3rd Sep 2010, 12:27

You're right, this post does have little to do with anyone's personal experience. Rankings don't pay the bills for hefty repairs on my domestics. I have better luck with imports... always have and always will... That's all I'm saying.

28th Mar 2011, 23:01

My 2002 Envoy does this key stuck in ignition thing also.

29th Mar 2011, 12:12

I had this problem and my mechanic took both cables off the battery and touched them together to reset the computer he said. Everything worked just fine after he hooked the battery back up.

29th Mar 2011, 14:15

Just hitting 100,000 miles on our 2003 Envoy, and not a single repair other than tires and a battery. Best vehicle we've ever owned (and that includes Japanese and German imports).

3rd May 2011, 16:34

The O2 Sensors are the cause of that check engine light. Seems all mechanics do is say the gas cap is loose, but in fact replace the fuel O2 sensors to get rid of that check engine light.

25th Aug 2011, 15:59

I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago, and I think it was a short in the ignition.

26th Aug 2011, 12:42

The "check engine" light has been on in our 2003 Envoy since 2007. It codes as "EVAP system". There is nothing wrong with anything on the car. It runs great, gets awesome mileage, and in 100,000 miles has never had a single repair.

As a mechanic, I have long ago realized that the primary purpose of check engine lights is to scare owners into spending money needlessly. Dealers and shops tell you scare stories such as "Your engine will blow up" (I assure you it won't) or "It will leave you stranded" (not likely). Cars are generally equipped with gauges or lights that warn you of low oil pressure, overheating or other problems. If these gauges aren't indicating a problem, and the car is running OK, then giving a shop $500 to do nothing but reset the light is wasteful.

On my last Chrysler, the check engine light came on at 40,000 miles, 80,000 miles, 120,000 miles, 160,000 miles, 200,000 miles and 240,000 miles like clockwork. A Chrysler tech friend of mine told me that the manufacturers program the computers to turn the lights on at intervals so owners will bring them in and spend hundreds of dollars on unnecessary repairs. He showed me the code to reset my light, and every time it came on, I'd just reset it. I sold that car in perfect condition at just over 240,000 miles, and it had never required a single repair beyond routine maintenance.

The check engine light on my other car has been on since 2009. It codes as "engine running too cool". The gauge shows it is running 10 degrees too cool. Whoopee. I live in a climate where we have many 100+ degree days. I'm not about to "repair" something that reduces engine stress, increases my fuel mileage and slows the degrading of my oil.

Running cooler has actually upped my fuel mileage slightly and gives the car just a tad more mid-range power (I'm not sure why). One day I may fix the thermostat just so I can stop resetting my check engine light, but then again, it is not harming anything so why bother??

I hate to see hard-working Americans duped into expensive and totally unnecessary "repairs". 99% of brake jobs are totally unnecessary. No domestic car should ever require brake pads before 70,000-100,000 miles unless you ride the brakes or pull a trailer. My GMC has over 100,000 miles on the original pads, and they still have a good 15,000 left on them. The windfall that shops make off of check engine lights is huge. Frightening people makes money.

A few years ago the check engine light came on in my friend's Nissan at 37,000 miles. He asked me what I should do. "Nothing" I told him. He sold the cat at 214,000 miles. The light was still on and it was still running flawlessly.

22nd Sep 2011, 08:40

I had this same exact problem, there was a short between the wires. I spent a day taking out the center console and electrical taped all the wires that were exposed. Since then, I haven't had a problem.

6th Nov 2011, 16:50

I have a 2003 Envoy. The check engine light stays on, code shows a small emission leak. Have changed the gas cap.

22nd Jan 2012, 13:09

I have had the same problem with my 03 Envoy... the ABS light was continuously coming on, but no other problems with it. The dealership replaced the Electronic Brake Module 2 months ago. Last night the light came on again. Any ideas?

24th Jan 2012, 22:56

Some advice on the warning lights: IGNORE THEM!!! The "check engine" light has been on in our 2003 Envoy since 2006. It codes as "emissions system". I figure that if it was serious I'd know after 6 years and 100,000 miles. The car runs perfectly and has never had one single repair. One of my Chrysler's has the brake warning light on for 136,000 miles. The brakes always worked flawlessly. The lights generate income for dealers and shops. Just put a piece of black tape over them.

25th Jan 2012, 09:01

Yeah, I just LOVE vehicles with black tape on the dash because lights are constantly on... NOT! None of my imports ever have lights on for no reason... in fact now that I think about it, I've never had a dash light come on for any reason at all. Guess I'll stick with what I drive.

13th Feb 2012, 23:15

"Guess I'll stick with what I drive"

Huh? You do own a Ford Focus right?

14th Feb 2012, 15:38

I have a RAV4, and there are no lights on the dash that I need to tape over in order to make me feel like it is a quality vehicle!

15th Feb 2012, 10:48

Good for you and your RAV-4. I had an 09 with the air bag and check engine light staring me in the face, along with a lot of other unnecessary repairs for the whole year and a half that I owned it. I'm glad to see somebody got a good one.

16th Feb 2012, 10:44

I'm surprised someone got a bad one. You are probably the first.

17th Feb 2012, 11:44

If you can handle the deafening interior noise level, 19 MPG fuel mileage (highway with a 4 cylinder), and the coarse and tinny feel, the RAV 4 is an OK car.

17th Feb 2012, 12:28

You need to read more reviews on this site.

18th Apr 2012, 04:15

My 2003 GMC Envoy XL, has tons of problems! Check engine light, air conditioning, lighter burnt out, lights don't come on when you unlock it, doors don't unlock when you put it in park, dashboard burns up, replaced axles, replaced sway bars, wipers are terrible, car shuts off on me, transmission slipping, loud ticking under the hood, replaced ball joints, replaced brakes, the list goes on...

Did I mention I only had for year!!! It only had 92,000 miles on it...

The sad thing is I love this truck!!! It's the best!!! Would I buy it again??? Yes I would... sad!!!

18th Apr 2012, 18:55

Our 2003 Envoy now has well past 100,000 miles on it. We bought it new in '03. At this point the car has not had so much as a brake job. It looks like we will get 150,000 miles out of the original pads.

So far this has been by far the most trouble-free vehicle we have ever owned. We've owned Fords, GM and Chrysler vehicles, as well as Japanese and German brands. Nothing has proven as trouble-free as our Envoy.