Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints

2,954 consumer complaints on file.

#10049490December 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500 HAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THAT CANNOT BE FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. CHEVROLET SAYS IT IS "ENGINE FADE AND A STIFF SUSPENSION". IT IS A POWER TRAIN PROBLEM, PERHAPS IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS NOTICEABLE WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON AND PRONOUNCED WHEN CLIMBING HILLS OR TOWING ANY LOAD. THE DEALER (LARRY GREEN CHEVROLET IN BLYTHE CA AND CHEVROLET)BOTH HAVE OPEN FILES ON THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE SAME DEALER WAS REPURCHASED BY CHEVROLET AND THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL VEHICLES ARE WITHIN 100 VIN 'S OF EACH OTHER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049291December 5, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, PARKING BRAKE
AT 8000 MILES, WE BROUGHT OUR TRUCK IN FOR SQUEAKING AND GRINDING BRAKES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WAS METAL TO METAL, THE CALIPER BOOTS WERE CRACKED AND TORN, THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALMOST METAL TO METAL AND THE RIGHT ROTOR WAS WORN DOWN. WE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED. STEWART DEALERSHIP IN COLMA, CA INSPECTED IT, AGREED THAT IT WAS UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. LESS THAN 8000 MILES LATER WE BROUGHT IN OUR AVALANCHE & THE REAR BRAKES & EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS METAL TO METAL AND THE FRONT BRAKES ARE 50%. WE TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO STEWART WHO DID A 28 POINT INSPECTION. WHEN WE GOT THE INSPECTION PAPERWORK BACK, IT SAID THE REAR BRAKES WERE METAL TO METAL, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE 4/32 AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INSPECTED AND OK.. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS GONE AND THEY SAID IT DIDN'T REQUIRE ATTENTION!! THEY SAID ITS FROM REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO ELLIS BROOKS CHEVROLET IN SF. THEY SAID THAT THE REAR BRAKES & EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS METAL TO METAL. THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049228December 4, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED ON MY 2002 AVALANCHE. THE FAILURE POINTS ON THE CABLES WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047707November 28, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL GATE CABLE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MIES ON THE VEHICLE. OWNER WAS SITTING ON THE TAIL GATE WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048703November 26, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SHORTLY AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AS HE PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE HE SAW FLAMES SHOOTING UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. A POLICE OFFICER NEARBY ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A SECOND POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED AND EMPTIED HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER BEFORE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047553November 25, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
BOTH MY TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED AT THE SAME TIME ON MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE ON A BOY SCOUT CAMP OUT. TWO OF THE FATHERS (ABOUT 400 LBS) WERE SITTING ON THE TAILGATE WHEN THEY BOTH SNAPPED. LUCKY THAT THEY LANDED ON THEIR FEET AND DID NOT GET HURT. BOTH LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BLACK AND CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE. SNAPPED AT THE SAME PLACE ON BOTH CABLES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048699November 25, 2003
TIRES, SUSPENSION
THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNSTABLE DURING CROSSWINDS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY LEFT OR RIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY. *NLM THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS FOUND TO BE 4-5 P/SI LOWER THAN THE DESIGN VALVE. THE PRESSURE WAS INCREASED TO THE PROPER VALVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE HANDLING AND THE STEERING RESPONSE BACK TO A STABLE CONDITION. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047353November 22, 2003
TIRES
2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH "Z66" PACKAGE SPARE TIRE IS A 16 INCH TIRE. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH TIRES. SALES LITERATURE INDICATES THAT THE "Z66" PACKAGE UPGRADES ALL WHEELS 17 INCH WHEELS. DESPITE MANUFACTURE AND DEALERS CLAIMS THE VEHICLE HANDLING IS VERY ERRATIC WITH 16 INCH SPARE INSTALLED. DEALER STATED SPARE IS FOR TEMPORARY USE ONLY. THIS IS NO CONSOLATION WHEN THE NEXT EXIT ON THE HIGHWAY IS 40+ MILES AWAY. MANUFACTURE AND DEALER BOTH STATE THAT THE TSB RELEASED RESOLVES THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, CONSUMERS ARE NOT PROVIDED TSB'S IN THE SHOW ROOM. PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHEN PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. WHILE REPAIRING FLAT TIRE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND AND COULD NOT BE BALANCED EVEN WITH OVER 5 OZ OF WEIGHT ON TIRE. REPLACED TIRE WITH BRAND NEW TIRE WHICH REQUIRED 3.5 OZ WEIGHT TO BALANCE INDICATING BAD RIM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH STATE THAT IS NORMAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT FOR 17 INCH TIRES. THE 3 OTHER TIRES ON VEHICLE HAVE LESS THAN 3.5 OZ COMBINED WEIGHT TO BALANCE THOSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH STATE PROBLEM MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED WHEN ORIGINAL TIRE WENT FLAT. ORIGINAL TIRE CAME FROM DEALER WITH NO WEIGHTS INSTALLED AND TRUCK HAD PULL TO RIGHT WHEN NEW. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047252November 20, 2003
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
CONSISTENT CRACKING OF ENCAPSULATION SURROUNDING MIDGATE WINDOW OF 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHES BUILT PRIOR TO OCTOBER 2001. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048326November 19, 2003
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 72 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047018November 16, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I OWN A 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE THAT II AM THE SECOND OWNER. THERE IS LESS THAN 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHILE WE TRAVELING WE NOTICE THE BRAKES SQUEALING. BEFORE WE COULD MAKE IT HOME WE HAD METAL TO METAL AND HAD TO USE ARE TRAILER BRAKES TO HELP STOP US. WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND HAD TO TRAVEL TWO HOURS ON A SUNDAY HOME UNSAFE. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST AND THEY INFORMED US THAT WE WOULD NEED 4 NEW ROTORS. THE SERVICEMAN STATED THAT THE CALIPER HAD A PROBLEM AND IT BURN THE BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY OFF THE ROTORS AND THE ROTORS WERE JUNK. HE ALSO STATED THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM AND WE WERE NOT THE FIRST. THE ROTORS WERE PEELING. WHEN I CONTACTED OUR GMC DEALER THEY HAD A GMC REP. LOOK AT OUR ROTORS. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THAT THE BRAKES ARE WEARABLE AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. MAYBE IF WE WERE THE 1ST OWNER THEY MIGHT BEEN ABLE TO HELP US. THE DEALER STATED THIS MIGHT OF BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GMC REP SAID THEY SHOULD OF HAD IT TOWED. OUR DEALER DID STATE THEY ARE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND FORD, JEEP, CHRYSLER WERE ALSO. WE HAD TO HAD TO SPEND OVER $800 TO GET OUR VEHICLE SAFE. WE DRIVE OUR CHILDREN TO DAY CARE AND WANT TO BE SAFE. I AM VERY UPSET. WE HAD TO DRIVE OVER TWO HOURS TO GET HOME AND HAD TO USE OUR TRAILER BRAKES TO HELP STOP US... I AM SURE WE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACING THOSE BRAKES PROBLEM SOON BECAUSE OF THIS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD OR EVEN HEARD OF ANYONE NOT COVERING US BECAUSE WE WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. WHY WOULD THE DEALERS SELL VEHICLES STATE THAT IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046984November 15, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION
TRAVELING AT 65 MPH PASSING ANOTHER CAR SWITCHED LAND AND REAREND WENT OUT. DID 360 DEGREE AND HIT THE SIDE ON HIGH WAY. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IT DID $9000 IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. STEERING FEELS LIKE ITS HITTING ANOTHER METAL DEALER HAS TO GREASE THE STEERING SHAFT EVERY 25,000 MILES FACTORY DEFECT BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT. APPLYING BRAKE WHEN MAKING A TURN IF TRUCK GOES OVER A ROAD HOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD ANTI-LOCK BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AND LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. SUSPENSION IS NOT GOOD. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
3
#10046846November 13, 2003
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW FRAME STARTING TO SPLIT. TALKED TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 5 OTHERS DO THE SAME THING. CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL THIS DEFECT DESIGN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046811November 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE, 5.3L ENGINE SEIZED UP ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I LOST POWER. I'M NOT GETTING ANY SATISFACTION FROM GM OR THE DEALER AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. I JUST WANT A NEW ENGINE. CAN YOU HELP?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046200November 3, 2003
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW INTERIOR MIRROR AND REARVIEW EXTERIOR MIRROR DO NOT ADJUST ENOUGH TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY, AND A BLIND SPOT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046217November 3, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE REVERSING VEHICLE HIT A LAMP POLE. UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN FULL THROTTLE. VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY PROPPED AGAINST THE POLE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042269October 24, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE CONSUMER HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR PINION BEARINGS BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. LATER THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS REPLACED. *NLM *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043240October 20, 2003
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE TRAVELING ON A STATE 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT HIGH WAY SPEED, THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED FROM IT'S STORAGE AREA UNDER TRUCK BED. CABLE SYSTEM HOLDING SPARE IN PLACE HAD FRAYED AND WORN THROUGH TO BREAKING POINT, THUS RELEASING INFLATED SPARE ONTO ROAD SURFACE, CAUSING SPARE TO BOUNCE APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET INTO AIR AND ROLLED OFF THE HIGH WAY ON TO SHOULDER AT SPEED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041308October 6, 2003
PARKING BRAKE
MY 2002 AVALANCHE FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD. I NEVER USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE INSPECTOR SAID THE MAJORITY OF THE AVALALACHE'S THAT HE CHECKED HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040666September 25, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ROLLED OVER TWICE AND HIT A TREE. NEITHER SIDE NOR FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR POLICE REPORT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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