44 of the
1,115 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
are about the steering —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
STEERING: I stopped in my daughter yard and was unloading a 16ft trailer of hay and everything was working normally. When I got back in cranked the engine I started pulling forward, I did not have any power steering at all. I first thought the steering wheel had locked but I really had to power down on the steering to get it to turn. No noise, no indication, no problems of any kind with the steering or anything wrong while driving just a few minutes before. The power steering just stopped working period. I told my daughter we were lucky this hadn't happened on the road while pulling the loaded trailer. This could have been very dangerous or deadly if it had gone out while we were pulling the loaded trailer while on the road. If we had been going around a curve or making a turn and it had happened like it did in the yard while parked with NO indication of a problem it would have been very, very bad especially again with NO indications of a problem with the steering and pulling a trailer loaded with hay. I shudder to think what could have happened if we had been going around a curve at 55mph on the highway and this had happened. Power steering fluid pump up to the full line on the check stick when I pulled it out of the power steering pump. I have had the Avalanche for 3 years and have never had to add fluid nor does it have leak anywhere. Again, NO steering problems whatsoever before this.
NHTSA complaint #11442874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THE CLUSTER IS OUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MODEL THIS IS OTHER THAN A Z66 SO I CANNOT SEE ON HOW TO PROGRAM MY PHONE AT TO THE ONSTAR OR ANY OF THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE SATELLITE RADIO THERE IS NO AUXILIARY PLUG IN HEATED SEATS IT'S ONLY THE BACK OF THE SEAT THAT WORKS I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S ALL THAT IS HEATED AND IT SAYS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COME WITH A KEY FOB I DID NOT RECEIVE MY CAR COMPLETELY DIES I HAVE TO TURN IT COMPLETELY OFF TURN THE KEY AROUND AND STARTED AGAIN THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED I DID NOT RECEIVE THE KEY FOB I CANNOT LOCK THE DOORS BECAUSE THE KEYS DON'T WORK IN THE DOOR BUT THEY DO AN IGNITION SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AROUND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING I HAVE TO CUT IT COMPLETELY OFF BECAUSE IT WILL STALL OUT TURN KEY AROUND AND IT START IT AGAIN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE REAL MILAGE IS. JELP IM A SINGLE AND ONLY IN COME PARENT TO 3 BOUS AND THIS MOMMA NEEDS HELP PLEASE
NHTSA complaint #11386897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SO THE HYDRABOOST IS FAILING AND MY TRUCK IS POURING AN INSANE AMOUNT OF POWER STEERING FLUID FROM HYDRABOOST SYSTEM. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL THE HYDRABOOST RECALL POPS UP BUT WHEN CALLING CHEVROLET THEY WANT TO DO NOTHING. WHEN ITS APPARENT MY TRUCK IS AFFECTED BY TRASH PARTS. IT ONLY HAS 149000 MILES ON IT AND THE HYDRABOOST SYSTEM IS GONE. I'M TIRED OF ADDING 2 QUARTS OF POWER STEERING FLUID A WEEK, AND CANT EVEN DRIVE MY FAMILY AROUND BECAUSE I WAITING ON BRAKES TO SPORADICALLY FAIL DUE TO THE SYSTEM BEING COMPROMISED.
NHTSA complaint #11316505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2009 AVALANCHE LTZ HAS A DASH THAT HAS CRACKED COMPLETELY IN HALF, PLUS IS CRACKING ON THE AIRBAG PASSENGER SURROUND. MY CONCERN OTHER THAN SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS IS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE DASH PIECES LODGE THEMSELVES BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DASH HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR DAMAGED BY THE OWNER IN ANY WAY, AND THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION I HAVE NOTICED THIS DEFECT IN EVERY TRUCK OF THIS TYPE. PLEASE HAVE AN AGENT CONTACT ME IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NECESSARY. MY LOCAL DEALER WANTS $1600 TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #11194959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.
NHTSA complaint #11074968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE STALL WITH LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES WHEN TURNING FROM TOWER OAKS ST ONTO JONES ROAD, A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD. CAR STOPPED IN ONCOMING LANE ON JONES ROAD, JUST AVOIDING A HEAD ON COLLISION. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFOMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR OF THE CHEVROLETE AVALANCHE PAID DEALER $540. FOR CRANSSHAFT SENSOR REPLACEMENT. HAVE NOT HAD A STALLING PROBLEM SENCE REPLACING THE CRANSHAFT SENSOR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENTS AS THE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES IS CRITICAL.
NHTSA complaint #10891573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLUNKING , WHILE DRIVING, THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DOES NOT MATTER THE TYPE OF ROAD. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT.
NHTSA complaint #10823717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON PETERS RD IN MIDDLEFIELD WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE PUTTING THE TRUCK INTO A SKID WHICH PUT ME IN THE DITCH I HIT A MAILBOX AND A CULVERT (DRAIN PIPE) HEAD ON TEARING UP THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE AVALANCHE IT HIT RIGHT ON THE SENSORS BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10693585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLES GOVERNOR SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AT 97MPH WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP AND MADE THE BRAKES NOT WORK. TWO PEOPLE WHERE LIFE FLIGHTED TO HOSPITALS WITH VARIOUS INJURIES... NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL... THE FIRST IMPACT IN THE ACCIDENT WAS TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. INJURIES SUSTAINED INCLUDED MULTIPLE FRACTURES OF THE SPINE OF THE DRIVER FROM BEING EJECTED ALMOST 40 FEET PASSED WHERE THE TRUCK HAD COME TO A REST. THE DEBRIS PATH WAS OVER 150 FT. LONG AND THE TRUCK LEFT THE ROAD BECAUSE IT COULD NOT TURN THEN STRUCK A STOP SIGN AND TOTALLY UPROOTED THE STOP SIGN INCLUDING THE CEMENT CINDER BLOCK UNDER THE GROUND WHICH SENT THE TRUCK IN A DEATH ROLL. THEN THE TRUCK CONTINUED FORWARD INTO A UTILITY POLES GUIDE WIRE WHICH DROPPED THE POLE ON TOP OF THE TRUCK AS WELL AS THE WIRES. THEN CONTINUED FORWARD SOME MORE IN WHICH IT CAME TO A REST AGAINST A CEDAR TREE.
NHTSA complaint #10616074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THRU A PARKING LOT AFTER PICKING UP MY LUNCH, THE FOOD BEGAN TO FALL WHICH I TOOK MY EYES OFF DRIVING TO CATCH IT. WHEN I LOOKED UP I SAW LIGHT POLE IN FRONT OF ME AND WHEN I PUSHED MY BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. ITS LIKE I PUSHED SO HARD I OVERPOWERED THE SYSTEM. WHEN I BACKED AWAY FROM THE POLE THE BRAKES FELT FINE. I HIT THE POLE WHICH IN TURN CAUSED COSMETIC DAMAGE ALONG WITH BREAKING THE STEERING BOX BECAUSE THE TIRE HIT THE CEMENT BASE. ALSO WE FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR HAD BROKEN AT THE FLUID RESERVOIR.
NHTSA complaint #10575402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.. ..UPDATED 11/09/12 *BF UPDATED 11/14/12
NHTSA complaint #10479444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
02' CHEVY AVALANCHE 60K MILES, I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN NOV.2010 IT IS JAN. 2011 NOT MORE THEN 45 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THE STEERING IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, GRINDING NOISE, TURNING NOISE, UNBEARABLE TO DRIVE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CONTACTED DEALER TO CORRECT, DEALER HAS NOT CONFIRMED WHAT WILL BE DONE YET? THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR TYPE OF ISSUE, FACTORY RECALL TYPE OF ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10375276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS POWER STEERING PUMP STOPS WORKING AT LOW SPED. NO APPARENT PROBLEMS W/ THE PUMP NO LOOSE BELT. NEED TO REV TO 1500 RPM TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK. SEAMS TO WORK OK WHEN IT IS COLD PROBLEM STARTS WHEN VEH.. IS WARMED UP. REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE YET.
NHTSA complaint #10375336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RATTLING IN STEERING COLUMN...HAVE HAD GREASED 3 TIMES AND IT STOPS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. 2 FRIENDS DRIVE 3/4 TON CHEVROLET PICKUPS AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10370870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WAS DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MADE A CLICKING AND GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE VEHICLE OR RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED TWICE BY THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUE TO OCCUR SINCE NO REMEDY WAS AVAILABLE. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON JULY 25, 2007 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,574. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED ON JULY 7, 2009 WHEN THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,494 AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SAME PARTS EVERY 2 YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39574 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,600.
NHTSA complaint #10298549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED THE TRANSMISSION ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 16,000 MILES. WHEN THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AT 26,000 MILES. THE CURRENT AND RECENT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE TO INSTALL A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED PER THE WARRANTY. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 16,000 MILES. UPDATED 10/30/09 *BF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO BEYOND FIRST GEAR. AN INTERNAL FAULT WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE INPUT HOUSING AT THE PUMP COVER SEAL AREA. THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS INOPERATIVE. THE POWER STEERING SHUDDERED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE LINE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/30/09.
NHTSA complaint #10289348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.