2003 GMC Envoy XL Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Envoy XL years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 228 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Envoy XL. That is the most of any Envoy XL model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (53 complaints, 23%), typically at around 92,231 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 3 fires, 27 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
- 228owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 11complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 GMC Envoy XL problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 53 | 23% | 92,231 | “instrument panel” (11%) | $900 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 50 | 22% | 62,750 | “gas tank” (44%) | — |
| Visibility | 27 | 12% | 81,324 | — | — |
| Structure | 22 | 10% | 99,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 8% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 7% | 77,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 15 | 7% | 71,412 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 5% | 66,677 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 12 | 5% | 107,253 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 5% | 96,565 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 4% | 64,125 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 6 | 3% | 145,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 3% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 2% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 2% | 20,600 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 1% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | 238,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 94,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 GMC Envoy XL recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles have a rear side closure latch that may not latch or unlatch due to corrosion caused by road splash, such as water and road salt. These vehicles were originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.
Risk: If the door is not latched properly and it goes unnoticed, it may open while the vehicle is in motion. If an unbelted occupant fell out of the vehicle, personal injuries could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a seal along the lower part of the rocker panel to prevent intrusion of corrosive material, and inspect the rear side closure latches. Functional latches will be cleaned and lubricated. Non-functioning latches will be replaced. The recall began on february 24, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, vibration and heat may cause the tail lamp/stop lamp bulb to loosen in its socket. If this occurs, the bulb may flicker and eventually become inoperative.
Risk: An inoperative brake lamp will not convey the driver's intention of stopping to drivers in following vehicles, and an inoperative rear turn signal lamp will not convey the driver's intention to turn to drivers in following vehicles. Both of these failures can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. The recall began on november 22, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles have windshield wiper systems that will not turn on, cease operation while in use, fail to turn off/on by themselves (moisture sensitive wiper system), or have continuous windshield washer pump operation because the presence of water within the wiper modules can either cause a short circuit or can lead to the corrosion of components within the module.
Risk: Depending on the occurrence and weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will cover the windshield wiper module vent hole with a patch. Also, the wiper motor, circuit board, and electrical connector will be inspected to signs of water intrusion and/or corrosion and be replaced as required. The recall began july 6, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Headlights (RQ17002) — opened Apr 24, 2017, closed Mar 29, 2021.
- Fuel pump module leaks gasoline (EA07009) — opened Jul 10, 2007, closed Aug 28, 2008.
- Fuel tank leak (PE07014) — opened Mar 13, 2007, closed Jun 12, 2007.
- Fuel pump module leaks gasoline (PE07013) — opened Mar 12, 2007, closed Jul 10, 2007.
- Brake lamp failure (EA04021) — opened Aug 3, 2004, closed Nov 4, 2004, led to recall 04V527000.
- Fuel spillage during refueling (PE04001) — opened Jan 5, 2004, closed May 7, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While driving the vehicle a strong odor of gas entering the cabin. Fill vehicle up and large amount of gas pours on the ground from under the vehicle. Closer inspection reveals the part that attaches to the gas tank is broken off causing vapors to escape and not providing a seal to contain the…
I was driving down the road when the car shut down everything i was scared because i had traffic right behind me going 45mph and then they car would not run again. I was right in the middle of an inter section at hall road and 59 it was the scariest thing that has happened to me. I bought this…
When in park position heavy gas fumes coming from a leak at the top of the tank. You can visually see the gas stains on the sides and bottom of tank.when rolling to a stop the fumes return.i'm getting headaches and burning of my eyes and throat.i checked my vin for recalls, the parts involved are…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY XL. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MANFREDI CHEVROLET (2519 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10306, [redacted]) PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS…
While driving on the highway at 65 mph, the third row floor got really hot and my children were saying their feet were really hot and we smelled something like plastic melting and my 15 year old cousins boot melted and the carpet melted and you can see metal. Once we arrived home the blinker stayed…
Other GMC Envoy XL years
← 2002 Envoy XL · 2004 Envoy XL →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Envoy XL | 109 | 5 |
| 2004 Envoy XL | 187 | 1 |
| 2003 | 228 | 3 |
| 2002 Envoy XL | 70 | 3 |
See all GMC Envoy XL problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC Envoy XL?
Owners most often report electrical system, fuel system, gasoline, visibility problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 53 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 GMC Envoy XL?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 GMC Envoy XL a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Envoy XL model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.