NHTSA Complaint #10383794 — 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE

DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 65 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 0 AND THE NEEDLE CEASED TO MOVE. UPON STOPPING AT THE NEXT REST STOP AND CHECKING FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS I REALIZED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT ITSELF AND CONTINUED. RETURNING TO THE FREEWAY I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ONCE AGAIN FUNCTIONING BUT CARS WERE PASSING ME AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED. I ESTIMATED, BY TRAVELING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, OUR SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 15-20 MPH FAST. AFTER STOPPING AGAIN AND TROUBLESHOOTING WITH NO SUCCESS WE RESUMED OUR TRIP WITH THE SPEEDOMETER READING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SLOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. UPON NOTIFYING OUR DEALER I WAS TOLD THE SPEEDOMETERS IN THIS YEAR VEHICLE WERE FAILING AT A EXCESSIVE RATE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD DECIDED TO OFFER AND EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 70000 MILES FOR REPLACEMENT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM AND WARNED OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN MY VEHICLE. THIS PARTICULAR TRIP WAS TO MEXICO AND THE RELIABILITY OF MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE A PARTICULAR CONCERN ON THE ROADS I TRAVELLED. THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RATE OF FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY.