There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I bought my 2003 Chevy Tahoe used and as is at a dealership for $10,000. Yes, I've been robbed. The truck is in great LOOKING condition. Has a little bit of superficial dings and a couple dents but overall exterior is great. Interior isn't shabby. Has wear on the driver's seat but not bad. The first thing that happened, I was on my way to work at 4 in the morning, turned on right blinker to change lanes, about blinded the guy in front of me with high beam lights. I thought I had bumped the switch, I took the right to get off at my exit I was more mindful. Definitely not a me thing. The high beam came on with the right blinker. So, the next thing. CD player runs continuously without a disc in. I cannot put a disc in. There may be discs already in there, it is a 6 disc changer, but it will not play. The radio has a mind of its own. Plays what it wants at anytime its on. My husband drove it, tried to adjust the driver's seat and all it did was growl at him. It doesn't move except forward and back. My speedometer had a glitch one time. I was driving at 35mph and it showed 60mph. I turned it off, then back on, hasn't done that again. My heater works but it's difficult to change the individual temp settings. Almost as if the push buttons are worn inside or have a bad connection. The air conditioner only works when I'm on the freeway and not in stop and go traffic. The first time I turned on the AC, it blew all hot air for longer than 10 minutes. Halfway home I turned it on again but kept the button in off setting, I have cold air. There is a loud popping underneath when I turn left. Also, dropped into 4H driving down the highway at 65mph. Thought I was going to die. I have to drive in auto all wheel because the buttons are messed up. In 2H or 4H I get 4L. It is a mess. The dash is confused. 4 wheel does not go in easily, It bangs when it goes in and comes out. It really isn't safe but I was soaked on the price, I am female and first purchase. Should have bought a Ford
WHILE DRIVING THE TAHOE CLOSE TO HOME I STARTED TO SMELL OF BURNING AND I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE DASH. I PULLED OVER AND BY THEN THE WHOLE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES (NOT RECOMMENDED) BUT THE FIRE JUST SPREAD UPWARDS INTO THE DASH AND WAS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF CONTROL. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911 AND WITHIN MINUTES THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE ARRIVED AND EVENTUALLY THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AFTER IT HAD BURNED THROUGH MOST OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON MY OWN AND I SUFFERED NO INJURIES EXCEPT A FEW MINOR BURNS TO MY HANDS. I AM GUESSING THE FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR WIRING WHICH IS A PROBLEM MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. *TR
TAKATA RECALL, TODAY, MAY 31, 2019, I DROVE MY TRUCK TO A MEETING AT 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON AND PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT (IT WAS STATIONARY IN A CITY PARKING LOT). WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AFTER THE MEETING AT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON I OPEN MY CAR AND THE INTERIOR WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE. A COMPONENT OF THE POWER SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTED THE FIRE. IT WAS FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS IN THE TRUCK AT THE TIME AND THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. AFTER THE FIRE IGNITED AND USED UP ALL THE OXYGEN IN THE INTERIOR THE FIRE BURNED OUT ON IT'S OWN. I DID CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. (I'VE INCLUDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATORS CARD AND I CAN OBTAIN A REPORT IF NEEDED). THE INVESTIGATOR WAS THE ONE THAT DETERMINED WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE TOP LAYER OF THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY HAS SOME FIRE RETARDANT BUT THE UNDERSIDE DOES NOT. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SEAT WAS BURNED FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP, THE ELECTRICAL WAS STILL OPERATIONAL AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LIGHTS THAT ARE ON IN THE PHOTOS. I CAN FIND NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN IF I HAD BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND OR HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH ME. I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS CHEVY TAHOE SINCE 2003. I WAS COMPLETELY STOCK AND NO OUTSIDE WORK HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO IT. I HAVE HAD IT REGULARLY SERVICED AND IT WAS RUNNING GREAT. I HAVE NEVER NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY SEATS. I DO NOT SMOKE AND HAD NO OTHER COMBUSTIBLES IN THE CAR. PLEASE SEE PHOTO'S ATTACHED. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVY TAHOE 2003 ##
WHILE DRIVING MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING PULLED OVER UNPLUGGED BATTERY STARTED WORKING BUT BEEN HAPPENING A LOT IT HAS 180,000 ON IT
MY TAHOE CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE DASH. IT WAS PARKED, NO ONE HAD DRIVEN IT THAT DAY. I PUT IN A CLAIM WITH GM (CLAIM #SR 8-2955875514) AND IT WAS DENIED AS THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY TAHOE. THIS FIRE STARTED OUT OF NO WHERE. THANK GOODNESS OUR NEIGHBOR CAME BANGING AT THE DOOR TO LET US KNOW THAT OUR TAHOE WAS ON FIRE. WE WEREN'T HOME AT THE TIME BUT MY SON WAS, WE ARRIVED TO FIND HIM WITH THE WATER HOSE EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES THAT WERE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I SENT THE PICS TO GM AND THEY JUST DENIED IT WITH NO OTHER EXPLANATION OTHER THAN THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL. THEY DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME WHY THE FIRE STARTED NO ONE CAME OUT TO SEE THE VEHICLE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH THE CAR SWITCHED TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND REDUCED SPEED IMMEDIATELY TO 25 MPH, LEAVING ME IN THE POSITION TO NAVIGATE THROUGH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER HAPPENING A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER A 30 PERIOD, IT IS NOW A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. EACH ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO A MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED RESULTS IN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRING AFTERWARDS. MECHANICS SEEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE RESULTING IN A COMPLETELY UNSAFE CAR. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED, WIRE HARNESS, PEDAL SENSOR, AND THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. NOTHING HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
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.
SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *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
ABS, BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT COMES, DOOR LOCKS CYCLE REPEATEDLY, LOSES POWER AND WON'T START. *TR
MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BAD WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART BUT ONLY UP TO 7YEARS OR 70, 000 MILES. FROM WHAT I KNOW, GM WAS WELL AWARE THAT THEY MADE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND DON'T WANT TO REPLACE THEM. I HAVE 6 CHILDREN TO TRANSPORT BACK AND FORTH FROM SCHOOL AND PRACTICE, MY SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING IS UNSAFE FOR MY CHILDREN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BLOWER RELAY RESISTER MODULE FAILED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL AND IT SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC WAS BURNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000. *TR
WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED AROUND 80 AND IT WAS ON A ROAD THAT I NORMALLY GO ABOUT 55. MANY OTHERS WERE PASSING ME, AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE WOULD BE GOING 90 OR 100. AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T FEEL I WAS GOING 80. I SLOWED DOWN TO 55, AND I WAS CRAWLING. I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, AND MY SPEEDOMETER WENT DOWN TO 15 AT A STAND STILL. I SPED UP AGAIN, AND THE SAME THING. NOW IT IS STUCK AT 40 WHEN SITTING STILL AND GOES TO ABOUT 100 WHEN I DRIVE. APPARENTLY GOOGLING THIS, IT APPEARS TO BE A MASSIVE PROBLEM AND NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED. THE DEALER TOLD ME A BAD CLUSTER AT $650 TO REPAIR. THIS NEEDS TO BE ESCALATED AND CHEVROLET NEEDS TO COVER THIS PROBLEM. IT IS AN EXTREME HAZARD ON THE ROAD, AND PROBABLY HAS CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES BECAUSE OF FAULTY READINGS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO TO GET RESOLUTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ALL FAILED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, THERMOMETER, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,286.
I WAS DRIVING MY 03 TAHOE, WHEN AN EXPLOSION WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. MY ENTIRE BACK END OF MY TAHOE WAS LITERALLY BLOW TO BITS. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE AROUND ME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE POLICE DEPT. THEY WERE SHOCKED TO SEE THE CONDITION OF MY VEHICLE AND SAID IT LOOKED TO THEM, THAT IT WAS A CHEVY MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY RIGHT AWAY. THEY CAME OUT AND TOWED THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ALSO SHOCKED TO SEE THE DAMAGE, AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT OR WHY IT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER ASSESSING ALL THE DAMAGE THEY FOUND IT WOULD COST $2000 TO FIX THE DAMAGE. INS. SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO COVER THE DAMAGE, WE HAD TO PAY A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. I HAVE FIVE KIDS WHO ARE NORMALLY IN THE TRUCK WITH ME, THANK GOD THAT MORNING, THEY WERE NOT. GLASS WAS BLOWN ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY TRUCK, THE NOISE ALONE WOULD HAVE DAMAGED THEIR EARS, MINE WERE RINGING ALL DAY. I ALSO CONTACTED CHEVY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. I SPOKE WITH AN AGENT THERE WHO AS NO HELP, ASKED TO SPEAK TO HER SUPERVISOR, AND SHE WAS NO HELP. I THEN ASKED FOR WHOEVER WAS ABOVE HER, AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO HELP ME. I ASKED FOR A NAME, A PHONE NUMBER, AN EMAIL ANYTHING FOR SOMEONE WITH MORE AUTHORITY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO ONE. THIS IS WRONG! WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN I95, OR WHAT IF I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME?? THEN ID BE SUING CHEVY FOR MILLIONS! IM ASKING IS THAT THEY COVER THE $500 DEDUCTIBLE SINCE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS WASN'T NORMAL WEAR AND TARE, THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND ISN'T COVERED. THIS IS CRAZY! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CHEVY DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM SENDING PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE HOW HORRIBLE THIS WAS. THIS WASN'T JUST THE BACK GLASS SHATTERED, THIS WAS LIKE A BOMB LITERALLY BLEW OFF MY BACK DOOR, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHEVY NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED AND WOULD ONLY EMIT EXTREMELY HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BLOWER RESISTER AND PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 05/21/12
I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS GM DOES NOT CARE. MY SPEEDOMETER IS NEVER CORRECT. IT RUNS 20-30 MPH OVER (AND SOMETIMES UNDER) WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING. THIS FIRST WAS NOTICED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO (PRIOR TO ACTUALLY FAILING) WHEN IT APPEARED THAT THE NEEDLE WOULD JERK (OR STEP ACTION) UP OR DOWN, I KNOW CHEVROLET SENT OUT A NOTICE ON THIS A YEAR OR SO AGO, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THEIR (GM) MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. I FEEL THAT THEIR "BEAN COUNTERS" KNEW THIS AT THE TIME AND IT WAS AGAINST THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. ANYWAY, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN BY NOT ONLY GM, BUT DOT AS WELL SIMPLY ON THE FACT THAT ONE DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING. IF CAUGHT OFF GUARD - THINKING THEY ARE GOING 70 MPH BUT DOING 90 MPH, LOOSE CONTROL OR RUN INTO SOMEONE. ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, DOING 70 MPH, GLANCE DOWN AND SEE THAT THEY ARE DOING 90 MPH, THEY MAY HIT THE BRAKE TOO HARD TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOSE CONTROL OR GET REAR ENDED. I COULD GO ON MORE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY NOT HELP (EXCEPT ADD TO THE PILES OF COMPLAINTS YOU ARE ALREADY RECEIVING), SO I'LL QUIT FOR NOW. THANK YOU AND PLEASE "LIGHT A FIRE" UNDER GM'S CORPORATE PEOPLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OVER THIS. *TR
2003 TAHOE HAS A DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER - GM REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER THEIR "SPECIAL COVERAGE" BECAUSE THAT COVERAGE EXPIRED AT 80,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE IS SETUP WITH A TOW PACKAGE ALLOWING YOU TO TOW UP TO 7,000 POUNDS. IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW YOUR SPEED WHEN TOWING A TRAILER OR YOU CAN EASILY LOOSE CONTROL. MY SPEEDOMETER IS CURRENTLY STUCK AT 10 MILES PER HOUR. GM HAS DIAGNOSED AND STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS DEFECTIVE. GM DOES NOT CONSIDER A SPEEDOMETER TO BE A SAFETY DEVICE, BUT BECAUSE THEY PROMOTE THIS VEHICLE WITH A "TOW PACKAGE" SPEED BECOMES A MUCH MORE CRITICAL FACTOR IN VEHICLE OPERATION. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED - INDICATING INCORRECT SPEED. FOR EXAMPLE, DRIVING THROUGH TOWN AT THE NORMAL FLOW OF TRAFFIC (20-30 MPH) THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATES 50+ MPH. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026