Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints

2,954 consumer complaints on file.

#10182094February 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
RPM GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND TILTING SIDEVIEW MIRRORS (WHILE IN REVERSE) DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T READ ACCURATELY AND SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE DOESN'T EVEN REGISTER A SPEED. ONE EVENING THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING 35 MPH AND I WAS DOING AT LEAST 55 MPH. THAT SAME EVENING I CAME TO A FOUR-WAY STOP AND AT ACCELERATION THE SPEEDOMETER DIDN'T WORK AT ALL THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP HOME. THE RPM GAUGE WAS THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WRONG WITH MY TRUCK AND THEN THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS. SOMETIMES WHILE BACKING MY MIRRORS WON'T TILT DOWN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181812February 6, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
IN THE MORNING - BELOW SAY ABOUT 55 DEGREES WHEN I FIRST GET IN AND DRIVE, I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEELS TO THE LEFT TO EXIT MY DRIVEWAY. FOR THE FIRST MINUTE OR TWO, THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF, ALMOST LIKE MANUAL - THEN IT GOES NORMAL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181091January 30, 2007
PARKING BRAKE
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAD PARKING BRAKE SHOE. PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SHIELD CAME OFF AND HAD EXPOSED THE PARKING BRAKE SHIELD TO THE ELEMENTS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PAD WORE OUT, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK. THE CONTACT REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKES IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ADJUSTED, AND THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS NOT COMMON WITH THE AVALANCHE VEHICLES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181126January 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. I WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND IT STARTED GOING PAST 120 WHEN I WAS DRIVING 10 MPH IN THE SNOW!!! THE IT STICKS AT WHATEVER SPEED IT FEELS LIKE STICKING ON.. MY RPM GAUGE HAS BEEN ACTING A BIT FUNNY ALSO. IT DIDN'T WORK AT ONE POINT JUST LAST NIGHT. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND RESTARTED IT. I CAN BEEN ABLE TO "RESET" THE SPEEDOMETER BY ALMOST TURNING THE TRUCK ON UNTIL IT GETS BACK TO "0", BUT I AM AFRAID THIS WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK MY STARTER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (EVEN THOUGH GM SAYS IT IS NOT) BECAUSE IF SPEED WASN'T A FACTOR IN AUTO SAFETY WE WOULDN'T HAVE SPEED LIMITS! HOW CAN A CONSUMER BE SAFE IF THEY CANNOT TELL HOW FAST THEY ARE DRIVING? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181030January 29, 2007
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT THE RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE BY CHEVROLET WAS 30 PSI, WHILE THE TIRE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 44 PSI. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS CHANGED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HANDLED BETTER AT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CHEVROLET'S RECOMMENDED PSI WAS UNDER INFLATION OF THE TIRE. *AK UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181050January 29, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE INDICATED A RISING SPEED WHILE, IN FACT, I WAS DECELERATING TO TRY TO MEET THE SPEED LIMIT (I THOUGHT). THE NEEDLE CONTINUED UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE SCALE WHILE ACTUALLY DOING ABOUT 65 MPH. NOW, AT A STOP, IT REGISTERS ABOUT 45 MPH AND VARIES WITH ACTUAL SPEED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180790January 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER IS VERY ERRATIC. WHEN I AM AT A DEAD STOP THE SPEEDOMETER SAYS 70 MPH AND IT TOPS OUT AT 120 MPH WHEN I AM DOING ONLY 30 MPH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180674January 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS STALLED ON ME SEVERAL TIMES AND ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT I NEED HELP WITH. THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SAYS THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180704January 25, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
1) I HAVEN'T REPLACED ANYTHING, OR DONE ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. 2) A-PROBLEM THAT IM EXPERIENCING IS THAT WHEN MY AVALANCHE IS SITTING STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS THAT I AM DOING 30 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY IT COMPLETELY STOPS WORKING AND GOES TO OVER 120 MPH. B-MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T WORK EITHER, THE MOTOR SLOWLY STARTED GIVING OUT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. IT SEEMS LIKE MANY MORE CHEVY AVALANCHE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE; HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-AVALANCHE/TJI11LGM9554MERNA 3)THE ONLY THING I DID FOR THE WINDOW NOT WORKING WAS CHECK SOME FUSES THAT WERE GOOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179005January 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60-70) THE ENGINE HAS STALLED AND LEFT ME DRIFTING WITH NO POWER ON THE INTERSTATE. AFTER DRIFTING OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO POWER ASSIST STEERING OR BRAKES TO STOP AND LETTING IT SIT AND TURN THE KEY OFF AND PUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION IN "PARK" THE ENGINE WILL START BACK UP IN A FEW MINUTES. SOMETIMES HOWEVER IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES FOR A RESTART TO OCCUR. I CAN NOT BE CERTAIN, BUT I BELIEVE THIS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER (SUTLIFF CHEVROLET CO.) AND ASKED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BE REPLACED. THIS REQUEST CAME AS A RESULT OF MUCH INVESTIGATION AND CONVERSATION WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD CHANGE THE SENSOR BUT WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SENSOR BREAKS UPON REMOVAL. THIS THEY SAID WOULD REQUIRE MANY HORS OF LABOR TO FIX AND THEY WILL NOT DO THAT. I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME THE BILL FOR REPAIR IN ADDITION TO THE REQUESTED REPAIR SHOULD THIS HAPPEN. I AGREED TO PAY ONLY FOR THE REQUESTED REPAIR AND SAID THAT THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN THE PART AND THAT CHEVROLET OR GM SHOULD ASSUME ANY ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY REFUSED AND TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIC INDICATING A PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH INDICATES OTHERWISE AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD THINK OF TO PROOF MY SUSPICION WAS TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. I WILL PAY FOR THE REQUESTED REPAIR, BUT NOT FOR ADDITIONAL COST DUE TO WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE A DEFECT THAT IS KNOWN TO EXIST BY GM. I NOW FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND FEAR NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY BUT ALSO FOR THOSE AROUND ME SHOULD THE SENSOR FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT STALL SITUATION OCCUR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178954January 17, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT
SWERVED TO AVOID CAR THAT HAD CROSSED OVER, HEAD-ON, INTO LANE. WENT UP ONTO SIDE (GRASSY AREA WHICH WAS WET FROM OVERNIGHT RAIN). HIT TREE HEAD-ON AT APPROX. 20-26 MPH. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED TO WORK. INJURED SHOULDER FROM SEAT BELT & HIT HEAD ON VISOR/WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO AUTO BODY SHOP. AIRBAG SENSORS WERE CRUSHED IN COLLISION & SEAT BELT MECHANISM WAS FULLY INTACT. THERE WAS ABOUT $15,000-20,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. FRAME WAS BENT (BARK OF TREE STUCK IN FRAME). GM WAS NOTIFIED AND WHERE NOT COOPERATIVE. HAD TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET TO HAVE TRUCK FLAT BEDDED TO A CHEVY DEALER WHERE GM HIRED A 3RD PARTY ENGINEER. TRUCK WAS INSPECTED & INFO WAS DOWNLOADED FROM BLACK BOX. BLACK BOX INFO AND DAMAGE TO CAR DO NOT COINCIDE. WHAT THE BLACK BOX FAILS TO SHOW IS THE INCREASE IN SPEED AFTER VEHICLE HIT WET GRASS. GM SENT BOOKLET STATING THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY BETWEEN 8-14 MPH IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. BBB WAS NOTIFIED BUT BECAUSE I HAVE AUTO INSURANCE, THEY WOULD NOT WORK WITH ME. STATE OF CT REQUIRES ALL VEHICLES BE INSURED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10178986January 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE Z71 WITH 59000 MILES. I NOTICED MY VEHICLE BEING VERY SLUGGISH THE DAY BEFORE. WHEN I LEFT FOR WORK, I COULD BARELY GET UP TO 50 MPH, IN ORDER FOR ME TO STAY AT 50 MPH I WOULD HAVE TO REACH 3000 RPM. AFTER I TURNED DOWN A SIDE ROAD, I COULD ONLY GET UP TO 20 MPH AT 3000 RPM. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FOR HELP. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE GASKET WAS BAD WHICH CAUSED THE CONVERTERS TO FAIL AND CLOG UP THE Y PIPE. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED WITH ONLY 59000 MILES. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY AVALANCHE. I'VE READ ON FORUMS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TYPE OF TRUCK AND YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GASKET, BOTH CONVERTERS, Y-PIPE AND THE O2 SENSORS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178990January 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. CAUSE WAS LATER DIAGNOSED TO BE SENSOR BY MAITA CHEVROLET IN ELK GROVE CA. I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE ON THE CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM WEBSITE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178775January 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER READS INCORRECT OR NOT AT ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178762January 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING INACCURATE SPEEDS. LATELY IT READS 55 MPH WHEN AT A STOP AND PEGS OUT AT AROUND 60 MPH. REPLACEMENT RANGES FROM $220 FOR "DO IT YOURSELF" KIT WITH OLD PART NEEDING TO BE RETURNED FOR CORE CHARGE TO $650 AND UP FROM THE DEALER. STILL HAVEN'T FIXED PROBLEM. PART IS STILL IN THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178421January 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 Z71 AVALANCHE WORKS ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHO I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON SPEEDOMETER (INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS) FOR MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE CLUSTER AS PART OF "GOODWILL" BY GM BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MANY AVALANCHES AND OTHER GM SUVS HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS (USUALLY A BAD STEPPER MOTOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER). COST TO REPLACE CLUSTER IS ABOUT $350-$400 INCLUDING LABOR. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND HOW WIDESPREAD IT IS, I THINK THE NHTSA ENGINEERS SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND PERHAPS TELL GM THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR. I HAVE TO ESTIMATE MY SPEEDS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 58000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ REPORTS WHERE SPEEDOMETER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN 10,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177739January 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND NOW DOES NOT WORK. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A TREND IN 2003-04 CHEVROLET'S. RECOMMEND A RECALL TO FIX THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177305December 29, 2006
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
GM HAS HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS THAT LOOSEN AND RATTLE IN THEIR AVALANCHE MODELS. THIS MAY ALSO APPLY TO THE 1500 SERIES PICKUPS AS WELL BUT I'M NOT SURE SINCE I HAVEN'T KEPT IN TUNE TO THOSE OWNERS AS I HAVE AVALANCHE OWNERS. THE DEALER REMEDIES THE SITUATION, BASED UPON GM'S SERVICE BULLETINS, BY SHOOTING THE SHAFT FULL OF GREASE TO TAKE OUT ANY PLAY IN THE STEERING. HOWEVER, THIS LASTS ANYWHERE FROM 5K - 15K MILES. I HAVE HAD TWO AVALANCHE'S AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO KNOW NUMEROUS OTHER AVALANCHE OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY FAILURES BUT I'M ALSO NOT HAPPY WITH GM'S LACK OF A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM AND I'M AFRAID AN ACCIDENT IS MORE SOONER TO HAPPEN THAN A SATISFACTORY FIX FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177194December 28, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 AVALANCHE WENT OUT. IT REGISTERS UP TO 120 MPH SITTING STILL. THE TACHOMETER RECENTLY WENT OUT, ALSO. VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY WIFE (WHO DRIVES THE VEHICLE) AND MY CHILDREN. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176931December 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH 38,456 MILES AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC. IT BEGAN YESTERDAY, 12/25/06 WHILE DRIVING TO MY FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS DINNER. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY 70 MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPED TO 95 MPH WITHOUT ME ACCELERATING. I EXITED THE FREEWAY, CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE REGISTERED 35 MPH. THIS MORNING 12/26/06, THE SPEEDOMETER IS STILL INCORRECT. IT NOW REGISTERS 20 MPH IN PARK. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY TRUCKS/SUV'S 2003 OR NEWER. IT SEEMS GMC NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. REPAIR COST SEEM TO START AT $500 AND GO UP. FROM WHAT I WAS ABLE TO DECIPHER, THE "CLUSTER" NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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