There are 10 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FRONT DASHBOARD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
MY PAINT IS POPPING OFF IN LARGE AND SMALL AREAS.
HATCHBACK LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
YOU CAN NOT LOWER THE SPARE TIRE,UNDER THE VEHICLE,THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE PART THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE HAS A SPRING LOADED LOCK ON IT THAT CANNOT RELEASE BECAUSE OF A BAD DESIGN OFF IT,THEIR IS A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE ABOUT IT (GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT IT) YOU NEED TO CUT THE TIRE DOWN WITH A CUTTING TORCH, THIS IS A BAD IDEA AROUND A GAS TANK, I CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW MAD I AM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF THAT MANY CUSS WORDS,AND IT IS GOING INTO HEART A TACK MODE, I WOULD LOVE TO MEET THE ENGINEER THAT DESIGNED THIS, AND HAVE HIM CHANGE THE TIRE, FIRST YOU NEED A TOW TRUCK THEN A SHOP WITH A LIFT THEN TWO MECHANICS IF NOT THREE AND YOU THEN NEED A TRANSMISSION JACK TO PUT UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE TIRE TO RELEASE THE TENSION OF THE LOCKING DEVICE THAT HOLDS THE TIRE, AFTER YOU LET THE AIR OUT OF THE TIRE, I CAN OVERHAUL THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO THIS OR ANY OTHER CAR,BUT THIS IS A BIG BIG MISTAKE IN DESIGN,CAN YOU IMAGINE A LADY HAVING TO CHANGE A TIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! IF A MECHANIC (MALE OR FEMALE) CANT DO IT,HOW CAN THE AVERAGE CONSUMER, DO IT? AND WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN A RECALL,I KNOW WHY IT HASN'T BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR IT AND FORGET IT,WELL I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT LOOKING FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS AND SONS HAVE ALL BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM,BUT IT CAN'T BE DONE ON THIS VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER CHEVY VEHICLE OF THIS MAKE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU CAN NOT DO THIS SAFELY,NO I DON'T HAVE A FLAT TIRE EITHER I WAS JUST EXPLAINING TO THE WIFE THAT IT MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT SO I WANTED HER TO SEE IT JUST INCASE SHE HAD A PROBLEM AND SHE WOULD BE PREPARED ON HOW TO HANDLE IT (WRONG) IT SHOULD TAKE TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES TO DO, CAN'T BE DONE,AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IT PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR
RETURNED TO A FRIENDS FROM A TRIP TO ACCESS MY VEHICLE AND HEAD FOR HOME. BRAKES PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE A LITTLE, CAR WOULDN'T STOP WITH EITHER THE BRAKE OR EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL FORWARD INTO A STEEP EMBANKMENT IN FRONT OF MY FRIEND'S HOME. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED BUT NEEDED ALL THE BRAKES REPAIRED AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REPLACED. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WAITING TO HEAR FROM MY CLAIMS ADJUSTER. *TR
RIGHT HINGE ON REAR HATCH DEBONDED GLASS LOOSE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE C1500. SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS WAS LOOSE AND MADE A NOISE WHENEVER IT WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE LIFT GATE HINGE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LIFT GATE ASSEMBLY AND GLASS WITH A NEWLY DESIGN LIFT GATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
PLASTIC/RUBBER ATTACHING HINGE ON REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW CRACKED, SEPARATING GLASS WINDOW FROM BODY. REPORTED TO CHEVROLET ON 6/3/2010. THEY HAD ME TAKE TO WILLIAMS CHEVROLET TO INSPECT ON 6/4 AND SAID THEY WOULD CALL BACK THAT AFTERNOON WITH A CONCLUSION. SERVICE MANAGER FIRST SAID ADHESIVE FAILED, THEN PART WAS MISSING THAT ATTACHES HINGE. NO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL ARE MISSING, TWO SIDES FIT BACK TOGETHER WITH A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE. HINGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY PHYSICAL ATTACHMENT TO GLASS OTHER THAN MOLDED RUBBER THAT BONDS TO GLASS, SANDWICHING HINGE IN-BETWEEN. DEALER INSPECTED OTHER HINGE AND FOUND IT TO BE CRACKING ALSO. CHEVROLET DIDN'T CALL ME BACK, I HAD TO CALL ALMOST DAILY AND LEAVE MESSAGES UNTIL FINALLY SOMEONE CALLED ON 6/30 AND SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT BE A DEFECT AND GENERAL MOTORS WOULD NOT ASSIST IN RESOLVING THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 55,000 MILES ON IT. I FIND A FAILURE LIKE THIS TO TOO SOON IN A VEHICLES LIFE AND APPEAR TO BE EITHER A FLAW IN THE FASTENER DESIGN OR ASSEMBLY. *TR
ONE OF THE PLASTIC HINGES TO THE REAR LIFT GATE/REAR WINDOW OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE SEPARATED, AND NOW THE REAR WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. THIS IS A KIN TO A PASSENGER DOOR COMING APART. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS REASONABLE FOR A DOOR TO A VEHICLE TO FAIL AFTER THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF USE IT GETS, AND THE AGE AND WEAR TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP, GORDON CHEVROLET (TAMPA, FLORIDA), TOLD ME THAT THE WHOLE LIFT GATE/REAR WINDOW WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE PART (15847109) IS ONE UNIT. THE COST IS AN INCREDIBLE $855.55 FOR THE PART, $96.98 FOR LABOR, SHOP SUPPLIES, AND TAX WHICH BRINGS THE COST OF REPLACING CHEVROLET'S DEFECTIVE PART TO OVER $1,000.00. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AIR COMES THOUGH THE SIDE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
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 25, 2026