Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 GMC Envoy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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 27, in the owner's own words
MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING DOWN S/B ON RT 313 @ RT 290 MARYLAND. HE HIT A DEER AND ROLLED MY ENVOY AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SON WAS IN FRONT PASSAGER SET WITH A SET BELT ON AND WHEN THE ENVOY ROLLED HIS SET BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM ON. MY SPOUSE TOLD ME THE ANIT-LOCK BREAKS DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN HE SLAM ON THE BREAKS .
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE ABS BRAKES WARNING LIGHT AND THE FEEL OF THE BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, REACHIBG 5MPH, THE BRAKES PERFORMANCE IS FEELING A RESISTANT ANDJERKY. IT IS AS IF THE BRAKES DO NOT WANT TO PRESS ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN COMPLETELY STOPPING. THE WARNING LIGHT ON MY DASH SAYS, "SERVICE ABS BRAKES." THIS IS A RATHER SCAREY FEEL COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDDLE.
I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP . I HIT CAR THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER, THE CAUSE WAS A INTERNALLY SHORTED THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME CAR ACCELERATED ON OWN AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE FIRST TWO TIMES MY MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM.
WHERE THE TOP OF THE NESK OF THE FUEL TANK MEETS THE FUEL PUMP IT IS BROKEN WHERE THE 2 MEET. FUEL VAPORS, AS WELL AS ACTUAL FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND R BOTH PRESENT. STATIONARY , AS WELL AS, IN MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED AND HESITATED TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT ABNORMALLY SOFT WHEN APPLIED, WHICH REQUIRED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
DRIVING AT APPROX. 2:30 PM IN INTERMITTENTLY RAINY CONDITIONS- I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF UNABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE AND HAD TROUBLE SEEING MY SURROUNDINGS EVEN THOUGH I HAD NEW RAIN-X WIPERS ON. WHILE I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT WORK AS EFFECTIVELY AS THEY SHOULD. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER THE FIRST AND SECOND IMPACT (MULTIPLE VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED)- NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE AND STILL THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. RESULTED IN TWO FATALITIES IN ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE I SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY, FACIAL FRACTURES THAT REQUIRED SURGERY, AND A BROKEN COLLAR BONE FROM THE SEAT BELT THAT I COULD NOT AFFORD THE MEDICAL INTERVENTION REQUIRED FOR REPAIR. *JS
SOME TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE THROTTLE ALSO ADVANCES CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY FACTORY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM? *TR
BRAKE LINE FROM ANTI-LOCK BRAKE UNIT TO VEHICLE REAR RUSTING OUT CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP AND THE BRAKES WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL WHOOSHING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE WERE FAULTY AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED GENERAL MOTORS THAT THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. GENERAL MOTORS THEN STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE BADLY GLAZED AND SCORNED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT FOR THE ABS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,489 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,240. *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
2003 GMC ENVOY WITH A LIST OF PROBLEMS **NAR**CC THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR A KNOCKING AND PINGING IN THE ENGINE ON COLD STARTS AND FELT A HESITATION WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO GEAR. AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS, IT WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED THE ENGINE KNOCK WAS DUE TO SHORTER PISTONS IN THE RE-DESIGNED ENGINE AND THE HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING REQUIRED REPROGRAMMING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE ENGINE KNOCK, BECAUSE IT COULD BE MORE TROUBLE TAKING THE ENGINE APART. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE ENGINE STALLED DUE TO THE BATTERY DYING. FROM APRIL 2004 TO OCTOBER 2004 THE BATTERY FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD TO BE RE-CHARGED. DURING THAT SAME TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND EACH TIME IT HAPPENED, THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO REPROGRAM THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE RADIO WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHICH PRIMARILY CONSISTED OF STATIC. THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER CONTROL KNOBS AS WELL AS THE RADIO KNOBS WORE OUT. THE FRONT CENTER CONSOLE WAS LOOSE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON BECAUSE THE THIRD STOP LIGHT THAT'S ON THE TOP OF THE LIFTGATE MALFUNCTIONED. THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE STOP LIGHT. THE COOLING FAN BROKE, THE BRAKES AND THE LEFT FRONT HEAD LAMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL AND SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE LUG NUT BROKE WHILE A REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS BEING MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKAGE WAS REPLACED. THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FUEL LINES AND A SEAL ON THE TANK DUE TO A LEAK. THE SEAT BELT WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND THE BELT CUTS INTO THE CONSUMERS NECK. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DIDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PARKING BRAKE IS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THERE IS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE.
1. NORMAL WINTER DRIVING IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO. 2. ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE. THE RESULT WAS IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO SLIDE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A RURAL COUNTRY ROAD WHERE IT WAS STRUCK BY AN ON COMING CAR. 3. THE CAR IS TOTALED AS ASSESSED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, NO REPAIRS MADE. *NM
THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE 3 TIMES WITHIN 14 DAYS, GM SAYS THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH, I SAY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. ENGINE STALLED 6 TIMES IN MOVING TRAFFIC, THE "ABS" WARNING LIGHT IS ON, SOME TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER REPLACES THROTTLE BODY INJECTION ASSEMBLY. NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE STALLS AGAIN WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. !4 HOURS LATER ENGINE STALLS IN MOVING TRAFFIC. DEALER INSTALLS EVENT RECORDING DEVICE, ENGINE STALLS AND IDENTIFIED LOW IGNITION VOLTAGE (6.7 VS 13.6 VDC). SOURCE OF PROBLEM COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED, DEALER SAYS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. WE FILED A LEMON LAW CLAIM. *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING SCRATCHES ON GLASS AND ROTORS CORRODED. *TS THE MIRRORS CONTINUOUSLY LOST THEIR MEMORY POSITION. *JB
DT: AFTER THE OWNER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES FELT BUMPY. THE OWNER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THEN, THE BACK ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT. THE OWNER DESCRIBES THEM AS A GRABBING FEELING, THE VEHICLE PHYSICALLY MOVES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN THE BACK RIGHT ROTOR WAS INSPECTED THERE WERE GROOVES. THE PAD HAD EATEN INTO THE ROTOR ON THE REAR AND FRONT. ALL THE BRAKES RUSTED. *AK *JB
THE ROTORS ON OUR 2003 GMC ENVOY COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY COULD NOT EVEN BE TURNED, 13 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF THE BRAKE PADS STILL UNUSED. WE HAD TO REPLACE ALL ROTORS AND PADS, AS THE ROTORS SCORED THE PADS.
WHEN REACHING A STOP SIGN CONSUMER APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, INSTEAD OF VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP, IT ACCELERATED AND RAN ONTO TWO CURBS, FINALLY CRASHING INTO A PLAY GROUND. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE RUSTED. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
PURCHASED 2003 GMC ENVOY SLT ON 11/30/2002. SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE OFF THE LOT. RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER SAID IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE IN THE SENSOR. ONE MONTH LATER SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. RETURNED IT TO DEALER, COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM SO THEY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME. ALSO HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT STOP, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS THE WAY THE BRAKES FUNCTION ON THIS VEHICLE????? HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE LIGHTS ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR WILL FLASH FROM 2HI ALL THE WAY TO 4 WHL DRIVE WITHOUT EVERY TOUCHING THE CONTROL. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE COST AND UNFORTUNATELY HAVE A 4 YEAR LEASE. WILL NOT RECOMMEND OR PURCHASE ANOTHER GMC PRODUCT. *AK
FAULTY WIRING IN BRAKE LIGHT CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. GM HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR BUT I STILL DON'T FEEL IT IS SAFE. *JB
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH DURING A CLEAR DAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL OF OUR 2003 GMC ENVOY STARTED WOBBLING AND SHE COULDN'T CONTROL IT ANYMORE. SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB AND INITIALLY HIT A UTILITY POLE ON THE LEFT PASSENGER SIDE, THEN EVENTUALLY HIT THE TREE WITH THE FRONT BUMPER AND KNOCKED THE TWO STATIONARY OBJECTS DOWN. SURPRISINGLY, THE AIRBAG DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE TOTAL WRECKED AND UNREPAIRABLE. AS EXPECTED, GMC DECLINED RESPONSIBILITIES. THEY SENT A SO CALLED INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR BUT THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME HIS PHONE NUMBER. THE REPORT THEY SENT CONTAINED ONLY RAW DATA ABOUT THE AIRBAG AND NOTHING ABOUT THE STEERING WHEEL. I WILL NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND A GMC AGAIN.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES ON THE 2003 ENVOY. *MR THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE BRAKE DID NOT HOLD AND THE VEHICLE HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF HIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE CONTROL MODULE BUT IT COULD NOT BE REPROGRAMMED. THE TECHNICIAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS A DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY OPERATED WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. *SCC *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM. *AK PH *JB
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
Data on this page last refreshed .