Major Problems with Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Chevrolet Avalanche 1500.

Model Year	Complaints
2012 Avalanche 1500	16
2011 Avalanche 1500	28
2010 Avalanche 1500	6
2009 Avalanche 1500	20
2008 Avalanche 1500	36
2007 Avalanche 1500	112
2006 Avalanche 1500	36
2005 Avalanche 1500	126
2004 Avalanche 1500	137
2003 Avalanche 1500	178
2002 Avalanche 1500	143

Worst 3 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 complaints

2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 AIR BAGS Victims: 3 Mileage: 59000 miles

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 146000 miles

2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 SEAT BELTS Victims: 2 Mileage: 64680 miles

Browse Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 complaints by category

Problems with AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES and INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
AIR BAGS the dashboard cracked over the instrument panel and over the passenger side airbag. this is the second avalanche that i	132 ~ 57520 miles
SERVICE BRAKES takata recall critical safety concern. air bag light is on and it needed service cruise control malfunction break sensor ...	118 ~ 115610 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the speedometer is sporadically malfunctioning. it has happened to me three times and sometime the speedometer will register as high...	111 ~ 59823 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM reduced engine power engine dies no power steering or power brakes almost rear ended on i-25. trouble code says p2135...	107 ~ 73189 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER dash board creaked above air bag....	75 ~ 58305 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2002 chevy avalanche - problems with abs brakes truck won't stop as described in nhtsa action # pe05020 called the...	56 ~ 78169 miles
POWER TRAIN i was in line at a drive through at burger king and as i pulled up to the cashiers window...	31 ~ 82411 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE dash is cracking above steering wheel from windshield side extending to steering wheel....	30 ~ 81540 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the contact stated when he applied the e brake the vehicle...	29 ~ 65099 miles
STEERING my 2009 avalanche ltz has a dash that has cracked completely in half plus is cracking on the airbag passenger...	28 ~ 71699 miles
ENGINE at @4000 miles on the vehicle the engine light came on. the dealership found that there was no oil in...	26 ~ 119314 miles
STRUCTURE there a deep gash/crack in the dashboard on the passenger side that starts at the upper left corner of passenger...	19 ~ 46202 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM cracked dashboard on passenger side where airbag is fitted. upper lefthand side of airbag. traction control/stabilitrac system: service indicator warnings...	19 ~ 155119 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the contact stated that the stability track warning light illuminated. the...	18 ~ 77878 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 09 chevy avalanche the drive shaft or ball joint was undersized by 5/1000 to make the 6 speed transmission shift...	16 ~ 50615 miles
PARKING BRAKE (2003 chevy avalanche 1500 ~ 67 000 miles) 1. this was a spontaneous failure - that is to say there...	16 ~ 39613 miles
TIRES my new truck is a 2008 i got it on aug-31-08. for the first 2 weeks it was ok then...	15 ~ 76106 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE car stalled unexpectedly on freeway exit for no apparent reason with loss of power steering and all functions. had to...	12 ~ 105415 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES dt*: the contact stated while driving 55 mph on the highway in normal driving conditions the right rear tire blew...	10 ~ 54674 miles
SUSPENSION tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the vehicle had firestone wilderness le tires when the vehicle was purchased.....	9 ~ 72783 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING driving 60mph and lost all lights power motor everything the vehicle came back on and repeated this over and over...	8 ~ 134944 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the contact stated that the tailgate straps were rusty and beginning to...	8 ~ 59602 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING reduced engine power engine dies no power steering or power brakes almost rear ended on i-25. trouble code says p2135...	7 ~ 76286 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES at about 30 000 miles i notice that the rear driverside door lock would not work properly sometime but i...	7 ~ 35137 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc 1500 avalanche. the contact was driving approximately 20 mph and the brakes failed...	6 ~ 61699 miles
SEAT BELTS seats belts don't work properly. belt doesn't always release and can't latch in the belt on another. already replaced one	6 ~ 54097 miles
VISIBILITY the windshield defrost system is inoperative/ineffective on the right side. i have acquaintances that have the same problem. this...	6 ~ 63000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC 2002 avalanche 1500 abs would activate when coming to a slow stop. dealer said it was probably the speed sensors...	5 ~ 104004 miles
TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE > TIRES when lowering the spare tire the cable assembly lowers to the ground but the metal sleeve that the cable runs...	5 ~ 82960 miles
EQUIPMENT on june 12th 2005 i purchased a 2005 chevy avalanche for my wife from bill heard chevrolet in sanford florida....	5 ~ 31114 miles
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY hvac blower did not function on certain or all blower speeds. the hvac blower ran continually with the ignition in	4 ~ 40605 miles
WHEELS cracked rim flange in 2 locations. info as follows: wheel 20x8.5jx made in china t-dot gm cracks are at 12...	4 ~ 110950 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS no accident yet. *tr...	4 ~ 40670 miles
SEATS tl*the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet avalanche. the vehicle seats six passengers. when sitting in the center front seat the...	4 ~ 43259 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN i own a 2005 avalanche with 2000 miles on it. when turning sharply while in 4 wheel drive going forward...	4 ~ 70250 miles
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY 2008 chevrolet avalanche. the problem is the heated washer fluid system(recall10153) was recall and fix one time now it's been...	3 ~ 32181 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES i bought four brand new tires from wal mart and they are uniroyal liberator a/t tires about 3 weeks ago....	3
HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS > TAILGATE > BODY tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the contact stated that the tailgate straps were rusty and beginning to...	3 ~ 50933 miles
SHAFT SECTOR > GEAR BOX > STEERING gm has had an ongoing problem with intermediate steering shafts that loosen and rattle in their avalanche models. this may...	3 ~ 25667 miles
TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) > POWER TRAIN 2006 chevrolet avalanche. consumer states that the check engine light is on. cause: the fuel tank pressure sensor internally open...	3 ~ 12667 miles
HUB > FRONT > SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet avalanche 1500. while driving approximately 35 mph a screeching noise emerged from the...	2 ~ 143000 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER my dash is cracked and it reflects the crack on the windshields and causes glare. if the airbag was to...	2 ~ 33000 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE door handles peeling of the metal plating on the interior door handles caused injuries from minor to severe paper-cut-type cuts.	2 ~ 36500 miles
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES my new truck is a 2008 i got it on aug-31-08. for the first 2 weeks it was ok then...	2 ~ 1792 miles
COLUMN > STEERING steering column replacement. vehicle only has 66 000 miles on it but i have to replace the steering column. *tr...	2 ~ 53000 miles
SWITCH/WIRING > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY windshield wipers timing is off causing you to put them on constant which is not necessary reducing to next level	2
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT anytime i turn the air on in my 2005 chevy avalanche it makes a high pitch screaming sound. i have...	2 ~ 13000 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING anytime i turn the air on in my 2005 chevy avalanche it makes a high pitch screaming sound. i have...	2 ~ 37198 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT stereo volume cuts down randomly when lessoning to local stations and speed controlled volume turned off on single disc and...	2 ~ 4618 miles
LATCH > HOOD > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES hood metal around the latch is rotting. and there is delamation of the metal. *tr...	2 ~ 80000 miles
HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS > DOOR > BODY the linear position of doors are irregular the front fender is beyond usual meet. the plastic structure of the back...	2 ~ 5 miles
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION dt*: the contact stated the outer hub bearing became defective causing the inner hub bearing to become defective. while driving...	2 ~ 51400 miles
LINKAGES > STEERING after only 26k miles had a clunking noise in the front end and especially when making a hard turning motion....	2 ~ 27500 miles
INTERIOR LIGHTING the shift lever position is not illuminated. there is another recall for this same issue but the company will not	1 ~ 217000 miles
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche 1500. while operating the vehicle the low beam headlights suddenly shut off....	1 ~ 150000 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES the chrome coating on my interior door handles peels off and slices my finger. has happened multiple times. this time	1 ~ 150000 miles
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 2005 chevrolet avalanche. consumer writes in regards to airbag and traction control service lights came on also the four-wheel drive	1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 2004 chevrolet avalanche broken manifold bolts on both sides of the 5.3 engine this is a safety and environmental issue	1
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE frame corroded/buckled brake failure(had a near accident) due to rust. 2002 chevy avalanche well cared for 48 000 miles. never...	1 ~ 48000 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact has a 2002 cheverlot avalache. the contact was driving 25 mph when the failure happened. the fuel...	1 ~ 84000 miles
REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY when driving down a residential street when i felt a large "thump" in checking my rear view mirror discovered my...	1 ~ 81000 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the rear sway bar broke and wore out the brake line....	1 ~ 110000 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING adding cooling and seeing blue smoke coming out when starting vehicle i find out that i have two cracked heads.	1 ~ 75000 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE rupture of plastic-like fuel lines above the gas tank. *tr...	1 ~ 42390 miles
TORQUE CONVERTER > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN transmission failure at 22 000 miles. *tr...	1 ~ 22799 miles
TRAILER HITCHES trailer hitch receiver failed. welds failed causing receiver to break away from truck. damage to truck and camper occured.*cn...	1 ~ 43650 miles
PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN when ignition is engaged to start vehicle a loud "bang" occurs in the transmission and vehicle jumps in reverse for	1
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet avalanche 1500. there are two flex/gas lines connected to the fuel regulators under the...	1 ~ 40000 miles
HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING tl*the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the contact stated that his transmission failed while driving approximately 55 mph....	1 ~ 16000 miles
CALIPER > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche 1500. while driving 25 mph the vehicle stopped without warning. approximately five minutes...	1 ~ 69346 miles
AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN tl*the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet avalanche 1500. while driving 65 mph the contact noticed white and black smoke through...	1 ~ 12832 miles
BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS > GASOLINE > ENGINE since purchasing this truck on 02/01/2007 there have been multiple problems with the transmission engine and electrical system that have...	1 ~ 79565 miles
FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 2003 chevy avalanche speedometer fails. fuel gauge fails. no way to know how fast you are going. don't know how...	1 ~ 40000 miles
LOCK > HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES while having all supplies for police firearms training lock in the back of my 2004 avalanche the tailgate would not...	1 ~ 41016 miles
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE our new 2007 chevrolet avalanche was involved in a major accident (not our fault) and it sustained frame damage. after...	1 ~ 10900 miles
HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* - the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the vehicle began to stall while driving 40 mph and...	1 ~ 76000 miles
RACK AND PINION > STEERING in the morning - below say about 55 degrees when i first get in and drive i have to turn...	1 ~ 61500 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY power passenger window failed. cable frays and jams in mechanism window will not go up or down requiring costly replacement...	1 ~ 70000 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM electrical problems battery going dead manufacturer will not say what is causing problem because they cannot find what is causing...	1 ~ 30 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS dt*: the contact stated while driving 50 mph on wet roads the vehicle collided with a roadside bank. both frontal...	1 ~ 14000 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY rear window frame cracked like many others factory defect should be replaced even if the factory warranty has expired. *jb...	1 ~ 1 miles
EXTERIOR > REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY the linear position of doors are irregular the front fender is beyond usual meet. the plastic structure of the back...	1 ~ 10 miles
FILLER PIPE AND CAP > TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE the linear position of doors are irregular the front fender is beyond usual meet. the plastic structure of the back...	1 ~ 10 miles
HEAD RESTRAINT > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS dt*: the contact stated the rear head rest did not extend high enough to protect the rear passengers. updated 10/25/2006...	1 ~ 15 miles
DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE filling up with gas on my 2005 chevy avalanche. while filling with gas with the lock on the gas despener...	1 ~ 17000 miles
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN service 4x light comes on almost everytime driven roaring in drivetrain with relation to speed of truck understand this could	1 ~ 85000 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING brake steering failures and steering issues. *jb...	1 ~ 200 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > VACUUM > POWER ASSIST brake steering failures and steering issues. *jb...	1 ~ 200 miles
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2006 chevrolet avalanche. consumer states that the check engine light is on. cause: the fuel tank pressure sensor internally open...	1
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS vehicle had multiple occurrences of air bag warning light being displayed. the first episode required three visits to replace driver's...	1 ~ 20400 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT dt: the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet avalanche 1500. the contact stated that the gm dealership has tried several times...	1
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT 2004 avalanche service airbag light came on in 2005 dealership replace airbag unit service airbag light came on in 2007...	1 ~ 20000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER fuel lines - 2005 chevrolet avalanche while driving home from work 2/17/2011 i kept smelling gas. since it is a...	1 ~ 70000 miles
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY windshield wipers fail in the on position and will run constantly regardless of the switch position and will not shut...	1 ~ 62500 miles

FAQ

What year Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 11 years, Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 models of 2010, 2012, 2009 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Chevrolet Avalanche 1500?

Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 models of 2003 and 2002 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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