I started my 2003 tahoe up to drive to york and when I stepped on the brake the pedal went all the way to the floor. We took it down the road by using the emergency brake to our local shop. They said all of the brake lines were rusted and all needed to be replaced.
2003 Chevrolet Tahoe brakes complaints
Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 113, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I own a 2003 chevy tahoe. I first begin having issues with the ABS system in 2010. The brakes would flutter before coming to a complete stop. While traveling out of state the brakes completely failed and went to the floor. I was stuck in traffic in a residential area with passengers in my car. The parking emergency brake would not work so I had to carefully drift into a parking spot using the curb as a brace. I ended up having to replace all the brakes lines which were completely corroded. I was just told by my mechanic today that the pads, rotors, backing plate, parking brake system, etc. Is all corroded and has to be replaced costing me well over $1000.00 dollars. I like my vehicle and other than the issues with the brakes it runs fine. But for such an expensive luxury vehicle to have this type of safety issue is completely unsatisfactory to the customer. To many manufacturers are cutting cost at the expense of customer safety and vehicle reliability. This matter has to be addressed quickly and a recall and/or help with cost is greatly needed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the brake lines were corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated that the brake lines would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The consumer stated when he backed up and applied the brake pedal, it went to the floor. The consumer noticed fluid leaking from the driver side front of the vehicle.
Rear brake line rusted through and lost brakes. Brake pedal went to floor losing 95% of braking ability. I wasn't in the car, wife was driving with my children. If this had been at a higher speed or going down a hill I shutter at what could have happened. Mechanic replaced 90% of the brake lines as he said they were in bad shape. Thousand dollar job. My wife's highlander (other vehicle) has 175k on it, same year and we don't have this problem, I will double check them though. I asked the mechanic if he sees a lot of toyota's in here for brake lines, nope. They use better stuff with a special coating. Mostly chevy, dodge, ford come through. You would think these manufacturers would know better with some states being in the "salt" belt.
My wife went to start the vehicle by placing foot on the brake pedal. At start-up the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and she realized she had no braking power. I crawled under the vehicle to notice a significant amount of brake fluid leaking from very corroded brake lines. Luckily, we were two blocks from a repair shop. Once at the repair shop they advised that not only were the front brake lines leaking but all of the brake lines were corroded and needed replaced immediately. This repair cost me over $815.00 on a 9 year old vehicle. I've never had brake lines go bad on any vehicle I've owned.
My brakes failed completely as I was driving home I was only able to stop by going up hill. The brake warning light did not go on until the brakes were failing. We had the car towed to our service station and had to replace the complete brake system.
I was advised by a gm technician during visit to dealer for regular maintenance to replace corroded brake lines if I intended to keep the vehicle. Cost would be approximately $2,000 to $2,500 and that I shouldn't wait too long to do so for obvious safety reasons. Service manager at this gm dealership stated that they have replaced a "ton" of them at owners' expense. My vehicle is never driven in snow or ice and I have never had to replace brake lines on any vehicle that I have owned over the past 50+ years - very disheartening.
I was driving on the highway, and a truck cut me off. I applied the brakes, and the pedal went to the floor. I was able to avoid crashing by pumping the brakes. I pulled off the side of the highway, and saw brake fluid under the truck. As I was only a few miles from home, I crawled home using the emergency brake. Upon further investigation, all of the brake lines ,from front to back, were rusted and rotted. I paid a mechanic shop to replace all of the brake lines with stainless steel lines. In all of my years of driving, I have never seen brake lines rot out after only nine years and 40,000 miles. I would like to be reimbursed by chevy for the replacement of the brake lines. A very serious accident could have occurred. And to think that just a few days before, I was driving with my family in the truck!
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.
I was driving down the street at 10 MPH and then went for my brakes and the but they were gone . Pedal went to the floor and bells started ringing and my warning system indicated (check brake system) bad brake lines.
On september 3rd, 2012 I was driving my 2003 chevy tahoe and I had just pulled into a shopping center and as I was approaching a stop sign I applied the brakes. The brake pedal went straight to the floor. I went straight through the stop sign, but, luckily there were no other vehicles at the intersection. I was able to put the vehicle into 1st gear and guide it into a parking spot away from other vehicles. When I exited the vehicle and looked under the truck, I could see all of the brake line fluid pouring out of the brake lines. The tahoe was towed to my mechanic. During the repair, the mechanic showed me all of the brake lines and they were all severely corroded. Every brake line had to be replaced. There is no other corrosion on the vehicle.
Complete failure of brake lines and calipers secondary to rust. Truck (a gm tahoe) was inspected at the dealer one month ago and passed pa inspection. Approximately 1 month later (1000 highway miles) my truck had to return to the dealer to rectify something they had previously been fixed, unrelated to the brakes. Upon picking up the truck after that repair, the brakes were applied after starting the car to put into gear and the entire break system blew. Thank goodness, the vehicle was not in motion because I would not have been able to stop. The dealer them put the car up on the lift and I was told the entire system was rusted, including all the bolts to the system. The only way to repair was to cut the entire brake line system off and replace. The rear caliper covers also began to rust, so they are also being replaced. I can provide pictures of all areas prior to repair.
The brakes failed approaching a downhill t intersection with a busy highway. A severe collision was narrowly avoided.
On the evening of july 13 my wife was driving the tahoe when the check brake warning light came on. She was able to enter our driveway and stop the vehicle. The next morning I checked the vehicle and there was no resistance on the brake pedal and the pedal went to the floor. Looking under the hood I found the brake fluid reservoir was empty. The mechanic that repaired the vehicle found the rear steel brake line rusted out. The vehicle is only 11 years old and has 116,184 miles and I feel that it is a bit premature for the brake line failure due to rust. I owned two chevrolet's and a ford product for over 20 years each and never had a problem with the steel brake lines.
Brake lines began to corrode at attachment points near all wheel wells. Of most concern is 4 brake lines mounted with steel support brackets on drivers side front wheel well. These lines are not protected from environmental conditions. The corrosion began at the support brackets in 2006 and has worked its way down the lines to the point where they need to all be replaced. This is simply bad engineering---unprotected steel placed in the most environmentally vulnerable area on the vehicle and secured with corrosion vulnerable steel clips.
Brake line failure, loss of stopping, emergency brake used to stop vehicle. Near miss accident. Brake lines behind left front wheel rusted and failed without warning.
Tahoe has 93,000 miles ,not driven that much ,live in maryland -.not that much salt.tried to come to a stop ,brake pedal failed-used emerg. Brakes to help stop. Got it home look at the lines complete rust job. All lines will have to be replace.this can't be normal,have 95 lincoln no problem-88 ford p/u no problem-93 camaro no problem and a 66 pontiac no problem .knowing the difficulty of replacing these lines ,gm should have used stainless steel lines.to me a engineering blunder/defect and should be under recall immediately before we have another toyota problem.another couple hundred dollars on $35,000 plus vehicle to protect the occupants is not much to ask.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, he applied the brakes and the vehicle would not stop. The contact crashed into another vehicle due to the lack of brakes. There were no injuries reported during the crash. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic and the mechanic stated that the brake lines were corroded. The mechanic replaced the brake lines. The failure mileage was 45,000.
Brake line rusted thru twice now. I lost most of my braking power suddenly. I was told by the local repair shop that this is common.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet tahoe. The contact was driving 20 MPH when the brakes were depressed to the floor, but the vehicle failed to stop properly. The check braking system failure light illuminated and the vehicle was taken the dealer where the dealer confirmed corrosion on the brake lines. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 55,000.
Wife and 3 year old child in vehicle when she applied brakes and heard a pop, brake pedal pressed completely to floor and vehicle had no braking power. Vehicle was coasted to a parking lot where it stopped, no dashboard warning lights activated until vehicle was completely stopped and brakes where pumped by driver. Brake line under driver side of vehicle burst. Similar to the federal safety agency action number ea11001.
Brake fluid discovered dripping from under front left frame onto driveway. Found brake line rusted and pitted and wet with fluid. Master cylinder was down approximately 10% below full mark. Many items in left side engine compartment rusted and corroded. Have experienced numerous component failures related to rust and corrosion under left side hood and chassis, ... Rear brake rotors, brake control module, brake modulator valve, corroded and stuck spare tire release cable, left front wheel bearing assembly,wind shield wiper control module replaced ,speed sensor replaced,steering shaft replaced.
Anti lock brakes activating at low speed on dry pavement, requiring harder braking effort. Also hearing four chimes when turning at low speeds.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet tahoe. While driving approximately 50 MPH the contact felt the brake pedal slightly drop. The contact parked the vehicle and later attempted to drive the vehicle when the brake pedal fell to floor again when he applied pressure to it in order change gears. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who stated that the wheel cylinders and the brake line was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. There was an open investigation, the federal safety agency action number: ea1100a (service brakes, hydraulic service brakes, hydraulic foundation hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
I had to have the wheel speed sensor cleaned 1and 1/2 years ago on my chevy tahoe. It recently started acting up again. Then yesterday during a hard brake to avoid debris in the road the brakes failed completely. I do not know yet what failed but there is very little brake fluid left in the reservoir. I see that there are more than 1 recall for tahoes regarding brakes, but my vehicle is not included?
No accident yet. Smelled gas so I looked under 2003 tahoe for leaks and noticed filler neck plus fuel lines along with brake lines with extreme rust. I understand rust forms on all metals. But this is something you should find on twenty year or older vehicles. I am a licensed apr. And run a quality shop and have work on vehicles for a living for over thirty years and only see this on substandard or low grade materials. So why do these lines have this problem? This is a safety issue that really should be addressed. I've seen other manufacturers recall much less problems why not this. If you price out these pieces for replacement you or your costumer better be sitting down. Parts are normally in stock. We all know they only stock what's sells regularly. Please again this is safety problem chevy should own up to.
This is a complaint about the ABS. I have had them cleaned , which worked a short time, but now everytime I apply the brakes the ABS tries to take over, lengthening my stopping distance. I do not feel safe using these brakes and would like to know how to disconnect them. These sensors may work fine in a controlled environment, but out in the real world of snow and salt , the life span is too short.
Feels like ABS brakes are trying to function at low speeds. Tahoe hesitates to stop at slow speeds.
In nov of 2008 we started having problems with the speedometer. Took it to our dealer and they replaced the ipc and it did not fix the problem, after we got the tahoe back we started having problems with the cruise control as well. The speedometer becomes jerky and if we use the cruise the tahoe speeds up and we have to turn cruise off to stop it from speeding out of control. Also when the speedometer becomes jerky the service brake system alarm goes off after it makes it hard to stop. (we have almost rear ended someone several times.)recently 12-2009 our service engine light is on. We have taken the tahoe to our dealer and replaced several parts and nothing seems to make these problems go away. Please help as we have three kids and one on the way. The parts we have replaced are as follows: the front brake sensor and hub, the instrument panel cluster, ebc electronic brake control module and the fuel filter. Which is everything recommended by our dealer. I just want it fixed!!!!
Tl*the contact owns 2003 chevrolet tahoe. The contact was backing out of a parking space approximately 5 MPH. The brake pedal traveled to the floor without resistance when pressure was applied, followed by no power response. Immediately, the gear shifter was placed into the "park" position and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for inspection. The failure was contributed to the brake line. The vehicle was repaired for the malfunction. The failure mileage was 85,808. Updated 02/1710 *bf updated 02/19/10.
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