1.9

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,367 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #11

Nov 012020

Avalanche

  • 142,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and oil warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer, the 4-wheel drive function, parking brake, and headlights failed to operate as needed. The instrument panel light failed to illuminate, the gear shifter did not display the selected gear, the sub-frame was corroded, and the wheel hub bearing assembly was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

- Monaca, PA, USA

problem #10

Jun 152016

Avalanche

  • 260,000 miles
My 02 Avalanche has had all the fuel, em brake, wheel hub while husband was stopping at light when the top caliper bolt came out wedging the caliper between the wheel and bolt this stopped the truck sounded like gun fire and the rest end went 8 ft into the air. Air bag not deployed. Cost days pays and $ new bolt to get back on road, no injury. Plus drvr fr axle pass too. 2nd tranny only 4yrs apart has failed again with my 6 grkids on my 56th B.D. in tx 105 * heat index. It took 4 hours to get home having to stop every 10 min for 20 min because it was overheating. My grkids were heat exhausted as was I. I have had to replace the short column in my steering and I have been jiggling the key to start it for appx 8 years now. 2 fuel pumps in less than a year the last one was stuck for 3 hours at gas station w/3 grkids while my D-N-law was waiting to meet me 2 hours from her home. I think that covers most of the investigations and complaints and not one did Chevy pay for. I didn't bother asking my husband has 2500 school hours in auto mechanic repair. My trim is faded and have to oil it to keep it from cracking. The truck still drives excellent but you people are who I'm going to sue if something catastrophic happens in that truck for your lackadaisical attitude in enforcing the safety laws. How much kick back do you receive from the car companies to not recall their cars and trucks? don't be shocked it is obvious big money dictates what gets recalled. People die for the greed of others and that is pathetic. If you enforced the safety laws stricter there would not be people dying or badly mft'd vehicles causing wrecks scaring people causing ptss. I think this Agency is all about making people think you do something when you don't, at least not until 600million cars have to be recalled. 2 should be enough. 1 a repair 2 not a coincidence. Thank you, [xxx] all while driving information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Canton, TX, USA

problem #9

Mar 072014

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
I put the truck in park and was unable to put it back into gear.

- New Windsor, MD, USA

problem #8

Jul 182014

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 72,394 miles
Transfer case fluid leaking from a hole in the case caused by internal pump rub. All the transfer case oil expelled onto the hot exhaust causing smoke and possibly a fire.

- Oakley, CA, USA

problem #7

Dec 052012

Avalanche

  • 60,000 miles
I was driving home and all of a sudden it felt like no power was getting to the wheels. I stepped on the gas, the rpms went up, but the truck couldnt get past 30 mph. My mechanic said that the transmission burnt out. I babied this truck. Their is no reason for a Chevy truck with 60000 miles of light road use should blow a tranny. A quick search on the web shows that this is a common problem with this truck. 3200 dollars to fix a part that should have at least lasted 100000 miles.

- Kingston, NY, USA

problem #6

May 232011

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
At 95,000 miles, transmission exploded, replaced. 1 year later, brake line exploded, lost all brake fluid, all 4 brake lines replaced as they were not made of stainless steel and had rusted. 6 months later, differential bearings all worn, affecting steering, differential and related parts all replaced. All explosions took place while driving on local roads, not on the highway, thank god! mechanic (friend of mine) says he never saw any car with as many bad parts as my Avalanche! I also thank god I bought it used. American engineered cars have such bad engineering design that I never buy them new.

- Warren, NJ, USA

problem #5

Feb 022012

Avalanche

  • 39,646 miles
Avalanche 4WD selectors started flashing and would not shift out of 4L. Stopped and turned off vehicle. Restarted and service 4WD light lit. Had no forward or reverse gears. Had to have it towed. Dealer said the encoder motor failed.

- Glenwood, IA, USA

problem #4

Sep 112006

Avalanche

  • 35,000 miles
The four wheel drive service lamp frequently illuminates at different speeds and stays on until the truck is restarted, then the lamp will stay off for days, then come back on for no reason, when the truck is scanned no codes are returned, the truck seems to drive fine, but the problem is very annoying.

- Clinton Twp., MI, USA

problem #3

Feb 082009

Avalanche

  • 85,000 miles
Front differential mechanism that is responsible for 4WD of the vehicle has chronically malfunctioned despite 2 repairs while under warranty by lindsay Chevy in woodbridge va. The mechanism started to show signs of problems at 7000 miles. Now the truck has 85000 miles and the mechanism has failed.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #2

Nov 152003

Avalanche

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
I have not given permission to the dealership service department to start repairs. They told me it was the rear axle or rear end that was damaged beyond repair and must be replaced. I was quoted a repair cost of $2,400 for a used part and $3,000 for a new part. This truck has around 42,000 miles and was purchased June 1, 2003. I have had multiple problems ranging from replacement of cd's to a door window motor problem. I inquired/complained about a noise in the rear end at around 25,000 miles prior to the breakdown. However, they could not find the problem. The tailgate would fall open when locked occasionally, but this was adjusted after taking it back for repair. I have also replaced one hub assembly on the front of the truck at a cost of $250. There is an oil usage problem that requires an additional quart to be added between changes. I personally think that this truck is a lemon and needs to be researched to discern if it has had some previous mechanical problems. Although it was purchased new there is a possibility that it could have had some malfunctions before it was delivered. I misplaced my receipts, and I'm not sure that the service department will give me another copy. However, I will search for them as verification that I took the truck in on several occasions for various and sundry complaints.

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #1

Jan 162004

Avalanche 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles
Transmission and/or rear axle locks up while vehicle is in motion causing erratic vehicle handling and/or life-threatening situation. *

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA