2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 4%of 507 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe, 4% of the 507 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The service airbag warning light and service airbag display comes on when I start the vehicle--and stays on. Every so often, when I start the car, the warnings disappear, only to reappear after the next start of the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10978678, filed 2017-04, 160,000 miles“Well my air bag light stay on never goes over and my driver seat belt does not even lock at all. Then I keep hear this popping noise that come from hub and shocks and nothing on my dash works 1st it started off by I couldnt see what gear I was in. My driver seat u push the button to go forward it moves the seat back. My heat blower has something wrong with and it has something to do with this purple wire on the floor bored. Now my truck cant get on the free way because every thime I get on the freeway and on the free way four more then 10-15 min my truck just shuts off. …”
NHTSA complaint #11397239, filed 2021-02, 148,964 miles“I purchased new and still own a 2003 chevy Tahoe. For the last year and a half the airbag light comes on from time to time. I have had the truck at the dealer numerous times and they tell me they cannot fix the problem. What I have been told is that this light means that the airbag will not deploy if the vehicle gets into an accident. I am very frustrated that this safety issue cannot be corrected.”
NHTSA complaint #10173955, filed 2006-11, 29,000 miles“One day this winter I went out in the garage and started my Tahoe. Out of the blue my service air bag light came on. Today I took my care to get it checked out and the error codes (b0051 & b0053) indicated that the airbags had been deployed. The service manager agreed that there was no evidence of a collision or that the air bags had been deployed, and that the air bags are not working. Due to the age of the vehicle they indicated that there was nothing they go do to cover the work needed to repair the problem and get the airbags working again. The estimate is for $1,200. …”
NHTSA complaint #10694615, filed 2015-03, 111,500 miles“All of the sudden the air bag indicator light came on and a message appeared saying service air bag . We took it to a mechanic and he hooked it up to the computer system and it said that whole air bag system had failed (several sensors had failed). We called chevy to see if it might be able to be fixed with a warranty, but they said the car is out of warranty. (we knew this, but figured there should be an extended warranty on airbags.) they told us to take it to a chevy dealership. We called the local dealership and they told us it would cost $100 for the diagnostic test. …”
NHTSA complaint #10255425, filed 2009-01, 63,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10115913Oct 10, 2016All applicable vehicle applications are without Electronic Accessory Control System option. This communication is to return unsold inventory because some product sold in 2016 may…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 4% |
| 2023 | 6 | 3% |
| 2022 | 6 | 3% |
| 2021 | 27 | 6% |
| 2020 | 4 | 7% |
| 2019 | 8 | 7% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% |
| 2017 | 10 | 6% |
| 2016 | 10 | 4% |
| 2015 | 11 | 2% |
| 2014 | 13 | 14% |
| 2013 | 51 | 22% |
| 2012 | 61 | 34% |
| 2011 | 185 | 41% |
| 2010 | 115 | 37% |
| 2009 | 97 | 34% |
| 2008 | 233 | 44% |
| 2007 | 500 | 42% |
| 2006 | 7 | 6% |
| 2005 | 19 | 6% |
| 2004 | 14 | 3% |
| 2003 | 19 | 4% |
| 2002 | 31 | 7% |
| 2001 | 31 | 6% |
| 2000 | 21 | 7% |
| 1999 | 20 | 4% |
| 1998 | 9 | 3% |
| 1997 | 5 | 1% |
| 1996 | 16 | 6% |
| 1995 | 18 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
193 complaintsBrakes
113 complaintsSteering
52 complaintsFuel system
36 complaintsVehicle speed control
27 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsSeats
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsTires
14 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology