10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,053 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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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Sep 182013

Avalanche

  • 153,000 miles
Going down my driveway pushed on my brakes an it went to the floor, underneaththe truck by the drivers door the frame was very wet with brake fluid, the brake line had blown.

- Bethel, OH, USA

problem #16

Oct 302011

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 58,137 miles
Both brake lines from master cylinder to ABS module failed resulting in no brakes due to excess rust on lines.car failed inspection 1 and second year due to rotted rotors. Also recently fuel leaking from top of fuel tank and fuel lines from fuel pump module badly rusted. Worse yet frame is disintegrating. Due cheap steel. My 1998 Chevy astro is driven and stored in like conditions and yet doesn't show the rust like the Avalanche. Thankfully I was not on the highway when lines blew. Avalanche is the first vehicle to have so many safety related problems due to defective materials. Didn't report earlier thinking it was an isolated case.

- Monroe, NY, USA

problem #15

Aug 062013

Avalanche

  • 120,000 miles
Brake line ruptured from rust. Chev dealer wanted $2600 to replace/fix 2004 chev Avalanche brake lines.

- Ringoes, NJ, USA

problem #14

Jul 252013

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 170,170 miles
My son was going to the store and when he applied the brake the pedal went to the floor and he had no brakes. After he parked the truck he noticed a puddle of fluid under the drivers side in front of the rear wheel. When I returned home I filled the brake reservoir I had my wife push the brake peddle and I found the leak in the rusty brake line.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #13

Jun 272013

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 49,500 miles
When backing out my driveway I stepped on the brake and pedal went to the floor leaving brake fluid all over driveway. Group of brake lines along side of frame were totally rusted into a glob of rust.

- Oakville, CT, USA

problem #12

May 052013

Avalanche

  • 65,000 miles
I was approaching a stop sign on a residential street, pushed the brake pedal and lost braking ability. The pedal traveled to the floor, when that happened the service light came on with an audible alarm. I was able to get the truck stopped on the side of the road. A large amount of smoke was coming out underneath the hood from the spraying brake fluid. Upon inspection it was determined that there was a hole in the right front brake line. Further inspection revealed all brake lines to be in similar condition with a potential failure imminent. All brake lines need to be replaced and will cost over $1,000. The truck is not used excessively and has low mileage.

- Douglassville, PA, USA

problem #11

Aug 032011

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 52,341 miles
While moving the truck around in the driveway we noticed fluid on the ground. Upon further investigation we noticed inside the drivers wheel well that some lines had fluid on them. I brought the vehicle to the dealer and they said the brake lines had rusted out. Luckily we had not had an accident. I had to have two of the lines replaced. This was not covered by the extended warranty because lines of any kind are not covered.

- Tinton Falls, NJ, USA

problem #10

Apr 172013

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 138,000 miles
Hi have a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche and have had nothing but problems with brake lines, transmission and the body is completely rotting out really pathetic as this vehicle was so expensive and wondering if there are any recalls as there should be?

- Hyde Park, VT, USA

problem #9

Mar 132013

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while in his driveway, he attempted to engage the brakes but the pedal sunk into the floor. The contact mentioned that once he inspected the vehicle he noticed brake fluid leaking on the rear differential. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 46,000.

- Southfield, MI, USA

problem #8

Mar 082013

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 100,117 miles
My wife was driving our 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche with our 3-year-old son in the back seat. When she tried to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal went to the floor, and it took a great distance to stop the vehicle. She was close to home, so she returned and parked in our driveway. When I got home from work, I filled the reservoir with brake fluid, which was instantly drained. I looked under the door on the driver's side to find the brake fluid pouring out on to my driveway. I had the vehicle towed to a local repair shop. Estimated cost is $1600 to replace the brake lines and the cylinders that have become fused to the lines by the massive amount of rust. I do not live in an area of the country where roads treated for snow is a concern.

- Lusby, MD, USA

problem #7

Mar 152013

Avalanche

  • 76,912 miles
Started my Chevrolet, started backing up down an incline of my driveway, "service brakes" indicator illuminated. Brake pedal sank to the floor. No brakes. Opened hood and the front left wheel brake line (cheap steel) was shooting brake fluid everywhere and all over the engine. It's going to a Chevrolet dealership tomorrow for repairs.

- Clinton, MA, USA

problem #6

Dec 012012

Avalanche

  • 80,200 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to brake from 5 mph, the brake pedal abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the brake line was rusted, causing all of the brake fluid to leak out from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic for further inspection and repairs. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 80,200.

- Little Compton, RI, USA

problem #5

Nov 182012

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 30,307 miles
Brake lines corroded to the point of failure causing a loss of braking at 35 miles per hour. Dealer will replace entire trucks brake lines extensive repair. Personally know a friend with a 2002 Chevrolet that had the same problem. The repair center he repaired his truck at informed him that they replaced four other Chevrolet trucks brake lines in the last six months. I have been driving for forty years and never replaced brake lines on a car some with over 150,000 miles on them.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #4

Oct 242012

Avalanche

  • 52,500 miles
Rear hydraulic brake lines rotted and leaked fluid causing loss of braking. Last year I had to have the rear brake calipers replaced due to excessive rust and rot. The mechanic performing current repairs stats that the front hydraulic lines are rusting and will have to be replaced soon. The front calipers have rotted out bleeder valves. The front calipers will have to be replaced as a result when the front hydraulic lines are replaced. Check engine light was diagnosed to an evaporative emissions system leak. The leak was traced to a damaged plastic fitting connected to the fuel pump at the top of the fuel tank. The fuel pump metal was rotted causing the joint to expand damaging the fitting and causing the leak. I do not trailer a boat and the truck has never been immersed in salt water. I have been driving for over 40 years and have never had this amount of undercarriage rust and metal damage on any vehicle I have owned with many more miles and years of service.

- St. James, NY, USA

problem #3

Sep 192012

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
Put on brakes to avoid car slowing in front of me. Brake pedal went to the floor and had almost no brakes. Had to swerve drastically to avoid hitting the other car. Mechanic checked the truck the next day and found corroded brake lines had failed.

- Pasadena, MD, USA

problem #2

Jul 192012

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 78,803 miles
Turning the corner without any notice, the brake line apparently broke and the brake pedal went to the floor. Brake fluid went everywhere- was able to pull over and use the emergency brake to stop, but god forbid if I was on a freeway or was pulling my boat! could have been catastrophic! upon further investigations, all of the brakelines showing under the driverside wheel well are corroded badly and will need replaced. I have owned alot of cars/trucks and never had to replace a brake line. The costs I have been quoted are upward of $1500 to repair due to the poor design and that the parts have to be ordered specifically for this vehicle. This should not be happening on a 2004 vehicle with the low miles it has.

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #1

Jun 272012

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 60,134 miles
Leaving the yankee stadium parking lot in the bronx. Traffic was heavy! the traffic was stop and go. Upon stopping I felt the pedal go to the floor and smelled brake fluid. I pulled over and notice the split in the brake line near the chassie. I then had the vehicle towed home. The truck is a 2004 Chevy Avalanche with 60,213 miles on it. The brake line was split on the driver side chassie. It was not the rubber line going to the caliper but the stainless line feed the system.

- Seaford Ny, NY, USA