Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2002)

658 consumer complaints on file.

#10485898November 24, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND GOING ABOUT 35 MPH, I WAS PLANNING ON STOPPING SO I WAS COASTING AT A SLOW SPEED, HOWEVER AS I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BEGIN BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND APPLIED VERY LITTLE BRAKING. I DID STOP IN TIME HOWEVER IF THERE WERE A CAR IN FRONT ON ME I AM CERTAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THAT VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE BROKE AND DEPLETED THE SYSTEM. THE BREAK WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION TO THE BRAKE LINE. ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAD CONSIDERABLE CORROSION. THE REPAIR COST $1400 BECAUSE ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THAT I AM VERY LUCKY THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHERE IT DID. I ALSO FEEL THAT GM HAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS AND SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO PREVENT THIS FAILURE. I DID CALL CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVED NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. I HAVE TO HOPE THAT THERE IS A RECALL TO GET ANY REIMBURSEMENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HURT OR EVEN KILL PEOPLE. I HOPE THE NHTSA IS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION AND CAN SOMEHOW TAKE ACTION SOONER THAN LATTER. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PREVENTING INJURIES THAN GETTING MY $1400 BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484037November 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
GETTING READY TO LEAVE HOME AND NOTICED A LEAK NEAR THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I CRAWLED UNDER THE TRUCK AND NOTICED A DRIP FROM THE BRAKE LINE. AT THIS TIME, MY WIFE WAS GOING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM OUT IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND I ADVISED HER NOT TO HIT THE BRAKES TO HARD AS THERE WAS A LEAK. WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKES TO START THE VEHICLE THE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND FLUID SPRAYED EVERYWHERE. I FEEL FORTUNATE IT HAPPENED WHEN IT DID VERSUS OUT ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482165October 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS GOING TO DINNER AND WHEN WE WERE COMING UP TO THE ENTRANCE, I HIT THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET STOPPED IN TIME AND NO ONE WAS IN THE WAY. THE 2ND TIME WAS COMING BACK FROM THE OUTER BANKS. I HAVEN'T SEEN A TRUCK RUST OUT SO BAD BEFORE IN MY LIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480200October 15, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURE NEAR REAR LEFT TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478697October 5, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FUEL PUMP WIRES AND PORT WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FUEL PUMP AND RELATED COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WERE NO LONGER BEING PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478622October 4, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, I HIT BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT MY DUMPSTER. FOUND THAT A RUSTED BRAKE LINE BURST. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477079September 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I WAS ABOUT TO PARK MY AVALANCHE IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FIRM AND THEN BECAME SOFT AND DEPRESSED QUICKLY QUITE FARTHER THAN NORMAL. THE AVALANCHE CONTINUED TO ROLL AND I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET IT TO COME TO A FULL STOP. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE I INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A GREAT DEAL OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE UNDER BODY AND PUDDLED ON THE GROUND. AS I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND FLAKING OFF RUSTED MATERIAL. THE BRAKE LINE FAILED BECAUSE OF WEAKENED TUBING CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND THERE WAS NO PRELIMINARY WARNING OF BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN EXCESSIVELY LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP THAN NORMALLY WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. I FREQUENTLY TOW A 6,500 LB PULL BEHIND CAMPER WITH MY AVALANCHE AND IF THIS BRAKE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING TOWING AND IN TRAFFIC DURING A STOP IT MOST LIKELY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475228September 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. THE CONTACT ADDED MORE BRAKE FLUID TO THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED LATER THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME AFTER THE ADDING THE BRAKE FLUID. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470545August 14, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE LINE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CAUSED BRAKE LINE TO RUPTURE. CAUSING NO BRAKES AND HAD TO PUT TRUCK IN DITCH TO STOP VEHICLE. RUSTED LINE WAS ABOVE FRAME RAIL JUST ABOVE LEFT REAR TIRE. FOUND OTHER AREA WHERE LINE WAS RUSTED SEVERELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467876July 26, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
IM GETTING READY FOR A TRIP, FROM TEXAS TO OHIO IN SEPT. PULLING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I DECIDED TO GET THE TRUCK READY BEFORE SUCH A LONG TRIP. IT STARTED FINE, NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS, I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE BEFORE CHANGING GEARS, AND MY PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD HEAR SQUIRTING AND AIR. I KNEW I HAD A LEAK. I INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE AND FOUND HYDRAULIC FLUID UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT. I FOUND ONE OF THE LINES HAD SPLIT ABOVE THE EHCU UNIT, SPITTING FLUID ALL OVER THE UNDER BODY. THIS LINE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE OTHER LINES HAVE SOME SURFACE RUST BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS LINE. IT IS NO LONGER TUBULAR LOOKING AND LOOKS MORE LIKE A WET STICK WITH A LOT OF MISSING BRANCHES, AND IS MUCH LARGER LOOKING THAN THE OTHERS. ALSO, I FOUND A LEAK ON A LINE THAT RUNS TO THE REAR AXLE, ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME THAT WAS SEVERELY RUSTED LIKE THE ONE DESCRIBED ABOVE. IM PRETTY SURE THIS IS THE LINE THAT IS SPLIT, BUT ITS HARD TO TELL, I CANT FIND A DIAGRAM TO HELP TRACE THE LINES. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE, I RECHECKED MY DASH LIGHTS TO SEE IF AN ABS OR A BRAKE LIGHT, NONE ARE ON. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALERS AND BRAKE MECHANICS FOR REPAIR, AND HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED AS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THE LINE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN OHIO. I WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT THEY WOULD BE COATED OR STAINLESS SINCE IT IS A SALT BELT STATE, AND IM NOT SURE WHY ONLY ONE LINE DEGRADED LIKE IT DID.. THIS IS A 2002 AVALANCHE 1500 4WD WITH Z71 OFF ROAD PACKAGE, IT IS EXPECTED TO GET DIRTY AND WET. I BELIEVE BETTER STANDARDS ARE IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SAFETY, AND THAT THERE SHOULD, WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED, DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ON THE LINES. HAD IT DECIDED TO HOLD UP UNTIL MY TRIP, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DISASTROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465884July 16, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN TO TURN. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL FELT SOFT THEN WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER MANUALLY SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO 1ST GEAR AND PRESSING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WHEEL AND UNDERCARRIAGE WERE COVERED IN BRAKE FLUID FROM A CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHICLE THAT WERE INSTALLED IN LOCATIONS UNABLE TO BE ROUTINELY CLEANED WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463572June 29, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING UNTIL I HAD SLOWED TO ABOUT 5 MPH. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD ALREADY STARTED MOVING FORWARD SO NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462139June 18, 2012
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH GOOD YEAR WRANGLER HP TIRES, TIRE SIZE 265/70/17. THE DOT NUMBER WAS MKT6F00R1707. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY, FOLLOW BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE EXHIBITED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR AND SEVERE SEPARATION. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE TEMPORARILY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,240. UPDATED 08/03/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 131,207. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS ALIGNED ON 9/10/2011. THE TIRED WERE ROTATED FROM REAR TO FRONT ON 03/09/2012. THE TIRES WERE ALL MAINTAINED AT 32 PSI, WHEREAS THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED 30 PSI. NO DEBRIS WAS STRUCK IN THE ROADWAY. UPDATED 08/06/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461135June 10, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I NOTICED THAT BY BRAKES FELT LIKE I WAS LOSING BRAKING POWER. I SUDDENLY WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND MY BRAKING WAS REDUCED. I GOT HOME AN NOTICED THAT MY MAIN BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FLUID WAS SQUIRTING OUT OF A PINHOLE OF MY BRAKE LINE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG CHEVROLET TRUCK OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459765May 27, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. RESULTED IN CRASHING INTO CAR STOPPED AHEAD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458991May 19, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT AND I WAS FORCED TO APPLY HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR I WAS FORCED TO STEER OFF THE ROAD IN ORDER NOT TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE AVALANCHE HAD ALMOST TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD BURST DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION AND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING OUT OF THE VEHICLE RIGHT ABOVE THE REAR AXLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453273March 27, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ALL BRAKE HARD-LINES ON MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE 1500 4WD ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AND HAVE BEGUN TO FAIL. THIS WAS DISCOVERED AFTER HAVING ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES BLOW-OUT DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AN EMPTY TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME HAD BRAKED SUDDENLY DUE TO A MISSED EXIT, REQUIRING THAT I APPLY FULL BRAKING INSTANTLY. I WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK AFTER MY BRAKE LINES BLEW, EXCEPT THAT I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE. HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE NEXT TO ME, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THE DECELERATING VEHICLE. ALL OF MY BRAKE TUBING IS CORRODED, AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF THE FRAME, BRAKE CALIPERS AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND DUST SHIELDS. THIS EXCESSIVE CORROSION APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF SUBSTANDARD COMPONENTS WITH INADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION. I AM CURRENTLY REPLACING ALL CORRODED BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS (QUOTED $3,100). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452623March 22, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AS I WAS SLOWING TO DOWN TO PARK AT A BANK, BRAKE PEDDLE WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH ALMOST A COMPLETE LOSE OF BRAKING. PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO A REPAIR SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO SEVERE RUST ON UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE, ALL BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS ONE HAD BLOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450395March 5, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
STEEL BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION (RUST). UPON INSPECTION, ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY CORRODED (RUSTED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448268February 16, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING LAST SPRING, 2011 THE BRAKE LINE BROKE AND I LOST BRAKES SUDDENLY WHILE STOPPING FOR TRAFFIC. THE DEALER REPLACED STEEL BRAKE LINE ON LEFT SIDE OF REAR AXLE AT MY EXPENSE. TODAY, WHILE STOPPING HARD IN TRAFFIC, THE PEDDLE SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST ALL BRAKES. THE STEEL BRAKE LINE ALONG THE FRAME, FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE REAR IS LEAKING FLUID FROM A BURST IN THE STEEL LINE. AGAIN, NO BRAKES. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 2002 AND ITS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR SERVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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