30 of the
2,473 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Avalanche
are about the doors, latches and locks —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD BECAME FRACTURED ON THE STEERING WHEEL AREA NEAR THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY DUE TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #10650461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE OIL GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY REPLENISHING THE OIL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL VALVE CONTROL MANIFOLD FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS COULD NOT RECEIVE PROPER LUBRICATION FROM THE OIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE OIL VALVE CONTROL MANIFOLD, EIGHT LIFTERS, HEADS, WATER PUMP, CAMSHAFT, AND TIMING COVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,436. UPDATED 10/30/14*LJ UPDATED 4/27/2015
NHTSA complaint #10638672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL AS THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN ENGAGING WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 09/10/2014
NHTSA complaint #10593206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL AS THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN ENGAGING WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 09/10/2014
NHTSA complaint #10593206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LEFT REAR POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 38,000 MILES. RIGHT REAR POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 42,000 MILES. RIGHT FRONT POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 53,000 MILES. DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AT 61,000 MILES. AT THIS TIME IT IS VERY UNSAFE WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK SEATS AND THE DOORS LOCK ARE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. I AM UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS UNLESS I STOP THE VEHICLE AND CLIMB THROUGH THE TWO FRONT SEATS TO GET TO THE MANUAL LOCKS LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE DOORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND ANYONE IS NOT AWARE THAT THE POWER LOCKS NO LONGER WORK THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK. PREVIOUSLY THE DOORS LOCKED WHEN THE TRUCK STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AUTOMATICALLY AND NOW IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE TRUCK THEY COULD POSSIBLE FALL OUT OF THE TRUCK IF THE DOORS OPEN WHILE TRUCK IS MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #10574212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIGHT FRONT DOOR POWER LOCK DOES NOT WORK. CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH REMOTE OR WITH INSIDE CONTROL. CAN ONLY UNLOCK/LOCK DOOR BY BUTTON ON DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10519863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER STOPPING & PUTTING IN PARK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY REPLACED THE ACTUATOR. IT WORKED O.K. FOR A WHILE & TOOK IT BACK & THEY REPLACED THE ACTUATOR AGAIN. IT CONTINUES TO NOT UNLOCK OCCASIONALLY. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR IF VEHICLE WERE TO CATCH ON FIRE. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL INCIDENTS ON THIS TOPIC BUT NOTHING FROM GM. I THINK GM SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE PAYS WITH THEIR LIFE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10493181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT CHEVROLET/GM HAS A MAJOR QUALITY PROBLEM WITH POWERDOOR LOCKS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS. ONE ONLY NEED TO GOOGLE CHEVY DOOR LOCKS TO GET AN IDEA OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM. (SEE HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F206D4B AS AN EXAMPLE). AS A FREQUENT TRANSPORTER OF SMALL CHILDREN IT IS HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. DOORS LOCK OR UNLOCK WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THESE VEHICLES EITHER EXPOSED TO RISKS OF INADVERTENT OPENING DOORS OR BEING LOCKED INTO VEHICLES AT THE TIME OF POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS WHERE THERE IS NO EASY OR SAFE WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISKS FROM RANGING FROM CAR THEFT TO HIJACKERS TO SIMPLE BURGLARY AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHETHER A DOOR IS LOCKED OR NOT UNLESS YOU GO AROUND AND TRY EACH ONE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS OR IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AND WILL NOT DO SO UNTIL THE NHTSA TAKES A PUBLIC STAND ON THE CONTINUED SAFETY RISKS THAT THESE DEFECTIVE DOORLOCKS PRESENT TO ALL WHO RIDE IN THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10491846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DOOR LOCKS WHICH I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN IT COST ME A $100.00 SHOULD BE RECALLED SAFETY ITEM. DID DRIVERS DOOR NOW PASSENGER DOOR BAD.
NHTSA complaint #10449114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED ON THREE OF THE 4 DOORS ON THIS TRUCK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO CODE P0452, WHICH IS FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR DEFECTIVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $500 TO REPAIR. SPOKE WITH MY BROTHER-IN-LAW TODAY WHO HAS A 2002 AVALANCHE AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FUEL SENSOR AND HIS REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DOOR HANDLE OF MY VEHICLE IS PLATED IN CHROME. THIS CHROME IS NOW COMING UNDONE, AND IS RAZOR SHARP.
NHTSA complaint #10448475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED. SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGING THE CONTROL MECHANISM. IN ADDITION, THE LIFTGATE WOULD NOT LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA complaint #10436869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED ON THREE OF THE 4 DOORS ON THIS CAR. THE NEITHER THE KEY FOB OR THE DOOR MOUNTED LOCKING SWITCH WILL TOGGLE THEM BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITION. YOU CAN HEAR THE ACTUATOR TRYING TO WORK BUT THEIR IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LINKAGE PREVENTING THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR IN CONVENIENCE, AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10435552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2007 CHEVY AVALANCHE LTZ. I HAVE JUST BROKEN THE THIRD EXTERIOR DOOR HANLDE, TWO HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT MY COST. THE FIRST TWO WERE THE REAR DOORS, AND NOW THE PASSENGER DOOR WHICH RECEIVES VERY LIMITED USE.
NHTSA complaint #10419263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DECEMBER 2010, WHILE JUST OPENING MY DOOR NORMALLY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE ... MY EXTERIOR DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF OF ITS MOUNT. TOOK TO A GM AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER AND IT WAS REPAIRED FOR APPROX $160.00. IT IS NOW JANUARY 21ST, 2011, JUST A FEW WEEKS LATER, AND THE SAME THING HAS NOW HAPPENED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. IF I HAD A CHILD IN THE VEHICLE WHERE THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY AND I COULD NOT GET TO THAT CHILD BECAUSE THE DOOR HANDLES BREAK THEN THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY HUGE ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A DOOR HANDLE BREAK OFF IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED OR TRIED OPENING....AND NOW 2 IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS. GM STATES IT IS NOT COVERED AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COOPERATE.
NHTSA complaint #10378126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. HE ATTEMPTED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND THE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED ON ALL 4 DOORS, INCLUDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TWICE. AFTER EACH FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10358627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE REAR DOOR SAME SIDE NOT OPENING OR CLOSING WITH THE REMOTE. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF I HAD TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY BECAUSE THE ONLY DOOR WITH A KEY LOCK IS THE DRIVERS DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10355652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
2002 AVALANCHE WITH APPROX. 40,000 MILES...CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE BACK TAILGATE. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERS REPAIR SHOP AND HAD IT FIXED AND PAID FOR IT. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH ME ON IT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT AND SO CLOSE TO MY WARRANTY EXPIRATION. NOW AT 81,000 MILES WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE BACK TAILGATE. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BREAK MY KEY OFF IN THE LOCK IF I FORCE IT TOO HARD. I HAD THE AVALANCHE AT THE SAME SERVICE CENTER FOR RECALL WORK AND MENTIONED THAT I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN..THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO FIX IT AGAIN. I TOLD THEM DON'T BOTHER.
NHTSA complaint #10146534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.