Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500 with NHTSA between 2007 and 2015.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 3 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 — 19
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Avalanche 2500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 94
18.2% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 93
55% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2004 compares with every other Chevrolet Avalanche 2500
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
872.7%
2 crashes, 0 fires · median 15,800 mi
Other & Unspecified
19.1%
Median failure at 240,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
19.1%
Median failure at 49,870 miles
Electrical System
19.1%
Median failure at 30,842 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
19.1%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
436.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
327.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
218.2%
150,000+ miles
19.1%
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.
Jul 2007peak 2Nov 2015
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 15,800 milesOntario, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I FILED A COMPLAINT LAST WEEK, AND READ WHAT WAS WRITTEN TODAY. THE INFO THAT WAS PUT IN YOUR SYSTEM IS INCORRECT, THE ODI NUMBER IS 10305220 THE VECHICE DOES NOT STOP SHORT, IT TAKES ALOT LONGER TO STOP, AS THE BRAKES FAIL DURING ANTI LOCK FAILURES ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DO TO NOT STOPPING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10307397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,800 milesOntario, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES GOES OFF WHEN THE SURFACE IS DRY. VEHICLE IS STOPPING SHORT BEFORE IT SHOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS AND CONTACT HAS TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,800. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. UPDATED 06/14/10.
NHTSA complaint #10305220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 68,000 milesNEW Lenox, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE FAILURE. I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ABS ACTIVATED AND I WAS NOT SLOWING. THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC SO I LUCKILY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO RUST. BRAKING ABILITY WITH ONLY THE REAR BRAKES ACTIVE WAS VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT AND THERE WAS NO WARNINGS ON THE DISPLAY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION INTO GM BRAKE LINES WAS DISMISSED.
NHTSA complaint #10807079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 240,000 milesST. George, UT
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE A/C ON SUDDENLY THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTS BLOWING HOT AIR WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL BLOWING COLD AIR. IF I PUT THE AVALANCHE INTO NEUTRAL TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RE START THE ENGINE IT WILL SUDDENLY START BLOWING COLD AIR AGAIN - IT IS HAPPENING QUITE A BIT MORE FREQUENTLY AND I HAVE READ ON SOME AVALANCHE FORUMS OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AS WELL. WHEN ITS 100+ DEGREES OUTSIDE THE AIR NEEDS TO WORK THE HEATER I CAN DO WITHOUT DURING THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10776042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,999 milesEast Haddam, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) BRAKE FAILURE CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500 VIN [XXX] , MODEL YEAR 2004 DUE TO CORROSION AS DESCRIBED BY GROSSMAN CHEVROLET SERVICE MANAGER BRENT TURCHI ( ROTTED AND LEAKING BRAKE LINE ) - OWNER [XXX] BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR - MR. TURCHI ADVISED THAT BRAKE LINE FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS MODULE ROTTED AND LEAKING - EVENT HAPPENED AT UNDER 50,000 MILES SINCE LINE IS BUNDLED WITH ALL OTHER FRONT LINES IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE 2 LINES FROM MASTER TO BAS, LINE FROM FRONT ABS TO LEFT FRONT AND FROM ABS TO RIGHT FRONT , BLEED AND REPLACE FLUID $608.28 CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #10331849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,800 milesOntario, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I FILED A COMPLAINT LAST WEEK, AND READ WHAT WAS WRITTEN TODAY. THE INFO THAT WAS PUT IN YOUR SYSTEM IS INCORRECT, THE ODI NUMBER IS 10305220 THE VECHICE DOES NOT STOP SHORT, IT TAKES ALOT LONGER TO STOP, AS THE BRAKES FAIL DURING ANTI LOCK FAILURES ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DO TO NOT STOPPING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10307397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,800 milesOntario, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES GOES OFF WHEN THE SURFACE IS DRY. VEHICLE IS STOPPING SHORT BEFORE IT SHOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS AND CONTACT HAS TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,800. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. UPDATED 06/14/10.
NHTSA complaint #10305220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,800 milesOntario, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BEGIN PULSATING, TRIPLING YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10301707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,800 milesOntario, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BEGIN PULSATING, TRIPLING YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10301707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,500 milesMedina, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE ENGAGING DURING STOPS ON DRY ROADS. CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10286883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,000 milesOntario, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
POOR BREAKING AT 8500 MILES. DEALER TURNED FRONT ROTORS. POOR BREAKING AGAIN AT 9500 MILES, DEALER REPLACED REAR PADS AND ROTORS. BREAKING ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AS STOPPING DISTANCE WAS ABOUT 3 TIMES NORMAL. GM WOULD NOT COVER 2ND REPAIR. FRONT PADS WERE STILL GOOD, AND TRUCK DRIVEN GENTLY ABOUT 200 MILES PER MONTH. I BELIEVE INFERIOR STEEL USED IN MANUFACTURE, AND ALL SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10229742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,870 milesMedina, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2500 AVALANCHE. MAIN FUEL TANK OR LINES ARE LEAKING. THIS IS A 2004.
NHTSA complaint #10215066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,842 milesCamp Verde, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDO AT 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN STOPPED. INCREASES FROM THERE WHEN MOVING. CAN NOT TELL CORRECT SPEED. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 03 TO 06 CHEVY VEHICLES. WARRANTY UP ON VEHICLE DUE TO AGE NOT MILES. DEALER SAYS COST IS OVER $500.
NHTSA complaint #10196027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.