Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2003)

395 consumer complaints on file.

#10340181June 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM DEFECTIVE WIRES BEHIND RADIO PANEL THAT SHORTED. BURNED ALL THE WIRING AND SMOKED THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336320June 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING WHILE DRIVING OR STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329064May 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WEAK BRAKES, LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, NO WEAR ON FRONT PADS, FRONT PADS STUCK, TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG, I BELIEVE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES (WORE TO WEAR INDICATOR) AND THE FRONTS PADS AND ROTORS LOOK NEW (GLAZED OVER NO FRICTION) THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE BUYING TRUCK BRAND NEW IN 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327631April 26, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER SEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED PERIODICALLY WHICH CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BUT THE DEALER, WHEN CALLED, STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIR EXPENSES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326431April 19, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH; HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER READING WAS 100 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE ODOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE THE MILEAGE TRAVELED BY ONE MILE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A SERVICE LETTER WAS MAILED TO HIM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE REGARDING THE ODOMETER AND A REPAIR WAS ALSO PERFORMED; THEREFORE, THEY VEHICLE COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL FREE REMEDIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325070April 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE BRAKES BECAME EXTREMELY SPONGY WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324828April 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO CORROSION AND RUPTURE OF BRAKE LINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324581April 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE Z-66 HAS JUST NOW DEVELOPED SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS AND I AM SORRY IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN BUT GENERAL MOTORS HAS BRUSHED IT OFF AS NO CASE CLOSED. MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING WEIRD,IT ONLY WORKS FOR SHORT DISTANCE DRIVING THEN EITHER SHOWS LAST SPEED OBTAINED OR ZERO. MY EXAMPLE FOR GM IS THIS: NO OTHER GM VEHICLE I PURCHASE EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT THINK OF IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE PERHAPS YOU MIGHT RETHINK THIS THOUGHT BY GETTING INTO A VEHICLE WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER SPORADICALLY WORKS THEN STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. PERHAPS GM CAN TELL ME HOW THEY WOULD/COULD TELL THE SPEED THEY ARE GOING WHEN THIS HAPPENS 0 READING SO THAT I CAN TELL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WHO PULLED ME OVER FOR SPEEDING OR DRIVING UNDER THE LIMIT THAT I TRIED TO JUDGE MY SPEED BUT MY GM SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AND GM SAID IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S A DEFECT AND GM HAS A LIMIT OF 70,000-80,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS WHICH EVER OCCURS FIRST...THIS IS A COP OUT. I EVEN WROTE AND ADDRESSED AN EMAIL TO [XXX]TO NO AVAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO COPY AND PASTE MY LETTER SO THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM SEEKING A FREE REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT INCLUDING FREE LABOR FOR A NEW IPC. IT IS A DEFECT THEY ADMIT AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN THAT AFFECTS MANY VEHICLES BESIDES MINE NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS ON IT. GOD..THIS IS AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY, HAVE THEY NOT LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT LOYALTY? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323554April 2, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
SPEEDOMETERGAUGE STOOP WORKING ALONG WITH THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE TAILGATE CAUSED A ONE [XXX] TO RUPTURE THE TENDANTS IN HIS LEFT KNEE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE CABLE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TAILGATE. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10318177March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN A CRASH OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IT ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED HIM THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL GENERAL MOTORS ADVISED THEM TO DO SO. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT; HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE WHAT PART OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILES WERE 117,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317175March 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER ON 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE NOT WORKING, STUCK AT 120MPH. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. OTHER CLUSTER GAUGES -- TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE -- HAVE ALSO FAILED. COMPLETE CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GM WILL NOT CORRECT PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED BY GM TO REPAIR THE CLUSTER. HOWEVER, THE TSB ONLY REQUIRES GM TO REPAIR VEHICLES (AT THEIR EXPENSE) WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS OVER 110 MILES. IS THIS PROBLEM ANY LESS OF A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME THAN IT IS FOR THOSE WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES? GM IS CHARGING $500 TO REPAIR THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT IN THE CAR. SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE?S MILEAGE SHOULD NOT BE A DETERMINING FACTOR AS TO WHETHER GM OR THE OWNER HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. A SPEEDOMETER SHOULD LAST FOR THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, NOT JUST 70K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314983February 28, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
WHEN DRIVING MY CHEVROLET 2003 AVALANCHE MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD STICK AND EVENTUALLY FALL TO ZERO. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THAT A MAJORITY OF THIS MODEL FROM 2003 -2004 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303947February 2, 2010
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
2002-2009 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE REAR REMOVABLE WINDOW (FRAME). LOWER L/H SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE).PLASTIC FRAME SUBJECT TO SPLITTING IN TIME WITH HEAT AND SEPARATES AND PULLS AWAY EXPOSING TEMPERED GLASS.TEMPERED GLASS IS NOW IN CONTACT WITH SUPPORTING FRAME AND VULNERABLE TO SHATTERING FROM ROAD VIBRATION OR WORSE, COLLISION,THUS INJURING PASSENGER(S) INCLUDING INFANTS IN REAR SEAT .MY 2003 AVALANCHE FRAME BEGAN CRACKING EARLY 2007 AND IS NOW HAS A 1 1/2 INCH GAP.I ALONG WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND OWNERS (RESEARCH ON INTERNET), HAVE BROUGHT THIS MATTER OF DEFECTIVE MATERIALS TO GM AND CHEVROLETS ATTENTION ONLY TO BE TOLD "SORRY IT'S NOT COVERED".I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND RATHER ANGRY THAT GM WOULD NOT OFFER TO REPAIR OR EVEN REPLACE THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE WINDOW FRAME ASSEMBLYS.ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH WITH OTHER OWNERS UP TO 2009 MODEL YEAR, THIS DEFECT STILL EXISTS AND OWNERS THAT WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEIRS REPLACED IF STILL UNDER WARRANTY HAVE REPORTED THAT THE REPLACEMENT HAS STARTED CRACKING JUST THE SAME! THIS IS PROOF THAT GM HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO IMPROVE/REPLACE INFERIOR MATERIALS THAT MADE THIS FRAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299001January 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298399January 6, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 52 WHILE STOPPED. WILL NOT ACCURATELY MEASURE RATE OF SPEED. SPEEDOMETER ZERO'S AT 52. ODOMETER APPEARS TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. NO APPARENT CAUSE OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. CAR MAKE: CHEVROLET YEAR: 2003. MODEL: AVALANCHE 1500 4 DOOR. MILEAGE 102,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297938January 4, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297879January 3, 2010
AIR BAGS
SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON BEEN THIS WAY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS CHEVROLET KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296794December 23, 2009
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE CABLE CORRODED AND FAILED. WENT TO APPLY PARKING BRAKE WHILE PARKED ON A HILL AND THE CABLE BROKE AT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE END OF THE CABLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND CORROSION WAS VERY EVIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296665December 22, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVE-WAY HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND HE WAS ADVISED THE HE EXPERIENCED AN IDENTICAL FAILURE REFERENCED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V045000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285688September 29, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2003 AVALANCHE RANDOMLY STARTED GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN WORKING AND NOT WORKING. NOW IT ISN'T WORKING AT ALL. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED, WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE READ ABOUT, THIS IS SOMETHING CHEVY SHOULD FIX AT NO COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Avalanche