10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
88,157 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 GMC Envoy XL electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 GMC Envoy XL:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2003 GMC Envoy XL Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #19

May 182011

Envoy XL 4WD 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles

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

Purchased a 2003 Envoy in November of 2010 at around 86000 miles in one month the instrument panel went out so no speedometer and affected the oil gauge. At exactly 100,000 miles the driver door panel went out could smell wires burning. Called dealer where purchased to trade in on vehicle in working order and he was able to find parts from junk yard to replace I was also informed the problems I had have become an epidemic for all GMC vehicles and people are spending a small fortune getting them repaired. Just want to advise anyone reading this to stop buying anything made my GMC because they do not stand behind their faulty products nor does the government make them.

- Gravois Mills, MO, USA

problem #18

Jan 252011

Envoy XL 4WD 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
Erratic speedometer problems on my 2003 GMC Envoy XL. It has been acting up occasionally for several years, but now it sometimes will totally malfunction and either bottom out at zero, or register too high, it is just not working properly. I have done some research and found that this is a common issue for GMC vehicles of this time frame, and Envoy are one of the worst.

- Spring Creek, NV, USA

problem #17

Apr 152011

Envoy XL

  • miles
Speedometer fluctuates between not working at all to simply displaying an obviously incorrect speed.

- West Point, GA, USA

problem #16

Apr 012011

Envoy XL

  • 70 miles

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

Problems is associated with the instrument panel gauges. Specifically with the RPM gauge. It reflects erratic RPM's when it first started the needle would raise to between 5-6K rpms when at idle, after approx 2 weeks it would reset itself to normal, approx 2-3 weeks later it would register approx 6-7K rpms then reset itself once again to normal. Now it is pegged all the way around and pointing due South, it attempts to reset itself but will not. I am also seeing erratic indications on the fuel gauge. On the edmunds Envoy forum there are quite a few Envoy owners that are having the same problems, some are having speedometer level problems. Was in connect with GMC representative and she could/would not help since my vehicle was out of warranty. I even suggested that they pay at least 1/2 the cost of repairs. I believe this a component failure and could possibly become a safety issue especially with the speedometer and gas gauge problems. The probability of also having speedometer failure in the near future is pretty good bet.

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #15

Nov 222010

Envoy XL 4WD 6-cyl

  • 98,500 miles
2003 GMC Envoy speedometer quit working cost $550 to replace and after reading online all GMC Envoy of this year have the same problem why has this not been recalled. I feel this is very serious.

- Gravois Mills, MO, USA

problem #14

Mar 092011

Envoy XL

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 GMC Envoy. While driving approximately 35 mph the speedometer reading began to fluctuate. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the speedometer displayed 50 mph. The fuel, rpms, water temperature, battery and the oil pressure gauge fluctuated as well. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Springsboro, NC, USA

problem #13

Dec 012010

Envoy XL

  • 112,000 miles

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

During colder days, our speedometer on our 2003 GMC Envoy XL does not work until it warms up. We have 112,000 miles on the vehicle however researching on line for speedometer issues, there appears to be an issue. I cannot tell what speed we are going and then once it warms up it begins to work recording half speed. It may or may not eventually record accurate speed. This is a safety issue from the stand point that I use my speedometer to determine speed going into corners and off ramps. Without this ability, my speed is estimated which does not allow accurate speed into curves. This appears to be electrical in nature as it is intermittent. Seems like there should be a recall to correct this problem.

- Kennan, WI, USA

problem #12

May 072010

Envoy XL

  • 89,458 miles
In six years my 2003 Envoy has had nothing but electrical issues. My lights are constantly being replaced. My head light wiring has shorted out and now the whole wiring connection needs replaced. The latest is an electrical system problem that is draining my battery and not allowing it to properly charge.

- Gibsonia, PA, USA

problem #11

Jun 092009

Envoy XL

  • 78,000 miles
While driving the Envoy the speedometer stopped working properly, nothing I did would reset it. So I took it to the dealer and $650 later it was fixed.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #10

Jun 012009

Envoy XL 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
2003 GMC Envoy. About 6 months ago my speedometer started going haywire. I was either going less than 0 miles and hour or over 120 miles and hour, depending on the day. It seemed to have fixed itself and started working again for a while. Now it is back to acting erratic and I never, ever know how fast I'm going. I am even more upset now that I have seen so many complaints on here about the same thing. This is obviously a recall situation that needs to be handled by GMC. I now have to pay several hundred dollars to fix something that should be a recall.

- Kennesaw, GA, USA

problem #9

Dec 182009

Envoy XL

  • 108,000 miles

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

2003 GMC Envoy had speedometer needle move to 120 mph and would not register proper speed on highway. Once parked, cycling the engine (on/off/on/off) caused the needle to return to zero while parked. This has happened twice (Dec 18, 2009 and Feb 4, 2010). The speedometer does not operate smoothly but rather increases or decreases in 1 mph increments in a 'jerky motion'... this must be a safety issue on this vehicle.

- Kokomo, IN, USA

problem #8

Jan 012008

Envoy XL

  • 80,000 miles
Speedometer on my 03' Envoy sticks, it says I am going like 60 when I just cranked the car. Once you turn off the car the speedometer still reads the top speed you were going. This is horrible, I have been doing research and alot of people have this problem!! GMC needs to recall this fault and have it replaced!

- Orlando, FM, USA

problem #7

Jul 162009

Envoy XL

  • 84,000 miles
Dash indicator lights come on, then goes off. This problem occurs even while driving and the vehicle is warm. This is a scary thing not knowing if the air bag is going to shoot out while you are driving. My kids drive this Envoy XL, and to think that they may get hurt not by another driver but by the vehicle they are driving. This is like russian roulette. Do someone have to get hurt before you fix this.

- Clarvsville, TN, USA

problem #6

Jun 152009

Envoy XL

  • 110,000 miles
Malfunctioning of instrument cluster diagnosed by dealer.

- Coventry, RI, USA

problem #5

Nov 012008

Envoy XL

  • 34,000 miles
The tachometer started acting erratically showing surges in the engine RPM. This problem came and went and now, February 2009, the speedometer is doing the same thing. I was doing 90 mph while the vehicle was turned off. I see this is a problem on GM vehicles and they are not addressing it. They are leaving it to the owner to pay a dealer $600 or more for repairs.

- Grand Island, NE, USA

problem #4

Mar 102007

Envoy XL 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles
The side-mirrors, particularly on the driver's side, moved to different positions even with all curb parking features disabled. The happened with almost every use. 2. the speedometer gave false readings and for no particular reason or speed. It may be pegged at 120 while at idle. It will randomly reset or fail frequently.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #3

Jan 012005

Envoy XL 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,000 miles
Every time you exit the vehicle and close the door or touch any thing that is metal after exiting the car you get shocked....sparks fly. I am concerned that someday I will be pumping gas and one of my children is going to get out of the car and touch something and spark an explosion or fire.

- Mount Union, PA, USA

problem #2

Feb 072003

Envoy XL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles
The 2003 Envoy we purchased gave us numerous problems, including a number of the ones other owners mentioned here, like the glass liftgate that does not operate properly, various electrical problems, but especially the outside rear view mirrors that move on their own no matter how many times they were supposedly fixed by service technicians. They do not stay in the position we set them in, and the fuel tank leaking is very dangerous as well as inhaling freon because of malfunctioning A/C system. Why is GMC doing nothing to solve these problems" I can't understand how they are getting away with this seeing that so many owners are having the same problems. What do we have to do to get some help"

- Ashland, AL, USA

problem #1

Nov 012003

Envoy XL 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,270 miles
We have had several problems from the rear windows in the rear of the vehicle. The regulators have broken allowing the window to fall down into the door. This usually happens a bad time such as in a storm. The dealer has replaced the regulator. The brake light has been replaced several times for failure to work properly. The dealer has replaced the circuit board twice. The four wheel drive switch would shut off after you tried to put it back into 2-wheel drive. The dealer replaced a faulty switch. Several times the engine would stall and the instrument panel would go crazy. Now, the car is sitting in my yard and will not start. When you turn the ignition, the instrument panel shows that there is 40 pounds of oil pressure and the mph is 90 and the car is not even running. The dic says that the brake system needs servicing.

- Oneida, TN, USA

Not what you are looking for?