Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2002)

658 consumer complaints on file.

#10415097July 25, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS LAMP ILLUMINATED. WHEN HE TRIED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP IN TIME, AS A RESULT HE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 ( SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTI LOCK). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410855July 7, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE BRAKES ENGAGED, UNEXPECTEDLY, AND SHE BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD HUMMING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ENGAGING INVOLUNTARILY. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405790June 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
07/12/10 BRAKES FAILED ON 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE...BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND LEFT LANE WAS FREE OF TRAFFIC OR I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED AT BRAKE SPECIALIST FOR $573.55. 06/09/11 AS I APPROACHED RED LIGHT, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL TO THE FLOOR STOPPED JUST INCHES FROM STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK THE AVALANCHE TO REPAIR SHOP TX. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE AVALANCHE, FOUR RUSTED BRAKE LINES...$1700 TO REPLACE. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS "RUSTED BRAKE ISSUE WITH THE AVALANCHES AND IT SEEMS MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405811June 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED ON 7/12/10 ALMOST REAR ENDED CAR BEFORE CAME TO STOP BY VEERING INTO LEFT LANE TO AVOID CAR STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. REPAIR SHOP REPLACED RUSTED BRAKE LINE. AGAIN, 6/9/11, WENT TO BRAKE FOR RED LIGHT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STOPPED JUST BEFORE REAR ENDING CAR STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. REPAIR SHOP SAYS RUSTED BRAKE LINES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404377June 3, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD, REDUCING BRAKING PRESSURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONSTANT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED AN OPEN INVESTIGATION RELATING TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/11/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401129May 16, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY; HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. SHE PURCHASED A BATTERY BUT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO UNPLUG THE ABS MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ABS MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,835. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,830.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400564May 11, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES AND LOSS OF FLUID. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394019April 2, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE 2500 WITH 8.1 ENGINE DIES WITHOUT WARNING AT DRIVING SPEED. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO PROBLEMS WITH ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY CHARGE. NO SPUTTERING OR SLUGGISHNESS, NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AND NO BRAKES FOR THIS 7K POUND VEHICLE! SOMETIMES, ONCE PULLED OVER AND SHUTTING EVERYTHING OFF AND TRYING TO RESTART IT WILL RESTART IMMEDIATELY, SOMETIMES IT TAKES UP TO 10 MINUTES OF TRYING TO CRANK IT INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. IT HAS DONE THIS TWICE IN THE LAST THREE DAYS AND A DOZEN TIMES AT RANDOM INTERVALS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OTHERS FROM WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND MOST LIKELY SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH SOME SAY HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE 2001 MODEL ENGINE FOR THE SILVERADOS, BUT CANNOT FIND ANYTHING FOR THE SAME 2002 ENGINE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING ENOUGH AT "NEIGHBORHOOD" SPEEDS, BUT CONSIDERABLY MORE SO AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS AS THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, LEAVING THE DRIVER UNABLE TO STEER, BRAKE OR IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE LEAVING IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386762March 7, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASH LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY SHOWING THE SECURITY LIGHT, GAS LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING. WHEN YOU SHUT THE TRUCK OFF IT STILL SHOWS THE YELLOW SECURITY LIGHT AND IT NEVER GOES OFF AND IF YOU LEAVE IT SITTING FOR 1 OR 2 DAYS WITHOUT DRIVING IT MAKES THE BATTERY GO DEAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386445March 4, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ABNORMALLY FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP. SHE MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10388008March 3, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION 1 BRAKE LINE BURST THE OTHER 3 WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND ABOUT TO FAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383363February 20, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Z-71, BRAKE LINES RUSTY TO THE POINT OF FAILURE AT ANYTIME, SPONGY PEDAL, AND DIFFICULTY STOPPING. AT PRESENT TIME HAVE NOT REPAIRED DUE TO EXTREME COST. IF THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM THERE WILL BE A MASSIVE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT (IF MY FAMILY AND I SURVIVE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383417February 20, 2011
PARKING BRAKE
2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE ISSUE. ITS INSPECTION STICKER TIME AGAIN AND FOR THE 7TH YEAR IN A ROW I AM DUMPING MY WALLET INTO THE E BRAKE. I UNDERSTAND STUFF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OVER TIME BUT THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THIS YEAR ALL NEW CABLES AND NEW ADJUSTMENT SCREW KIT....AND BEHOLD STILL NO HOLDING POWER NEED NEW SHOES AGAIN. THIS FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NEVER NEEDED IN PRACTICAL SENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381302February 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4X4 WHILE VACATIONING IN FLORIDA. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2011, I NOTED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELY SPONGY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I NOTED A LEAKAGE BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR IT WAS BELOW THE NORMAL LEVEL. AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES INDICATED SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. I HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AND RENT A CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375276January 9, 2011
STEERING
02' CHEVY AVALANCHE 60K MILES, I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN NOV.2010 IT IS JAN. 2011 NOT MORE THEN 45 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THE STEERING IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, GRINDING NOISE, TURNING NOISE, UNBEARABLE TO DRIVE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CONTACTED DEALER TO CORRECT, DEALER HAS NOT CONFIRMED WHAT WILL BE DONE YET? THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR TYPE OF ISSUE, FACTORY RECALL TYPE OF ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375295January 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WANTED TO ADD TO THE COMPLAINT ABOUT BRAKE EROSION ON 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE. MY FRONT BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT WHEN BRAKING. I NEARLY MISSED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS STOPPING WHEN I DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE NEARLY ALL MY BRAKE LINES DUE TO LEAKS. I LIVE IN UP-STATE NEW YORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373858January 3, 2011
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL ALTHOUGH RARELY USED. REPAIRS NEVER LAST. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR A DESIGN FLAW. NHTSA IS JUST LIKE THE SEC IN THAT THEY HAVE DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. THIS IS A VERY,VERY COMMON FAILURE ON THE AVALANCHE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOW CALLED A PARKING BRAKE ON THE COMPLAINT FORM AND MOST PEOPLE STOP AT "BRAKE,HYDRAULIC" INSTEAD OF SCROLLING FURTHER DOWN. THE FORM SHOULD HAVE THE SELECTION---"BRAKE,EMERGENCY" , BUT IT DOESN'T. THEREFORE , THERE IS NO EMERGENCY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372307December 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CAME UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT CHANGED JUST AS I WAS GETTING TO IT. I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES A LITTLE HARDER THAN NORMAL TO MAKE SURE I STOPPED IN TIME. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AT FIRST BUT ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE LIGHT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WASN'T STOPPING. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE CROSS TRAFFIC HADN'T STARTED TO MOVE YET. I ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP UNTIL I WAS WELL INTO THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK TO THE SHOP THEY FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE FRAME HAD BLOWN OUT. ALL OF THE METAL LINES ON THE FRAME RAILS ARE VERY RUSTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $1000.00. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THESE LINES SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF NONCORROSIVE METAL LIKE STAINLESS STEEL TO PREVENT THIS SORT OF THING FROM HAPPENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370672December 14, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SOMETIMES MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE 8.1 WILL NOT START. I LOCK CAR AGAIN WITH REMOTE FOB, UNLOCK AND USUALLY IT STARTS. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT LOCKING, UNLOCKING BEFORE IT WILL START. NOW VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING, NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING ETC. DOES THIS AT RANDOM SPEEDS WITHOUT NOTICE OR ANY APPARENT CONSISTENCY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. TO RESTART I MUST TRY AND GET PULLED OVER SAFELY, LOCK AND UNLOCK TRUCK WITH FOB AND HOPE IT STARTS. SOMETIMES WILL DO AFTER ONCE, SOMETIMES AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. NOT REALLY SURE THE FOB RESETTING OF SECURITY SYSTEM IS THE DIFFERENCE OR IT JUST HAPPENS TO START. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO FIX THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367728November 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE TRAVELLING ON INTERSTATE 95 I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ONLY TO LEARN THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A LEAK IN THE RIDGE METAL BRAKE LINE WHICH COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE CARS FRAME. UPON INVESTIGATING I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS CONDITION IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. IF I HADN'T TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY AND HAD WAITED UNTIL EXITING THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS MULTI CAR ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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