Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints

2,954 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10617028July 28, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE ABILITY TO HANDLE FLEX FUEL AFTER YOU RUN THE FLEX FUEL THEN SWITCH BACK TO UNLEADED THE FUEL PUMP IS DAMAGED, I'VE SPOKEN TO OTHER OWNERS THAT OWN AN AVALANCHE SAME MODEL YEAR AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE BUT GM IGNORES THIS. CAN YOU OFFER ANY FEED BACK FOR THIS ? IF SO THANKS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616464July 26, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE TOWING A HORSE TRAILER, WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES THE BRAKE LINES BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616269July 25, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 10/7/14*CN
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
#10616074July 24, 2014
AIR BAGS, STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLES GOVERNOR SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AT 97MPH WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP AND MADE THE BRAKES NOT WORK. TWO PEOPLE WHERE LIFE FLIGHTED TO HOSPITALS WITH VARIOUS INJURIES... NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL... THE FIRST IMPACT IN THE ACCIDENT WAS TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. INJURIES SUSTAINED INCLUDED MULTIPLE FRACTURES OF THE SPINE OF THE DRIVER FROM BEING EJECTED ALMOST 40 FEET PASSED WHERE THE TRUCK HAD COME TO A REST. THE DEBRIS PATH WAS OVER 150 FT. LONG AND THE TRUCK LEFT THE ROAD BECAUSE IT COULD NOT TURN THEN STRUCK A STOP SIGN AND TOTALLY UPROOTED THE STOP SIGN INCLUDING THE CEMENT CINDER BLOCK UNDER THE GROUND WHICH SENT THE TRUCK IN A DEATH ROLL. THEN THE TRUCK CONTINUED FORWARD INTO A UTILITY POLES GUIDE WIRE WHICH DROPPED THE POLE ON TOP OF THE TRUCK AS WELL AS THE WIRES. THEN CONTINUED FORWARD SOME MORE IN WHICH IT CAME TO A REST AGAINST A CEDAR TREE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10616091July 24, 2014
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE
CRACK APPEARED IN DASH WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LOCATION. THE BAG MAY CATCH ON THE CRACK IF IT WAS DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616094July 24, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
PULLING BOAT (22 FT ) FROM THE BOAT LAUNCH TO THE MAKE READY AREA. STEPPED ON BRAKES AND PEDDLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WENT TO THE FLOOR ! UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES, THEY ARE RUSTED AND IN BAD SHAPE. THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ON TOP OF THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND GOES TO THE REAR WHEELS HAD BLOWN OUT !! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615537July 23, 2014
SEATS
I'M BEEN HAVING MAJOR BACK PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN HOW THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE MANUFACTURED IN MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE. I'M NOT ALONE; A QUICK SEARCH REVEALS THAT MANY OTHERS ARE AS WELL AND GM WILL DO LITTLE TO NOTHING TO HELP RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. HTTP://WWW.CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM/CAFCNA/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=4047.15;WAP2 THE ISSUE IS THE HEAVY PIECE OF METAL THAT'S EXPOSED AS YOU ADJUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT. IT PRESSES AGAINST YOUR LEFT GLUT CAUSING GRADUAL BUT PROLONGED INJURY TO YOUR BACK, HIP, AND GLUT. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I'VE SEEN OTHERS ATTEMPT TO RECUSHION THEIR SEATS, WITHOUT SUCCESS. SOME THOUGHT TO SWAP THE SEAT OUT RIGHT, BUT THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER GM SEATS AVAILABLE WITH A SIMILAR WIRING HARNESS THAT WILL WORK. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT THE ISSUE I'VE TRIED SEVERAL ITERATIONS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. IT'S THAT HUGE CHUNK OF METAL THAT I'M FORCED TO SIT ON THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A POORLY CONCEIVED DESIGN AND GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M MARRIED TO THIS VEHICLE FOR THE NEXT 11 YEARS WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT. WITH YOUNG ONES, I CAN'T AFFORD TO JUST BUY A NEW ONE. GM APPARENTLY SWAPS SEAT MANUFACTURES OFTEN AND PAID NO ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE IN THE DESIGN OF THE AVALANCHE. I FEEL IT MUST BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY SATISFY THE DAMAGE AND PAIN THEY'VE INFLICTED ON MYSELF AND OTHERS WITH SUCH A POOR DECISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
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
#10615495July 22, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TRANSFER CASE FLUID LEAKING FROM A HOLE IN THE CASE CAUSED BY INTERNAL PUMP RUB. ALL THE TRANSFER CASE OIL EXPELLED ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE AND POSSIBLY A FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615053July 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GM TSB #10047479 THIS IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM ON GM TRUCK AND SUV MODELS WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. THE WIRES RUB AGAINST THE MECHANISM CAUSING A SHORT AND MAKING ERRORS TO THE COMPUTER CAUSING COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS AND LOSS OF POWER. REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP, AND CHARGED $300 FOR LABOR NO PARTS INVOLVED. NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT IS A TSB, NOT A RECALL. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FROM LOSS OF POWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615470July 20, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS LEAVING THE FISH AND GAME CLUB IN LONDONDERRY NH WHEN I WENT TO STOP THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR I PUSHED HARDER IT FINALLY STOPPED. I PUMPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES SOME PRESSURE BUILT UP I CONTINUED TO THE CORNER WHERE A STOP SIGN WAS HIT THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN BUT WOULD NOT STOP I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE TRUCK STARTED TO SLOW BUT I WAS ON A HILL AS I APROACED THE NEXT STOP SIGN GOING ABOUT 15 MPH WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE TO STOP FROM TRAVELING IN TO THROUGH TRAFFIC. I TOWED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND 3 BRAKE LINES HAD BURST ONE IN THE FRONT AND TWO IN THE REAR. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS TRUCK AND HAS NO RUST EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE LINES. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED IN TO. I HOPE THIS WILL BE SENT TO WARN OTHER OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE OVER 2 MILLION MILES DRIVING AND HAVE LOST BRAKES BEFORE BUT NEVER THIS BAD. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD AT LEAST WARN OWNER OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. I JUST HAD MY TRUCK INSPECTED IN MAY AND THIS WAS NOT WARNED TO ME. I LOOKED IN TO THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS GM SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND WARN CUSTOMERS AND COMPENSATE THEM AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND THE TRUCK IS 11 YEARS OLD BUT I HAD A 1987 SABB UNTIL 2006 AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. MY FRIENDS FORD FROM 2000 WE TAKE TO NORTHERN MAINE AND HAS 160000 MILES DOES NOT HAVE RUSTED LINES. I THINK GM USED INFERIOR MATERIAL. THANKS ERIC VAUGHAN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614498July 18, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
FRONT BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH SPEWING BRAKE FLUID. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610688July 15, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, A LOSS OF PRESSURE WAS FELT. LETTING OFF AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES LEAD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO THE FLOOR / FRONT OF DRIVER CAB. AT THE POINT THERE WAS NO BRAKING PRESSURE FELT AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO TRAVEL AT IDLE SPEED INTO THE INTERSECTION. TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS AT APPLYING THE BRAKES LEAD TO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT GOING OFF, AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE YIELD SIMILAR / FAILED RESULTS. THE TRUCK WAS SAFELY STEERED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT IN PARK TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A REST. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND LET REST A PERIOD OF 5 MINUTES AND THEN TURNED ON AND BRAKES TESTED WHILE IN PARK. NO BREAK PRESSURE WAS FELT AT THE PEDAL. BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT PORTION OF THE TRUCK. NO BYSTANDER INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED. ASIDE FROM THE DRIVER, A FOURTEEN MONTH OLD WAS THE ONLY OTHER OCCUPANT, NEITHER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610117July 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
"SERVICE AIRBAG SYSTEM" DISPLAY ON VEHICLE INFORMATION READOUT FIRST APPEARED AROUND TEN YEARS AGO. BROUGHT TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR (CODE B0026) BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY SYSTEM DEFECT. VEHICLE IS WAY OUT OF WARRANTY AND ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY DOES NOT SEEM FINANCIALLY SOUND. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND "SERVICE AIRBAG SYSTEM" DISPLAY HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY ON SINCE 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609807July 11, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. AN ANIMAL RAN IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. UPON FURTHER TESTING, THE LEFT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE ALSO RUPTURED. BOTH LINES WERE RUSTY. THE LINES DID NOT APPEAR TO BE COATED. NEW BRAKE LINES FROM NAPA HAD A COATING. WHEN THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION, THE REAR BRAKES DID VERY LITTLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LINES IS NOT A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609485July 10, 2014
AIR BAGS
ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN MY 2002 AVALANCHE ILLUMINATED AND HAS REMAINED ON SINCE. I HAVE THE AVALANCHE IN THE SHOP FOR OTHER WORK AND ASKED THAT THEY CHECK THE CAUSE OF THE STEADY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONTACT SYSTEM WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL IS INOP AND THAT ALL AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DEPLOY. COST OF REPLACEMENT PART(S) IS ABOUT $700. AS FAR AS I KNOW AT THE MOMENT THE IMPACT SENSORS ARE FUNCTIONAL. *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
#10609276July 9, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON OLD US 23 IN BRIGHTON, MI AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY GOT THE TRUCK STOPPED. ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED. POLARCHIOS AUTO REPAIR (BRIGHTON, MI) IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE DUE TO CORROSION. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BRAKE LINES CORRODING AND WHILE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE APPROX. $350 REPAIR DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH OF THE INCIDENT THINKING THIS WAS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM. POLARCHIOS TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL OTHER TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I SAW THAT THIS AGENCY WAS INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM AND WAS ENCOURAGING GM TO RECALL AND REPAIR THESE VEHICLES AND WANTED TO PROVIDE MY EXPERIENCE. I WOULD THINK A RECALL IS IN ORDER AS I ONLY HAD ONE LINE FAIL, THERE ARE 3 MORE......WHEN WILL THOSE FAIL? AS SERIOUS AS THE GM IGNITION KEY ISSUES ARE, I WOULD THINK THE ABILITY TO STOP WOULD BE AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT. PLEASE CALL ME AT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS - THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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