Owners have filed 49 complaints
about the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 with NHTSA between 2008 and 2020.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 11 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 24
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 32
6.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 52
31% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2008 compares with every other Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
513.9%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
1233.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
411.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
616.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
616.7%
150,000+ miles
38.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2008peak 5Oct 2020
NHTSA investigations into the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA08010Opened 12 Jun 2008Closed 8 Sep 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES...
PE08010Opened 4 Feb 2008Closed 12 Jun 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION(ODI) DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE08-010, GM PROVIDED ODI WITH 41 ALLEGATIONS OF NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES INCLUDING 16 ALLEGATIONS OF FIRES ORIGINATING WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION.ONE OF THE FIRES WAS DETERMINED TO BE CAUSED BY AN ARSON EVENT.ODI HAS ALSO RECEIVED 5 REPORTS, 4 OF WHICH ARE OF DUPLICATIVE OF REPORTS PROVIDED BY GM, ALLEGING NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN TOTAL, ODI IS AWARE OF 41 NON-CRASHENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 250,000 milesColt, ARCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
TAKARA RECALL. ON 7/11/18 I WAS IN A HEAD ON CAR ACCIDENT AND FRONT AIR BAGS S DID NOT DEPLOY, TRUCK WAS DRIVING 35MPH WHEN ANOTHER TRUCK PULLED OUT INTO MY LANE AND I HIT HIM VERY HARD , POLICE NOTICED AND ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF AIRS BAGS DEPLOYED AND THEY DID NOT
NHTSA complaint #11112081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesDenver, CO1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CHROME ON THE INTERIOR FRONT DOOR HANDLES IS CRACKING AND HAS CAUSED MINOR RAZOR LIKE CUTS. THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO OID ID NO10429541. THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM, BUT INDICATED THE TSB ONLY APPLIED TO MODEL YEAR 2007. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER ALL AFFECTED YEARS AND MODELS. CONSUMER CANCELLED REQUEST 04/13/12*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10453500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Houston, TX
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED
NHTSA complaint #11362587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesWellsboro, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING 60MPH AND LOST ALL LIGHTS POWER MOTOR EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE CAME BACK ON AND REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER TILL IT WAS PARKED GM'S SAID MY TRUCK WASN'T COVERED SO I ASKED FOR THE RECALLED PART NUMBER AND WAS RUSHED OFF THE PHONE
NHTSA complaint #11207583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesWellsboro, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING 60MPH AND LOST ALL LIGHTS POWER MOTOR EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE CAME BACK ON AND REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER TILL IT WAS PARKED GM'S SAID MY TRUCK WASN'T COVERED SO I ASKED FOR THE RECALLED PART NUMBER AND WAS RUSHED OFF THE PHONE
NHTSA complaint #11207583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesWellsboro, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING 60MPH AND LOST ALL LIGHTS POWER MOTOR EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE CAME BACK ON AND REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER TILL IT WAS PARKED GM'S SAID MY TRUCK WASN'T COVERED SO I ASKED FOR THE RECALLED PART NUMBER AND WAS RUSHED OFF THE PHONE
NHTSA complaint #11207583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nixa, MO
AIR BAGS
THE DASH IS CRACKED IN THREE SPOTS, OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, VENT AREA AND AT THE CORNER OF THE AIR BAG.
NHTSA complaint #11118797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nixa, MO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DASH IS CRACKED IN THREE SPOTS, OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, VENT AREA AND AT THE CORNER OF THE AIR BAG.
NHTSA complaint #11118797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesOwasso, OK
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 2 YRS SINCE I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE AIRBAG RECALL. MY AVALANCHE SENSORS ARE STATING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED. I HAVE BEEN TO THE INTERNET WEB SITES AND THE DEALERSHIP DOZENS OF TIMES ONLY TO GET THE SAME FEEDBACK...NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN DETERMINED, NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IT IS PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT THEY ARE USING STALL TACTICS TO AVOID INCURING THE COST THEY ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO SPEND. MY PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR WAS SUPPOSED TO PRIORITIZED AND COMPLETED BY MARCH 2018. SINCE IT IS CLEAR TO ME THE STALL TACTICS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY, I THOUGHT MAYBE I WOULD TRADE THE CAR IN FOR A SAFER ONE WITHOUT AIR BAG PROBLEMS....NO DEALER WILL TAKE THE CAR IN ON TRADE BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. SO I AM STUCK DRIVING AN KNOWN-UNSAFE-VEHICLE AND PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WON'T ARM, IT'S A KNOWN RECALL ISSUE, AND I CANNOT GET IT FIXED MAKES NO SENSE AND IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE
NHTSA complaint #11115863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 250,000 milesColt, ARCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
TAKARA RECALL. ON 7/11/18 I WAS IN A HEAD ON CAR ACCIDENT AND FRONT AIR BAGS S DID NOT DEPLOY, TRUCK WAS DRIVING 35MPH WHEN ANOTHER TRUCK PULLED OUT INTO MY LANE AND I HIT HIM VERY HARD , POLICE NOTICED AND ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF AIRS BAGS DEPLOYED AND THEY DID NOT
NHTSA complaint #11112081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesArcanum, OH
POWER TRAIN
1-TAKATA RECALL 2- REAR DIFFERENTIAL- I HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT 153,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON DIFFERENT ONLINE FORUMS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. IT COST ME OVER $3,000. IT HAD MANY BROKEN PARTS INSIDE OF IT. IT COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEELS AND CAUSED A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11085007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesArcanum, OH
AIR BAGS
1-TAKATA RECALL 2- REAR DIFFERENTIAL- I HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT 153,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON DIFFERENT ONLINE FORUMS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. IT COST ME OVER $3,000. IT HAD MANY BROKEN PARTS INSIDE OF IT. IT COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEELS AND CAUSED A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11085007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lanham, MD
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL I AM STILL WAIT TO GET MY AIR SERVICE. I RECEIVED A RECALL IN 2016 AND STILL WAITING FOR SERVICE
NHTSA complaint #11082013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,890 milesChoteau, MT
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEEDED SERVICE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, BREAK SENSOR
NHTSA complaint #11076698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,890 milesChoteau, MT
SERVICE BRAKES
TAKATA RECALL CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEEDED SERVICE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, BREAK SENSOR
NHTSA complaint #11076698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,890 milesChoteau, MT
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TAKATA RECALL CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEEDED SERVICE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, BREAK SENSOR
NHTSA complaint #11076698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Streamwood, IL
AIR BAGS
RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF RECALL OCTOBER 2017. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED NO PARTS AVAILABLE I WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT TO FIX THIS ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #11071980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesOcean Shores, WA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ALL SIX AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH FORCE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR IMPACT PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER (5 STAR CHEVROLET IN 300 S BOONE ST, ABERDEEN, WA 98520: (360) 637-6869). THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SENT INFORMATION TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAITED MORE THAN A WEEK FOR A RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED OVER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE AN INVESTIGATION. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT
NHTSA complaint #11061163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lanham, MD
AIR BAGS
I RECEIVED A RECALL ON MARCH 2016 AND NOTHING WAS DONE
NHTSA complaint #11051132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lockport, IL
AIR BAGS
I CONTACTED ADVANTAGE CHEVROLET WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE TELLING ME TO CALL TO SCHEDULE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO ACTION TO TAKE AT THIS TIME, WHY DOES THE RECALL NOTICE TELL ME TO DO THIS IF THE DEALER ISN'T GOING TO CO-OPERATE, ALSO DEALER SAYS I WILL BE NOTIFIED BUT RECALL NOTICE SAYS I WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED IN THE FUTURE. I DO NOT HAVE A CLAIM OTHER THAN BEING PART OF THIS RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11047952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mirriew\Ta, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V387000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (PARADISE CHEVROLET IN TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11046362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Papillion, NE
AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL" RECALL NOTICE ON FAULTY TAKATA DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG IN OUR '08 AVALANCHE RECEIVED JULY 2016 FROM GENERAL MOTORS. HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING IN RETURN. FOLLOWED UP WITH H & H CHEVROLET IN OMAHA NE (DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE) 11/2/17 REGARDING THE RECALL (STEVE FRENCH AND NICK PABLA). STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RETURN RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #11045983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesWichita, KS
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL . I'VE CONTACTED AT LEAST 2 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS IN MY AREA AND ASKED THEM BOTH TO CONTACT ME ASAP , SINCE THEY BOTH CLAIMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. NEITHER HAVE CONTACTED ME SINCE AND I MADE THE 1ST PHONE CALL LAST YEAR. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH CHEVROLET HAS NO TRUE INTENTIONS TO FIX MY AIRBAG ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11042058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesMurfreesboro, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED AND DECREASED, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENLY, AND THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH DIFFERENT WARNING SENSORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE IN MAY OF 2017 WHEN IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AMPLIFIER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000.
NHTSA complaint #11021484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,675 milesCasa Grande, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH CAP 2 CRACKS ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND LEFT UPPER CORNER OF AIRBAG COVER. APPEARS , WITH SOME RESEARCH , THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR OF GM PRODUCTS . DASH CAP HAS BEEN COVERED WITH DASH MAT ENTIRE TIME . THERE IS A DEFINITE DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING TO A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES 2008-2010 .
NHTSA complaint #11020442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 92,382 milesMiddletown, DE
AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL" IN JULY 2016 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2008 AVALANCHE TAKATA AIRBAG. IN JUNE 2017 A SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER (WILLIAMS CHEVROLET) IN ELKTON MARYLAND AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FIX. I CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH PARTIES THE RECALL DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE FIX. I TOLD BOTH PARTIES THAT I FELT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AIRBAG AND A SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE AND FIX MY AIRBAG UNDER THE RECALL AT NO COST TO ME. I CALLED ONSTAR A WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOULD BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. THE RECALL NOTICE STATES THE AIRBAG INFLATORS IT SUPPLIED TO GM ARE DEFECTIVE AND MAY RUPTURE DURING DEPLOYMENT CAUSING SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURIES. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 93000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GET ME ON THIS MATTER. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11003085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesBrandon, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ISSUE I HAVE IS WITH THE DASH PAD ON OUR 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE. WE BOUGHT IT USED AND PAID $525 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER IT CRACKED AGAIN IN THE SAME AREA OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED. IT SEEMS TO BE A QUALITY ISSUE AND GM WOULD HELP THE OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10956254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.