2003 GMC Envoy XL SLT from North America - Comments

To comment 11:05. We had this exact issue (air blowing out the floor only) just after our warranty expired on our 2003 Envoy. We have a really GREAT dealer who has very well-trained technicians and they repaired the issue for free for us. I DO NOT know if the air-blend door (which controls where the air is directed) is controlled by the computer on this model, but since the trend in ALL modern cars is to let the computer control EVERYTHING I suspect it is. It has become the custom of computer geek designers to make the computer control everything from the lights to the mirror adjustments. This is done for two main reasons: 1) So they can say the car is "more sophisticated" (which it isn't, it's just more problem-prone) and 2) To require you to bring it in to the dealer for ANYTHING that goes wrong (which is the MAIN reason, and makes them TONS of money!!).

As a mechanic I've run into lots of cases of the computer giving problem codes that didn't seem correct. The systems on many modern cars are so sensitive that even a slightly loose gas cap will trigger a code. I suspect that commenter 20:07 is another victim of the computer-from-Hell syndrome (where your computer is acting senile) and you'll need to find a COMPUTER QUALIFIED mechanic to fix it. The corner gas station can no longer repair the new cars that are designed to generate dealer service department revenue. I'm frankly so disgusted with the complexity of newer cars that my next 2nd car is going to be something like a 1963 Ford Falcon 200 cubic inch 6. They can be repaired on the side of the road with a pair of pliers and a screwdriver by a kindergarten graduate.

I own an 03 Envoy XL SLE, and my oh my it is the best car I have ever owned. I bought in Feb 08 with only 106000 km. My wife & KIDS LOVE IT, AND IT IS JUST GREAT FOR MY FAMILY OF 5. So far I have only had a faulty ignition switch, which only cost me $60. So far so good.

"ENJOY YOUR ENVOY".

I just bought an 02 Envoy SLT with 103,000 miles on it. The same night after I got home, the AC started making a tapping noise when I turned it off. So I turned it back on, it tapped a few times and then quit making the noise, but every time I turned it off, it would continuously make that noise.

The next day the check engine light came on, I took it to AutoZone and the guy says it was an emissions code. That same day the AC would not blow on the face mode; it was on, but air was not blowing. I could feel it on the floor, but not on the face.

I took the car back to the dealer, and they said that there was an issue with the transmission, and that it had too much pressure or something, or it could be something electrical. They are going to fix the transmission he says, and the AC issue has been fixed they say.

I am wondering if anyone could tell me how many more issues should I expect out of this vehicle? Or if I should just swap the vehicle for a 2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd with 86k miles, or a 99 Lexus RX300 with 102000 miles?

I've only had the Envoy for 2 weeks now, and it's been at the dealer. I am currently in their loaner vehicle. I don't know if I want to keep the Envoy with the issues that I have experienced already.

It's quite simple, Early Envoys are junk. I have a 97 Olds Bravada and it has 160,000 miles and still runs strong with no issues. We haven't had our '03 Envoy for three weeks now, everything the computer controlled is not working and it is at the local dealer for repair.

I have a '02 Envoy (165,000mi.) and twice since I've owned it, while going 70mph on the freeway, the brake warning light has come on and the engine has completely powered down. The ABS light remained on. After letting the car sit idle for 10-15 minutes I've been able to restart the car with no warning lights on. My mechanic found a faulty code with the AC/system but no other major code. Could the main computer of the car be going out? Any suggestions?

First of all, NO, early Envoys are NOT junk. The problem with them is the stupid computer, which controls EVERYTHING from the engine to the mirrors. I knew this when we bought our 2003 (I'm a mechanic), and I sought out a dealership that had GM COMPUTER QUALIFIED technicians (LOTS of dealerships don't, NO independent garages do!!). I bought our Envoy at a dealership that had the best computer techs in the area. We have never been happier with ANY vehicle (with the possible exception of our 8 year old Pontiac). We encountered ONE very minor glitch in the computer (a heater fan control) just AFTER our warranty expired. The dealership fixed it promptly and RIGHT, and did not even charge us. There is a 2002 Trailblazer in our family (same vehicle as the Envoy) with well over 140,000 miles now and never a problem of ANY kind. Our Envoy has over 60,000 miles and is exactly like brand new in every respect. On the highway we get between 22 and 24 MPG, which is incredible for a large vehicle. It is very fast, very smooth, and has had NOTHING replaced except one battery. It even has the original Michelins.

As for the computer trouble codes, they are WRONG in 80% of the cases on ALL cars. Take the vehicle to a GOOD GM dealership with COMPUTER QUALIFIED technicians. YES, it WILL cost more, and YES, it will be worth it. Independent shops or tire stores CANNOT repair the Trailblazer/Envoy/Bravada/Rainier vehicles (these vehicles are all the same mechanically, as is the SAAB version of them). DON'T give up on one of the BEST SUV's on the planet because of inept mechanics. I'm a mechanic and I can't fix the GM computers!!

I have a 2003 Envoy SLE, which I bought used in March with 45k on it. I drive a lot, and this month at 59k the alternator, tensioner and serpentine belt went, and I just today had the fan clutch replaced and the computer modified as part of the repair by my trusted mechanic, and the tab was $900 bucks, about what I read on other sites.

I hope I am done for a while, but I would not expect these types of problems from a GM product with such low miles. Needless to say, I'm very disappointed. If it runs trouble free for a while, I will be okay with it, as I love how it looks, drives and rides.

I just don't understand why I have never had these problems with foreign cars???

I put 230k on a Volvo, city miles no less, and hardly had any problems. This may be my last American car, I am sad to say.

My '03 Envoy has been good to me for the last 2 years w/o a hitch. I guess I will have to take it to the dealership though to get my a/c looked at (I'm the one that has the possible relay switch issue where air blows on the floor when set for the dash). When I turn the car on, I hear something turning as if my a/c is trying to catch because from what I was told it could be the blow motor that went out on my dash or a flap that is stuck. Either way, GM says it'll be $98/hr to check. Um, ooook. Hopefully it'll just take less than an hour to pinpoint the problem... (yeh, right!)

Hi

My 2003 V8 Envoy has had an intermittent problem for almost a year. It just won't start, no lights on dash, no engine turn over, just dead. I'll try again a couple of times and it will finally start. The longest was five minutes of trying to start it. It had an ignition switch changed and ran fine for a couple months; we thought the problem was solved, but then it started to do it again.

To commenter 00:00. Please refer back to comment 18:19.

Our 2003 Envoy just turned 42k and has been one of the best vehicles we have ever owned up to the 40K mark. We developed the a/c problem with the control switch that everyone has been discussing. Now as of yesterday there is a very loud grinding noise coming from under the vehicle when accelerating. I am freaked about it. Of course it is a holiday weekend so none of the local dealers are open. Ugh I really love this vehicle and my husband is ready to trade it for a Ford Edge. I have been able to hold him off for now, but I saw that look last night as we went grinding down the road!

I have a 2002 Envoy SLE: THE Worst vehicle I had ever purchased. I bought it in Jan 07 with 70k miles. I put a new transmission $1400.00.

I now have the ABS and Brake lights on. Service 4 wheel drive light on it works when it want to.

The cruise control went out. And I put a blower motor resistor in it because the blower motor wouldn't work. And I still have no heat or A/C because that wouldn't fix the problem.

Anybody have a remedy about this, and what you did to fix these problems. PLEASE let me know.

Signed: FRUSTRATION.

I've been driving my wife's 2003 Envoy recently, and have noticed a few things that I had not noticed before.

My GM car has a tendency to downshift at the slightest touch on the gas pedal. This makes it feel very peppy and responsive, but is not good for conserving gas.

Although the Envoy is very powerful, it requires a bit more pressure on the pedal to induce downshift. I was actually able to accelerate UP a hill without it downshifting. This no doubt contributes to the great gas mileage (19 city, 24 highway).

I also played with the cruise control to see what my speed was at exactly 2000 rpm's. It was 73mph.

I think GM has done a great job with the Envoy, and ours is so far perfect at 61,000+ miles. Never a problem, no maintenance of ANY kind beyond oil changes and a battery. It still has the original brakes and tires.

I have a 2003 GMC Envoy SLT with 158,800 on it. And I love it. I've had the air conditioner problem when seasons change - and heater problem when seasons change. I turn the Envoy off and on - and it goes away. All computer stuff I'm sure. I've had my AWD/4WD stop working right after an oil change - and the first time I figured out that the fuse under the back seat that controlled it had become loose. When it happened the second time, stopped using that garage. When it happened the third time, stopped using the garage I bought tires from (turns out they were winter tires and another story). Don't go there anymore either. Maybe there is a reset near those fuses and it was accidental, but doesn't feel right.

Other than new tires, I have had no real problems. It has been great!

I put on 3000-3500 miles per month. After months of pulsing brakes, I finally convinced the dealer that it was my back brakes and sure enough, they turned the back rotors and the pulsing went away. 2800 miles later,

now my check engine light is on. AutoZone shows PO128 - for coolant, thermostat, etc. Coolant is fine. So thermostat or engine coolant sensor??? The oil change guys didn't reset my oil change so my oil shows at 0% life. Anyone have the service engine soon light come on caused by that? Anyone know where the reset is for that?And with the bad tires as well, has anyone proven that the PO128 actually relates to the thermostat or ECT?

My outside temperature has shown 50 degrees for about 2 months - I can't find any info on where the sensor is for that. But I do have a rock chip in my windshield up by my rear view mirror. Anyone know if there are sensors in that area that appears to have some type of electrical 'stuff' in it?

The service engine soon light came on recently in our 2003 Envoy. We took it to an independent shop we frequent and the light wasn't on anymore, they mentioned the thermostat but told us to just bring it back if the light comes back on. The light came back on that next week so we took it back this past weekend. They changed the thermostat and told us we needed a new battery because they had to charge it twice. We have not had ANY problems with that car stalling or dying.

When we picked it up this past Monday, it ran rough. On my way into work on Tuesday, it stalled and I noticed the air was blowing HOT on the passenger side, fine on the drivers side. This is different than all the previous logs that refer to the air blowing on the floor. Has anyone experienced that?

We took it back to the shop and they didn't know what to make of it and suggested we go to a GM dealer $300 later. The dealer says we need some valves cleaned for the idling and they will have to take the whole dash off to fix an actuator problem with the air. This is very labor intensive and will cost over $800.

Any ideas on why a thermostat replacement would trigger all of these problems in a car that ran fine and only had a service engine light coming on???