2003 GMC Tahoe Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Tahoe, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical250.0%
- Fuel system125.0%
- Steering125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 GMC TAHOE. SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
MY 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. WHEN IT IS COLD, AND I START THE CAR UP IN THE MORNING, THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS UP, AND SAYS THE SPEED IS ABOUT 10 MPH. ONCE I START DRIVING, IT QUICKLY JUMPS UP IN EXCESS OF 120 MPH, AND OFF THE CHARTS. THEN WHEN COMING BACK DOWN TO IDLE, IT SITS ANYWHERE FROM 60 MPH - 90 MPH. TO CLEAR THIS BACK TO ZERO, AND GET IT TO SEEM LIKE IT IS WORKING PROPERLY, I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN, AND THEN IT JUMPS DOWN 10 MPH EACH TIME IT TURNS BACK ON. SO I HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED ON THANKSGIVING, AND THEN AGAIN TODAY. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMON GM VEHICLE OWNERS, WITH TAHOES, YUKON'S, AVALANCES, AND OTHER CHEVROLET/GMC TRUCKS/SUV'S. THE CHEVROLET DEALERS SAY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS TO BE REPLACED, AND PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS, SEEMS TO BE ANYWHERE FROM $350 - $700+. WITH SUCH A WIDESPREAD REPORT OF THIS PROBLEM, GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS, AND STOP MAKING PEOPLE PAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* - THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REGISTERS 1/8 OF A TANK OF GAS WHEN TANK IS EMPTY. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS GIVEN TO INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF GAS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LEVEL SENSOR TWICE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN PARK WHEN IT IS DISCOVERED THAT THE TANK IS EMPTY. THE CONTACT STATES ONCE HE PUTS GAS IN THE VEHICLE IT STARTS RIGHT UP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AROUND CORNERS,MILD TO SEVERE,VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE THEY STATED IT WAS IN THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD ORDER NEW PART .4TO6WEEKS TO RECIEVE WAS NOT A SAFTY ISSUE OK TO DRIVE.THIS VEHICLE HAS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BY THE DAY.A WIND GUST TOSSES IT ALL OVER THE ROAD. STILL NOT FIXED.STATED GM CANNOT MAKE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FAST ENOUGH. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .