Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2003)

395 consumer complaints on file.

#10489028December 17, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINES ARE LEAKING SO I TOOK TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED ME THE LINES WERE CORRODED AND IT WOULD COST ME $1200. TO $1500. TO FIX AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. LUCKY I NOTICED THE LEAKING BEFORE MY BRAKES FAILED ME. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS WAS NOT RECALLED AND FIXED AT NO COST BY GM DEALER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW GM'S RESPONSIBILITY HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485413November 21, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. WHILE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, AIRBAGS DO NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY CHEVROLET. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. NEEDS A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT COST THE CONSUMER TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482493October 28, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP. NO PRIOR WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, FRONT AND BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481345October 22, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
REPLACED REAR BRAKE LINE TWO WEEKS PRIOR. WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND FRONT BRAKE LINES BLEW OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479444October 9, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.. ..UPDATED 11/09/12 *BF UPDATED 11/14/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479479October 9, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
A VERY GOOD FRIEND NOTIFIED ME YESTERDAY THAT HIS SAME YEAR AVALANCHE EXPERIENCED A BURST BRAKE LINE AND CAUSED HIM TO HAVE TO CRASH HIS VEHICLE TO STOP IT. HE TOLD ME WHERE THE LINE HAD BURST AND STATED THAT CHEVROLET USES STEEL BRAKE LINE INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL. I INSPECTED MY 2003 AVALANCHE AND NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE LINES ARE SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF CORROSION. LMC TRUCK PARTS SELLS A REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINE KIT FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR A REASONABLE PRICE OF 379.00. IT IS THAT HARD TO FORCE VEHICLE MANUFACTURES TO USE STAINLESS STEEL INSTEAD OF REGULAR STEEL IN THEIR BRAKING SYSTEMS. YOU FORCED SEAT BELTS, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL, DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHTS, ETC... WHY NOT THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478840October 6, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS IN ANSONIA CT ON 6TH OCTOBER 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 09:47. HAD PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO REFUEL. NO ISSUES AS I TRAVELED IN THE MORNING. AFTER LEAVING THE SERVICE STATION TO HEAD BACK TO THE HIGHWAY I WENT TO PLACE ON THE BRAKES WHILE GOING DOWNHILL APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. WITHIN 2 SECONDS DASH WARNING OF " CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM " FLASHED ON INFORMATION DISPLAY. HAD NO BRAKES, NON AT ALL. PULLED INTO LOWEST GEAR AND RAN THRU THE RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. I PROCEEDED TO PULL A SHARP RIGHT TURN INTO A COMMUTER LOT USING THE CURB TO STOP THE VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE INEFFECTIVE AT REDUCING SPEED. CALLED AAA AND DISCOVERED RUPTURED BRAKE LINES ALONG THE FRAME RAIL BELOW DRIVERS SIDE FOOTWELL AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476637September 21, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD JUST LEFT A STORE AND STOPPED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I PROCESSED TO THE NEXT LIGHT I PUT MY FOOT ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE BRAKE PIDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, LUCKILY THE OTHER DRIVER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT LEAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LIGHT RIGHT AWAY AND THAT GAVE ME TIME TO GO THROUGH WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT NEVERTHELESS IT WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD OF BEEN REAL BAD, AND NOW IT IS COSTING ME $1400.00 TO REPLACE ALL OF MY BRAKE LINES DUE TO THIS INCIDENT AND CAUSE GM DOES NOT MAKE THE PRE-BENT BRAKE LINES FOR MY TRUCK ANYMORE (WHICH IS STUPID). AS MUCH AS THESE VEHICLES COST I WOULD OF THOUGHT THAT THESE BRAKE LINES WOULD BE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND NOT (PROBABLY) CHINA METAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475513September 15, 2012
AIR BAGS
ON OCCASION THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON, USUALLY WHILE DRIVING. ON SUBSEQUENT STARTS, NO LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I ASSUMED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER INITIATED ALERT TO HAVE THE AIRBAGS CHECKED AFTER 100,000 MILES. WHEN I NEXT BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE SERVICE, I ASKED THE ADVISER TO HAVE THE AIRBAGS CHECKED BECAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT. HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON THE AIRBAGS WERE INOPERATIVE! I TOLD HIM TO GET IT CORRECTED. AFTER 90 MINUTES MY CAR WAS RETURNED WITH THE NOTICE THAT A PRELIMINARY CHECK DID NOT UNCOVER THE CAUSE, AND I WOULD HAVE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AT ANOTHER TIME AND EXPECT TO INCUR SEVERAL HOURS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. SINCE MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PARTS AND LABOR. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY AN INOPERATIVE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. PERHAPS IF GOVERNMENT MOTORS WAS PRIVATELY HELD, THE ACTUAL GOVERNMENT WOULD FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR ALL SUCH SAFETY RELATED ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473948September 5, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS COMPLETE LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS HAPPENING. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS NO SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT A BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND 8FT OF BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS GOING SLOW DUE TO TRAFFIC. HAD I BEEN MOVING FASTER OR ON A HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. CONSIDER THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON GM TRUCKS I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING ALL THE BRAKE LINES BEFORE PEOPLE START DIEING. I AM AWARE OF THE NHTSA INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM WITH NUMBER EA11001. THIS IS WHY I MADE IT A POINT TO WRITE. I AM HOPING THAT THIS PROBLEM GETS RESOLVED QUICKLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473143August 31, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TAKING MY 3 BOYS TO SCHOOL WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL PRESSURE IN THE BRAKES. ONCE AGAIN ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS NOW LEAKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A RUSTY BRAKE LINE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THESE LINES SHOULD BE RUSTING OUT SO PREMATURELY. I HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME AREA MY ENTIRE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. I OWNED A 1988 CHEVROLET S-10 BLAZER FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AND HAPPILY PUT OVER 228,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER ONCE HAD A BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH. I AM REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH AN IMPROVED TEFLON COATED BRAKE LINE. I DO NOT WANT THE SAME INFERIOR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PUT BACK IN PLACE OF THE CURRENT RUSTED LINE. THE LINES HAVE RUSTED OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO PROPER STANDARDS. THE WORST PART IS NOW WONDERING WHICH BRAKE LINE WILL BE NEXT. ALL GM VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. YOU CAN FIND THOUSANDS OF STORIES JUST LIKE MINE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. YESTERDAY I SPOKE TO A GM EMPLOYEE WHERE I BOUGHT MY TRUCK AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 2002 TAHOE. GM AGREED TO REPLACE EVERY BRAKE LINE ON HIS TRUCK FOR A FLAT FEE OF $250 BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE BRAKE LINES ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW BECAUSE FOUR LIVES WERE AT STAKE ON 8/29/2012 WHEN I LOST ALL THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE SITUATION BUT NO ONE SHOULD DIE OVER AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS WHICH HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471379August 18, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND AS I WENT TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, GOING TO THE VERY NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. (NORMALLY THE PEDAL STAYS SEVERAL INCHES FURTHER ABOVE THE FLOOR.) THE SERVICE BRAKES LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE TRUCK'S WARNING CHIMES. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND SAW LARGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING OFF THE UNDERCARRIAGE NEAR THE LEFT SIDE REAR TIRE. ABOUT 1 TO 1.5 HOURS EARLIER, WHEN I WAS PARKING THE TRUCK, THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. A CHEVROLET DEALER HAD TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THAT BRAKE LINE. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHO NORMALLY SERVICES THE TRUCK ALERTED TO ME TO EXTENSIVE RUSTING OF ALL OF THE TRUCK'S BRAKE LINES. THEY DID NOT THINK THERE AS IMMEDIATE DANGER OF A BRAKE LINE FAILURE, BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE ONCOMING WINTER WHERE CORROSION MIGHT BECOME ACCELERATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470124August 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE SPEED READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,965.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469493August 7, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468788August 1, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
ON APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE LINE HAD RUSTED THRU ABOVE THE LEFT REAR SPRING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A LINE HAS RUSTED THRU. THE FIRST TIME I LOST BOTH BRAKES. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AS YOU CAN SEE THEY DID NOT REPLACE ALL THE PROBLEM LINES. I HAD IT DONE BY OAKWOOD SERVICE CENTER IN AUBURN, NY. AT LEAST NOW I BELIEVE I AM SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467582July 24, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE BLEW WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED DO TO RUST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460951June 7, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TRUCK IN REVERSE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, ON A DRIVEWAY WITH AN INCLINE , I WAS WAITING TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR , AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO THE STREET. WITH SOME LUCK , I REMEMBERED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STOP THE TRUCK. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP I WAS SHOWN THAT THE BREAK LINES WERE ALL RUSTED VERY BAD , AND THAT 1 OF THEM HAD BLOWN OUT WITH NO WARNING AND ALL FLUID WAS LOST. I FELT LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.MY TRUCK LOOKS NEW FROM THE OUT SIDE AND IN , I KEEP IT CLEAN AND HAVE IT INSPECTED FOR THE STATE OF PA YEARLY. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AT THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS SHOCKED THAT EVERYTHING WAS COVERED IN RUST , IT LOOKED LIKE A 50 YEAR OLD TRUCK. I OWNED A 1978 GM TRUCK FOR 16 YEARS - 250,000 MILES AND IT WAS NOT RUSTED UNDER THE BODY LIKE THIS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458677May 16, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457446May 4, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2003 AVALANCHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR 2002 REGARDING THE ANTILOCK COMING ON AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. GM REFUSES TO INCLUDE OUR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY STATED THAT NO CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE ANTILOCK SPEED SENSOR AND/OR HUB ASSEMBLY FROM THE 2002 TO 2003. IF WE HAVE THE SAME PRODUCT IN OUR 2003 AVALANCHE, THEN WHY DOES IT NOT DESERVE TO BE INCLUDED WITH RECALL AND REQUIRE GM TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM IS IGNORING THE CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH LATER YEAR VEHICLES AND IS NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. AVALANCHE OWNERS NEED TO GET TOGETHER TO COMPLAIN TO FORCE THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452982March 26, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL GASOLINE ODOR WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE OVER A ROAD BUMP. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Avalanche