Chevrolet Avalanche Complaints (2003)

395 consumer complaints on file.

#10896640August 17, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
LOST TOTAL BRAKING AT RED LIGHT AT BUSY INTERSECTION,45 MPH WITH THE GRACE OF GOD AVOIDED A BROADSIDE HIT, JUST MISSED A CHILD ON A BIKE, THIS WAS CAUSED BY A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. WHAT HAPPEN TO THE SAFETY BACK-UP IN THIS DESIGN ? THIS IS WRONG. IN SO MANY WAYS. IN THE USA WE NEED TO HOLD OUR SAFETY TO ITS HIGHEST. HOW MANY WILL DIE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882455July 4, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK ABS LIGHTS COME ON SAYS REDUCED POWER YOU MAYBE GOING 55 MPH THEN WHEN YOU HIT THE BUMP YOU LOOSE POWER MAYBE BE LUCKY TO GO 5 MPH VERY VERY DANGEROUS HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I CAN'T DRIVE MY TRUCK AFRAID I WILL GET KILLED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882290July 2, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
I LOST THE COMPLETE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO A LINE(S) BURST DUE TO RUST. THANKFULLY I WAS JUST COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT SO I WAS NOT GOING FAST. MY FOOT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE WARNING SOUND AND INDICATOR CAME ON, BUT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES OTHER THAN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH I USED TO PULL OVER. IT GOES TO THE SHOP ON TUESDAY SO I WILL KNOW THEN THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. HAD I BEEN GOING 30 OR 40 AND COMING TO A CROWED INTERSECTION, SOMEONE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY FOR ME TO STOP IN TIME. I HAD NO PRE-WARNING OF AN ISSUE, NO LOW FLUID INDICATIONS, NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS, JUST MY FOOT GOING TO THE FLOOR. PRETTY SCARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10881687June 30, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASHBOARD ABOVE RADIO CRACKED REGARDLESS IF EXCELLENT CARE IF CAR AND SUN PROTECTION. UNDER MIRROR BACK TO AIR VENTS AND SPREADING ACROSS OTHER MID SECTION. OUT OF WARRANTY. OUT OF LUCK! NOT GOOD SINCE HAVE HAD MANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT DIDN'T CRACK UNDER SAME CONDITIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10859894April 16, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE BRAKES FAILED. HOLDING THE BRAKE WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, THE PEDAL ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I BEGAN MOVING I HAD TO KEEP THE TRUCK BELOW 30 MPH TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO WORK WITH INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE FACTORED IN. AFTER ABOUT A 5 MILE DRIVE HOME, CHECKED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED A LEAK FROM RUSTED BRAKE LINES NEAR THE DRIVER'S DOOR. TRUCK CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN UNTIL RUSTED LINES ARE REPLACED. NO ABILITY TO MAKE A REGULAR STOP MUCH LESS AN EMERGENCY STOP IN THE PRESENT CONDITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855523April 14, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, BY AT LEAST DOUBLE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CURVE OR CAR IN FRONT OF HIM THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PARKED THE TRUCK UNTIL IT COULD BE INSPECTED AND FOUND A LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. ALL OF THE MAIN BRAKE PIPES WERE RUSTED AND FRAGILE. TAKING TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALL BRAKE PIPES REPLACED WITH KIT MENTIONED IN (TSB) 13-05-22-001. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM IS FIGHTING A RECALL BY SIGHTING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BRAKE SYSTEMS AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES FOR BOTH SYSTEMS FAILED. AT THE VERY LEAST IT SEEMS THAT HAVING YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE BY ALMOST DOUBLE WITH OUT WARNING IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837117February 19, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10795307November 22, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING 50MPH COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT WITH CROSS TRAFFIC ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND PEDDLE WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NARROWLY MISSED A POSSIBLY DEADLY ACCIDENT. FOUND THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. VERY SURPRISED SINCE THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS TRUCK. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766296September 21, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE TO WORK DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, ANOTHER DRIVER HIT THEIR BRAKES ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN THE MORNING IN COLUMBUS, OH. I HIT MY BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR! AFTER I PUMPED THEM A FEW QUICK TIME, I RAN THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD WHILE LOOKING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL SAFE EXIT STRATEGIES. I DOWN SHIFTED, AND HAD A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE APPROXIMATELY 1/2" OF USABLE PEDAL JUST ABOVE THE FLOOR BOARD. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE BRAKE LINE PROBLEMS, AND HAVE BEEN FIXING THINGS ON THE TRUCK SINCE I GOT IT. MY WIFE'S TOYOTA RAV4 IS 1 YEAR NEWER (2004) AND THE UNDERSIDE OF HER CAR GLISTENS COMPARED TO OUR CHEVY AVALANCHE. THE KICKER: SHE DRIVES HER RAV4 EVERY WEEKDAY EVEN DURING SNOWY WEATHER, AND I DRIVE THE AVALANCHE ONLY ONCE A WEEK! I OWN ANOTHER VEHICLE (1997 BUICK) I USUALLY DRIVE. THE UNDER SIDE OF THE AVALANCHE IS THE EPITOME OF RUST - NOT JUST THE BRAKE LINES BUT EVERYWHERE! WHEN DID BRAKE LINES BECOME A WEAR PART? I AM PLEADING TO YOUR HUMANE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OVER PROFIT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS; GM TOOK EXTREME SHORTCUTS, ALL PARTS UNDER THE TRUCK ARE RUSTING BADLY MORE THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE. THIS ISN'T A NORTHEAST OR SNOW BELT PROBLEM, THIS IS A GM PROBLEM. WILL YOU PLEASE PREVENT THIS TRAVESTY FROM CONTINUING BEFORE MORE PEOPLE DIE UNNECESSARILY? SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEMS WERE MADE A REQUIREMENT, AND GM IS HIDING BEHIND THAT REQUIREMENT. WAS THAT THE NHTSA INTENT TO PERMIT HIGHER PROFITS WITH THE SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEMS? THAT IS WHAT GM IS USING IT FOR AND AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLES LIVES. WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT PROFIT OR LIVES? HAVE A NICE DAY!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762088September 8, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
PRIMARY MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINE BURST LOST BRAKES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747108August 7, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE FAILURE: I HAD A RUPTURED STEEL BREAK LINE FAILURE WHILE APPLYING NORMAL BREAKING PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION OF BREAK LINES, I FOUND ALL BREAK LINES WERE RUSTED AND IN DANGER OF ALSO RUPTURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725970June 18, 2015
AIR BAGS
I HAVE COMPLAINED BEFORE, WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. WASN'T IN ANY KIND OF AN ACCIDENT. IT IS DEFECTIVE AND NO ONE WILL HELP GET IT FIXED. THERE ALREADY IS TSB FROM 2006. WE MOVED FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO FLORIDA AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS IT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725848June 17, 2015
STEERING
THE OTHER DAY I STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I TURN RIGHT (OR LEFT IN REVERSE) AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND MY STEERING IS AFFECTED. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO REPORT IT. I DON'T FEEL IT IS FAIR THAT AS THE CONSUMER THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. I ALSO DON'T FEEL ITS FAIR TO HAVE TO SPEND UP $400 WHEN ITS ALL SAID AND DONE EACH TIME THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10723547June 5, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED, AND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716977May 17, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
TOWING A SMALL LANDSCAPE TRAILER, PUSHED BRAKES, PEDAL GOES LOW. GOT HOME, ENTIRE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE SOAKED WITH BRAKE FLUID. HAD MY 2 GIRLS IN THE CAR. NOT HAPPY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HAVE THE BRAKE LINE RUST OUT BEFORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712897April 26, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
2003 2500 AVALANCHE BRAKE LINES HEAVILY RUSTED DEEP PITS BELOW DRIVER SEAT AND ALONG LEFT FRAME RAIL WILL REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10701341March 24, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE.WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693585March 11, 2015
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON PETERS RD IN MIDDLEFIELD WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE PUTTING THE TRUCK INTO A SKID WHICH PUT ME IN THE DITCH I HIT A MAILBOX AND A CULVERT (DRAIN PIPE) HEAD ON TEARING UP THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE AVALANCHE IT HIT RIGHT ON THE SENSORS BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10691263February 28, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE UPON SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE DOWNHILL ORIENTATION OF THE ROAD SURFACE. LEFT ROADWAY TO AVOID COLLISION WITH TRACTOR-TRAILER. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF AN IMPENDING BRAKE FAILURE. NO INDICATION THAT ANY PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. IT WAS DISCOVERED UPON INSPECTION THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED COMPARED WITH OTHER BODY AND ENGINE COMPONENTS. METAL COMPOSITION OF BRAKE TUBING SEEMS VERY PRONE TO CORROSION. COMPLETE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS NOW NECESSARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690668February 25, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST CATASTROPHICALLY AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS COMING UP TO STOPPED CARS AT AN INTERSECTION AND HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE TO AVOID REAR ENDING ANOTHER TRUCK. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE LANE AT THE TIME. I THEN HAD TO MAKE A SHARP TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT TO AVOID RUNNING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (WHICH DID HAVE TRAFFIC). I HAD ZERO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER. I TRIED PUSHING DOWN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT HAD NO EFFECT ( I LATER FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINES WERE FROZEN IN A LARGE CHUNK OF ICE NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL AND WOULD NOT MOVE). THE PICKUP BED DRAINS DOWN ONTO THE LOWER FRAME IN THIS AREA AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR THE ICE BUILDUP. I CONTINUED THROUGH THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND ALL I COULD TO WAS DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW MYSELF DOWN. LUCKY AGAIN...THE PARKING LOT WAS NEARLY EMPTY AND VERY LONG. AFTER ABOUT 4-500 FT I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO JAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS FAILURE. THE LINES WERE NOT LEAKING. I HAVE NOW READ ONLINE THAT GM HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS OF RUSTED LINES ON THEIR PICKUPS SUDDENLY FAILING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT SUDDENLY FAIL. THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. NON-CORROSIVE NICKLE COPPER BRAKE LINES EXIST THAT DO NOT RUST. THESE SHOULD BE MANDATORY ON ALL VEHICLES. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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