373 of the
2,473 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Avalanche
are about the braking system —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds meaning it wouldn’t go above 25 miles an hour. The entire dash would light up. It threw numerous codes. Had to be towed to get it looked at but then would mysteriously start without issue. I took it to young Buick gmc in Layton Utah with no resolution. Finally in December 2020 it was determined by now Heritage Chevrolet in Evanston Wyoming to be the Onstar module. This part was no longer available and couldn’t be replaced. The dealership’s solution was to wire around the faulty part which has allowed the truck to start and no longer go into limp mode from 70mph on highway to 20mph without notice. I immediately got a hold of Chevrolet to get a satisfactory answer about why I couldn’t get the part that was making the vehicle unsafe to drive. They said the part was no longer being manufactured and it wasn’t their problem sorry about the inconvenience Case number [XXX]. I did have the dealership wire around it so I have the truck working, but Chevrolet did not care about the truck going into limp mode suddenly on the highway and it could have caused an accident. They not not offer any compensation for the part not being manufactured and according to to your website if a part is causing a safety issue they are they are required to have that part fixed. I am still upset about their lack of support and service and want Chevrolet held accountable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11623041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was firm, and vehicle kept accelerating unintendedly. Several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty ABS module. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the vehicle was not included in a recall because he was not located in a salt State. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11554315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and oil warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer, the 4-wheel drive function, parking brake, and headlights failed to operate as needed. The instrument panel light failed to illuminate, the gear shifter did not display the selected gear, the sub-frame was corroded, and the wheel hub bearing assembly was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
NHTSA complaint #11451861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle sometimes without warning, would shut down.Yes its available for inspection. Its unsafe because of the element of surprise when suddenly finding out that the ability to control the vehicle is dangerously compromised. Specifically when trying to steer or brake effectively or even trying to get to a safe location. With no warning there is not much time to react to the situation. In spite of having a perfect driver score I become a threat to other drivers and pedestrians when my vehicle shuts down. I have had it looked at by two different local mechanics. After trying a few less expensive options its becoming more evident that its a faulty sensor. After checking to see about other owners with similar issues, I have learned that the crankshaft position sensor was often behind the problem. This is not to say, it is in my case. My point is that with it posing a safety risk why should these other owners and Im sure more to come and me have to respond after possibly being in a deadly accident when this has been a documented as an ongoing problem. As for the rest of the questions, no one other than a mechanic has looked at the vehicle. Some times there would be an indication message on the dash along with engine trouble light and nothing would happen. But most recently it twice shut down without any indicator message. Once was on the highway the other about two hundred yards before a railroad crossing.
NHTSA complaint #11444714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear brakes needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who replaced the parking brakes and the brake fluid; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the brake pedal would hesitate to respond when depressed, causing a 100-feet in stopping distance delay. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V045000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) since the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.
NHTSA complaint #11441492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL NOT WORKING CAN NOT FIND PART TO REPPLACE AS GM HAS DISCONTINUED THE PART NEEDED STEERING ANGLE POSITION SENSOR GM PART 15886733 i need this part, why is it discontinued?
NHTSA complaint #11423270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER WASHING MY 2007 AVALANCHE THE SEATBELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED AND MY BRAKES STARTED TO FLUCTUATE AND MAKE A SPRING NOISE. THIS ALL HAPPENED AS I DROVE AWAY FROM THE CAR WASH.
NHTSA complaint #11396172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 11 YEAR OLD TUCK BRAKE LINE LEAKING BADLY UNDER DRIVER SIDE WHEN I PUMP BRAKES AND FAILED TO STOP AND IT HIT MY GARAGE DOORS WHEN I GOT HOME. IT HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT. CORROSIVE AND RUSTY LINES OR SOMETHING MORE.
NHTSA complaint #11328662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN NEARING A STOP LIGHT AT EST. 15 MPH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND IT WAS LIKE STEPPING ON A ROCK. THE PEDAL DID NOT MOVE. I POUNDED ON THE PEDAL AND FINALLY HAD ENOUGH BRAKE TO STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE BRAKES WERE GOOD. THIS WAS REPEATED TWICE MORE. I TOOK IT TO A BRAKE SHOP WHERE THEY CHECKED ALL MECHANICAL FUNCTION AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY HOOKED UP THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES. DURING A TEST DRIVE THE MECHANIC UNHOOKED THE VACUUM LINE AND HAD NO VACUUM. HE FOUND THE MOTOR WAS MAKING VACUUM. BACK AT THE SHOP HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE VACUUM BOOSTER. WHEN IT WAS REPLACED THE BRAKES WORKED AS THEY ALWAYS HAD EXCEPT WHEN THEY DIDN'T WORK. NOW THAT THE BOOSTER HAS BEEN REPLACED I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM IS FIXED SINCE IT IS A RANDOM PROBLEM. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRUST THE BRAKES UNTIL AT LEAST A MONTH GOES BY WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 29000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10967914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TWO WEEKS AGO DRIVING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY IN SNOW ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND LOSE TOTAL POWER. "REDUCE POWER MODE" ILLUMINATED BUT ENGINE SHUT OFF. WE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER ON [XXX]. ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR 2 HRS IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER WAITING ON AAA (NO SHOULDER ON HWAY) AND MOTOR STARTS. TAKE IT TO GARAGE AND GET THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) CODE ANS STABILITRAK/ABS CODE. WE HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ONSTAR BUTTON A MINUTE BEFORE THIS AND MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT WAS RELATED SO HE CLEARED CODE AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. FOR TWO WEEKS WE WERE GOOD ANDIT HAPPENED AGAIN ON HIGHWAY IN RAIN [XXX] THIS WEEKEND, AGAIN IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. THIS TIME CAR STARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY STATE THE TPS NEEDS REPLACING AND FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR BROKEN. THERE IS A GM SERVICE BULLETIN #11273B WHERE GM ACKNOWLEDGES TPS ISSUE AND COVERS REPLACEMENT OF TPS FOR 2008-2011 VEHICLES. ALSO BULLETIN PIP3089B FOR BAD WIRING TO TPS FOR 2003-2006 AVALANCHES. GM DENIED MY SERVICE DESPITE THE FACT THAT A 2007 TPS AND THROTTLE BODY ARE THE SAME EXACT PART NUMBER AS THE DEFECTIVE ONE. THIS IS SUPER DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY FREQUENT AS THERE ARE 550 POSTS ALONE ON [XXX] AS WELL AS MANY REPORTS TO [XXX] PLEASE ASSIST AS THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND A DEFECTIVE AND DEADLY PRODUCT AS THE COMPUTER CUTS TOTAL POWER RIGHT ON HIGHWAY... PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10955103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, BY AT LEAST DOUBLE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CURVE OR CAR IN FRONT OF HIM THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PARKED THE TRUCK UNTIL IT COULD BE INSPECTED AND FOUND A LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. ALL OF THE MAIN BRAKE PIPES WERE RUSTED AND FRAGILE. TAKING TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALL BRAKE PIPES REPLACED WITH KIT MENTIONED IN (TSB) 13-05-22-001. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM IS FIGHTING A RECALL BY SIGHTING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BRAKE SYSTEMS AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES FOR BOTH SYSTEMS FAILED. AT THE VERY LEAST IT SEEMS THAT HAVING YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE BY ALMOST DOUBLE WITH OUT WARNING IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10855523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING MY AVALANCHE ON A HIGHWAY, AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, I PUSHED MY BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. I PUMPED MY BRAKES TO STOP AND I FELT A PULSATION AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND I COULD BRAKE. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTANTLY. I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE CHEVROLET WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10839898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LINES ARE MADE OUT OF DEFECTIVE MATERIALS GM KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM THE LINES RUST OUT PREMATURELY . THE FIRST ONE BLEW OUT I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPACE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE SECOND ONE BLEW AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT PUSHED ON THE BRAKE WENT THRU THE RED LIGHT DODGED TRAFFIC .THE THIRD ON THE INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WAS STOPPING SUDDENLY PUSHED ON THE PEDAL ANOTHER BRAKE LINE BROKE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I MANAGED TO HIT THE MEDIAN CROSS THE MIDDLE AND GET IT STOPPED BEFORE A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE TRAFFIC HEADING THE OTHER DIRECTION ON INTERSTATE 81 . THE REST OF THE UNDER SIDE IS RUST AND CORROSION FREE ONLY THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT ! .THAT BEING SAID GM HAS A REPAIR KIT WITH COATED LINES THEY ALWAYS HAVE IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY KNOW ITS A MAJOR PROBLEM !!! I GOT A REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP $1580.00 I AM REPLACING ALL STEEL LINES . PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE
NHTSA complaint #10816904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE BECAUSE OF FOUR CORRODED BRAKE LINES. ALL FOUR LINES CORRODED IN THE BRACKET HOLDING THE LINES TO THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THERE WAS INITIAL RESISTANCE AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10809980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON HAD BORROWED THE TRUCK AND WAS RETURNING IT WITH HIS 4 AND 5 YEAR OLD SONS IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS IN A TRAFFIC CIRCLE AND HAD TO BRAKE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING CAME ON AND THE TRUCK HAD NO BRAKES. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO PARK IT ON THE SHOULDER AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIR TO THE TUNE OF $1,952. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A RUSTED BRAKE LINE THAT RUPTURED AND DAMAGED THE LEFT CALIPER. WE GOT NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. IN 2012 I ALSO HAD A SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE WHILE LEAVING A PARKING GARAGE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED. NO ONE MENTIONED ANYTHING AT THAT TIME ABOUT RUSTING BRAKE LINES. ALTHOUGH THE TRUCK IS 11 YEARS OLD IT ONLY HAS 67,871 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10789227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE BRAKE LEAKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10765013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, >5MPH, THE ABS ACTIVATES AND VEHICLE CONTINUES ON TO THE POINT OF ENTERING TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, AT STOP SIGNS AND EVEN JUST PULLING OUT OF PRIVATE DRIVEWAY INTO TRAFFIC. MY LOCAL MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND INDICATED THAT A FRONT SPEED SENSOR WAS AT FAULT. AFTER INVESTIGATING NUMEROUS SITES, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM ON THE '02 AVALANCHE AS WELL AS OTHER SIMILAR CHASSIS TRUCKS FROM '99-'02. AND THESE WERE INCLUDED IN A RECALL OF OVER 1,353,700 TRUCKS UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V379000. THE REPORT STATED TO CONTACT GM AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR. WHEN I DID THAT, THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ACCORDING TO THE VIN. HOW DOES GM DETERMINE WHICH VIN IS AFFECTED? IS THE NHTSA MONITORING GM'S SELECTION PROCESS? I'VE OWN THE VEHICLE SINCE 6/05, AND THE ABOVE RECALL WAS INITIATED 9/05, BUT I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF NOTICE THAT MY VEHICLE MAY OR MAY NOT BE AFFECTED AND TO BRING IT TO A GM DEALER FOR INSPECTION. I'VE HAD ONE HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED YEARS AGO AT MY OWN EXPENSE, (I WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD BEARING BUT THEY HAD THE REPLACEMENT PART ONLY CAME ASSEMBLED AS THE BEARING, HUB AND SENSOR). THE DESIGNER MUST ALSO HAVE BEEN THE SUPPLIER. IT'S GOOD THAT THERE IS THE NHTSA TO TRY AND KEEP THESE MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CARS THEY PRODUCE, BUT WITH MORE AUTOMATION IN THE INDUSTRY TO CUT COSTS, YOU NOW HAVE 1 WORKER OVERSEEING WHAT IT TOOK 10 TO DO. MORE AND MORE MISTAKES ARE BOUND TO HAPPEN. OUR SAFETY IS WORTH MORE THEN THEIR CORPORATE JETS AND LAVISH LIFESTYLES.
NHTSA complaint #10761430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER BOOSTER AND THE ABS SYSTEM WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
NHTSA complaint #10761210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT IT TOOK A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
NHTSA complaint #10750301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.