BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND LEAKED FLUID RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE
2003 Chevrolet Tahoe complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
WAS BACKING UP TO PARK AND BRAKE LINE RUPTURED SENDING BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE CAR. WHEN I CHECKED ON IT LATER THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID BY THE BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE. UPON EXAMINING THE BRAKE LINES A VISIBLE RUPTURE COULD BE SEEN BEHIND THE BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE BRAKES LINES HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ALREADY GOING SLOW DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDED TO STOP. *TR
ONE DAY THIS WINTER I WENT OUT IN THE GARAGE AND STARTED MY TAHOE. OUT OF THE BLUE MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. TODAY I TOOK MY CARE TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE ERROR CODES (B0051 & B0053) INDICATED THAT THE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION OR THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED, AND THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY GO DO TO COVER THE WORK NEEDED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND GET THE AIRBAGS WORKING AGAIN. THE ESTIMATE IS FOR $1,200. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.I CONTACTED GM VIA CHAT, AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS ISSUE, AND THEY COULD NOT DUE ANYTHING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND ALWAYS KEPT THE VEHICLE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER USING THE ORIGINAL DEALER, AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE. I CAN AFFORD TO GET THE REPAIR DONE, MY CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN'T MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY THIS AND WILL DRIVE THE VEHICLES WITHOUT THE AIR BAGS. *TR
ENGINE LIGHT ,OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO ,BUT HAD NO MOTOR SYMPTOMS.ALSO 3 CHIMES RANG.WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HISTORY OF REPAIRS AND PREVIOUS CODES. THANK YOU. [XXX] PLEASE EMAIL TO ME OR I CAN DOWNLOAD FROM MY P/C INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
STOPPED AT MAILBOX TO COLLECT MAIL. BRAKED, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO PLACE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, FELT 'POP' SENSATION IN THE PEDAL. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, AT LEAST ONE LINE HAS RUPTURED. *TR
1) 12/23/2014 - SITTING IN PHARMACY RX DRIVE-THRU WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. ASSESSED PROBLEM AND DETERMINED BRAKE LINE FEEDING REAR BRAKES BURST FROM CORROSION. FIXED BRAKE LINE NEXT DAY. 2) 1/27/2015 - IRONICALLY, SITTING IN FAST-FOOD DRIVE-THRU. EXACT SAME AS ABOVE OCCURRED. DETERMINED ALL 4 BRAKE LINES LEADING TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE WERE SPLIT AND CORRODED CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND FULL BRAKING CAPABILITY. I WAS FORTUNATE (AND LUCKY) THAT I WAS AT A STAND STILL EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. ESPECIALLY WITH THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE (3) OCCASIONS THAT A METAL BRAKE LINE ON THIS VEHICLE HAS RUPTURED. THE RESULTS WERE AN IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE TO LET THE VEHICLE COAST TO A STOP WHILE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO ASSIST. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA SO IN ALL THREE TIMES I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT WERE LIGHT OR NO TRAFFIC. *TR
DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKES FAILED, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH(DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION) TO MAKE A TURN BUT NOT ABLE TO STOP AND NARROWLY AVOIDED ANOTHER CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY BRAKES FELT SOFT. PARKED AND PUMPED BRAKES TWICE AND LINE THAT WAS RUSTED FAILED. MULTIPLE LINES THAT ARE RUSTED BADLY. NO BRAKE PEDAL WHAT SO EVER. *TR
MY 2003 CHEVY TAHOE, DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION MY BRAKE LINES FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING COMPLETE BREAK FAILURE. THANKFULLY I WASN'T TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND LUCKILY MY CHILD AND FIANC WEREN'T IN THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY FATAL ACCIDENT IF I WAS AT HIGH SPEEDS. LET'S GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE. *TR
I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND I STARTED DOWN THE STREET. I GOT TO THE FIRST STOP SIGN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HOOD AND WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE I LOST ALL PRESSURE AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION,RITE BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE IS ATTACHED TO A CLIP IS WHERE THE LINE HAS A HOLE IN IT. THE CLIP HAD WORN A HOLE IN IT. THE CLIP THAT HOLDS IT, HAS 2 PIECES THAT ARE BEND DOWN THAT HOLD IT DOWN,AND THAT'S WHERE THE HOLE WAS WORN INTO MY LINE. *TR
SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
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
PIN HOLES KEEP COMING IN CASE CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK CAUSING LOSS OF 4WD AND EVENTUALLY MAKING IT UNUSEABLE. *TR
APPLIED BRAKES TO PLACE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPOT. BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL MESSAGE DISPLAY. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING. NO BRAKE PRESSURE WAS AVAILABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HAD TO UTILIZE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE MOTION. *TR
WHEN I WHEN TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY 3 OR 4 WEEKS AGO I TURNED ON MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND THE FOUR HAZARDS STARTED FLASHING! IT STOPPED AND STARTED BACK UP AGAIN AND NOW DOES IT ALL THE TIME! *TR
BRAKES FAILED AT STOP SIGN DUE TO BRAKE LINE FAILURE CORROSION. ALL BRAKE LINES AND PARTS OF FUEL LINES VERY RUSTY!! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
DRIVING AT 35MPH WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND LOST ALL BRAKES,THIS INCIDENT ALSO HAPPENED IN JUNE 2013. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT SINCE THE EARLY 2000. GM REFUSES TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES IN THE NORTHEAST CLAIMING ITS OWNER RESPONSIBILITY.SINCE JUNE 2013 I INVESTED OVER $1000.00 IN REPAIRS. HAD I BEEN GOING A FASTER SPEED I COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SERIOUSLY INJURED MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR
YESTERDAY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND CAME TO A ROUND ABOUT, SLOWED DOWN AND VEHICLE DIED (ALTERNATOR GAUGE WENT BELOW 14, OIL PRESSURE DROPPED BELOW 40, AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON). I LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF. NOW VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY IDLES ROUGH AND WILL STALL OUT IF NOT ON THE THROTTLE, IDLES 500 AND LOWER. I HAVE REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AIR FILTER, PLUGS, WIRES, O2 SENSORS, FUEL FILTER, EVAP CANISTER, ALTERNATOR, AND HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FILED OF THE SAME ISSUES AND WONDERING IF ANYONE AT GM HAS FOUND A SOLUTION. ALSO HAVE NOTICED GM HAS RECALLED THE INTAKE GASKET BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THIS RECALL. *TR
I WAS TOWING MY RV (TRAVEL TRAILER) TO A CAMPGROUND FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND FESTIVITIES UTILIZING THE HEAVY DUTY TOW PACKAGE THAT GM INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. I ARRIVED AT THE CAMPGROUND AND WAS DRIVING TO MY CAMPSITE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CHIMING AND A WARNING LIGHT. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AND THE 2 TON TRAVEL TRAILER WAS PUSHING MY TAHOE AS I TRIED TO STOP. I BARELY HAD ANY FRONT BRAKES AND NO BACK BRAKES AT ALL. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND USE THE GEAR SELECTOR ON LOW TO TRY TO STOP, WHICH IT FINALLY DID AFTER MUCH EFFORT. IT WAS LABOR DAY WEEKEND SO THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE CAMPING. THERE WAS A CROWD OF KIDS RIDING THEIR BIKES ON THE CAMP ROAD IN THE DRIVE PATH OF MY TAHOE HOWEVER THE KIDS MOVED OUT OF THE WAY ONLY WHEN I SCREAMED OUT OF MY WINDOW THAT I COULD NOT STOP MY TRUCK. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR MAJOR INJURY. LUCKILY IT DID NOT OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH MYSELF. I NOW HAVE MY TAHOE AT A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT I TRUST. HE IS STATING THAT HE HAS TO REPLACE ALL OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL IN BAD SHAPE AND WILL EVENTUALLY GO. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM HIM ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS WILL COST ME. I AM A SINGLE FATHER AND DO NOT HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO SPEND. MY NERVES ARE SHOT AND THAT INCIDENT RUINED OUR FAMILY CAMPING WEEKEND. I HAVE NIGHTMARES THAT THE KIDS ON THE BIKES DID NOT MOVE AND I RAN THEM ALL OVER. I AM DEFINITELY SCARRED FOR LIFE. *TR
I WAS LETTING MY MOTHER BORROW MY VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY SHE WAS ON A SIDE STREET ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK. SHE WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SHE LOST ALL BRAKE POWER. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID ALL MY LINES ARE RUSTED THREW AND WOULD LIKE $1400 TO REPLACE THEM ALL. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND I THINK SHOULD BE CLOSER LOOKED AT BY GM AS WE WERE LUCKY BOTH TIMES THAT WE WERE NOT AT HIGH SPEEDS WERE AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 263,000.
NOTICED FLUID SPOT ON CONCRETE BELOW DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND NOTICED FRAME WAS DAMP. JACKED UP VEHICLE AND HAD BRAKES APPLIED. FLUID NOW SPEWED FROM BRAKE LINE WHERE IT IS SUPPORTED TO FRAME RAIL. CONTRARY TO GM'S RESPONSE TO NHTSA ACTION EA 11001 THE BRAKE PETAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR SO MY ESTIMATION IS I HAD NO BRAKES NOT IMPAIRED BRAKES AS GM ASSESSED WOULD OCCUR. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER, THEY HAVE CHEAPENED THE PARTS TO A POINT WHERE THEY HAVE JEOPARDIZED DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY. MY ASSESSMENT IS THE RUSTING BRAKE LINE PROBLEM ON "ALL" GM VEHICLES 10 PLUS YEARS OLD THAT HAVE EVEN GOT CLOSE TO SOME FORM OF SALT IN THEIR LIFETIME ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS. MY VEHICLE RESIDES IN GEORGIA. SALT MAYBE ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. *TR
AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK DIDN'T STOP CAUSING ME TO HIT MY NEIGHBORS TREE. .. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WITH NO WARNING OR SIGNAL LIGHT OR A SOUND. AS I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE STREET. I CALLED A BUDDY MECHANIC OF MINE AND STATED MY BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT. *TR
I SAW FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY SO I CHECKED THE TRUCK AND DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND LEAKING. *TR
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ON A SUNNY SATURDAY AFTERNOON (JUNE 4, 2011), I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING SIDEWALK AND STREET. MY 2003 CHEVY TAHOE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH MINIMUM RESISTANCE. THE TAHOE ROLLED PAST THE SIDEWALK, OUT INTO THE STREET, AND UP THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY BEFORE COMING TO REST. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE ANYTHING. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE BRAKING CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE AT 5%, AS I DROVE IT TO THE SERVICE STATION AT 5MPH IN LOW GEAR ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY. TIM LALLY CHEVROLET IN BEDFORD, OH DETERMINED BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES. ALL BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED IN A FRAME OFF RESTORATION COSTING ABOUT $4,000.00 USD. *TR
DRIVING WEST ON I-78 IN NJ. WENT TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY SLOW DOWN TO ALLOW ME TO ENTER THE EXIT RAMP. USED THE TRANSMISSION TO HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. I DROVE A 1978 SUBURBAN FOR OVER 20 YEARS WITH 250,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE FAIL. *TR
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS A SHORT DRIVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE BRAKES WORKED POORLY WITH A MUCH LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. I KEPT THE VEHICLE IN FIRST GEAR AND DROVE SLOWLY. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH MANY MORE MILES AND MANY YEARS OLDER AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT LIKE THIS. *TR
I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE BADLY RUSTED. SINCE IT IS USED TO TOW A BOAT, IT COULD BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE IF THE LINES SHOULD RUST ENOUGH TO FAIL. A BRAKING ACCIDENT WHILE TOWING A 3000 LB. BOAT COULD BE PARTICULARLY NASTY. THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE CORRODED FAR MORE THAN OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME APPROXIMATE AGE. *JS
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
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR I WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY TRUCK INTO A SIDE STREET AND SLOWLY COME TO A STOP. WHEN I GOT OUT I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHAME ON GM FOR NOT NOTIFYING PEOPLE OF THIS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND ENDANGERING MY CHILDREN'S LIFE!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE GAUGES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL GAGE AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 08/12/14*LJ GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER, SINCE HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 08/14/14
GETTING ON AN INTERSTATE RAMP I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO REDUCE MY SPEED. AS I APPLIED MY BRAKES IN A NORMAL MANNER TO SLOW DOWN, MY BRAKE PEDAL SANK ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN OR STOP. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A STOP MY DROPPING DOWN IN GEAR AND APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER (ONLY SHOULDER AVAILABLE ON THIS RAMP) AND STOPPED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND LOOKED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CHECKED MY BRAKE FLUID. DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS FROM THAT ANGLE. I CHECKED AROUND THE TRUCK AND NOTICED LEAKAGE OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE BRAKE FLUID COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT, PASSENGER SIDE. I CALLED FOR A TOW TO MY PREFERRED SERVICE SHOP. AFTER A DAY MY MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THAT ONE OF MY BRAKE LINES WAS FULLY RUSTED, HAD BUSTED AND WAS LEAKING. HE SAID THAT UPON INSPECTION OF THE REST OF MY BRAKE LINES, THEY WERE ALL VERY RUSTED AND IN DANGER OF ALSO BUSTING OPEN. HE RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE LINES AT A COST OF MORE THAN $2,200.00. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 11 YEARS OLD. IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING, NEARLY 40 YEARS, I'VE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINES AT THE 11 YEAR MARK. I BELIEVE THE DESIGN IS FLAWED AND THAT USING STEEL (CORROSIVE) VERSUS A NON-CORROSIVE MATERIAL SUCH AS STAINLESS STEEL IS A "CUTTING CORNERS" TECHNIQUE WHICH PUT DRIVERS AT RISK AND INTO LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS TO THEMSELVES ON ONTO OTHERS. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT GM BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS IS
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
AS I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN TOWN AND PREPARED TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, WENT TO THE FLOOR. I MANAGED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN INCHES OF THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED INDICATING A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. IT HAD NEVER COME ON BEFORE. ONE OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE FRAME, APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR, HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND BURST. IT WAS A MIRACLE THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED OR EXITING A FREEWAY RAMP, I FEAR THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LINE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THERE WAS EROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,050.
BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, AND FUEL LINES, WHOLE UNDERCARRIAGE IS BAD, BRAKE LINES FAIL WITH NO WARNING, BRAKE PAD GOES TO FLOOR. *TR
I WAS SITTING AT A DRIVE THROUGH WAITING FOR FOOD. SUDDENLY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT STARTED GETTING A MUSHY FEELING AND THE PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I GOT IT HOME, I FOUND THERE WAS A LEAK IN ONE OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES WHICH WERE RUSTED PRETTY BADLY. THE NEXT MORNING, I TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO GET THE FRONT BRAKE LINES REPLACED FOR JUST OVER $300. THE REAR ARE RUSTED PRETTY BAD BUT MY AUTOMOTIVE SHOP SAID THEY USUALLY DON'T REPLACE THEM IF THEY AREN'T LEAKING. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO NOT BE DEAD OR INJURED (ALONG WITH ANYONE ELSE) AS I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY EARLIER THAT NIGHT AND DRIVING AROUND QUITE A BIT. I HEARD THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE, SO I WANTED TO OFFER MY EXPERIENCE AND INQUIRE ON WHY THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL OPEN AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED? IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING SO CRUCIAL TO SAFETY SHOULD BE EITHER MORE PROTECTED OR BE LESS PRONE TO RUST, EVEN IN THE SNOW BELT WITH ALL THE CORROSIVE SALT ON THE ROADS. THIS IS SOMETHING THE CAR MANUFACTURERS MUST ACCOUNT FOR. *TR
THE 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE WAS DRIVEN ON U.S. HIGHWAY 10, IN MINNESOTA, FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES ON THE INCIDENT DATE. THE TAHOE WAS TAKEN HOME AND, AS IT WAS PARKED, THE BRAKE LINE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY RUPTURED. IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE TAHOE BODY AND DRIVETRAIN IS IN GOOD CONDITION, NOT MUCH BODY RUST FOR IT'S AGE, BUT ON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT EVERY BRAKE LINE HAS HEAVY RUST ON IT. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR OF THIS TAHOE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT CHEVROLET USED INFERIOR MATERIALS IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE TAHOE'S BRAKE SYSTEM...THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. BUT, ALSO, IT'S A SHAME THAT NHTSA HAS TAKEN SIX YEARS TO "STUDY" THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT DRAWN A CONCLUSION OR FORCED GM TO DO A RECALL? IT'S GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY AT ITS BEST...WHAT A SHAM. *TR
VEHICLE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY (7/12/12) ALL FRONT BRAKE LINES REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THEN ON 2/11/14, HAD LEFT UM HOSPITAL WITH WIFE, NOTED SOMETHING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WITH BRAKES BUT CONTINUED TO A RESTAURANT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF RESTAURANT, ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT FROM CURB AND HAD NO BRAKES. ALL REAR BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. BOTH OCCASIONS REQUIRED A FLATBED TOW TRUCK FROM AAA. TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS WAS $2050.74. *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY TAHOE! MY SPEEDOMETER JUST STOP WORKING ONE DAY WHEN DRIVING. IT WILL STICK ON A 120 OR 35 OR SOMETIMES IT WONT MOVE AT ALL. I DO HAVE A PICTURE OF BEING PARKED AND TAHOE SHUT OFF AND ITS SHOWING 120. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE..PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TICKETS FOR GOING OVER AND UNDER SND I ALSO HAVE THE TOW PKG AND OWN A POP UP AND REALLY SCARED TO TRAVEL WITH IT. CANT AFFORD THE 600 THEY IT WILL COST..CANT GET INTO A NON CHEVY. THIS IS MY FIRST CHEVY I BOUGHT AND THINK IT WILL BE MY LAST. .GM STEP UP AND GET THIS RECALLED. *TT
ABS, BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT COMES, DOOR LOCKS CYCLE REPEATEDLY, LOSES POWER AND WON'T START. *TR
NOT SURE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR BUT IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. SHORTLY AFTER I START MY CAR AND IT IS WARMED UP, WHEN I AM DRIVING IT AND I PUT THE BRAKES ON TO SLOW DOWN ON A CORNER OR AT A INTERSECTION, MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF. I CAN'T STEER AND THE BRAKES ARE HARD TO PUSH. PLEASE HELP, DON'T WANT TO KILL MYSELF OR MY FAMILY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IN MY 2003 TAHOE I HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES A SECOND TIME MY BREAK PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL HOME AS I WASN'T FAR. TOOK A LOOK UNDER CAR AND ALL MY BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND ONE FOR SURE IS LEAKING. MY TAHOE IS AS I TYPE AT A SHOP WAITING ON PRICING FOR PARTS THAT CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED THRU CHEVROLET. I'M PRAYING THAT IT IS NOT TO EXPENSIVE BUT THE BALLPARK FIGURE I WAS GIVEN IS ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE ALL FOUR LINES. DEBATING OF JUST HAVING THE ONE REPLACED AND HOPEFULLY GM WILL COME TO THEIR SENSES AND RECALL THESE PROBLEMATIC BRAKE LINES. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T GOING ANY FASTER AS MY DAUGHTER WAS IN TAHOE WITH ME. *TR
I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WAITING FOR IT TO CHANGE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ALL KINDS OF LIGHTS IN THE TRUCK WERE FLASHING INDICATING TROUBLE. I MANAGED TO PULL TO THE CURVE, PUT IT ON PARK, AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL COMING DOWN FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. I CALLED AAA, SINCE I AM A MEMBER, AND THEY TOWED THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT BOTH THE BRAKE LINES AND THE FUEL LINES WERE CORRODED. I HAPPENED TO READ ONLINE ABOUT OTHER CHEVY OWNERS THAT WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH BRAKE AND FUEL LINE CORROSION ON THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR CHEVY TAHOE I OWN. *TR
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.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe → · Every Tahoe year → · How the figures are calculated →