Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2004)

319 consumer complaints on file.

#10640822October 2, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TRAVELING WEST ON WENDOVER AVENUE IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA APPROXIMATELY 8:20 AM ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 2, 2014. WHILE TRAVELING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WAS TURNING RED AND I BEGAN SLOWING. AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUED TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AND SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS QUICKLY CLOSING IN ON THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND REDUCED MY SPEED BY STANDING ON THE BRAKED AND USING ENGINE SPEED SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO 3RD TO 2ND AND THEN TO FIRST GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHIN A FOOT OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THIS I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE. I LOCATED A BLOWN BRAKE LINE THAT WAS SEVERELY CORRODED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ALONG THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. IN ADDITION, THE OTHER BRAKE LINES APPEAR TO BE EXTREMELY CORRODED AS WELL. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN CONSIDERING BRAKES ARE SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO SAFE DRIVING. IT APPEARS THE BRAKE LINES ARE NOT MADE FOR A SUITABLE QUALITY FOR SUCH A CRITICAL SYSTEM. THE EXHAUST PIPE, WHICH IS UNDER THE VEHICLE AS WELL, IS NOT CORRODED AND IS MADE OUT OF SUITABLE QUALITY MATERIAL. IF THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE ON THE ROAD WITH SIMILAR MATERIALS THE RESULTS MAY BE INJURIOUS OR DEADLY. PLEASE HELP TO ADDRESS AND RECTIFY THIS SITUATION WITH CHEVROLET. *TR
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
#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
#10629010August 28, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I WAS ISSUED A RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK SPECIFIC TO MY VEHICLE ABOUT A BLOWER MOTOR OPERATION MALFUNCTION. IT STATED THAT SETTINGS ON THE BLOWER MOTOR MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR OR HEAT I HAVE SETTINGS FOR 5 BLOWER MOTOR OPTIONS. ALL THE SETTINGS 1-4 WORK JUST FINE, SETTING 5 DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. WHEN I SET HVAC TO SETTING 5 NO AIR BLOWS OUT. I HAVE SINCE THEN MISPLACED THAT RECALL NOTICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS RECALL CAN YOU PLEASE GET IN CONTACT WITH ME THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628325August 26, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I 95 SOUTH ON THE WAY TO VACATION, BRAKES FAILED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAD TRUCK IN SHOP FOR WEEK AND FOUND SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH LINES AND 2 LEAKS. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A KNOWN METAL DEFECT WITH 2001-2004 BRAKE LINES. I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALL INFORMATION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628496August 26, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY TRUCKS SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK AND WONT WORK. ITS STAYS AT 0 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617647July 30, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES TO STOP AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH THE ALARM THEN COMING ON IN THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE OR STOPPING POWER TO THE BRAKES. USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BEFORE IT WENT ACROSS THE STREET INTO THE DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED UP INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WAS FOUND UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AREA OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE METAL HIGH PRESSURE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND RUPTURED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID CAUSING THE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616894July 28, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGES DID NOT DISPLAY THE CORRECT INFORMATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ UPDATED 5/7/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616161July 24, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
ON THE ABOVE LISTED DATE AT APPROXIMATELY 0730 HOURS, I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS AFTER GETTING OFF WORK AND BEFORE RETURNING HOME. I STARTED TO DRIVE DOWN A SLOPED ROAD APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION. THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED RED AS I WAS APPROACHING IT AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH ZERO FUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED AND A NOTIFICATION CAME ACROSS TO "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM". I DOWN SHIFTED DOWN FROM "D" TO "3-2-1", ALL THE WHILE PUMPING THE BRAKES. IT WASN'T UNTIL I REACHED AROUND 5 MPH THAT IT SEEMED THAT THE BRAKES HAD ANY AFFECT, AND I CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. SINCE I WAS ROUGHLY A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AT THIS POINT I LIMPED MY TRUCK HOME, MOSTLY USING GEARING "2" AND "1". I PARKED THE TRUCK, ENTERED MY HOUSE AND INFORMED MY WIFE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. THEN I RETURNED TO THE TRUCK TO FIND A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER AND AROUND THE DRIVERS DOOR. I CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED AT THIS POINT. THERE IS NO DOUBT IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF ME OR COMING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT THE TIME THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AT NO TIME PRIOR TO THIS HAVE I HAD ANY INDICATION OF THE BRAKES GOING BAD, IE: BRAKE WARNING LIGHT OR ABS, SOFT BRAKE PEDAL OR FLUID LOSS. IT SEEMS AS IF THIS HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MECHANICS GARAGE LATER ON THAT DAY TO BE REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615585July 23, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE LIKES BLEW OUT DUE TO CORROSION. BRAKE LINES CORRODE AT EACH POINT THAT THEY ARE FASTENED TO THE VEHICLE. NO OTHER MAJOR CORROSION ON THE VEHICLE. FRONT BRAKE LINES ALSO CORRODED BUT NOT YET TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. STOPPING THE TRUCK WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609527July 10, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TRAVELING APPX 35MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO MAKE LEFT TURN, PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME OR WE WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. BRAKE FLUID POURING FROM UNDER TRUCK, UNDER DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA. BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO RUST. LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED RUPTURED LINE. I INSPECTED ALL LINE FEW MONTHS LATER AND FOUND THEY WERE ALSO IN BAD SHAPE DUE TO RUST. TOOK TO LOCAL GM DEALER $550 TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINE. GM SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP COST FOR NOT USING NON-CORROSIVE BRAKE LINE. VERY LUCK ME AND MY KID DIDN'T GET HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607413July 1, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF GAS AFTER FILLING UP. I CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW GAS THAT SEEM TO BE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK AND DRIPPING OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE GAS TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598637June 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
FIRST INCIDENT OF SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY WORKING OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2005. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND QUOTED TO FIX BUT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OTHER CLUSTER GAUGES BEGAN FAILING COMPLETELY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. FINALLY THE VOLTMETER GAUGE COMPLETELY FAILS THIS YEAR. ENTIRE CLUSTER IS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588037May 13, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULB AND FUSES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,783.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587757May 12, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT READ ANY SPEEDS OVER 20 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584381April 23, 2014
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
THE SPARE TIRE SECONDARY LATCH WAS STUCK IN THE HOIST BODY NOT ALLOWING THE SPARE TIRE TO BE RELEASED. THE DEALER, SIERRA CHEVROLET, MONROVIA, CA STATED THAT THE HOIST MECHANISM WAS STRIPPED, NOT ALLOWING THE TIRE TO BE LOWERED. I HAD SEEN THE CABLE LET DOWN BUT THE TIRE NOT COME DOWN AT COSTCO, AZUSA, CA WHERE THEY WERE REPLACING MY TIRES, SO I KNOW THE MECHANISM WAS NOT STRIPPED. MY COMPLAIN IS BOTH AGAINST THE DEALER FOR FALSELY REPRESENTING A PROBLEM AND CAUSING ME A COST OF OVER $250 AND FOR THE DESIGN OF THE HOIST WHICH WAS FLAWED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576007March 31, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I CAME AROUND A CURVE AND THERE WAS ROAD WORK GOING ON AND HAD TO STOP REAL QUICK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED. I HAD TO CHANGE EVERY BRAKE LINE ON MY TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575542March 29, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WAS DRIVING AT A RATE I THOUGHT WAS AROUND 65-70 MPH BUT GOT PULLED OVER FOR GOING 84 MPH. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 68 MPH. HE THEN SHOWED ME THE RADAR GUN AND IT SAID 84MPH. WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY TRUCK I NOTICED MY GAUGE WAS STUCK ON 18MPH I SHOWED THE OFFICER AND LUCKILY HE TOLD ME HA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS CHEVY TRUCK AND LET ME OFF WITH JUST A WARNING. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE ALL GAUGES DON'T WORK NOW. I'VE READ SOME MESSAGES ONLINE AND SOME PEOPLE SAID THEY GOT LETTERS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS TRUCK SINCE MAY 2004 AND NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568340March 11, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS HOOKING UP MY TRAILER TO TOW. HAD MY DAUGHTER STEP ON THE BRAKES TO CHECK THE LIGHTS. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND ALARM WENT OFF. FOUND BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTING ONTO THE GROUND. HAD TO HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED DUE TO RUST BEHIND THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL. FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE AND ALL THE CHEVY TRUCKS. ALL IN THE SAME AREA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568494March 11, 2014
ENGINE
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS FASTNERS ARE SNAPPING OFF WHICH IS CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE TO FILL THE CABIN AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAZARD JEPORDIZES THE HEALTH OF EVERY PERSON DRIVING OR RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN THE V8 POWERED VEHICLES. THIS IS HAPPENING TO NEWER MODELS AS WELL. GM IS WANTING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER $1,500-$3,000 TO DUE REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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