Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2008)

295 consumer complaints on file.

#10638672September 24, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE OIL GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY REPLENISHING THE OIL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL VALVE CONTROL MANIFOLD FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS COULD NOT RECEIVE PROPER LUBRICATION FROM THE OIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE OIL VALVE CONTROL MANIFOLD, EIGHT LIFTERS, HEADS, WATER PUMP, CAMSHAFT, AND TIMING COVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,436. UPDATED 10/30/14*LJ UPDATED 4/27/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629587August 30, 2014
STRUCTURE
I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2012 WITH ABOUT 85,000 MILES ON IT. AT THE TIME THERE WAS TWO SMALL CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD, (1) STARTING FROM THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD GOING AROUND THE ROUNDED AREA COVERING/ABOVE THE GAUGES, AND (1) SMALLER CRACK GOING FROM THE CORNER OF THE AIRBAG-RECTANGLE TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CRACKS HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW AND HAVE BECOME A PROBLEM THAT WILL REQUIRE THEM TO BE FIXED/REPLACED/COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626142August 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
AT PRESENT 3 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN & MAY BE PULLED OFF AT ANY TIME. THESE ARE: RT FRONT PASS., RT REAR PASS. & LEFT REAR PASS. DOORS. THIS REPRESENTS AN EXPENSE TO ME OF $450 OR $500. I, OR PREVIOUS OWNER, HAVE REPLACED 3 DOOR HANDLES: RT FRONT PASS., UNDER WARRANTY; LEFT REAR 13 JULY 2010, $124; & DRIVER'S DOOR 23 APR 2013, $155. LOCAL CHEVY SERVICE DEPT SAID REASON FOR THIS FAILURE IS LIKELY BECAUSE HANDLES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC, NOT METAL; BUT THEY CAN'T REPAIR FOR FREE BECAUSE GM DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE OWNED MANY GM PRODUCTS IN MY 75 YEARS, BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE MY LAST BECAUSE QUALITY OF THEIR VEHICLES SUCKS LIKE AN EGG-SUCKING DOG AND, LIKE THE DOG, IT SEEMS TO BE ENDEMIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618753August 4, 2014
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE
MULTIPLE DASHBOARD CRACKS IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COULD CAUSE DEPLOYMENT FAILURE DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS VEHICLE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED BY THESE CRACKS. THOUSANDS OF GM TRUCKS ARE AFFECTED BY CHEAP DASHBOARD MATERIALS THAT CRACK WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OR YEARS OF SALE. THIS VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS. MANY WEBSITES AND MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM YET GM IS IGNORING THE CUSTOMERS. WE URGE NHTSA TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FORCE GM TO REPLACE THESE DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS. GM CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT OUTRAGEOUS AND IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE RECALLS FOR SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607216June 30, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
AT 73000 MILES TRANSMISSION BROKE JUST A FEW MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO STARTED EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND NOISY ENGINE. HAVE HEARD AND READ TOO MANY REPORTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE 5.3 LITER HAVING MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS I.E. CAMSHAFT LIFTERS PISTON RINGS AND VALVES ALL GOING BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597743June 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE WIRE HARNESS UNDER DASHBOARD WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM AND SHORTED OUT CATCHING FIRE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN STOPPED AND ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITHIN SECONDS RESULTING IN VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE BUT HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. HOWEVER IT DID SHORT OUT OTHER ELECTRONICS INSIDE THE VEHICLE SUCH AS THE REARVIEW MIRROR PUTTING ME OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596078June 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE VEHICLE DOORS WILL UNLOCK AND LOCK SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING, IT WILL ALSO CAUSE THE DASHBOARD, CLOCK-RADIO AND ONSTAR SYSTEM TO FLICKER OFF AND ON. THEN IT WILL START TO THROW ERROR MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD ABOUT STABILITRAK AND THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS DISABLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593491May 22, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
VEHICLE CHIMES WENT OFF, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STARTED DISPLAYING STABILITRAK DISABLED, TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED, SERVICE STABILITRAK, ALSO TRUCK IS LOSING OIL WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKAGE, NO OIL SMELL, NO OIL LIGHT DISPLAYED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592977May 21, 2014
ENGINE
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. INITIAL PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2014 AND GM DEALER DID SOME INITIAL WORK, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. ON APRIL 27, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING VERY, VERY ROUGH AND SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON (ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, STABILITRAC LIGHT AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHERS). I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL FOUND IT WAS 1.5 QUARTS LOW, SO I ADDED OIL AND STARTED ENGINE AGAIN. SO I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY GM DEALER. THE NEXT WEEK, THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THE WEEK OF MAY 5, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE PISTONS, RINGS, LIFTERS AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE ENTIRE LIST. I ASKED WHAT WAS THIS GOING TO COST AND WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE WORK. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THE TOTAL WOULD BE IN THE $4500 RANGE, BUT HE WOULD CHECK WITH GM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PAY PART OF THIS. NEXT DAY SERVICE MANAGER SAID GM WOULD PAY FOR ALL EXCEPT A $500 "WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE". MY RECEIPT SHOWS THEY REPLACED ONE PISTON, THE CAMSHAFT, 16 LIFTERS, LIFTER GUIDES, THE MANIFOLD, A SENSOR, 8 SPARK PLUGS, ADDED 6 QUARTS OIL, INSTALLED OIL FILTER, RECHARGED A/C SYSTEM AND CHARGED FOR NUMEROUS GASKETS, NUTS AND BOLTS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY ENGINE WAS MADE IN MEXICO. THEY SAID THEY USED PARTS MANUFACTURED IN CANADA ON MY REPAIR WORK. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE IS NOT NEW - IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO GM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WHY DIDN'T GM STOP USING ENGINES MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO BEFORE 2008 IF IN FACT THIS IS THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE TO PREVENT THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND CAUSING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PAY NEEDLESSLY FOR REPAIRS THAT GM SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR IN TOTAL - OR REPLACED THIS ENGINE TOTALLY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593168May 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK WITH REMOTE OR WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593206May 21, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL AS THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN ENGAGING WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 09/10/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592905May 20, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
BECAUSE MY DOORS WON'T LOCK WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE IT MADE ME VULNERABLE TO BEING CARJACKED. AS THEY ALSO WON'T LOCK WHEN USING THE REMOTE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584804April 25, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MOISTURE. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN SNOW. TRAVELING AROUND 55 MPH WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF SNOW ON THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK STALLED. AT THAT TIME, I ALSO LOST STEERING ABILITY AND BRAKING ABILITY. TRUCK WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO MECHANIC. REAL ISSUE NEVER FOUND. BASICALLY DRIED OUT AND STARTED AGAIN (2) DAYS. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING RAIN. WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE AT 40 MPH AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. TOWED AGAIN AND STARTED RIGHT UP THE NEXT DAY. THIRD INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, APRIL 25, 2013 WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM. DID NOT HIT ANY WATER JUST STALLED ON IT'S OWN. AGAIN, STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED FOR A THIRD TIME. TALKED TO CHEVROLET THIS MORNING THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE BUT I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS AND IT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY FOLKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576946April 2, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE. OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD HAD ALL 4 DOOR LOCK SOLENOIDS REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. WHEN I THOUGHT I HAD DOORS THE DOORS LOCKED THEY WERE NOT. COST ME ABOUT $150 FOR THE FIRST LOCK--WHEN I RAISED [XXX] THE CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER ACCOMMODATED THE COST OF THE OTHER THREE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME--I POINTED OUT WHEN I SEARCHED THE WEB IS WAS A MAJOR ISSUE, WITH NOT JUST THE AVALANCHE BUT ALSO THE TAHOE, SURBURBAN AND SILVERADO. WHEN I ASK IF THE NEW SOLENOID WAS AN IMPROVED UNIT THE MANAGER SAID HE DID NOT KNOW BUT THE PART # DID NOT CHANGE---SOUND FAMILIAR??--CRAZY!!!! AS OF ONE MONTH AGO I NO LONGER OWN THE AVALANCHE. WHEN I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, HE SAID THEY ONLY RECALL FOR SAFETY ISSUES---I TOLD HIM THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME--THE OWNER THINKS THE DOORS ARE LOCKED BUT ONE MAY NOT BE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574508March 24, 2014
AIR BAGS
I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHEN A TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP HIT THE REAR OF THE AVALANCHE, KNOCKING IT INTO AN F250 CREW CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP, THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE REAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED CAUSING IT TO BE TOTALED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10574212March 22, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
LEFT REAR POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 38,000 MILES. RIGHT REAR POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 42,000 MILES. RIGHT FRONT POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 53,000 MILES. DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 61,000 MILES. AT THIS TIME IT IS VERY UNSAFE WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK SEATS AND THE DOORS LOCK ARE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. I AM UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS UNLESS I STOP THE VEHICLE AND CLIMB THROUGH THE TWO FRONT SEATS TO GET TO THE MANUAL LOCKS LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE DOORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND ANYONE IS NOT AWARE THAT THE POWER LOCKS NO LONGER WORK THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK. PREVIOUSLY THE DOORS LOCKED WHEN THE TRUCK STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AUTOMATICALLY AND NOW IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE TRUCK THEY COULD POSSIBLE FALL OUT OF THE TRUCK IF THE DOORS OPEN WHILE TRUCK IS MOVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565072February 20, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
COMMUTING TO WORK APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, TRAVELING IN THE DARK AT 7 AM, I FLIPPED MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON AND SUDDENLY ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION WENT OUT OF THE AUTOMOBILE (NO HEADLIGHTS OR ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION). THIS LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 2 SECONDS AND SUDDENLY AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WAS RESTORED. THINGS AFTER THAT SEEMED OK, BUT ABOUT 6 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE "SERVICE STABILIZER CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS" . I TRAVELED ANOTHER 11 MILES TO PLAINVILLE, AND WHEN I ARRIVED THE "STABILIZER CONTROL LIGHT WENT OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THEM TO EVALUATE IT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS AND TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION REFLECT NORMAL. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE ISOLATED OR DUPLICATED. I CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS YESTERDAY, TO REPORT THE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND HOW CRITICAL THIS IS AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED AT THAT SPEED DRIVING IN THE DARK. I ALSO ASKED THEM IF THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR REPORTINGS OF THIS OCCURRENCE AND RECEIVED A MIXED RESPONSE. THERE RESPONSE WAS BUREAUCRATIC, TAKE IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. I SAID NO. I AM NOT PAYING ANOTHER $150.00 TELL ME WE CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. I KEPT STRESSING THERE IS A PROBLEM "VEHICLES SUDDENLY DO NOT JUST DROPPED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND FUNCTION AND MAGICALLY JUST COME BACK ON". THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE TO HAPPEN. I ALSO INFORMED THEM AS A COURTESY I WOULD SPEAK TO THEM (GENERAL MOTORS) FIRST BEFORE I CONTACT THIS AGENCY. I ALSO TRIED TO EMPHASIZE TO THEM, PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO THE CORPORATION TO REPORT SAFETY AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUES DIRECTLY. THE NATURE OF THE RESPONSE IS BASICALLY WE DON'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS WE RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM GM SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562717February 3, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE HE REACHED 60 MPH, THE FAILURE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547579October 10, 2013
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD CRACKED AGAINST PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH GM THAT THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT. BECAUSE OF THIS CRACK/DEFORMITY WILL THE AIRBAG DEPLOY CORRECTLY, OR WILL THAT PIECE OF PLASTIC BECOME A PROJECTILE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537911August 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE ,THE TRUCK HAS BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FOR THE PAST MONTH THE TRUCK WILL FLICKER WHEN I DRIVE BUT IT IS UN CONSTANT. AT FIRST I THOUGH IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE SO I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE AND THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID THE BATTERY IS FINE ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE TRUCK. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND ALL THE REVIEWS AND THAT THE AVALANCHE DID HAVE A RECALL ON THERE ELECTRICAL ISUESS. SO I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HOW IT MIGHT HAVE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THEY SAID NO. SO I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEM TURN OFF COMPLETELY AND LOCKED UP ON ME. I COULD OF BEEN IN A WREAK BUT THANKFULLY THE HIGHWAY WAS NOT BUSY AND I STOP ON THE HIGHYWAY. I THEN TRIED TO TURN THE TRUCK ON AND SHOWED NO LIFE AT ALL IN THE TRUCK. I KEPT TRYING TILL FINNAY IT TURNED ON. SO I COULD OF DIED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH CHEVY. I WOULD LIKE YAW TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A BIG LAWSUITE AND ALL I WANT IS MY TRUCK TO WORK FINE, THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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