Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2003)

395 consumer complaints on file.

#10451608March 14, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449648February 28, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS SHOWING UP EVERY COUPLE DAYS THEN IT DISAPPEARS I BELIEVE GM IS AWARE BUT WILL NOT FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446922February 6, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DURING TRIP FROM NC->TX->FL->TX I WAS STOPPED FOR SPEEDING (75 IN 60 ON I-10 IN LA) -- I DO *NOT* KNOWINGLY SPEED. I BEGAN WATCHING MY SPEED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS TRIP, AND I WAS ABLE TO RECORD A NUMBER OF PHOTOS OF THE PRECISE PROBLEM. AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF HOURS (PROBABLY WHY I NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE), THE SPEEDOMETER WILL BEGIN A VERY SLOW DRIFT DOWNWARD. SINCE I HAD BEEN ON 70MPH ROADS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, I APPARENTLY ADJUSTED MY SPEED CONTROL UP TO MAINTAIN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 70. THEN, WHEN I REACHED IBERVILLE PARISH IN LA, I NOTICED THE SPEED LIMIT WAS NOW 60; BUT WHEN I LOOKED DOWN, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO 60 THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL A TROOPER FLAGGED ME DOWN. IN NO POSITION TO ARGUE, I WAS PUZZLED -- UNTIL I REACHED TX WHEN I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPING EVER SO SLOWLY. I HAD NO REAL IDEA OF MY SPEED, SO I JUST STAYED WITH TRAFFIC. A FEW DAYS LATER, ON THE TX->FL LEG, THE PROBLEM RESUMED AFTER A FEW HOURS. THIS TIME, I GOT THE IDEA TO START THE GPS ON MY BLACKBERRY PHONE. SURPRISE! MY REAL SPEED WAS DEFINITELY FASTER THAN INDICATED. SO I BEGAN TAKING PICTURES OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND PHONE. I HAVE A SERIES OF PHOTOS PROVING THE FAILURE. WHAT IS ALSO INTERESTING IS THAT STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE FOR A MOMENT, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN FOR A WHILE. ############### OVER A YEAR AGO, I HAD A ONE-TIME ISSUE WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. IT INDICATED MUCH FASTER THAN I WAS GOING -- MAYBE 50 WHILE STOPPED. WHEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE, I NOTICED THE NEEDLE "STEPPING" BACKWARDS FOR LESS THAN A SECOND. OUT OF CURIOSITY, I STOPPED AND STARTED THE ENGINE ABOUT 8 TIMES -- EACH TIME THE NEEDLE STEPPED BACKWARDS A FEW MPH, UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY FULLY RETRACTED BACK TO 0 AND WORKED FINE UNTIL THIS LONG TRIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445963January 30, 2012
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE BROKEN MANIFOLD BOLTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 5.3 ENGINE THIS IS A SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE GM SHOULD RECALL THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF TURNING THERE BACK AND STICKING THERE LOYAL CUSTOMERS WITH THE BILL! *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444881January 23, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY 2003 CHEVORLET AVALANCHE Z71 ONLY 62,000 MILES. MY PROBLEMS STARTED AROUND 8,000 MILES WITH THE REAR BRAKES GOING BAD. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FOUR (4) TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. THE ABS SPEED SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND NEED REPLACED AGAIN. THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 120 MPH, THE U JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT. I FEEL THAT CHEVORLET SHOULD FIX THESE PROBLEMS UNDER A WARRANTY/RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441787December 30, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR PASSENGER-SIDE BRAKE LINE FAILED, ABOVE THE REAR AXLE ON EXIT RAMP OF MAJOR HIGHWAY. COMPLETELY CORRODED LINE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. ELECTRONIC RUST PREVENTION SYSTEM (SACRIFICIAL ZINC AT ALL 4 CORNERS) INSTALLED BY DEALERSHIP WHEN TRUCK WAS PURCHASED, YET ALL BRAKE LINES NEED REPLACEMENT. DEALERSHIP (HEINRICH CHEVROLET OF LOCKPORT, NY) QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $1000 JUST IN LABOR TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'LL REPLACE THEM MYSELF. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440998December 22, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ROTTING BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE, NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM LINES. CORROSION SO BAD REQUIRES ALL LINES TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ALSO DAMAGED BRAKE CONTROLLER DURING REPAIR AND CHARGED ME THE REPLACEMENT COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441014December 22, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT LEADING TO A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENT WHILE ON THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH IT'S A 2003 YEAR MODEL, I HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 YES, LESS THAN 20,000 TOTAL MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I WILL NEVER EVER BY A CHEVY AGAIN. I ALSO HAVE A 1998 ACURA WHICH I HAVE DRIVEN FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS AND IT HAS NO SUCH PROBLEMS. NOPE. I WILL NEVER EVER BY A CHEVY AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440306December 18, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SEVERE BRAKE LINE RUST THAT STARTED WHEN VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. 2 SEPARATE DEALERS SAW THE RUST BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT ACT ON THE PROBLEM UNLESS THERE WAS A FAILURE OR THEY WERE LEAKING. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ATTENTION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY.( ORIGINAL & OEM EXTENDED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439649December 12, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY BRAKING ACTION. THE PEDAL CAME BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION AND I PRESSED IT AGAIN HARDER THE SECOND TIME WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN BUT LOCKED UP THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439243December 10, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LINE EXPLOSIVE FAILURE BEFORE THE FIREWALL. 95% LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. INSPECTION OF LINES INDICATES CORROSION. ALSO HEAVY CORROSION ON FRAME MEMBERS NOTED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. AT 25000 MI. REPLACED ALL ROTORS AND PADS WITH NON CHEVY PARTS. NO MORE ROTOR ISSUES. NOW ALL BRAKE LINES CHANGED DUE TO CORROSION AND BURST LINE HAS CAUSED A MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. THERE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES HERE AND IT'S TIME FOR NHTSA TO STEP IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437792November 30, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Z21. THE CONTACT STATED THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEATER COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $200. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436489November 20, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING DOWN HWY 316 AND BEGAN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BEGIN STOPPING FOR THE RED LIGHT, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS. I THEN PULLED INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND STARTING LOOKING AROUND I COULD SEE FLUID DRIPPING ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. I THEN WAS ABLE TO FIND THAT THE FLUID WAS BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS COMING FROM A PINHOLE SIZED LEAK IN THE STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINE COMING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND GOING TO THE ABS SYSTEM. AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT ALL MY STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, LIGHTS, BONGS, OR BEEPS UNTIL AFTER MY BRAKES FAILED.MY BRAKES WOULD BARELY WORK,THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND I WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO SLOW MY VEHICLE DOWN ENOUGH TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SHIFT INTO PARK TO COMPLETELY STOP. I CONSIDER MYSELF AND MY FAMILY EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH AND WERE NOT HARMED OR DIDN'T HARM ANYONE ELSE. AFTER THIS OCCURRED I STARTING DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES IN THE SALT BED STATES. I LIVE IN GEORGIA, BUT MY CHEVY AVALANCHE IS FROM A SALT BED STATE AND WAS ONLY RECENTLY BROUGHT TO GA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434443November 7, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT THAT I WILL BE GIVING IN REGARDS TO THE BRAKE LINE ON MY CHEVY AVALANCHE AS PER COMPLAINT NUMBER: 10430307. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A GMC/CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKE LINE REPLACE WHICH COST 600.00. NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER BRINGING THE TRUCK HOME, I START UP THE TRUCK, PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND AS I START MOVING BACKWARDS AND APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND A LOUD POP IS HEARD. UPON INSPECTION, BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE AGAIN AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO RETURN IN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP. GMC DID NOT OFFER ANY HELP TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES THE LAST TIME AND IT IS UNKNOWN AS OF NOW IF THEY WILL THIS TIME. IT WAS NOT EVEN ONE WEEK AND THE BRAKE LINES GAVE OUT YET AGAIN EVEN AFTER JUST BEING FIXED. SOMEONE MUST HOLD GM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE DUE TO FAULTY MATERIALS USED ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430911October 20, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 THE TRUCK WILL JUST SHUT DOWN. THE TRUCK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT READS REDUCE ENGINE POWER. I HAVE NO GAS, NO BRAKE, VERY LITTLE STEERING. CHEVY DEALER SAYS IT'S THE TRUCK GOING INTO LIMP MODE. IS LIMP MODE A REAL THING? I GOOGLED IT..BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON IT. I TRIED TO LOOK UP RECALLS ON 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHES BUT COULDN'T FIND ANY OF THOSE EITHER. THERE HAVE GOT TO BE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. HELP!!!! I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT THEM HURT IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430307October 15, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
OCTOBER 14, 2011: MY FAMILY AND I WERE BACKING OUT FROM OUR HOME WHEN WE LOST PRESSURE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION UNDER THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR, BRAKE FLUID WAS FLOWING FREELY ONTO THE ROAD. A CLOSER LOOK REVEALED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THAT THEY HAD RUPTURED WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. AS I PULLED MY TRUCK BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY, IT TOOK 10-15 FT JUST TO BRING THE TRUCK TO A COMPLETE STOP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND I DID NOT EVEN GET UP TO 3 MPH. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH OR FASTER AND WENT TO BRAKE AND THE LINE RUPTURED NOT TO MENTION ANYONE ELSE I WOULD OF CRASHED INTO. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A CURRENT INVESTIGATION (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER :EA11001) THAT IS PENDING FINAL RESULTS. PLEASE ADD MY OWN EXPERIENCE TO YOUR GROWING LIST OF ISSUES WITH GM'S MANUFACTURING/INSTALLATION OF BRAKE LINE. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONE THAT HAS AFFECTED A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF BUYERS. I STRONGLY ASK THAT SOMEONE PLEASE FIGURE OUT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR GM TO TAKE THAT DOES NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE CUSTOMERS BOTH ETHICALLY AND FINANCIALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428160October 1, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I PURCHASED A USED AS-IS 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE 1500 AND I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING. I DON'T WHEN IT FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420047August 18, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD SEIZE AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLCED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE REAR BRAKE CONTINUED TO SEIZE AND SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419632August 16, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE BRAKES, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415612July 29, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND GAUGES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000... UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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