61 of the 202 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche are about the electrical system — 30% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,800 miles.
61
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING OR IN PARK THE TACHOMETER STICKS AS DOES THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS HAS LASTED FROM MINUTES TO DAYS. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO RUN PROPERLY, HOWEVER, I AM VERY LEERY OF MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10716262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ALL MY CLUSTER GAUGES FROZE...I WAS PARKED AND IT STILL SAID I WAS GOING 40MPH...HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL? NO CLUE HOW FAST I WAS GOING,NOR HOW MUCH FUEL I HAD...WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SOMETHING.
NHTSA complaint #10701963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS ISSUED A RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK SPECIFIC TO MY VEHICLE ABOUT A BLOWER MOTOR OPERATION MALFUNCTION. IT STATED THAT SETTINGS ON THE BLOWER MOTOR MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR OR HEAT I HAVE SETTINGS FOR 5 BLOWER MOTOR OPTIONS. ALL THE SETTINGS 1-4 WORK JUST FINE, SETTING 5 DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. WHEN I SET HVAC TO SETTING 5 NO AIR BLOWS OUT. I HAVE SINCE THEN MISPLACED THAT RECALL NOTICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS RECALL CAN YOU PLEASE GET IN CONTACT WITH ME THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10629010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY TRUCKS SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK AND WONT WORK. ITS STAYS AT 0 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10628496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGES DID NOT DISPLAY THE CORRECT INFORMATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ UPDATED 5/7/2015
NHTSA complaint #10616894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WAS DRIVING AT A RATE I THOUGHT WAS AROUND 65-70 MPH BUT GOT PULLED OVER FOR GOING 84 MPH. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 68 MPH. HE THEN SHOWED ME THE RADAR GUN AND IT SAID 84MPH. WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY TRUCK I NOTICED MY GAUGE WAS STUCK ON 18MPH I SHOWED THE OFFICER AND LUCKILY HE TOLD ME HA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS CHEVY TRUCK AND LET ME OFF WITH JUST A WARNING. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE ALL GAUGES DON'T WORK NOW. I'VE READ SOME MESSAGES ONLINE AND SOME PEOPLE SAID THEY GOT LETTERS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS TRUCK SINCE MAY 2004 AND NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10575542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH TO SEE WHAT CAUSES A SPEEDOMETER TO GO OUT AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEEDOMETER TO GO OUT ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE. MOST PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AROUND 30,000 MILES. IT WOULD BENEFIT CONSUMERS IF THIS PROBLEM WERE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10492956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER READOUT STUCK AT 40MPH WHILE VEHICLE PARKED. IF DRIVEN CONTINUES UP FROM THERE AND STICKS. NEXT DAY SPEEDOMETER RESOLVED ITSELF AND RPM GAUGE IS STUCK ON 6 WHEN IT SHOULD BE READING 2-3, ITS' BEEN STUCK FOR TWO MONTHS STILL.
NHTSA complaint #10483635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HOT. THE COMPONENTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ILLUMINATED AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WIRES HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RADIO BECAME VERY HOT AND MELTED THE CD INSIDE OF THE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR A NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT NOT THE INSTALLATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
NHTSA complaint #10460905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TRANSFER CASE BUTTONS ONLY LIGHT UP OCCASIONALLY BUT IT MIGHT BE THE NEUTRAL BUTTON THAT LIGHTS UP OR SOMETIMES THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE BUTTON. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS PEGGED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GUAGE. YESTERDAY MY RADIO QUIT WORKING DOES NOT EVEN LIGHT UP.
NHTSA complaint #10453322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN DRAMATICALY IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON. WHEN STOPPED THE SPEEDOMETER MAY STICK AT ANY MPH OTHER THAN ZERO.
NHTSA complaint #10449221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGES HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT STATED HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE HOW FAST HE IS DRIVING AND DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,600.
NHTSA complaint #10447890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING ALWAYS SHOWING EMTY SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY SENSOR LIGHT KEEPS COMMING ON AND OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10444736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING NORTH ON 95 AT 70 MPH ..NOTICED TACH WAS A 6000 RPM'S.AND SPEED WAS 0 MPH ...PULLED OVER SHUT DOWN TRUCK...RESTARTED ..SAME RESULTS...TRUCKED SEEMED 2 RUN FINE...SO PROCEEDED HOME ...WITH NO SPEEDOMETER...AND A TACH STUCK AT 6000...GOOGLED TROUBLE SHOOTING...AVALANCHE...AND HERE I AM ...RECALL SITE ...I LOVE THIS TRUCK...CAN U FIX IT 4 ME.....[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10436678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING AT ALL READS OVER 120 MPH EVEN WHEN TURNED OFF. ALL WINDOWS GET STUCK WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10430310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRST THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING AND THE LATEST IS THE FUEL GAUGE.
NHTSA complaint #10408901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
FIRST THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING AND THE LATEST IS THE FUEL GAUGE.
NHTSA complaint #10408901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER ON 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE SPEED ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY IT GOES WHEREVER IT WANTS WHILE DRIVING, THE VOLTAGE GAUGE STAYS ON 9. THE TACHOMETER DOES NOT WORK RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10397428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2004 AVALANCHE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE HAD A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10355415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT DISPLAYING THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE SERVICE LIGHTS WHICH TELL HIM IF THE VEHICLE WAS A 2 WHEEL DRIVE, 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL WHEEL DRIVE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #10341881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY SWITCHING GEARS AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNLESS THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE WATER PUMP FAILED COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THE CONTACT CANNOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE UNLESS SHE CLIMBS OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SPEEDOMETER ONLY DISPLAYED 10 AND 20 MPH WHENEVER IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,965 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,323.
NHTSA complaint #10315737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. ALSO NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS FOR CHEVROLET ON THIS 2004 AVALANCHE.
NHTSA complaint #10268729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2004 AVALANCHE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER READ COMPLETELY INACCURATE. EXAMPLE=SHOWS ME GOING 120MPH AND 3000M RPM WITH MOTOR OFF. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM A CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT HAD WARRANTY REMAINING. WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT WARRANTED. I LACKED THE MONEY FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT BROKEN. NOW I AM FINDING OUT THROUGH OTHER AVALANCHE OWNERS THAT IT HAS BEEN BEING FIXED BY DEALERS AT NO CHARGE AS THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I KNOW MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 110,000 MILES, BUT I CAN DOCUMENT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTES ON A TICKET I RECEIVED LAST YEAR THAT I HAD THE PROBLEM ABOUT 30,000 MILES AGO. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. THEY TOLD ME WHEN I CALLED THAT THEIR PARTS DEPT HAD A LONG WAITING LIST FOR THE REPLACEMENT PANEL SO YOU KNOW ?CHEVROLET KNEW THEY HAD A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THANK YOU. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU. ALSO AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME MY ABS/BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AFTER I DRIVE A FEW MILES. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS AS COMMON OF A PROBLEM OR RELATED TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROBLEM OR NOT.
NHTSA complaint #10263788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS AND FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A NAVIGATION SYSTEM THAT WOULD READ THE TRAVELED SPEED AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER WOULD DISPLAY OVER 100 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED AND THE OIL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. MOST OF THE GAUGES AND COMPONENTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON THE VEHICLE TO ASSIST AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT OVER $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10259391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING. SPEEDOMETER READINGS FROM 100KM PER HOUR TO 200+ KMS PER HOUR. SPEEDOMETER NEVER RETURNS TO ZERO.
NHTSA complaint #10258906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWING INACCURATE SPEED ON MY 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHILE I WAS SLOWING FROM 55MPH TO 45 MPH DO TO A REDUCE SPEED AREA, THE VEHICLE SLOWED BUT THE SPEEDOMETER SAID AT 55MPH. IT STAYED AT 55MPH EVEN WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED, WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND STARTED MOVING AGAIN THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO MOVE UP TO 60MPH WHEN I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. I SPED UP A LITTLE MORE AND THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBED MORE. I SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP AND THIS TIME THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED AT 60MPH WHILE I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. I TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK HOME AS I COULD NOT LEGALLY JUDGE MY SPEED AND AS I PROCEED TO TRAVEL AT MY BEST ESTIMATE 50-55 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBED UP PAST 120MPH. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED 65 MPH. I OPENED THE HOOD, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND LET IT SIT UNCONNECTED FOR APPROXIMATELY HOUR AND THEN RECONNECTED THE BATTERY. THIS DID NOT HELP, THE SPEEDOMETER STILL SHOWED 65MPH. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING, THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE I HAVE OVER 40,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 400 DOLLARS FOR A NEW CLUSTER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF INADVERTENTLY SPEEDING AND THUS GETTING ONE OF THOSE NICE DRIVER AWARDS FOR SPEEDING. PLEASE HELP RESOLVE THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10258637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE ON MY 2004 AVALANCHE SURROUNDING THE INEFFICIENCIES WITHIN MY DASH BOARD. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING INCORRECTLY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE ACCURATE SPEED WAS NOT REPORTING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THIS REPLACED AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. RECENTLY, THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK AND TAKING A ROAD TRIP THE GAS GAUGE IMMEDIATELY REPORTED AN EMPTY GAS READING. THE GAS GAUGE CONTINUES TO READ INCORRECTLY AND FLUCTUATES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A SERVICE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE UP TO ABOUT 70,000 MILES. CURRENTLY MY TRUCK IS AT 86000 MILES ALL DUE TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC TO WORK (30 MILES EACH WAY). I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD EXPENSE THIS COST SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY A FACTORY ISSUE. REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE VEHICLE IF IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT IT SHOULD BE COVERED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I COULD RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTING AS THIS DEPICTS THE QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE. MY FATHER HAS BOUGHT NOTHING BUT CHEVROLET'S OVER THE YEARS AND STATES HOW EFFICIENT THE VEHICLES ARE. IN ADDITION I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD ONCE FROM THE FIRST INCIDENT SURROUNDING THE SPEEDOMETER TO HAVE RECEIVED ANOTHER DEFECTIVE DASH BOARD SURROUNDING THE GAS GAUGE.
NHTSA complaint #10255066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO WORK AT ALL SPEEDS. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES. HE FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO TRAFFIC TICKETS AND A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,800.
NHTSA complaint #10254030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO WORK AT ALL SPEEDS. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES. HE FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO TRAFFIC TICKETS AND A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,800.
NHTSA complaint #10254038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH MY SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO READ 120 MPH. I CONSIDER IT A DRIVING HAZARD (SAFETY) WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN TRAFFIC. VERY DISTRACTING. WHEN I INVESTIGATED ON-LINE I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT. THE COST FOR REPAIR IS OVER $400 AND SHOULD NOT BE BOURN BY THE CONSUMER FOR A KNOWN DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10253351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.