FaultScore

FaultScore report

2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 problems

Owners have filed 38 complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 with NHTSA between 2014 and 2021. The largest single group is the other & unspecified. Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 11 worst.

B

FaultScore 28/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500.

How this is worked out

The numbers

38

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

47,061 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

41%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 19 vs 50 Severity 14 vs 50 Early failure 70 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 19
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 14
2.6% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 70
41% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2013 compares with every other Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Median failure at 54,000 miles

Body & Structure 8 21.1%

Median failure at 46,000 miles

Airbags 6 15.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 52,061 mi

Lights 2 5.3%

Median failure at 60,250 miles

Steering 2 5.3%

Median failure at 14,000 miles

Electrical System 2 5.3%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

Stability & Traction Control 1 2.6%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.6%

Median failure at 7,100 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 2.6%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

Suspension 1 2.6%

Median failure at 58,000 miles

Brakes 1 2.6%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 2.6%
Engine & Cooling 1 2.6%

Median failure at 14,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 2 5.9%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 5 14.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 12 35.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 11 32.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 8.8%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 2.9%

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.

May 2014 peak 4 Apr 2021

Recalls on the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

13V001000

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.

Risk: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 68,000 miles Plainview, MN Crash

AIR BAGS

A VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND I T-BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10759363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Cypress, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED WHICH IS EXPOSING THE AIRBAG

NHTSA complaint #11408598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Buna, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY DEALER WORKED ON MY AC COMPONENTS IN 2015 (NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE) TO REPLACE THE AC CONTROLLER COMPONENTS, SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR MY DASH CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT TO CRANK THE VEHICLE. ON THE DRIVER SIDE OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS IT HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SIZE AND NOW IS CRACKED COMPLETELY CAUSING THE DASH TO BE TWO SEPARATE PIECES. SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS ARE IF A CRASH OCCURS WILL THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE BE SAFE OF SHARP FLYING DEBRIS WITHIN THE CAB. MY CONCERN IS NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT MY PASSENGERS. I HAVE INQUIRED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT REPLACING THE PART BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME IT INITIALLY CRACKED. MILEAGE OF INITIAL CRACK WAS APPROX 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11173023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,254 miles Yeadon, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH BOARD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES

NHTSA complaint #11109906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Westminster, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE ADHESIVE SECURING THE 4 PIECES OF DOOR TRIM IS BREAKING DOWN AND THE TRIM PIECES WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OFF ON THEIR OWN, A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORISTS DEPENDING ON WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENS. THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A NO MAINTENANCE ITEM. REPORTED TO CHEVROLET, CASE # 8-4199057982, AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED THAT THIS "LIFE OF THE VEHICLE" INSTALLATION IS DEFECTIVE AS THE 3 YEAR BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. AS A PRINCIPLE ENGINEER IN BOEING'S RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (WE TEST STUFF TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE), MY INFORMED OPINION IS THE DEFECT IS CAUSED BY POOR SURFACE PREPARATION PRIOR TO BONDING, ADHESIVE MATERIAL USED PAST IT'S WORKING LIFE, ADHESIVE MATERIAL PAST ITS SHELF LIFE, OR USE OF AN ADHESIVE MATERIAL WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE INTENDED ENVIRONMENT. AS THIS SAME TRIM IS INSTALLED ON NUMEROUS CHEVY, GMC AND CADILLAC TRUCKS AND SUV MODELS ANY CAUSE OTHER THAN THE FIRST TWO I LISTED WOULD INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #11101732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Bellaire, TX

AIR BAGS

AT +/-83000 MILES THE DASH DEVELOPED A CRACK LEADING INTO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HOUSING. IT ALSO IS BROKEN AND, WHEN DRIVING, LOOSELY VIBRATING BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HOUSING. GIVEN THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH AIR BAGS, THIS IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11100738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Kenner, LA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKING NEAR AIRBAG. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE THE MORE I DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #11082364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,107 miles Kenner, LA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SERIOUS LARGE CRACKS APPEARING IN PLASTIC DASHBOARD, AROUND AIRBAG AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ABOVE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #11067282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,250 miles Newcastle, OK

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT NOT SEALED ALLOWING THE LIGHT TO GET IN MOISTURE AND RESULT IN FAILURE OF LIGHT TO FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY LAW. MANUFACTURING DEFECT ALLOWS THIS LIGHT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME WHICH COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND.

NHTSA complaint #11064162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,000 miles Fowlerville, Michigan, MI

AIR BAGS

. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017

NHTSA complaint #11041661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,000 miles Fowlerville, Michigan, MI

STEERING

. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017

NHTSA complaint #11041661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,000 miles Fowlerville, Michigan, MI

ENGINE

. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017

NHTSA complaint #11041661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,000 miles Charlotte, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CRACKED DASHBOARD. ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ON RIGHT SIDE BY AIRBAG. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD OR IN 4X4 MODE. ONLY ABOUT 7500 MILES A YEAR. TREATED VERY WELL.

NHTSA complaint #11022572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,000 miles Charlotte, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY

CRACKED DASHBOARD. ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ON RIGHT SIDE BY AIRBAG. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD OR IN 4X4 MODE. ONLY ABOUT 7500 MILES A YEAR. TREATED VERY WELL.

NHTSA complaint #11022572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Braintree, MA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TOP REAR BREAK LED LIGHT . LET'S WATER AND MOISTER IN SIDE . DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED 2 ALL READY AND 3RD ONE IS LETTING WATER IN THE LIGHT HOUSING ALL READY

NHTSA complaint #11010275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,500 miles Plano, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE 2 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2013 AVALANCHE THAT SEEMINGLY APPEARED OVERNIGHT. MUCH LIKE THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ON THIS SITE, ONE CRACK IS AT THE TOP CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE OTHER IS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND THEY'VE OFFERED TO SPLIT THE REPAIR WITH ME BUT MY RESEARCH INDICATES THIS MIGHT BE A MORE WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. OPENING THIS ISSUE TO HOPEFULLY BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THE SITUATION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN EITHER KEPT IN A GARAGE OR HAD A THICK WINDOW VISOR IN THE FRONT WINDOW SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10999995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,000 miles Forney, TX

AIR BAGS

THE DASH CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE NOW TWO BIG CRACKS IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE, ONE ON PASSENGER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE AIRBAG AND ANOTHER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, JUST TO LEFT OF CENTER ABOVE THE MAIN GAUGE CLUSTER. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE 2013 AVALANCHE, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS FROM THAT YEAR AND THE FEW YEARS PREVIOUS. THIS VEHICLE IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE, HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR BEEN WRECKED IN ANY WAY. THE DASH ITSELF IS ONLY WIPED DOWN WITH A DAMP CLOTH WHEN TRUCK IS WASHED, AND NEVER HAS CHEMICALS USED ON IT. WHEN THE TRUCK IS NOT IN THE GARAGE, A SUN VISOR SHIELD IS PLACED IN THE FRONT WINDOW AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIR BAG AND ALSO CAN ALLOW FOR FLYING DEBRIS IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10992970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,000 miles Forney, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASH CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE NOW TWO BIG CRACKS IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE, ONE ON PASSENGER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE AIRBAG AND ANOTHER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, JUST TO LEFT OF CENTER ABOVE THE MAIN GAUGE CLUSTER. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE 2013 AVALANCHE, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS FROM THAT YEAR AND THE FEW YEARS PREVIOUS. THIS VEHICLE IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE, HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR BEEN WRECKED IN ANY WAY. THE DASH ITSELF IS ONLY WIPED DOWN WITH A DAMP CLOTH WHEN TRUCK IS WASHED, AND NEVER HAS CHEMICALS USED ON IT. WHEN THE TRUCK IS NOT IN THE GARAGE, A SUN VISOR SHIELD IS PLACED IN THE FRONT WINDOW AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIR BAG AND ALSO CAN ALLOW FOR FLYING DEBRIS IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10992970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Ellicott City, MD

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH CRACKS IN SEVERAL PLACES. CRACK FIRST APPEARED AT 70,000 IN AUGUST 2016. SHOWN TO DEALER WHO CONTACTED GM AND INFORMED US THAT IT WAS NOT A COVERED REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10969455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Humble, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING IS ILLUMINATED IN MY DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER. A RECALL WAS ISSUED BY GM - 14515 - BUT THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10916478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Woodbury, TN

AIR BAGS

I WENT OUT ONE DAY AND THE DASHBOARD OF 2013 AVALANCHE HAS TWO CRACKS. ONE ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE OTHER AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint #10910281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Shelton, CT

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED LEADING UP TO THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THROUGH EMAIL PHOTOS AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DASH PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH A DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA complaint #10909335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Deerfield Beach, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DASHBOARD AT THE AIRBAG IS CRACKED. THIS WAS NOTICED UPON ENTERING THE CAR JULY 27, 2016. THIS WAS NOT THERE PRIOR AS THE DASH NOTICEABLY RATTLES AT THE SIGHT OF THE CRACK. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT CHEVROLET STATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE SUN CAUSING THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD TO DISINTEGRATE.

NHTSA complaint #10896107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Aurora, CO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY VEHICLE SPEED APPEARS TO BE FLUCTUATING, ENGINE BRAKING ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS COME ONE. I WAS DRIVING AND IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OR THE CLUTCH KICKED IN THEN REENGAGED. ONLINE FORUMS DEPICT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME INCIDENTS. THE ISSUE AFFECTS MANY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE. SOME BELIEVE THAT THE ONSTAR SYSTEM OR THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. WHEN I TOOK IT IN LAST TIME, THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A FAULTY ABS SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AS THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OFF AND ON AND I FELL THIS PUTS US AT RISK. THESE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE PARKED, DRIVING, AND TURNING, BE IT ROADWAYS, DRIVEWAYS, PARKING LOTS, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10895557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Aurora, CO

SERVICE BRAKES

MY VEHICLE SPEED APPEARS TO BE FLUCTUATING, ENGINE BRAKING ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS COME ONE. I WAS DRIVING AND IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OR THE CLUTCH KICKED IN THEN REENGAGED. ONLINE FORUMS DEPICT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME INCIDENTS. THE ISSUE AFFECTS MANY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE. SOME BELIEVE THAT THE ONSTAR SYSTEM OR THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. WHEN I TOOK IT IN LAST TIME, THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A FAULTY ABS SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AS THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OFF AND ON AND I FELL THIS PUTS US AT RISK. THESE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE PARKED, DRIVING, AND TURNING, BE IT ROADWAYS, DRIVEWAYS, PARKING LOTS, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10895557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Aurora, CO

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY VEHICLE SPEED APPEARS TO BE FLUCTUATING, ENGINE BRAKING ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS COME ONE. I WAS DRIVING AND IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OR THE CLUTCH KICKED IN THEN REENGAGED. ONLINE FORUMS DEPICT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME INCIDENTS. THE ISSUE AFFECTS MANY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE. SOME BELIEVE THAT THE ONSTAR SYSTEM OR THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. WHEN I TOOK IT IN LAST TIME, THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A FAULTY ABS SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AS THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OFF AND ON AND I FELL THIS PUTS US AT RISK. THESE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE PARKED, DRIVING, AND TURNING, BE IT ROADWAYS, DRIVEWAYS, PARKING LOTS, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10895557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.