2003 GMC Envoy Powertrain & Transmission Problems

SHIFT CABLE BROKE BETWEEN THE SHIFTER AND THE TRANSMISSION WHILE SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE TO PARK ON A STREET. IF THIS HAD HAPPEN WHILE SHIFTING DOWN GEAR TO LOWER SPEED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL, A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE HAPPEN THAT WOULD HAVE LED TO A CRASH WITH EXTREME PROPERTY DAMAGE AND MOST LIKELY DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET IN MARLOW HEIGHTS MARYLAND FOR REPAIR AFTER THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER MANUALLY SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE TOW DRIVER TO DO IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN FACING DOWN HILL OR IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION. FOR SOME REASON, HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE STILL HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED NOR HAVE I'VE BEEN GIVEN A REASON AS TO WHY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY 360. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AFTER AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SHIFT GEARS FROM DRIVE TO PARK . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES MANUAL SWITCH FOR 2HI,AWD,4HI,4LOW. THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE USED VEHICLE FROM FIXED THE ISSUE RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE AND I'M HAVING ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. I TRY TO SELECT ANYTHING BESIDES 2HI AND THE SELECTOR WILL JUST CONTINUE TO BLINK ON THE SELECTION WITHOUT ANY ACTION. SOMETIMES THE SERVICE 4WD WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. THIS SEEMS LIKE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE/COMPLAINT OF OTHER ENVOY OWNERS ONLINE. *TR

THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR CABLE BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THERE IS A SMALL PLASTIC BUSHING THAT BECAME BRITTLE AND FELL OFF CAUSING THE FAILURE OF THE CABLE TO MAINTAIN A CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO BECOME LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION AND UNABLE TO BE MOVED INTO ANY OTHER DRIVE. WHILE I WAS IN A SAFE LOCATION, I'M CONCERNED THAT OTHER DRIVERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WILL BECOME STRANDED IN LOCATIONS THAT ARE NOT SAFE. I CONDUCTED A RECALL SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS ITEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I PLACED A CALL TO GENERAL MOTORS AND LODGED A COMPLAINT. ACCORDING TO GM, THEY HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT ARE NOT ISSUING A RECALL AT THIS TIME. I ASKED GM TO PROVIDE ME THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THEY HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT THIS AND THEY DECLINED TO GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION. I AM SEEKING TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT, HAVE IT REVIEWED, AND DETERMINE WHETHER A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 GMC ENVOY XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A SLIGHTLY ICY ROADWAY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT, AS WELL AS A PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,630. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/09/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE RELEASED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT HOUSING. THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT HOUSING AXEL WAS BROKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

I HAVE AN 03 ENVOY SLT. THE FAN CLUTCH JUST WENT OUT 3 DAYS AGO. I HAD HEARD THE TICKING SOUND BEFORE, BUT NEVER THE LOUD AIRPLANE SOUND UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE COMPLETELY. THE DEALER WANTS $720. AFTER CALLING GM CUSTOMER SERVICE (MANNY AT 1866-952-4368, EXT. 3-2786), HE SAID BECAUSE I HAVE 119,000 MILES ON MY CAR, THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO. I LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN I EXPLAINED THIS TO GM, HE STILL DOESN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUE. MORE COMPLAINTS:- HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/CHEVROLET/TRAILBLAZER/R64655/COMMENTS/ *TR

I HAVE AN 03 ENVOY SLT. THE FAN CLUTCH JUST WENT OUT 3 DAYS AGO. I HAD HEARD THE TICKING SOUND BEFORE, BUT NEVER THE LOUD AIRPLANE SOUND UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE COMPLETELY. THE DEALER WANTS $720. AFTER CALLING GM CUSTOMER SERVICE (MANNY AT 1866-952-4368, EXT. 3-2786), HE SAID BECAUSE I HAVE 119,000 MILES ON MY CAR, THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO. I LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN I EXPLAINED THIS TO GM, HE STILL DOESN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERABLE WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 2003 GMC ENVOY WITH APPROX 95,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I WENT TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE. AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED THERE WAS A "BANG" SO I PULLED OVER TO LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK, AND MADE SURE NOTHING HAD FALLEN OFF. I GOT BACK IN THE S.U.V. AND MADE MY WAY BACK HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY THERE WAS NO REVERSE. I CALLED A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO THE SUNSHELL GEAR. ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE POST ONLINE, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE AMONG ENVOY'S AND TRAILBLAZER. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT APPEARS TO BE FINE, NOT LOW, NOT BURNT, AND STILL RED AND CLEAN. *TR

IT APPEARS THAT THE TRANSMISSION/SOLENOID FAILED. THE SUV DOES NOT ALWAYS GO INTO GEAR. SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. AFTER SUV SITS FOR A WHILE IT GOES INTO GEAR ONLY TO RESORT BACK TO AFORE MENTIONED PROBLEM. *TR

FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 2008, DRIVING TO WORK IN 2003 GMC ENVOY SLT (ORIGINAL OWNER) HEARD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. TOOK CAR IN TO SHOP FOR REPAIR (JUST OVER 50K MILES SO OUT OF WARRANTY). SHOP EXPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED $4000 WITH ONE YEAR WARRANTY. SINCE I WAS PLANNING ON DRIVING CROSS COUNTRY DECIDED TO DO THE REPAIR. ONE YEAR LATER, DRIVING AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON A RAMP TO FIND SUV STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE WHILE RPM KEPT GOING UP. ALSO HEARD CLUNKING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO GET GEARS TO SHIFT BY SLOWING DOWN AND SPEEDING UP (TO GET RPM TO DROP). DROVE CAR TO DEALER WHO STATED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION (AGAIN). DEALER REMOVED TRANSMISSION AND "FOUND INPUT BUSHING IN PUMP BAD. AND REVERSE DRUM. AND HAD HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION". WHEN ASKED WHY THIS IS MY THIRD TRANSMISSION IN SIX YEARS THE SERVICE AGENT SAID "BAD LUCK". BOTH REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS WERE REBUILDS. THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 GMC ENVOY, 80,700 MILES ORIGINAL OWNER. WHILE MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN 2ND GEAR. ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 5,000 SPEED DROPPED TO 20 MPH CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GMC DEALER, ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH GMC ENVOY TRANSMISSIONS AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NONE. THE DIAGNOSIS, MY TRANSMISSION EXPLODED INTERNALLY WITH A FAILURE OF THE SUN SHELL GEAR AND TORQUE CONVERTER. TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE REBUILT AND THE COST OF INSTALLING A RE MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WAS $3700! GM HAS BEEN HAVING THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES SINCE 2002 WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF LIABILITY! *TR

MY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL STARTED TO SEIZE UP WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. MY CAR WOULD MADE A GRUNTING NOISE AND SLOWED TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP, GOOD THING IT WAS EARLY MORNING AND THE TRAFFIC WAS NOT HEAVY. A CAR OR TRUCK COULD OF EASILY RAN INTO MY BUMPER CAUSING ME SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I CALLED THE REPAIR PLACE RIGHT AWAY AND THEY GOT ME IN IMMEDIATELY. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGNAL THERE WAS A SLIGHT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAN CLUTCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 20,000 MILES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAN CLUTCH BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. RECENTLY, THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TRADE-IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD OFFER HER A $1,400 CERTIFICATE. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS CONCERN OF A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

BOUGHT MY GMC IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR 2007. NEVER HAD TO USE THE 4X4. UNFORTUNATELY WITH 9 INCHES OF SNOW TRIED THE 4X4 FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IT DID NOT WORK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE WAS NOT WORKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A 600 ESTIMATED SERVICE. *TR

MY 2003 ENVOY WITH 68,000 WAS REAR ENDED. SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNCKING NOISE WHEN STOPPING. AFTER I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NO LONGER WOULD GO IN REVERSE. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE SUNSHELL GEAR WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FINE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE DEALER IS CLAIMING IT WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT AND THUS I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ESTIMATED $2,500 TO FIX! *TR

TRANSMISSION LINE MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER RESULTING IN RUBBING ACTION THAT RESULTED IN A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION LINE SPRAYING FLUID ON HOT EXHAUST PARTS. HAD TO PAY TO HAVE HOSE REPLACED. DON'T KNOW IF THE EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AT 73K MILES WAS RELATED, BUT HAD TO PAY $2700 TO GET A NEW ONE INSTALLED. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 2003 GMC ENVOY WITH 82,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO THE SUNSHELL GEAR WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS DOWNSHIFTING HARD, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GMC DEALER LESS THAN 1000 MILES AGO TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT. I WAS TOLD MY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1,800. *JB