21 complaints reported

2003 Chevrolet Tahoe SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
21
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2012

BRAKE LINE FAILURE, LOSS OF STOPPING, EMERGENCY BRAKE USED TO STOP VEHICLE. NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. BRAKE LINES BEHIND LEFT FRONT WHEEL RUSTED AND FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2012
Feb 2012

TAHOE HAS 93,000 MILES ,NOT DRIVEN THAT MUCH ,LIVE IN MARYLAND -.NOT THAT MUCH SALT.TRIED TO COME TO A STOP ,BRAKE PEDAL FAILED-USED EMERG. BRAKES TO HELP STOP. GOT IT HOME LOOK AT THE LINES COMPLETE RUST JOB. ALL LINES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACE.THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL,HAVE 95 LINCOLN NO PROBLEM-88 FORD P/U NO PROBLEM-93 CAMARO NO PROBLEM AND A 66 PONTIAC NO PROBLEM .KNOWING THE DIFFICULTY OF REPLACING THESE LINES ,GM SHOULD HAVE USED STAINLESS STEEL LINES.TO ME A ENGINEERING BLUNDER/DEFECT AND SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER TOYOTA PROBLEM.ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS ON $35,000 PLUS VEHICLE TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IS NOT MUCH TO ASK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Dec 2011 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF BRAKES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2011
Nov 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2011
Oct 2011

WIFE AND 3 YEAR OLD CHILD IN VEHICLE WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND HEARD A POP, BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED COMPLETELY TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKING POWER. VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A PARKING LOT WHERE IT STOPPED, NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND BRAKES WHERE PUMPED BY DRIVER. BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE BURST. SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11001. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2011
Sep 2011

BRAKE LINE RUSTED THRU TWICE NOW. I LOST MOST OF MY BRAKING POWER SUDDENLY. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS IS COMMON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Sep 2011

ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATING AT LOW SPEED ON DRY PAVEMENT, REQUIRING HARDER BRAKING EFFORT. ALSO HEARING FOUR CHIMES WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2010
Jun 2011

BRAKE FLUID DISCOVERED DRIPPING FROM UNDER FRONT LEFT FRAME ONTO DRIVEWAY. FOUND BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND PITTED AND WET WITH FLUID. MASTER CYLINDER WAS DOWN APPROXIMATELY 10% BELOW FULL MARK. MANY ITEMS IN LEFT SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT RUSTED AND CORRODED. HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS COMPONENT FAILURES RELATED TO RUST AND CORROSION UNDER LEFT SIDE HOOD AND CHASSIS, ... REAR BRAKE ROTORS, BRAKE CONTROL MODULE, BRAKE MODULATOR VALVE, CORRODED AND STUCK SPARE TIRE RELEASE CABLE, LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY,WIND SHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE REPLACED ,SPEED SENSOR REPLACED,STEERING SHAFT REPLACED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2011
Mar 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE CONTACT FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTLY DROP. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LATER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR AGAIN WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO IT IN ORDER CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE WHEEL CYLINDERS AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA1100A (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC FOUNDATION HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2011
Jan 2011

I HAD TO HAVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CLEANED 1AND 1/2 YEARS AGO ON MY CHEVY TAHOE. IT RECENTLY STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. THEN YESTERDAY DURING A HARD BRAKE TO AVOID DEBRIS IN THE ROAD THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. I DO NOT KNOW YET WHAT FAILED BUT THERE IS VERY LITTLE BRAKE FLUID LEFT IN THE RESERVOIR. I SEE THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 1 RECALL FOR TAHOES REGARDING BRAKES, BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2011
Apr 2010

FEELS LIKE ABS BRAKES ARE TRYING TO FUNCTION AT LOW SPEEDS. TAHOE HESITATES TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Jan 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED, FOLLOWED BY NO POWER RESPONSE. IMMEDIATELY, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,808. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF UPDATED 02/19/10.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2009
Dec 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE FRONT ABS BEGAN PULSATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE ABS HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,700.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2009
Apr 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH DOWNHILL AND APPROACHING A STOP, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES PUSHED BACK ON THE CONTACT'S FOOT. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP AND ANOTHER VEHICLE NEARLY CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME, THE DEALER HAD A TECHNICIAN INSPECT THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $200. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2008
Oct 2007

2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. CUSTOMER STATED THAT HE HAD TO RUN A RED LIGHT BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AFTER TAKING IT AROUND THE BLOCK. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS POOR AND THE PEDAL EVENTUALLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL 1 YEAR LATER, HOWEVER HE WAS TOLD HIS YEAR OF VEHICLE AND THE STATED HE RESIDED IN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2005
Jan 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE AT 35 MPH AND WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT THE BRAKES WERE BEING PUMPED. THE BRAKES WOULD ONLY SLOW THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT STOP IT AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ABS WAS INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATING AT A LOWER SPEED. *AK UPDATED 02/22/07. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2006
Sep 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE THE VEHICLE TRAVELED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ABS HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2006
Mar 2005 Crash

THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE TRUCK WHEN DEPRESSED BETWEEN 10-15 MPH UPON APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS RESULTED IN THE TRUCK REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AN HOUR BEFORE THE BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO, THERE WAS A RATTLING/THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOGETHER WITH INSURANCE COMPANY HAD TO INSPECT THE TRUCK TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2005
Sep 2004

ANTI LOCK BRAKE CONCERN: EARLY THIS SUMMER I HAD TO SUDDENLY STOP ON THE FREEWAY. IT WAS DRY PAVEMENT ON A COMPLETELY CLEAR STRAIGHTAWAY. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES WENT INTO PLAY AND THE TAHOE WAS SOMEHOW PULLED US TO THE SIDE. MY WIFE SAID "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT" "WHY". I FELT THE SAME WAY. HAD WE BEEN ON ICE OR A WET SURFACE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED US TO LOOSE CONTROL COMPLETELY. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE WE WERE GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL. THERE IS NO PULLING OR CONCERNS HOWEVER DURING NORMAL BRAKING. DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATELY. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2004
Oct 2003 Crash

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2003
Feb 2003

WHILE SLOWING DOWN, CONSUMER STATES" VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ENGINE WAS RACING, WHICH RESULTED IN CONSUMER CRASHING VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. CONSUMER STATES FOOT WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR ON BRAKE PEDAL, AFTER HITTING WALL ENGINE WAS STILL RACING LIKE WALL WAS STOPPING IT FROM TAKING OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe has 21 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.