY ONLINE FORUM POSTS AND COMPLAINTS THAT I READ THROUGH. I AM HOPING THERE IS SOME TIME DEVOTED BY GENERAL MOTORS TO FINDING A SOLUTION TO THIS. I JUST HAD TO RIDE HOME WITH WIFE AND 4 KIDS SHIVERING BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE SEEM TO BE HUNDREDS OF THESE SPONTANEOUS OCCURRENCES HAPPENING IN ALL TYPES OF CLIMATES AND CONDITIONS, WHICH IS WHAT CONVINCED ME I NEED TO SHARE MY INCIDENT TO FUEL THE CAUSE. THANK GOD EVERYONE IS OK. IT WAS COLD AND MY KIDS HAD THEIR HOODS UP AND WERE LOOKING DOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR
MY 2003 GMC ENVOY XL SLE HAS A LATCH PROBLEM ON THE BACK DOORS, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED BUT ISN'T RESOLVED AND THE DRIVER HEADLAMP CONSTANTLY BURNS OUT, 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. I CALLED ON A RECALL BUT THERE ISN'T ONE. ITS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT. THE LAST TIME I TRIED TO FIX IT THE SOCKET WAS BURNT AND PLASTIC MELTED, THAT COULD'VE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE. I AM VERY UNHAPPY AND DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE HERE, IM GOING TO GET IN BIG TROUBLE BECAUSE I CAN'T PUT IN ANOTHER BULB IT WILL CAUSE MORE FIRE. *TR
OPENED REAR WINDOW TO 2003 GMC ENVOY WINDOW SHATTERED NO CONTACT TWO YOUNG SONS NEARBY ONE RECEIVED CUTS FROM GLASS. *TR
GMC ENVOY 2003 REAR GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS AS OUTLINED IN RECALL NHTSA #EA04002. MY DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED. I HAVE PURCHASED A WIPER MOTOR I DID NOT NEED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE WIPERS WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V046000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 86,000. UPDATED 04-23-09 *BF UPDATED 04/30/09.*JB
THE REAR DRIVER DOOR POPPED OPEN AND WON'T CLOSE. THE FAN CLUTCH FAILED 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT BECAUSE IT WAS WINDING REALLY HIGH AND NOT DRIVING NORMALLY. ALSO THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER REAR WENT OUT. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURES AS OF NOW. *TR
NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE AIR/VENT/HEAT SYSTEM. BREEZE BLOWING IN 24X7 AND THE "RECIRCULATE" BUTTON ONLY WORKS WHEN THE FAN IS ON. EXTREMELY IRRITATING WHEN DRIVING BEHIND A BUS, OR IN A DUST STORM, OR DURING A FIRE. IT IS HIGHLY IRRITATING TO HAVE AIR BLOWING IN YOUR EYES ALL THE TIME, OR ON YOUR FEET MAKING YOU COLD; OR THE OPPOSITE DURING THE SUMMER. WHAT IF I DON'T WANT AIR BLOWING ON ME, HOT OR COLD? I THINK IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO ALWAYS FIDDLE WITH THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS TRYING TO MAKE IT COMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED LIKE THIS, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR PAYMENT I NEVER HAD BEFORE AND A VERY SAD SITUATION. *TR
CAR DASH BLANK AT START, MIRRORS GO EVERY DIRECTION AND MUST RESET EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. *TR
BLOWER MOTOR STAYED ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. WOULD DRAIN BATTERY. DEALER REPLACED BLOWER CONTROL MODULE. $246.20 BILL OF REPAIRS. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN RAINY WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM WOULD NOT TURN OFF, ONCE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE WIPERS. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #04V046000, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE WIPER PROBLEM COULD WORSENED AND POSE A RISK TO SAFETY.
(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, - (A) REGULATOR IN DRIVER SIDE MIDDLE SEAT DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED PRIOR TO 36000 AND - (B) PASSENGER SIDE MIDDLE SEAT DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AT 43000 MILES (2) A- WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE AT NO CHARGE B- NEW REGULATOR INSTALLED - $200 + CHARGE (3) PARTS REPLACED FOR PRIOR TO WARRANTY CHARGE OVER $200 FOR SECOND FAILURE. *NM
GAS TANK BACK SPITS WHEN FILLING AT STATION...GOES ALL OVER GROUND REAR ACCESS WINDOW POPS OPEN WHEN DRIVING PASSENGER WINDOW MECHANISM BROKEN AND GLASS PIECES FORMED IN DOOR. MECHANISM FAILED TO RAISE AND LOWER THE WINDOW...CAUSING A GRINDING SOUND. REPLACEMENT WAS COSTLY AND UNECESSARY FOR ME THE CAR OWNER. SHOULD WORK FOR YEARS WITHOUT FAILURE. *JB
BOTH REAR WINDOWS DROPPED OPEN WITHOUT REASON OR CAUSE DURING HIGHWAY OPERATION. FIRST WINDOW WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. *JB
FAULTY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT THAT WILL NOT RELEASE TO FASTEN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN AND THE REPAIR PERSON SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AND THAT IT JUST WAS CATCHING ON SOMETHING. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS VERY HARD TO OPEN THE REPAIR PERSON AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP BROKE THE HANDLE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE REPAIR SHOP DID FIX THE HANDLE FOR FREE, HOWEVER THE DOOR REMAINS STILL VERY HARD TO OPEN AND I WOULD NOT USE THIS PARTICULAR DOOR. AFTER A WHILE THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THE DOOR LATCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE BACK WINDOW WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY UP AND THE ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO. I AM NOT SURE WHAT MONTH THE FIRST INCIDENCE TOOK PLACE, BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO HAPPEN QUICKLY AFTERWARDS.*JB
SINCE WE HAVE THIS VEHICLE THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD THE DEALER AND A G.M. REPRESENTATIVE TRY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THEIR ATTEMPTS THE SYSTEM STILL DOESN'T OPERATE CORRECTLY AND NOW I AM LEFT WITH A DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES. I AM HEARING FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHO HAVE THIS VEHICLE AND THE CHEVROLET VERSION THE TRAILBLAZER THAT THEY HAVE VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IN THE WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES NOT HAVING HEAT/DEFROSTER WORKING PROPERLY COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD, YET THIS FAILS TO BECOME A RECALL OR ALERT TO DRIVERS. AS FAR AS THE A/C PROBLEMS MY SON ACTUALLY GOT HEAT STROKE IN THE BACK OF THE CAR ON A VERY HOT DAY DUE TO THE FACT THAT ONLY VENT WINDOWS OPEN IN THIS AREA AND UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION IT BECOMES VERY HOT IN THE THIRD ROW OF SEATS IN THIS VEHICLE IF THE AIR IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. G.M. SHOULD FIX THESE VEHICLES! I HAVE REPORTED MY PROBLEMS TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND I AM HOPING TO RETURN THIS VEHICLE TO G.M. EARLY. THIS CAR HAS ALSO HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO. I FEEL THAT SINCE THEY TRIED TO FIX THE HEATER THEY HAVE SCREWED UP SOMETHING ELSE IN THE ELECTRIC SINCE THEY HAD TO REGROUND THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND THIS GROUND HAS ALREADY HAD TO BE REGROUND DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT DISENGAGED ITSELF FROM THE VEHICLE, DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A SAFE REPAIR TO ME. *JB
I HAVE A 2003 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING, MY DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO PUT DOWN THE WINDOW IN THE BACK SEAT BUT FOUND IT WAS "JAMMED"...IT WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE REGULATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN RESEARCHING THE NHTSA SITE, IT APPEARS THAT OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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