2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine Problems

I BROUGHT IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE TO CUTTER CHEVROLET IN HONOLULU, HAWAII TO REPORT AN "ENGINE LIGHT ON" CONCERN. SERVICE ADVISOR JULIANNA PARKS REPORTED THAT THE ISSUE MAY BE ATTRIBUTE TO (2) BROKEN EXHAUST BOLTS ON MY VEHICLE'S 5.3 LITER MFI IRON V8 ENGINE. CUTTER CHEVROLET IS AT 711 ALA MOANA BOULEVARD, HONOLULU, HI 96813. IN FOLLOWING UP TODAY OCTOBER 18, 2017, SHOP MANAGER BRAD EISEN REPORTED THAT THESE BOLTS BREAKING IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR SUCH ISSUES. CUTTER CHEVROLET HAS HAD MY VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 01, 2017 AND REPORTED THAT IN ADDITION TO MY $500+ INSPECTION COSTS, THAT MY COSTS FOR REPAIR THUS FAR HAS EXCEEDED $1,400.00 IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THESE BROKEN BOLTS, AND THAT THEY EXPECT THE FINAL COST TO BE MUCH HIGHER BY THE TIME THEY ARE DONE AS THEY HAVE TO CONTRACT A SPECIALIST MECHANIC FROM ANOTHER TOWN TO COME INTO THE CUTTER CHEVROLET REPAIR SHOP THIS COMING SATURDAY OCTOBER 21, 2017 TO MEET WITH MANAGER MS. TINA TO DO SPECIAL WORK TO REMOVE THESE BROKEN BOLTS. THIS IS RIPOFF BY GM TO HAVE SUCH SUB-QUALITY EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING OFF. HELP!!!! GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS!

ON NOVEMBER 5, 2015, I TOOK MY 2003 TAHOE IN DUE TO THE FACT THAT AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF DRIVING. I BOUGHT MY TAHOE NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICE AT THE MCCARTHY-MORRIS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON OVERLAND PARK, KS. I REALIZE THAT OVER TIME PARTS ON A VEHICLE WILL BREAK AND AT 118,000 MILES I SHOULD EXPECT TO INCUR MAINTENANCE EXPENSES. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY RESEARCH GM USED A SUBSTANDARD BOLT AND THIS ISSUE IMPACTS MILLIONS OF GM V8 MOTORS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, I HAD THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK HAVING EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CAB OF MY VEHICLE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS TYPE OF EXHAUST LEAK COULD HAVE EPA IMPLICATIONS AS WELL. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO PULL THE HEAD BECAUSE ONE OF THE TWO BOLTS THAT SHEARED OFF WAS FLUSH WITH THE HEAD AND HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT. TOTAL COST WAS $1,381.07. THE SAD FACT IS THAT AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK, IT IS RUNNING ROUGH AND CHANCE ARE I WILL HAVE TO RETURN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. I CONTEND THAT WHEN MAJOR REPAIRS LIKE THIS ARE DONE, THE VEHICLE IS SELDOM THE SAME. IT TOOK 5 DAYS TO GET IT BACK DO TO THE WEEKEND. IF THE NHTSA WON'T TAKE ANY ACTIONS OVER CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXHAUST LEAK, I HOPE SOME LAW FIRM MIGHT CONSIDER STARTING A CLASS ACTION SUIT. I HAVE NO ISSUE PAYING FOR REPAIRS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT THAT RESULTED FROM CHEVROLET USING A SUBSTANDARD BOLT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.

I AM ONE OF MILLIONS OF 1999-2007 CHEVROLET V8 TRUCK ENGINE OWNERS, WHO IS TOLD BY THEIR GM MECHANIC THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT(S) HAS BROKEN, LEADING TO EXPENSES RANGING FROM $500 TO $1,500. GM BUILT THE ENGINES WITH SUBSTANDARD BOLTS THAT DO NOT LAST IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE. ONE OR MORE WILL BREAK, WHICH CAUSES AN EXHAUST LEAK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THEREFORE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE AS IT CANNOT PASS STATE EMISSIONS TESTS. ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THE EXHAUST LEAKS ARE NEAR OTHER SENSORS WHICH CAN CAUSE FAULTY READINGS OR UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO SELF-FIX THIS GM-CAUSED PROBLEM FACE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, AS THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO GET TO, REQUIRE A WELDER TO FIX, MAY DAMAGE SURROUNDING EQUIPMENT, ETC. THE NEED FOR A RECALL IS WELL-KNOWN AND VERY LARGE, AND IT IS TIME FOR A RECALL ON THESE, SIMILAR AS HAVE FORD AND TOYOTA HAD RECALLS ON SIMILAR ISSUES. GM SURVIVED DUE TO A BAILOUT FROM TAXPAYERS (MANY OF THEM THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS); IT IS TIME FOR GM TO PERFORM RESPONSIBLY TO A NEEDED RECALL. IN THE PICTURE, THE BROKEN-OFF BOLT HEAD IS EVIDENCED A FEW INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUSTY ONE THAT STILL EXISTS, WHERE THERE IS AN EMPTY HOLE (THE BOLT REMAINS STUCK INSIDE THE ENGINE, AND REQUIRES BORING OUT OR WELDING SOMETHING ON IN ORDER TO BACK IT OUT).

I TOOK MY 2003 CHEVY TAHOE INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF PERFORMANCE AND GAS ISSUES AND WAS TOLD I HAD 2 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED TO OVER $1000. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH GMC AND CHEVY ENGINES WITH MANY COMPLAINTS. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF MAKING THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR A DEFECT THAT EXISTS WITH THEIR PRODUCT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION WITHOUT THIS FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTINUOUSLY HEARD A TICKING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 196,000. UPDATED 10/15/12 *CN UPDATED 10/23/2012 *JS

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.

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING LEAVING STUDS IN THE HEADS, HEATING UP ENGINE COMPARTMENTS, RELEASES CARBON MONOXIDE, AFFECTS O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS IN SOME STATES. GM NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS 1999-2008 ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. GM MECHANICS DENYING ANY SUCH ISSUES. PLEASE CHECK- IN TO THIS. OUR WHOLE FLEET AND OUR PERSONAL TRUCKS AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR

THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED THE CAR'S POWER TO ONLY BE ABLE TO GO 20 MPH. I DID REACH 30 MPH WITH A DOWN-SLOPE. I WAS VERY SCARED AND HAD MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE WITH MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. THE ENGINE'S POWER JUST PULLED BACK WITHOUT WARNING! I AM TAKING THE CAR TO BE SERVICED TOMORROW BUT CANNOT FATHOM TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED!

BOUGHT VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2009 USED AFTER DRIVING TRUCK FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS WE REALIZED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT MOVING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THEN AFTER THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOVE UP IN SPEED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BUT THEN STAY AT THE 30MPH WHEN STOPPED ONCE THE CAR WOULD BEGIN MOVING AGAIN THE SPEED WOULD CONTINUE TO GO UP FROM THE 30MPH MARK RESULTING IN THE SPEEDOMETER READING 60MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY ONLY GOING 30MPH. THIS HAS CONTINUED EVERY DAY SINCE IT WAS NOTICED SO WHEN DRIVING THE CAR YOU NEVER KNOW HOW FAST THE CAR IS ACTUALLY TRAVELING. *TR

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND DASH SAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. VEHICLE WILL ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR. UPON RESEARCHING THIS THROUGH VARIOUS INTERNET WEBSITES, THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS AND IS HAPPENING TO A HUGE AMOUNT OF 2003 TAHOE OWNER'S AND IT'S ALWAYS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM - YET GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. ON A SIDE NOTE, HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY DIM. *TR

A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE ON MY 2003 CHEVY TAHOE REVEALED BROKEN METAL PIECES. CORMIER CHEVROLET WHO IS MY SERVICE/PURCHASE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE DEBRIS CAME FROM 3 BROKEN ROCKER ARMS. CORMIER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, 3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF AGAIN. THIS TIME CORMIER REPLACED ALL 16 ROCKER ARMS, BUT I HAD TO PAY A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. *TR I FEEL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY AND/OR PARTS. ESPECIALLY WHEN MY VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 98% OF THE TIME ON LOCAL ROADS ONLY, AND HAS JUST 35,015 TOTAL MILES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW.

AIR CONDITIONER, COMPRESSOR, CLUTCH AND BELT TENSIONOR ON CHEVROLET TAHOE. BELT TENSIONOR BREAKS LOCKING UP CAUSING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH TO SIEZE THEN CAUSING COMPRESSOR TO DISENTERGRATE INTERNALLY SHOOTING INTERNAL COMPONENTS THRU ACCUMALATOR AND INSIDE VEHICLE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. SERPENTINE BELT TENSTSIONOR COULD CAUSE BELT TO BREAK WHICH DRIVES THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TO INCLUDE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHEVROLET MODELS, HOWEVER IT MAY ONLY BEGIN HAVING THE PROBLEM AT 3-4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THEREFORE APPEARING TO BE A NORMAL BREAKDOWN OF COMPONENTS. THE PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH THE DEALERS AND EXPERIENCED MECHANICS MAINTAIN THE PARTS AS BASIC STOCKED ITEMS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE RUMBLED AND MADE NOISE WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER/MECHANIC 5 TIMES, THEY REPLACED THE MUFFLER, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING.*MR ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A HIGH SPEED TWICE DURING THE LAST BREAK DOWN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE DEALERSHIP HELP IN ASSISTING WITH VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE *CB

EVER SINCE PURCHASING MY CHEVROLET TAHOE LT BRAND-NEW IN AUGUST OF 2003, THE MUFFLER AND/OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS MADE AN EXPLODING SOUND BOTH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND AFTER IT IS SHUT OFF. AT STOPLIGHTS AND AFTER BEING PARKED, YOU BOTH HEAR AND FEEL EXPLOSIONS FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. GM CONTENDS THE SOUND IS STEAM BUILDING UP IN THE MUFFLER AND EXPLODING, BUT ADMITS IT IS NOT A "NORMAL" BACKFIRE, AND STATES THAT SOME TAHOES DO IT, AND SOME DO NOT. THEY HAVE RELEASED TWO SEPARATE FIXES FOR THE PROBLEM BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE, AND THE LAST ONE CAME OUT OVER A YEAR AGO. OFFICIAL GM POLICY PROHIBITS REPLACING ANY MUFFLERS/EXHAUST SYSTEMS ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING THIS PROBLEM - OWNERS ARE SIMPLY TOLD THE EXPLOSIONS ARE NORMAL. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, GM REPLACED MY MUFFLER, AND THE SECOND ONE DOES THE SAME THING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS AN ALARMING SOUND AND FEELING TO HAVE IN A NEW VEHICLE, AND LOGIC DICTATES THAT STEAM EXPLOSIONS INSIDE A METAL BOX CAN ONLY GO ON FOR SO LONG BEFORE SERIOUS DAMAGE IS DONE (I.E. THE MUFFLER ITSELF EXPLODES NEAR THE GAS TANK.) I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE NHTSA CAN DO, BUT ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE IS MOST WELCOME.*AK

WE HAVE A 2003 TAHOE WITH A 5.3L V8. THERE IS A HISSING NOISE AND A VIBRATING IN THE ENGINE AFTER RUNNING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIX IT AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH THE A/C BUT THEY REPLACED COMPRESSOR AND BELT AND IT STILL MAKES THE NOISE.*AK

"REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE DISPLAYED 3 TIMES WITHIN 4100 MILES OF BRAND NEW TAHOE. ON 4TH VISIT, DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY WITH A NEW ONE AT 4366 MILES. *JB

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED, WHICH WAS DUE TO A LOOSE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*JB