Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints

2,954 consumer complaints on file.

#10640413October 1, 2014
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED AND SEPARATED, WHICH CREATED SHARP EDGES. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SEPARATION WAS LOCATED NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640307September 30, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKE LINE SPLIT OPEN WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THEY ARE VERY RUSTED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639624September 28, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
LOSS OF BRAKES OCCURRED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDDLE. INSPECTION BY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOWED BOTH FRONT BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. FURTHER MECHANIC INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE REMAINING REAR LINES WERE ALSO CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND THAT THERE WERE NO OEM PRE-SHAPED LINES PRODUCED BY ANY MANUFACTURER FOR SUCH REPAIRS. HENCE, THIS WOULD REQUIRE CUSTOM BRAKE LINE BENDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED REPAIR COSTS. SECOND OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOST OF ALL BRAKING ABILITY. THIS VEHICLE IS OFTEN USED TO HAUL HORSES WITH A HORSE TRAILER. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY WE WERE NOT HAULING HORSES AT THE TIME OF THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AND FAILED. RESEARCH ON VARIOUS CHEVY AND AVALANCHE INTERNET SITES / BOARDS AS OF THIS DATE SHOWS THIS HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHEVY TRUCKS OF THIS VINTAGE. THE TRUE INCIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS LIKELY HIDDEN BY FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO SEEK REPAIR ALTERNATIVES OTHER THAN AT CHEVY DEALERS AS THE DEALER QUOTED REPAIR COSTS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT WITH ALL THE PRESS ABOUT RECENT RECALLS ON LARGE NUMBERS OF CHEVY VEHICLES, AND THE GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYER MONEY THAT WENT INTO BAILING OUT CHEVY, THAT SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS INCREASINGLY FREQUENT CHEVY TRUCK BRAKE FAILURES, WHICH COULD PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK, HAVE BEEN IGNORED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639540September 27, 2014
POWER TRAIN
AT TIMES WHILE SLOWING DOWN (CLOSE TO A STOP) THE TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY PUSHES THE TRUCK FORWARD. THIS IS GENERALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT BECOME VERY UNSAFE WHILE THE PROXIMITY OF OTHER CARS DURING THIS TIME IS VERY CLOSE AND COULD CAUSE INJURY. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10638048September 22, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN LOCALLY, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE TRUCK BY APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER SAFELY & NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND UNDER THE DRIVER'S DOOR. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE DRIVER'S DOOR WERE SEVERELY RUSTED ALONG WITH THE ONE LINE THAT HAD FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637795September 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CHROME DOOR HANDLES FELL OFF.I READ THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE CHROME HANDLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637803September 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I USE MY AVALANCHE ONLY IN THE SUMMER TO TOW A SMALL TRAILER IN MY COMMUNITY. I USED IT IN THE WINTERS FROM 2004-2008. I WAS BACKING THE TRUCK UP AND APPLIED MY BRAKES AND SMELLED SMOKE AND MY BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND IT WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I GOT DOWN UNDER THE TRUCK TO GET A BETTER LOOK AND NOTICED THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING ALL THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE GROCERY STORE THAT MORNING AND I AM SO THANKFUL THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE FINE ONE MINUTE AND IT ONLY TOOK A SECOND FOR THE FLUID TO COME OUT. IN SECONDS I DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. THIS IS THE FIRST TRUCK I HAVE OWNED AND I AM SHOCKED THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN. BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE MUCH STRONGER THAN WHAT I HAVE ON THE TRUCK. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CHECK ON A REGULAR BASIS. I DON'T USE THIS TRUCK FOR OFF ROAD, PLOWING, DRIVING IN THE SNOW. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A STRONG VEHICLE THAT COST ME $44,000 IN 2004. I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637806September 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE PULLING MY BOAT ON A LONG DECLINE AT 55 MPH, A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SIGNALED TO TURN LEFT. I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL EASED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. I TOLD MY WIFE THAT THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM ALARM DID SOUND, BUT THAT DOES NOT COMFORT YOU WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP BEFORE PLOWING A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE COLLISION, ONLY DUE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC AND THE FACT THAT I WAS A GOOD DISTANCE BEHIND THE TURNING VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. I DIDN'T MEASURE MY STOPPING DISTANCE, BUT IT WAS WELL OVER 100 YARDS. I GOT OUT OF MY AVALANCHE AND SAW THE FLUID TRAIL. THERE IS A CLUSTER OF 5 BRAKE LINES RUNNING TOGETHER BY THE FRAME, RIGHT AT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ONE OF THOSE LINES BROKE. THEY WERE ALL SEVERELY CORRODED. I HAD THE TRUCK AND BOAT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPAIRED 5 CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE PAST WEEK. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637134September 17, 2014
AIR BAGS
IN THIS COLLISION WHERE I WAS A PASSENGER WE FLIPPED OVER 2 AND SLID ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED .UNCONSCIOUS DURING FIRST 2 SECONDS OF COLLISION AFTER I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS I FELT MY HEAD DRAGGING ON PAVEMENT AND GRABBED MY HEAD AND LIFTED IT UP FROM BEING DRAGGED AS TRUCK SLID AT THE END OF THE COLLISION. I WAS TAKEN TO NEARBY E.R. AND GOT STAPLES IN MY HEAD . AND NUMEROUS OTHER INJURIES ROAD RASH, CHEST PAINS, WHIP LASH, BACK PAINS EXCETRA . *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10637131September 17, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF MINE FORCING ME TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I DID NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVE HOME WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE AND BRAKE PEDAL HAD NO RESISTANCE. ONCE IN MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE. HAD MY WIFE PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE I LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND BRAKE FLUID SHOT OUT OF ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES. WILL BE FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633520September 16, 2014
ENGINE
THE ENGINE WILL DIE AT ANY TIME WITH OUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS FAIRLY OFTEN. SOMETIMES AFTER TRYING TO RESTART IT WILL RESTART WITH NO DELAY AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES. THEN IT WILL RUN NORMALLY FOR NO SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME. THEN IT WILL DIE AGAIN. INCIDENCES MAY OCCUR HUNDREDS OF MILES IN BETWEEN. THE DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT WOULD DO THIS AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY AND IT USUALLY RESTARTS QUICKLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND TURNING THE VEHICLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE DIES IS VERY HARD TO DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633410September 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT TRACK WITH THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. IT DOES NOT RESET TO ZERO WHEN THE TRUCK STOPS, AND CAN HAVE THE NEEDLE EXCEED THE MAXIMUM SPEED SHOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631837September 10, 2014
AIR BAGS, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG AND TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON ALSO THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE STABILITY SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. *SMD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631217September 6, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE
DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING EVERYWHERE. AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE HARD PLASTIC DASH, AFRAID IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY THAT IT WOULD SEND SMALL PIECES OF CRACKED HARD PLASTIC AS PROJECTILES. DASH IS ALSO CRACKED AROUND IN DASH SPEAKER, AND BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631227September 6, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
ON NOVEMBER 11, 2013 I WAS BACKING MY 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN MARYLAND WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. AS I WAS STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY LOST ALL RESISTANCE. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY BRAKING ACTION. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, WHO SAID THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND RUPTURED. I WAS CHARGED $1150 TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. TEN MONTHS (SEPT 5, 2014) AND LESS THAN 500 MILES LATER I AGAIN LOST ALL BRAKING POWER, THIS TIME WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH LEAVING A PARKING LOT NEAR A CARWASH. I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WHO SAID THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED. HIS ESTIMATE IS $2200 FOR REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630979September 5, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
AFTER MAKING THE 23.7 MILE COMMUTE TO WORK DRIVING ON A PARKWAY WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MILES PER HOUR THAT INCLUDES HILLS, I WAS ENTERING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORKPLACE AT APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES PER HOUR AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK. I THEN QUICKLY APPLIED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE AND IT STOPPED THE TRUCK. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID NEXT TO MY LEFT FRONT TIRE AND A LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID NEXT TO MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THAT IS WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED APART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630027September 2, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS ON VACATION AND HAD MY AVALANCHE RUNNING WHILE I PACKED IT UP TO RETURN HOME. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF RUNNING IDLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND SERVICE STABILITRAK. THIS HAD HAPPENED TO THE TRUCK THREE TIMES BEFORE AND EACH TIME THEY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITIONAL SENSOR. (I ALSO HAD A 2007 CHEVROLET TAHOE, AND AFTER HAVING IT REPAIRED SEVEN TIMES FOR FAILING SENSORS AND GOING INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THREE TIMES WE WERE FORCED TO SELL IT). WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE! HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA AND THEY TESTED IT TO FIND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS OUT, AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ASSOCIATED SENSOR. I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT THIS WAS A DIFFERENT ISSUE THAN BEFORE AND THAT MY PROBLEMS WERE FIXED. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. LAST WEEK, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AGAIN AND THE TRUCK IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR THE FIFTH TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630223September 2, 2014
ENGINE
THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IDLING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND AFTER PULLING OUT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTER TRYING FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES IT RESTARTED. THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INSTANCE, BUT HAS NOW HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND EVEN WHEN IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630254September 2, 2014
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE
THERE A DEEP GASH/CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT STARTS AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF PASSENGER AIRBAG! VERY CONCERNED AFTER I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE INSTANCES OF THIS ON GM VEHICLES 'ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THE COMPLAINTS DATE BACK TO 2006. ALSO NOTING THAT MOST EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 24-48 MONTHS AFTER NEW VEHICLE OWNERSHIP, THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND A SAFETY PROBLEM! #1 IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS EITHER FROM NECESSITY OR RANDOMLY DUE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE DASHBOARD BEING COMPROMISED, THE DASHBOARD COULD BREAK APART INTO SMALL SHARP PIECES THAT COULD BE LIKE "SHRAPNEL" AND CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR WORSE! #2 SINCE THE STRUCTURE IS COMPROMISED, WHAT IS THE WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT THERE ARE NO SAFETY FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IF THE AIRBAG DOES RANDOMLY DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING?! IN THIS INSTANCE, IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH SHOULD A DRIVER BE STARTLED AT THE UNWARRANTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG AND SWERVE THE VEHICLE OR WORSE, MY DEALERSHIP, KUNI OF SACRAMENTO WAS ONLY WILLING TO REPAIR IF I PAID A PORTION OF THE COST, AND GM PAID A PORTION. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM; THEREFORE, WHY SHOULD I PAY ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST? I ALSO NOTICED THAT MOST THAT PAID FOR THEIR REPAIRS HAD RECURRENCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN 24 MONTHS OR LESS!!!! #1 A CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY REPAIRS FOR MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS AND, #2 IF THE DEALERSHIP AND OR GM IS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE THIS "AT NO COST TO CONSUMER SERVICE " AND THEY STATE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE, THEN A WRITTEN GUARANTEE THAT THIS AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THEN A WRITTEN STATEMENT MUST BE PROVIDED TO ALL OF US AS CONSUMERS OF GM PRODUCTS BY GENERAL MOTORS, INC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Avalanche