41 of the
1,115 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
are about the fuel system —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
While driving I suddenly experienced a loss of power. Immediately the truck sputtered to a rolling stop. I was unable to use power steering or power brakes due to the loss of fuel. I later discovered that the fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter was not properly connected. Upon attempting to reconnect, it was noticed that it had broken. The male nipple which goes from the fuel tank, outward about 1 inch, had broken off and was inside of the quick release connection for said fuel line.
NHTSA complaint #11449670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE FUEL STATION AND THE FUEL ODOR BECAME STRONGER WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUBFRAME UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11151912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF THE FRAME, BRAKE LINES, TRANSMISSION LINES, AND FUEL LINES. THE BRAKE, TRANSMISSION AND FUEL LINES RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT AND REQUIRED A FULL REPLACEMENT. THE FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND HAS DETERIORATED WELL BEYOND THE FRAME OF MY 2003 CAMARO Z28 WHICH IS 9 YEARS OLDER! THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 80K AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, SO THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE AMOUNT AND LEVEL OF RUST, EXCEPT THAT THERE WERE INFERIOR METALS AND MANUFACTURING MATERIALS USED IN ITS CONSTRUCTION.
NHTSA complaint #11090866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND OFF. TOOK IT TO SERIVE CENTERS THE LIGHT CAME OFF FOR A WEEK THEN CAME BACK AGAIN. MECHANIC TOLD ME THE SPRING COUL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED GOT IT REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THE SAME. WHEN ITHE WEATHER IS COLD THE LIGHTS COMES OFF WHEN ITS WARM THE LIGHTS ARE ONE TOLD THE MECHANICS THEY SAID ITS THE CONNECTION THEY TRIED TO FIX LIGHT WILL COME OF FOR A FEW DAYS THEN BACK AGAIN. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE LIGHT - THEY TOLD ME ITS THE FUEL EJECTION PUMP GOT IT REPLACED BUT NOT RESOLVED. I KEEP TAKING TTHE TRUCK BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTERS BUT AFTER A WEEK THE LIGHT INDICATORS ARE ON. I ALSO FAILED MY INSPECTIONS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE ONLY REASON I PASS IS THAT IT HAS TO BE FIXED BUT AFTER INSPECTION THE LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN. I HAVE READ ALL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS BUT GMC MOTORS DOESN'T HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR IT ITS JUST A COMMUNICATION STATING THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS STILL RUNNING BUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY THE COMPANY. AND I THINK THATS PART OF THE REASON TGEY DONT MAKE THE AVALANCE ANYMORE.
NHTSA complaint #11072819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE FUELING THERE SEEMS TO BE A BACKLASH AIR BUBBLE THAT OCCURS AND IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO PUT $30 WORTH OF FUEL. WHILE PUMPING THE GAS NO MATTER HOW SLOW OR FAST AS THE SAFETY IS IN PLACE TO STOP THE FUEL FROM COMING OUT OF THE FUEL NECK WHERE IT MEETS THE FUEL GOING IN THIS IS NORMAL TO KICK OFF THE FUEL SO SPILLAGE DOES NOT BECOME A PROBLEM HOWEVER WHEN YOU STOP FUELING THERE IS A BURP BACK AS IN A AIR BUBBLE THAT SPLASHES OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY SPLASH IN A FACE OR ON YOUR SKIN AND IT ALSO RUNS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN THAT IS WHEN FUELING HAS STOPPED IT BURPS THE FUEL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHILE FUELING. THIS OCCURS NO MATTER WHAT GAS STATION IS USED OLD NEW IT DOESN'T MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #11033010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR BRAKE LINES BURST WHILE I WAS IN MOTION. I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO USE THE GEARS TO SLOW DOWN. THEY WERE CORRODED THROUGH. SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2016 WITH MY FUEL PUMP LINE CORRODED THROUGH. WAS LEAKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. DID NOT NOTICE FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL THERE WAS PUDDLES OF GAS WHERE I PARK. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS MY CLADDING HAS BEEN FALLING OFF FROM RUST THROUGH ON THE BOTTOM SECURE POINTS.
NHTSA complaint #11023766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS A FUEL SMELL THAT OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND IMMEDIATELY WHEN IGNITION IS TURN TO ON POSITION ESPECIALLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10956477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED THE 2006 VEHICLE USED IN DEC 2013. IN 2014 THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. IN 2015 I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE PADS & ROADERS.2016 REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE IT ALSO WENT BAD, REPLACED TIRES (NORMAL WEAR), BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY BECAUSE IT DIED. 2017 IT NEEDED TWO HUB BEARING AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB REPLACED. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE! I JUST FOUND OUT MY AIR BAG SENSOR WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. ALL MY MONEY HAS BEEN FLUSHED DOWN TO THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T RECOMMEND ANYONE BUYING A CHEVY TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10945373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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).
NHTSA complaint #10876693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL LINES AND A FUEL ODOR EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO SECURE AND RETRACT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULAR ASSEMBLY, MODULE KIT AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 05V163000 (SEAT BELTS), 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
NHTSA complaint #10809066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE IN THE PROCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10736074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DEFECTIVE FUEL LINES RUBBED TOGETHER AND CAUSED A LEAK. I PAID A LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT $1100 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE FUEL LINES AS IT WAS UNSAFE. MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER A RECALL BUT IN RESEARCHING, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS HAVE A RECALL. I OPENED AN INCIDENT WITH CHEVROLET AS A DEFECT BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST AS MY TRUCK IS OVER 70K MILES AND PASTED THE WARRANTY, THE FUEL LINES ARE NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10733956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LAMP FLASHED RANDOMLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY TO SECURE AND RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 05V163000 (SEAT BELTS), 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 04V129000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 8/17/15
NHTSA complaint #10724271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH DOWN A HILL THAT WAS CURVY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HILL AND ALMOST WENT INTO A DITCH BECAUSE THE TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF WHILE IN DRIVE AND LUCKILY I WAS QUICK ENOUGH TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL SO I COULD STEER IT AWAY FROM THE DITCH AND I TURNED THE IGNITION OVER AND LUCKILY IT TURNED ON WHILE IN NEUTRAL OTHERWISE I WOULD OF CRASHED INTO THE DITCH. THEN IT SHUT OFF AGAIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS AFTER AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AGAIN SO I COULD STEER AND COAST DOWN THE HILL BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START UP THE SECOND TIME WHEN IT ALL SHUT OFF. I WAS STRANDED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL NEAR A LIGHT SO I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD KEEP TRYING TO TURN OVER BUT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO CALL AAA TO TOW MY AVALANCHE TO MY HOUSE. THIS COULD OF KILLED ME IF I WASN'T QUICK ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO BE ABLE TO STEER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON WHATEVER MADE THIS HAPPEN AND I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED LATE LAST NIGHT AND I WAS LOOKING FOR RECALLS AND IT DOESN'T SHOW ANYTHING ON THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10628481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY AVALANCHE HAS DEVELOPED A ROUGH IDLE AT TIMES EVER SINCE NEW. SOMETIMES IT IS ROUGHER THAN OTHER TIMES AND IS NOT CONSTANT. I HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES AND CONTACTED CHEVROLET SUPPORT. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND SINCE THERE ARE NO TSB'S THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT. ONE DEALER SAID THE FUEL TRIM LEVELS ARE VERY LEAN WHICH CAUSES THE ROUGH IDLE. I NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH AN IDLE LIKE THIS AND BELIEVE THE FUEL TRIM LEVELS COULD BE ADJUSTED IN THE COMPUTER TO SMOOTH OUT THE IDLE. CHEVROLET SUPPORT JUST DIRECTS ME BACK TO THE DEALER IN A CIRCLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED OUT YET BUT I DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN WHICH COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION OR MAKING A TURN. THE IDLE FOR A COMPUTER CONTROLLED ENGINE IN A VEHICLE THIS EXPENSIVE SHOULD IDLE ROCK SOLID, THANKS FOR LOOKING INTO THIS FOR ME.
NHTSA complaint #10586964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.