Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2002)

658 consumer complaints on file.

#10110892February 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THERE WOULD BE INTERMITTENT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108360February 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARING FAILURE ON 02 AVALANCHE AT 51,000 MILES- BROUGHT TO DEALER BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE CLUB AVALANCHE WEBSITE. THIS DEFECT COULD LEAD TO WHEELS FALLING OFF AND CATASTROPHIC INJURY. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111069January 31, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, PARKING BRAKE, STEERING
MEXICAN ASSEMBLY FACTORY FAILURE. THERE WAS A MAJOR FAILURE OF THE REAR AXLES AND PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. *BF THE REAR AXLES HAD GROOVES WORN IN THEM AND THE REAR BEARING FAILED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE PARKING BRAKE REMAINED INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE ACCELERATION WOULD HANG UP AND A POP WOULD BE HEARD IN THE REAR, THERE WAS A RATTLE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE AXLE SEALS LEAKED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109033January 27, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TAILGATE WAS DOWN BECAUSE BOTH OF THE TAILGATE SUPPORT STRAPS SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109070January 26, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE LOADING A RIDING LAWN, THE CABLE BROKE IN HALF. REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN. *SC THE CONSUMER HAD THE CABLE REPLACED AT A LOCAL DEALER WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CABLE THAT BROKE, UNTIL THE STAINLESS CABLE ARRIVED, HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107727January 22, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAS PROBLEM WITH FUEL SYSTEM. EITHER THE FUEL GAUGE GOES OUT INDICATING THAT YOU HAVE MORE GAS THAN YOU REALLY DO. THE FUEL PUMP GOES OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS DRIVING UP A WINDING HILL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY TRUCK STOPPED WITH NO WARNING ON A BLIND CURVE. THIS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED A TRAFFIC COLLISION. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN TO RALLY CHEVROLET FOR THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME WAS FEBRUARY 2003. THE SECOND TIME WAS APRIL 2003. THE THIRD TIME WAS JUNE 2003 AND THE FOURTH TIME WAS JANUARY 21, 2005. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES FUEL SYSTEM. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. EVERY SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING COOLANT AFTER EITHER SHORT TRIPS OR LONG DRIVING TRIPS. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE ONCE THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THEN A FREEZE PLUG WAS REPLACED. TO THIS DAY, WE STILL SMELL COOLANT AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND A LEAK. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107598January 20, 2005
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
ON 9/5/01, I PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE PARKING BRAKE HAS FAILED 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER REPAIR IT ON 7/12/02, 8/14/02, AND AGAIN ON 12/20/04. THE LATEST FAILURE IS TODAY, 1/20/05. THE BRAKE EITHER WILL NOT HOLD THE PARKED VEHICLE OR IT WILL STICK AND NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE IMMOVABLE. THE LAST REPAIR ALSO INCLUDED REPLACING BOTH REAR AXLES AND REAR AXLE BEARINGS. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM AND I HAVE HEARD OTHER AVALANCHE OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106382January 15, 2005
PARKING BRAKE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AND COMPLETE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO DOWNSHIFT INTO D1 TO SLOW DOWN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106352January 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MAIN IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT ALWAYS SUPPLY POWER TO ALL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. WHEN FAILURE OCCURS THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DO NOT FUNCTION AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. SWITCH HAS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106206January 12, 2005
STRUCTURE
WATER LEAK DISCOVERED AGAIN FOR THE FIFTH TIME. DEALER HAS REPLACED CARPET AND PAD ON PREVIOUS REPAIRS AND NEW SEALS WERE INSTALLED. WAS DRY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. CARPET UNDER BACK SEAT IS SOAKING WET AGAIN. I AM EXTREMELY TIRED OF THIS MALFUNCTION IN DESIGN, CAUSING SUCH ISSUES. THE BED STAYS MOSTLY DRY, AND HONESTLY I NEVER EXPECTED THE BED TO BE DRY 100% OF THE TIME. HOWEVER THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUCK SHOULD NOT BE WET UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. DEALER HAS EXPLAINED HOW THE KEEP THE DRAIN CHANNELS CLEAR AND IT DOES NOT HELP AT ALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105998January 8, 2005
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE FRAME ON THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS BEGUN TO CRACK AND BREAK OFF. ALTHOUGH STILL IN PLACE AT THIS TIME THERE IS A 1/2" CRACK THAT IS WIDENING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER CORNER AND CRACKS IN THE LOWER CORNER THAT LOOK LIKE THE PLASTIC IS TEARING ITSELF APART. IT IS SUBJECT TO LEAKS SINCE IT NO LONGER FORMS A TIGHT SEAL AND IF THE FRAME BREAKS OFF COMPLETELY THE WINDOW WILL NO LONG BE HELD TIGHTLY IN PLACE AND COULD FALL FROM THE FRAME ONTO PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CRACKS ACTUALLY BEGAN BUT ONLY NOTICED THEM RECENTLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWER AND ONLY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. CHEVROLET WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM UNDER SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER 1-292479540. THEIR ANSWER WAS THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I ONLY RECEIVED THEIR DECISION TODAY SO I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT PART AS YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105796January 5, 2005
PARKING BRAKE
I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, THAT DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE NO HOLDING. THIS OCCURRED WITH OUT WARNING SINCE MY LAST INSPECTION. I VISTED THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED FOR MILEAGE AND STATED IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE IS NO WARRNING SYSTEM FOR THIS PROBLEM. AND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLOW FOUND ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $800 FOR BRAKE SHOES DRUM / ROTOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE PADS I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105723January 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
2002 CHEV AVALANCHE FAILED NYS INSPECTION ALL BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED I HAVE ONLY 29879 MILES I THINK THIS IS VERY EXCESSIVE THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED OR PLOWED I USE IT FOR CAMPING AND OTHER VACATIONING REPLACED WERE THE FOLLOWING FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS/ REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS/ REAR E BRAKE SHOES, ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF MAJOR RUSTING OF ALL IRON OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. I WAS TOLD BY INSPECTION STATION THIS IS HAPPENING ALOT . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104465December 24, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE CAB, THROUGH THE MID GATE. EVENTHOUGH THE SALES PERSON TOLD ME THE COMPARTMENTS WERE ALL WATER TIGHT AND WOULD NOT LEAK. I HAVE COMPLAINED BUT THE SERVICE PERSON TELLS ME THAT WHAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE COMPARTMENTS ARE WATER RESISTANT NOT WATER TIGHT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104193December 21, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
I RELEASED THE TAILGATE TO REMOVE AN EMPTY BOX FROM THE BED OF MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE. I JUMPED UP IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND RETRIEVED THE BOX. WHEN I REACHED THE BACK OF THE TRUCK (TAILGATE), THE TAILGATE GAVE WAY LIKE A TRAP DOOR AND I WENT DOWN WITH IT. I HIT BOTH MY KNEE AND HEAD ON THE TAILGATE AS THE TAILGATE HIT THE GROUND. BOTH CABLES (2) BROKE ABOUT 2 INCHES BELOW THE CONNECTOR. I CUT MY KNEE AND HAD A KNOT ON THE SIDE OF MY HEAD. ASPRIN SEEMED HELP, BUT THERE IS STILL PAIN IN THE OUTSIDE KNEE AREA (LEFT). WHEN I GOT TO WORK, I PULLED UP THE RECALL LIST. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VERY CABLES THAT SEVERED ON MY AVALANCHE. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE JUNE 2004 AND HAVE EVEN HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP. I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PART ALTHOUGH THE DEFECT NOTICE STATES I SHOULD HAVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10104155December 20, 2004
TIRES:SIDEWALL
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4X4. GOODYEAR AT 17" TIRES. ALL 4 TIRES EVENLY WORN 75% HAD SIDEWALL DETERIORATION WHERE TREAD AND SIDEWALL CONNECT AT 51500 MILES. WIRES WERE ACTUALLY STICKING OUT AND HAD LUMPS WHERE THE WIRE WAS FAILING. DEFINITELY NOT NORMAL WEAR PATTERN. FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOW OUT AND OUT OF CONTROL AND WHO KNOWS WHAT. CAUGHT THE FAILURE AND PRESENTED IT TO A GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. STILL POSSESS ALL 4 TIRES IF I COULD ONLY SHOW THEM TO AN ACTUAL GOODYEAR REPRESENTATIVE FOR REVIEW MY MIND WOULD BE AT EASE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102909December 14, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE-27.000 MILES. REGULAR TIRE ROTATION AND ALIGNMENT. TIRES STILL WORE IN IRREGULAR PATTERN. ON 12-13-04 NOTICED SPOT ON RIGHT REAR TIRE WHERE A "BUBBLE" HAD BURST AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE COMING THROUGH.(ABOUT 1" IN DIA.). VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK TO LOCAL TIRE RETAILER WHO STATED THAT TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN TO CAR DEALER. CALLED CAR DEALER. SENT TO GOODYEAR DEALER. FIRST TECH EXAMINED TIRE AND STATED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE. MANAGER CAME OUT AND SAID LACK OF MAINTENANCE WAS CAUSE OF PROBLEM. THEN STATED THAT 265/70R17 ATS WAS FOR OFFROAD USE AND NOT INTENDED FOR HIGHWAY USE ONLY. SAID ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH 265/70R17 RT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102229December 6, 2004
PARKING BRAKE
I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, THAT I COULD NOT GET INSPECTED DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE NOT HOLDING. UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOUND THAT A RETAINING CLIP ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES TO ENGAGE AT SOME POINT IN THE LAST YEAR AND WEAR THE SHOES DOWN, DAMAGE THE DRUM / ROTOR ASSEMBLY, AND CAUSE CHIPPING / CRACKING WITH THE REAR BRAKE PADS DUE TO THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE RETAINING CLIP ASSEMBLY FAILURE. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND MY DEALER ALSO SAID THE SAME THING, THAT THESE ARE 'WEAR AND TEAR' ITEMS THAT I WAS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE CLIP HAD FAILED OR IF I HAD DRIVEN WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. I FOUND A PREVIOUS TSB WAS REFERENCED TO THIS ISSUE (020526002A) AND NHTSA# 10000172, WHICH WERE SIMILAR. THE TSB INDICATED REPLACING THE RETAINING CLIP WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. WHICH TELLS ME THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE RETAINING CLIP ON MY 2002 VEHICLE, WHICH HAS NOW RESULTED IN A COSTLY REPAIR (BRAKE SHOES X2, RETAINING CLIP X2, DRUM / ROTOR ASSEMBLY X2, BRAKE PADS X2 (PRIMARIES) THAT IS OVER $800. I'VE FOUND MANY OTHER AVALANCHE AND SILVERADO OWNERS ALSO HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, SOME ARE BEING COVERED BY WARRANTY, SOME ARE NOT. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY GM AND A RECALL ISSUED BEFORE THIS $8 RETAINING CLIP PART WINDS UP COSTING OTHER CUSTOMERS OVER $800.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102235December 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100778November 30, 2004
PARKING BRAKE
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Z66 HAS FAILED PARKING BRAKE. I DO NOT TOW OR EVEN USE THE BRAKE. HOWEVER IN ATTEMPTING TO PASS TEXAS STATE INSPECTION, MY PARKING BRAKE FAILS. WHEN BRAKE IS SET IN ALL THE WAY, TRUCK PUT IN DRIVE, TRUCK WILL MOVE FORWARD AS IF BRAKE IS NOT SET. CHEVYTALK.ORG HAS OVER 5000 POST OF USERS ON THIS SAME ITEM. CHEVY ASE MECHANIC SAID IT'S A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW IN THE CLIPS THAT CAUSES E-BRAKE TO WEAR EVEN IF NEVER USED. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I NEED IT, DUE TO A HYDROLIC FAILURE, IT DOESN'T WORK. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT PART OF WARRANTY. THIS IS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS DESIGN PROBLEM THAT GM IS NOT OWNING UP TO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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