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2003 Chevrolet Tahoe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tahoe years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe are substantially higher than the model-year median of 246.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

408 reports with mileage · 99 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 193 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports9 fire reports13 injury reports

Steering complaints

52 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2005
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainSteering

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE Z71 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SHAKES AND RATTLES TO THE POINT OF HAVING SLACK IN IT. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY GREASED IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY GREASED IT AGAIN. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BECAUSE IT WAS ON A RECALL. …

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DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE Z71 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SHAKES AND RATTLES TO THE POINT OF HAVING SLACK IN IT. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY GREASED IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY GREASED IT AGAIN. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BECAUSE IT WAS ON A RECALL. CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT A YEAR BEFORE THEY COULD GET THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED EVEN AFTER THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SAME AREA BUT, THE NOISE WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND IT WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT IT MAY BE IN THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO, FUEL PUMP FAILED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT CONSUMER FELT THEY WERE MINOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10129565

23,000 miles · Apr 27, 2005
Steering

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 04 WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, HEARD POPPING NOISE FROM FRONT END AND COULD FEEL A VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING. TOKK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, ADDED LUBRICANT TO FRONT END AND NOISE/VIBRATION STOPPED FOR A FEW MONTHS. REPEATED THE LUBRICANT PROCES TWO MORE TIMES. NOW REPLACING TIE RODS.

NHTSA ODI #10118594

10,300 miles · Feb 8, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. NECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS/ TANSMISSION, AND INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT, BUT VIBRATION CONTINUED. THERE WAS NO FINAL SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111088

28,400 miles · Feb 7, 2005
Steering

THIS COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. HEARD SOME NOISE IN THE STEERING FROM THE DAY HE BOUGHT THE 2003 TAHOE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. THE CLANKING NOISE ONLY STARTED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, AND BECAME WORSE QUICKLY. THE CLANKING NOISE COULD BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AT SLOWER SP…

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THIS COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. HEARD SOME NOISE IN THE STEERING FROM THE DAY HE BOUGHT THE 2003 TAHOE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. THE CLANKING NOISE ONLY STARTED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, AND BECAME WORSE QUICKLY. THE CLANKING NOISE COULD BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AT SLOWER SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 1/03/05 WITH 28,400 MILES, AND DEALER KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AS EARLY AS 5,000 MILES. THEY REMOVED THE STEERING SHAFT, PACKED IT WITH GREASE, AND THE CLANKING NOISE STOPPED. WHEN NOT UNDER WARRANTY THE REPAIRS WOULD COST BETWEEN $75- S100. RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A STEERING SHAFT WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10106750

7,862 miles · Jan 27, 2005
Air BagsSteeringSuspensionCrashInjury

THE STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR A POPPING NOISE AND LOOSE STEERING. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND LUBED AND THE FRONT LOWER CROSSMEMBER WAS TIGHTENED. THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHIC…

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THE STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR A POPPING NOISE AND LOOSE STEERING. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND LUBED AND THE FRONT LOWER CROSSMEMBER WAS TIGHTENED. THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE LOST CONTROL . THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE, END OVER END THE SIDE OVER SIDE ONE AND A HALF TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE NOTIFIED OF HOW MANY OF THESE STEERING, BRAKING AND OR OTHER PROBLEMS INCURRED WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110934

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2005
Steering

2003 TAHOE DEVELOPED A NOISE IN THE STEERING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BE CHEVROLET THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10127991

153 miles · Jan 15, 2005
Power TrainSeatsSteering

1. KNOCKING IN FRONT END, INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT IS OUT. I HAVE BEEN ON WAITING LIST SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003 AND STILL NOT FIXED.(IN A WRECK THIS COMPONENT IS WHAT KEEPS THE STEERING ROD FROM PROJECTING INTO THE CAB; PER CHEVROLET MECHANIC). 2. SEPT. 2003 TRANSMISSION: GRINDING/VIBRATING SOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF VEHICLE (THINK …

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1. KNOCKING IN FRONT END, INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT IS OUT. I HAVE BEEN ON WAITING LIST SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003 AND STILL NOT FIXED.(IN A WRECK THIS COMPONENT IS WHAT KEEPS THE STEERING ROD FROM PROJECTING INTO THE CAB; PER CHEVROLET MECHANIC). 2. SEPT. 2003 TRANSMISSION: GRINDING/VIBRATING SOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF VEHICLE (THINK THIS IS MY TORQUE CONVERTER), NEUTRAL POSITION FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND WHILE DRIVING. BEEN IN SHOP ON 2 OCCASIONS AND STILL NOT FIXED, MECHANIC SAYS THE VEHICLE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW ANY PROBLEMS, SO THEY WON'T FIX IT! 3.FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAKING. JAN. 2004 TO BE FIXED WHEN STEERING SHAFT GETS FIXED! 4. PASSENGER HEATERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. NOV. 2003 STILL NOT FIXED 5. FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WON'T HOLD MEMORY SETTINGS. NOV. 2003 STILL NOT FIXED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10106415

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2004
Air BagsSteeringSuspensionCrashInjury

THE STEERING MADE POPPING NOISES AND THE STEERING FELT LOOSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT SUSPENSION. *NM THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110889

18,000 miles · Nov 26, 2004
Steering

CLUNKING NOISE AND FEEL IN STEERING - LOOSE STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10100570

18,000 miles · Nov 23, 2004
Steering

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY IN IT AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THE WHEELS CLUNK. I TOOK MY TAHOE IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IN SEPT. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS ORDERED THEN. I STILL DO NOT HAVE IT FIXED. THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER. WITH 178,00 NEEDED IN THE US. I HAVE TAKEN THE…

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INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY IN IT AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THE WHEELS CLUNK. I TOOK MY TAHOE IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IN SEPT. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS ORDERED THEN. I STILL DO NOT HAVE IT FIXED. THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER. WITH 178,00 NEEDED IN THE US. I HAVE TAKEN THE TAHOE BACK IN TO HAVE IT GREASED TO MAKE IT STOP CLUNKING AGAIN. IT WORKS BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. I AM A MOTHER OF ONE AND HAVE ANOTHER ON THE WAY. THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORATION AND I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100406

Official recalls

4

05V163000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Apr 22, 2005

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.

04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Feb 4, 2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

03V094000 · Structure

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

03V037000 · Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments

Feb 6, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH FOUR WELDS ON THE REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, ONE OR TWO OF THE WELDS MAY NOT BE TO SPECIFICATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR STRENGTH MAY BE DEGRADED DURING A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS ON THE LEFT REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. IF A WELD IS FOUND OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, A BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED TO SECURE THE HINGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 17, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

EA11001 · Brake Line Corrosion Failure

Opened Jan 5, 2011 · Closed Apr 8, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

DP05009 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Dec 20, 2005 · Closed May 31, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake; Parking Brake:conventional; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Parking Brake:conventional

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Parking Brake

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

PE03026 · Steel Wheel Rim Fracture

Opened Jun 12, 2003 · Closed Nov 3, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels; Wheels:multi Piece; Wheels:rim

THERE HAVE BEEN LESS THAN 2 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 SUBJECT VEHICLES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE OLDEST VEHICLES (MY 1999) HAVE ONLY 2 COMPLAINTS IN OVER 140 THOUSAND VEHICLES AFTER OVER 4 YEARS IN SERVICE.THE RATE OF WARRANTY CLAIMS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS LESS THAN 0.1%.THERE ARE NO KNOWN INCIDENTS INVOLVING RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Wheels

THERE HAVE BEEN LESS THAN 2 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 SUBJECT VEHICLES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE OLDEST VEHICLES (MY 1999) HAVE ONLY 2 COMPLAINTS IN OVER 140 THOUSAND VEHICLES AFTER OVER 4 YEARS IN SERVICE.THE RATE OF WARRANTY CLAIMS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS LESS THAN 0.1%.THERE ARE NO KNOWN INCIDENTS INVOLVING RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Wheels:multi Piece

THERE HAVE BEEN LESS THAN 2 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 SUBJECT VEHICLES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE OLDEST VEHICLES (MY 1999) HAVE ONLY 2 COMPLAINTS IN OVER 140 THOUSAND VEHICLES AFTER OVER 4 YEARS IN SERVICE.THE RATE OF WARRANTY CLAIMS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS LESS THAN 0.1%.THERE ARE NO KNOWN INCIDENTS INVOLVING RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Wheels:rim

THERE HAVE BEEN LESS THAN 2 COMPLAINTS PER 100,000 SUBJECT VEHICLES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE OLDEST VEHICLES (MY 1999) HAVE ONLY 2 COMPLAINTS IN OVER 140 THOUSAND VEHICLES AFTER OVER 4 YEARS IN SERVICE.THE RATE OF WARRANTY CLAIMS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS LESS THAN 0.1%.THERE ARE NO KNOWN INCIDENTS INVOLVING RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.