← New search

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

What owners actually said

507 reports
135,500 miles · Aug 17, 2013
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE BRAKES BECAME SOFT, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING POWER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP WITHOUT COLLISION OR INJURY. BRAKE FLUID WAS DRIPPING ALL OVER. TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, BUT APPEARS THAT BRAKE LINE H…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE BRAKES BECAME SOFT, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING POWER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP WITHOUT COLLISION OR INJURY. BRAKE FLUID WAS DRIPPING ALL OVER. TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, BUT APPEARS THAT BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WILL NEED REPLACEMENT. FOUND INFORMATION ON-LINE THAT BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION ON THESE VEHICLES AS IT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535878

69,000 miles · Aug 4, 2013
Service Brakes

I STARTED THE VEHICLE ON 2/27/13 TO GO TO AN AFTERNOON WEDDING. BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AND SOUND ALARM WENT OFF - NO BRAKES. BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. THANK GOODNESS THE BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN MY WIFE HAD GONE TO A LUNCHEON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON MONDAY (7/29/13) TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP. INSPEC…

Read full complaint

I STARTED THE VEHICLE ON 2/27/13 TO GO TO AN AFTERNOON WEDDING. BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AND SOUND ALARM WENT OFF - NO BRAKES. BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. THANK GOODNESS THE BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN MY WIFE HAD GONE TO A LUNCHEON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON MONDAY (7/29/13) TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES PLUS RUSTED FRONT ROTORS AND BACK PLATES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT A COST OF OVER $3500.00. RUSTED REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO. AS A LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER, I NEVER, EVER HAD A PROBLEM, SUCH AS THIS, WITH BRAKE LINES AND COMPONENTS. THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE, FOR ITS AGE, AND NEVER DRIVEN IN THE SNOW OR ON SALTY ROADWAYS. I AM VERY SKEPTICAL OF PURCHASING ANOTHER GM PRODUCT IF THEY INSIST ON USING INFERIOR PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533491

93,400 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Service Brakes

BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A RUPTURE IN THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED BY RUST. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE LEFT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533001

40,000 miles · Jul 29, 2013
Service Brakes

I HAD DRIVEN TO A DOCTORS OFFICE AND PARKED IN THE LOT. I CAME OUT, STARTED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. I HAD THE EN…

Read full complaint

I HAD DRIVEN TO A DOCTORS OFFICE AND PARKED IN THE LOT. I CAME OUT, STARTED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. I HAD THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE LINE REPLACED. ON JUNE 24TH 2013, I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I WAS GOING 40 MILES PER HOUR, CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT TURNED YELLOW, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WENT THROUGH THE LIGHT AND MANAGED TO STOP USING THE LOWER TRANSMISSION GEARS AND FINALLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD THE LINE REPAIRED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. THE LINE RUSTED THROUGH NEAR THE ABS UNIT. THE TRUCK HAD JUST OVER FIFTY THOUSAND MILES AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532444

135,000 miles · Jul 24, 2013
Electrical SystemFire

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 RE…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10531584

155,104 miles · Jul 18, 2013
Service Brakes

WHILE TRAVELING ON A 4 LANE US HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC CONDITIONS REQUIRED A RAPID DECELERATION FROM 55MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. THE VEHICLE SLOWED NORMALLY, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED MUCH FURTHER THAN USUAL. WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS DUE TO THE ABS ACTIVATION, THE TRIP WAS CONTINUED. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILE…

Read full complaint

WHILE TRAVELING ON A 4 LANE US HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC CONDITIONS REQUIRED A RAPID DECELERATION FROM 55MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. THE VEHICLE SLOWED NORMALLY, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED MUCH FURTHER THAN USUAL. WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS DUE TO THE ABS ACTIVATION, THE TRIP WAS CONTINUED. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES LATER A DOWNHILL SLOPING EXIT WAS TAKEN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WENT FULL TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, A RED 'BRAKES' LIGHT ON THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL ILLUMINATED, THE DRIVER MESSAGE CENTER READ 'SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM' AND AN AUDIBLE CHIME SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING RAPIDLY ENOUGH FOR THE SPACE REMAINING SO THE PARKING / EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE OFF-RAMP, BUT FORTUNATELY, THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE PAST THE STOP POINT INTO AN ADJOINING ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR OTHER DRIVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE, UPON INSPECTION A STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES FORWARD OF THE ABS VALVE BODY. COINCIDENTALLY, THREE OTHER LINES IN THE SAME AREA WERE IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525671

31,349 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN IT FELT SPONGY AND STOCKED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A NEAR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION.THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE BRAKE LINES WHICH WERE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN IT FELT SPONGY AND STOCKED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A NEAR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION.THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE BRAKE LINES WHICH WERE CORRODED WITH HOLES THAT CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,349. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500.

NHTSA ODI #10525112

83,978 miles · Jul 5, 2013
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON 2003 TAHOE NEAR THE SPARE TIRE. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE LINE PRESSURE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS ~ 84,000 MILES. VEHICLE OPERATED IN OHIO AND MASSACHUSETTS. REFERENCE EXISTING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (EA11001) ON CHEVROLET VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523240

114,201 miles · Jun 23, 2013
Service Brakes

JUST HOOKED UP MY BOAT AND TRAILER AND PROCEEDED TO HEAD OUT MY LANE, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A MESSAGE CAME ON DASH TO SERVICE BRAKES. I GOT MY WIFE TO PRESS ON BRAKES WHILE I LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE, BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING DOWN ON GROUND. WHEN I SAW THE STEEL LINE WAS RUSTED AND BURST I WONDERED IF THIS …

Read full complaint

JUST HOOKED UP MY BOAT AND TRAILER AND PROCEEDED TO HEAD OUT MY LANE, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A MESSAGE CAME ON DASH TO SERVICE BRAKES. I GOT MY WIFE TO PRESS ON BRAKES WHILE I LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE, BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING DOWN ON GROUND. WHEN I SAW THE STEEL LINE WAS RUSTED AND BURST I WONDERED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM SO I LOOKED FOR A NOTICE OR RECALL. I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INVESTIGATED SEVERAL TIME BUT NO NOTICE OR RECALL SENT OUT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I HAVE HAD OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT HAD SEVERE RUST PROBLEMS. MY AVALANCHE WAS RECALLED AFTER I HAD PUT ALL NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PARTS ON FROM RUST. AFTER READING OF SEVERAL OTHER FAILURES I CANT BELIEVE GM DIDN'T EVEN SEND NOTICES OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521283

125,000 miles · Jun 20, 2013
Service Brakes

REAR BRAKE LINE BURST... FLUID LEAKING AND NO BRAKES!!! THIS IS DANGEROUS... LUCKY I WAS GOING SLOW WHEN THIS LINE BURST... BRAKE LINES COMPLETELY RUSTED.. THIS TRUCK IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD, BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED... GM NEEDS TO USE BETTER STEEL... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520822

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.