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7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$20
Average Mileage:
93,400 miles
Total Complaints:
14 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (11 reports)
  2. replaced stepper motor (2 reports)
  3. start and re-start engine 10 times (1 reports)
2003 Chevrolet Tahoe electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Owner Comments

problem #14

Jan 012013

Tahoe 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 03 Chevy Tahoe. I have heard all about the instrument panel going out and have already replaced the stepper motors. Well when I plugged it back in the panel still does not work. Only the back lights on the panel come on, so I know it is getting power. The only other thing I have noticed is when I put a brand new fuse in the IPC/DIC slot the panel info bar lights up all solid (doesn't read anything, just lights up) so I have to take out the new fuse as this would cause my battery to die. I'm stuck, any help please!!!!

- Daniel M., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #13

Oct 232013

Tahoe LS 5.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,000 miles

I just bought my truck from a used dealership. I've had the truck for 2 months now. I didn't have any problems with it until now. My RPM's gauge is stuck on rest at 4 and when driving it goes all the way to 6 and gets stuck there for a minute. The truck is running perfectly fine. it's the gauge. Then my speedometer started acting up on the highway. I was going 60mph and it said I was only going 30. Came to a complete stop and it went past 0 as if I turned the car off and did not move for about 3 minutes after going. I was going 45mph and the speedometer said I was going 20 then went to 30 and just stopped. I've seen a lot of people making complaints. Why has chevy not done a recall if so many people are having problems!!! I found the part brand-new on ebay for 200 dollars but this is ridiculous especially if this many people are having the same problem. It's a deathtrap if no one knows how fast they are truly going.

- trucks.r.for.girls, Florissant, MO, US

problem #12

Feb 152011

Tahoe LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

since the problem was known by Chevy that this may happen they extended the warranty on the cluster pan el to 7 years 70000 miles but with less than 30000 miles on it i feel it should be covered.I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM DRIVING TO WORK,have to take time off to go to the gm dealer for a diagnosis and then they will order the parts and then bring it back for a fix.and for all this it may cost me 500-700 dollars this is a safety issue gm,,wake up and fix this and or give us our money back for the repairs and accident or speeding ticket costs it may create,we both have had Chevy's for 35+ years with my husband buying 2500hd trucks every 2 years but wow this has left a bad taste in our mouths.you are putting lives at risk!!!!

Update from Apr 20, 2011: talked to the gm rep today and basically they said not enough people complained about this for a gm recall,we have contacted the bbb so everyone else should too and maybe gm will listen

- bcross3, Sandy Creek, NY, US

problem #11

Dec 212010

Tahoe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2003 tahoe it was just below half way full we put $40 in gas and the fuel gauge is over full now alittle worried not sure if it suppose to be that ..not to long ago voltage pegged out

- Jennifer C., Ragland, AL, US

problem #10

Feb 132010

Tahoe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

Same problem (dead instrument panel) here at 90k miles. Got the letter (which was so subtly written that I barely noticed what it was), but of course I was already above the covered range. I would LOVE to buy another American/GM made car (call it misguided patriotism), but the fact that I drive around all day clueless as to how fast I'm going sorta' sticks in my craw. I have tried relying on my GPS to gauge my speed, but it's not super accurate.

- Peter P., Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #9

Feb 032010

Tahoe LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

When I bought my Tahoe in 2003, there was a clicking sound(almost like a clock)in the dashboard. I took it in because it was under warranty, and they said it was some sort of air fluctuator. Supposedly they fixed problem. In Feb. 2010, My speedometer was stuck on 90mph. I thought that maybe because it was really cold was the reason for this. Then in the summer, it worked until it got really hot outside. Then it was stuck on 20-30mph. Now my air only works on #5. AND the clicking noise is still there!!! So, I took it in this morning to let them hear the noise, and they said it was the cluster board and it was gonna cost $600+ to fix it!

How do I get in on this class action lawsuit, and what is the $14 fix for my problem?

- Casey H., Amory, MS, US

problem #8

May 312010

Tahoe Z71 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It is like the other 8 complaints on the same issue. The electrical cluster went bad and the whole dashboard, gauges, lights, fuel, speedometer is out. Over 500 dollars to fix this! WOW

- bamman, Stuart, FL, US

problem #7

Jul 162009

Tahoe 4.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

In July of last year our oil gauge started being pegged all the way to max pressure. Also, during the colder winter months, the spedometer would stick anywhere between 20-50mph. Since it has warmed up,the spedometer has sporadicly worked like it's supposed to, but recently has been not working AT ALL, again, sporadicly. We tried the starting the engine and turning it off 10x like another said, but that did not work with the oil gauge. We were quoted $600 plus labor to have the instrument cluster replaced at the local dealership, and it was the first thing out of his mouth, and that there was no other way around it - I told him to pound sand. I would like more information on the class action suit and the $14 part that another person mentioned, just so I can throw that in the service department's face, and tell them what to do with their instrument cluster.

- Eric H., Talala, OK, US

problem #6

Nov 202008

Tahoe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

All the gauges on the panel have stopped working properly. Sometimes it reads I'm going 110mph and really going around 30mph. The oill pressure gauge bottomed out at 40 and now it bottomed out at 0 and doesn't move even if the rpm goes up. I was told it would cost $1000.00 to get it fixed. I have not gotten it fixed because I refuse to pay that

- jhuskins, Rock Spring, GA, US

problem #5

Jun 202009

(reported on)

Tahoe Z71 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

I was on a 2 hour drive home from the airport at 2:00 am and 7 months pregnant. Everything went dead on the instrument panel except for the gas gauge. I couldn't tell how fast I was going and it was pitch black. It was awful. What would normally take me 2 hours took me 3 because I was terrified I would speed and get pulled over.

- Angela U., Harker Heights, TX, US

problem #4

Aug 062008

Tahoe LT 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There is a class action suit out there for this problem. A dealership wants anywhere from 600.00 to 1000.00 to fix this. I did it myself for 14.00 off of ebay. Just cal the gauge with a gps.

- tug130, Alexandria, VA, US

problem #3

Nov 302008

Tahoe 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

My 2003 Tahoe's speedometer pegged to max. The manual said nothing. I googled my problem and found AutoBeef. I read of similar complaints on AutoBeef and saw what I hoped was a solution. The gauges were re-set by starting and re-starting the car 10 times in a row. It worked like a charm. Others on AutoBeef said that taking the vehicle to the dealership cost them $600 and up for the fix.

- ira3, Corinth, TX, US

problem #2

Feb 202007

Tahoe LX 4.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

My gauge reader is not function properly when I am on the road 1 hour or more. All the needles are dead accepted for the gas reader. The dash board is getting hot; the CD player is not working. It happened when my vehicle reach around 80,000 miles. I brought my vehicle to the Stone Briar Chevrolet, and they told me that my vehicle is passing 70 miles limit so they won�t replace unless I agree to pay $600.00. I even had shown them the letter saying that this park is defected. If it is a manufacture park got defected, it is the manufacture problem, and it need to be replaced with no charge. All my family members own Chevrolet. I bought this vehicle at Friendly Chevrolet; I even brought my brother there to buy a truck and recommended two of my friend there. I called them up to address my issue but after a frustration conversation, they hung up on me. What kind of Friendly service is that? My next vehicle won�t be Chevrolet, and I won�t recommend anyone to buy Chevrolet from now on. It is not only Chevrolet vehicles got issues but the customer service really sucks. It won�t surprise me that a lot of plants closed out, cutting jobs, losing sales, etc� That explains it right there.

- Tin N., Little Elm, TX, US

problem #1

Dec 032007

Tahoe Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,020 miles

I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM WHEN MY INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPS OPERATING. I DO NOT BELIEVE I AM THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.I ALSO WONDER IF THIS IS THE REASON MY BATTERY GOES DEAD FROM TIME TO TIME. PAID 235.00 FOR NEW BATTERY FROM OGDEN CHEVROLET IN WESTMONT IL AND TOLD NO OTHER PROBLEMS. I WILL SEE THEM IN COURT WHEN I GET A SPEEDING TICKET OR RUN OUT OF GAS DO TO A BLANK INSTRUMENT PANEL.

- Mark B., Willowbrook, IL, US

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