Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2003)

395 consumer complaints on file.

#10158780June 1, 2006
STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION, STEERING
PURCHASED A USED 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE AT A DEALERSHIP IN FEB 2006 UPON SERVICING THE VEHICLE TWO MONTHS LATER WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE UNDER CARRIAGE RUST. THIS CAR ORIGINATED IN MICHIGAN BUT I AM WONDERING IF IT WAS A KATRINA VEHICLE DURING AUCTION? RECENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH U-JOINTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. GM MECHANIC SAYS THE RUST IS EXTENSIVE AND CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IT WILL NEED A LUBE KIT TO RE-LUBE ALL THE MECHANICS UNDER THE TRUCK. NONE OF THIS UNDER CARRIAGE BODY RUST WAS DISCLOSED TO US UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FACT THE DEALER TOLD US HE ONLY GETS THE BEST USED VEHICLES. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL - THE MECHANIC AT THE GM DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157271May 11, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINS. THE INSURANCE AGENCY WAS ALERTED AND DETERMINED THE TIRE DELAMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP P26570R17. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156501May 1, 2006
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENLY. BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO ONE OF THE VEHICLES SAFTEY FEATURES IT SEEMS LIKE THE TSB (050941001) FOR THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT A COMMITMENT FROM THE OWNER TO PAY FOR A DIAGOSTIC CHECK AND THEN FIGHT THEM TO PAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153328March 21, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
2003 CHEVORLET AVALANCHE 1500 - DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSALS FAILED (FRONT GONE, REAR GOING. I HAD DEALER REPLACE BOTH) - I NOTICED THE NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK VEHICLE IN. HAD I NOT NOTICED OR COULD NOT PINPOINT THE CAUSE I MAY HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING AND IT COULD HAVE FAILED AND FAILING WHILE DRIVING ON THE THRUWAY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING AS THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVESHAFT IMPACTS THE ROAD. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN TALKING WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE FOLKS WITH WHOM I TALKED COULD NOT SAY WHETHER GM HAD A DATA BASE ON THE AVERAGE/MEAN FAILURE TIME ON THE UNIVERSALS. I WANTED TO DETERMINE SHOULD I START CONCERNING MYSELF AS I GET TO 100,000 MILES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST ME. SO I AM WRITING YOU IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER UNIVERSAL FAILURES AROUND 50,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151936February 24, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE 2003 AVALANCHE WAS NOT A STANDARD TANK AND THAT THE FUEL LEAKAGE ISSUES WERE NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE GAS TANK HAD A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT CAUSED IT TO BE TOO THIN AROUND ONE OF THE SEALS. THE TANK WAS SO THIN, THAT IT COULD BE PRESSED AS IF IT WAS SOFT RUBBER. THE SOFT AREA HAD BECOME SO WEAK, THAT GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150389February 15, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MULTIPLE FAILURES OF SPEEDOMETER. SOMETIMES STICKS, REPORTS INCORRECT SPEED, OR JUMPS ABOUT. PERIODICALLY WORKS FINE. NO RHYME OR REASON TO PROBLEM. DEALER - MORITZ CHEVROLET FORT WORTH SAYS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ($500), THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES, AND THAT THE ITEM IS NOT COVERED AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149462February 5, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AFTER GREEN LIGHT AND I CROSSING MAIN ROAD NORTH ON PAXTON ST. ADVANCING AT APROX. 30 MPH A TRUCK IN FRONT STOPPED QUICKLY TO MAKE A 'U' TURN ON PAXTON AND I SLAMMED MY BRAKES AT LEAST 400 FEET AWAY BUT MY TRUCK DIDN'T STOP AND CRASHED TO THE BACK OF THE OTHER TRUCK. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR REPAIRS OF OTHER VEHICLE BUT FEARING PREMIUM INCREASE I DIDN'T CLAIM THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON MY AVALANCHE TRUCK. AS OF TODAY I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RECALL FROM GM ABOUT REPAIRS NEEDED ON MY TRUCKS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE AND BOB WATSON CHEVROLET DEALER KNOWS ABOUT MY TRUCKS DAMAGE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149146January 31, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATES THE SPEEDOMETER REFLECTS AN INACCURATE READING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148793January 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, INTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PICK A PROBLEM. PIN FROM TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE TOO SHORT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT 8000 MILES. 4 QUARTS. LOW ON OIL WITHIN MONTH OF CHANGING. NO LEAKS AND NO EXPLANATION FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHERE THE OIL WENT. A/C FUNCTIONED IMPROPERLY AFTER TRUCK SURGED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. STILL NO EXPLANATION. REMOTE ENTRY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. INTERIOR LIGHTS PULSE WHEN TRUCK IDILING. HEATER MOTOR FUNCTIONS ACCORDING TO SPEED OF VEHICLE, SLOW WHEN BRAKING AND SPEEDS UP WHEN ACCELERATING. DRIVERS POWER WINDOW STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND STARTED WORKING THE EVENING BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. POPPING NOISE FROM EXHAUST JUST AFTER STARTING AND SHUTTING OFF. FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE RUNNING I CONTINUOUSLY HEAR COOLING FLUIDS FLOWING. SOMETIMES THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. BRAKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. ALWAYS FEELS AS THERE ISN'T ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP IN A NORMAL DISTANCE. ALONG WITH THE REMOTE ENTRY NOT WORKING THE PERSONAL PRESETS FOR DRIVER 1 MOST OF THE TIME DO NOT OPERATE WITH THE REMOTE ENTRY. I HAVE TO SELECT DRIVER 1 FROM THE INTERIOR TO ENGAGE SETTINGS. BED PLASTICS ARE FADING. BUTTONS FOR RADIO ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND RADIO ARE FLAKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146780January 3, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
DT: THE CONTACT HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE FIRST ONE AFFECTED THE SPEEDOMETER GIVING FALSE READINGS. REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER READS 120 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, OR COMPLETELY STOPPED,THE SPEEDOMETER READS 90 MPH. THE SECOND PROBLEM DEALS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS SHE PULLS THE FUSE TO GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146784January 3, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
DT: THE CONTACT HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE FIRST PROBLEM AFFECTED THE SPEEDOMETER GIVING FALSE READINGS. REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER READS 120 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK OR COMPLETELY STOPPED THE SPEEDOMETER READS 60 MPH. THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY WIPE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. ONE WIPER GOES LEFT AND THE OTHER GOES RIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HIT EACH OTHER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145801December 21, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THIS CONCERNING MY 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH 47,987 MILES. THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" STAYS ON AFTER IGNITION ABOUT 20% OF THE TIME. ADDITIONALLY ON TRIPS OF OVER 15 MINUTES IT WILL COME ON DURING DRIVING. ONCE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON IT STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WORK UP BEFORE THEY WOULD CONSIDER COVERING THE COSTS ON FIXING THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DESPITE THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES BEING VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITHOUT QUESTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145733December 20, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH HE STRUCK A MEDIAN HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THREE PEOPLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10145374December 6, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE FUEL TANK BEGAN EMITTING A GAS SMELL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN HALF FULL. *TS OVER TIME SMALL PUDDLES OF GAS COULD BE SEEN UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS STOPPED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TANK HAD A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, WHICH CAUSED IT TO BE TOO THIN AROUND ONE OF THE SEALS. THE TANK WAS SO THIN IN THAT AREA, THAT ONE COULD PHYSICALLY PRESS IT DOWN LIKE SOFT RUBBER. THE SOFT AREA HAD BEEN STEADILY WEAKENING THE SEAL UNTIL IT FINALLY FAILED CAUSING GAS TO LEAK OUT OF IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144018November 30, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS AND ONLY LOWERS THE NEEDLE 5 MPH FOR EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS IN YET. I WILL BE TAKING THIS IN NEXT WEEK. THE DEALER SAID WHEN I CALLED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THEY WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT TO VERIFY THAT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE AVALANCHE AND THE SILVERADO PICKUPS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141449November 1, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON, HE HAS TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO TURN THEM OFF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141298October 31, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS AND ONLY LOWERS THE NEEDLE 5 MPH FOR EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. DEALER HAS SEEN SEVERAL IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. NEEDLE MOVES WITH A JUMPING MOTION AND DOES NOT MOVE SMOOTHLY AS IT DID BEFORE. DEALER QUOTED A COST OF $500-$600 TO REPLACE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS NOT A USUAL ITEM THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE REPLACED IN VEHICLES. AS SEVERAL HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY ONE DEALER (RELIABLE CHEVROLET) IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS, NOT ONLY WITH THE AVALANCHE, BUT OTHER SILVERADO MODEL TRUCKS, REQUESTING RESEARCH ON MANUFACTURER DEFECT FOR RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133893October 18, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILGATE WHEN LOWERED HAS A TWO EDGED HOOK PROJECTION ON EACH SIDE THAT IS SHARP. ON 7-15-05 HIS GRANDDAUGHTER JUMPED OFF THE TAILGATE AND SCRATCHED HER LEG ALONG HER THIGH; A 8-10"LONG SCRATCH. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10136901September 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT: THE CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW SPEEDS. HE STATED THAT ON CURVES WHEN SLOWING DOWN BRAKES FAILED. THE CALLER HAD PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED A MONTH AGO. HE SAID THE REAR ROTORS WERE MORE WORN OUT THAN THE FRONT ROTORS. RECALL 05V379000 ON ABS BRAKES WAS ISSUED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO MODEL YEAR. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S FAULT, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD CALL MANUFACTURER, AND HAVE THEM GET IN CONTACT WITH DEALER. THE CALLER HAD A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT AT A STOP SIGN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136645September 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DT: WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY MELTED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY. THE CONSUMER CONSULTED THE DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NO RECALLS WERE INVOLVED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SERVICE SHOP, AND THEY REPLACED THE OLD BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE. THE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. A FRIEND SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING AGAINST AC DELCO BATTERIES. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS AN AC DELCO FACTORY BATTERY. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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