10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
115,168 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #23

Jan 072016

Avalanche

  • 180,000 miles
My airbags deployed as I slid into a vehicle in front of me. I was in number to number traffic and I tried changing lanes. My front left bumper tapped his rear right bumper. The other vehicle was scratched.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #22

Oct 152016

Avalanche

  • 52,000 miles
The dashboard has developed a crack in the plastic on the passenger side right near the airbag area.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #21

Oct 022012

Avalanche

  • 120,000 miles
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.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #20

Oct 012014

Avalanche 4WD 8-cyl

  • 119,400 miles
All of a sudden while driving one day the service air bag light came on and stayed on. I was told that the air bag could deploy at any time and not work if we where in a crash. I called GM about the issue after looking on line and realizing my truck was not the only one experiencing this issue and was told they would not pay to fix it as there is no recall. The truck was never in an accident and has lower mileage then allowed. This is definitely and issue. It is supposedly a module under the front seat or wherever it is located, as some trucks it is different places. They should be required to pay for this issue.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #19

Mar 282012

Avalanche 4WD 8-cyl

  • 81,416 miles
The service airbag light would come on intermittently. There would be a low thump thump sound emanating from the audio speakers. The lock door chimes stopped sounding.

- Sleepy Hollow, NY, USA

problem #18

Jun 012004

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 18,000 miles
"service airbag system" display on vehicle information readout first appeared around ten years ago. Brought to dealer multiple times for diagnostics and repair (code B0026) but have not been able to correct this safety system defect. Vehicle is way out of warranty and attempting to repair items that have not been able to be fixed under warranty does not seem financially sound. Airbag warning light and "service airbag system" display have been constantly on since 2008.

- Warrensburg, MO, USA

problem #17

Jan 252012

Avalanche

  • 1,166,000 miles
The fix airbag warning light activated on drivers information panel. This warning means that the airbag will not deploy in an accident. GM is fully aware that the 2003 airbag system has faulty wiring connectors on the driver's side foot panel but never recalled this vehicle to fix the problem. Instead, they published a tech bulletin explaining how to fix the faulty wiring. I contacted GM and they refused to repair the faulty airbag system wiring at their cost. Many consumers that own Avalanche 2003 SUV ' S have complained about this safety problem but denied recovery from GM. Recall of all affected Avalanche 2003 models should be mandated.

- Sumter, SC, USA

problem #16

May 112006

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
Key ignition switch is loose and car will shut off while operating, key can be pulled out of ignition while running. If vehicle shuts off while operating then you loose control of brakes, steering, and electrical systems. GM is denying there is a problem. My vehicle is proof that the problem exists and the Chevy Avalanche 2003 has a problem.

- Grandview , MO, USA

problem #15

Mar 152013

Avalanche

  • miles
Frequently while in drive the service air bag comes on. When this light/indicator comes on this deactivates the entire air bag system which is a safety issue/defect. This needs to be a recall by GM/Chevrolet to have this fixed immediately.

- Brentwood, TN, USA

problem #14

Sep 012012

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 11,000 miles
Air bag light is on. While airbag light is on, airbags do not function. This is a known issue by Chevrolet. Hundreds of people experience the same problem. Needs a recall. This is a safety issue and should not cost the consumer to repair.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #13

Aug 152012

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 107,000 miles
On occasion the airbag warning light would come on, usually while driving. On subsequent starts, no light was displayed. Eventually the light would stay on for several days. I assumed this was a manufacturer initiated alert to have the airbags checked after 100,000 miles. When I next brought my vehicle in for an oil change service, I asked the adviser to have the airbags checked because of the warning light. He told me that when the light was on the airbags were inoperative! I told him to get it corrected. After 90 minutes my car was returned with the notice that a preliminary check did not uncover the cause, and I would have to return the vehicle at another time and expect to incur several hours of trouble shooting to determine the cause. Since my truck was out of warranty, I would be responsible to parts and labor. I cannot understand why an inoperative airbag system is not a safety recall issue. Perhaps if government motors was privately held, the actual government would force the manufacturer to repair all such safety related issues.

- Carefree, AZ, USA

problem #12

Mar 102012

Avalanche

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact was driving 30 mph when the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic and the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 107,000.

- Beaver Creek, OH, USA

problem #11

Feb 022012

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 136,000 miles
Air bag light keeps showing up every couple days then it disappears I believe GM is aware but will not fix.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #10

May 202011

Avalanche

  • 94,000 miles
"service ABS light comes on intermittently...disabling air bags!

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #9

Mar 072009

Avalanche

  • miles
I own a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, my speedometer is stuck at 50 mph, I cannot accurately gauge my speed, I also have a service air bag light that will not go off. These are some serious safety issues and a recall should be issued.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #8

Apr 012009

Avalanche

  • miles
Airbag service light.

- Ferndale, MI, USA

problem #7

Jun 012006

Avalanche

  • 65,000 miles
Service air bag light stays on been this way for a couple of years Chevrolet knows of the problem but will not do a recall.

- Clanton, AL, USA

problem #6

Sep 012008

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer because the air bag warning indicator was illuminated. After the vehicle was diagnosed, he was informed that the passenger side air bag was not working because the module was defective. There was also too much compression in the air bags, which caused the warning indicator to illuminate. The vehicle is no longer under warranty and the manufacturer would not assume responsibility for the repairs. They refuse to repair the vehicle for free and the contact believes it is due to a manufacturer defect; therefore, it should be repaired. The failure mileage was 78,000 and current mileage was 79,228. Updated 11/14/08 updated 11/19/08.

- Coventry, RI, USA

problem #5

Dec 072007

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 149,000 miles
Traveling at 55 mph and rear-ended a towed vehicle without lights. Driver side airbag did not deploy.

- Glen St. Mary, FL, USA

problem #4

Jan 012006

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,500 miles
The airbag warning light comes on intermittenly. Because this is related to one of the vehicles saftey features it seems like the tsb (050941001) for this issue should be a recall. Especially since the dealership refuses to fix this problem without a commitment from the owner to pay for a diagostic check and then fight them to pay.

- Sachse, TX, USA

Read the next 3 complaints »