52 of the
2,473 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Avalanche
are about the steering —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
The Dashboard has cracked and broken in several places and I believe this to be directly as a result of the steering wheel column and moving the steering wheel tilt positions. You could hear a cracking when moving the steering wheel position and then a sound like a bolt or something dropping inside. After this happened there was a crack immediately above, perpendicular with the steering wheel in the plastic bent portion of the dash and since that time I have noticed the steering wheel seems to shift some even when you aren’t attempting to tilt it and the dashboard is cracking in several places now. This vehicle has never been left outside of the garage. It has been driven as a secondary, leisure vehicle and is in excellent condition so please don’t say this is normal. This is a result of something that occurred after hearing the snapping sound after the steering wheel was being tilted.
NHTSA complaint #11477931 — 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.
DASH CRACKED HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION, NOW THE STEERING ANGLE POSITION SENSOR IS NOT WORKING CAUSING THE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL TO SHOW A CODE..
NHTSA complaint #11404146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE STREET. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT COULD NOT BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO VERA CADILLAC (300 S UNIVERSITY DR, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33025, (954) 998-1684) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,693.
NHTSA complaint #11245009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
4"TAKATA RECALL" THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE WITH A SET OF CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC LL TIRES ON IT. WHILE PULLING OFF IN THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH YOU COULD FEEL THE BACK END SHAKING AND WOBBLING LIKE THE LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE THE SHAKING ISSUE WHERE WAS FOUND THAT THE TIRES TREAD WAS SEPARATING MAKING HUMPS AND WAVES IN THE TREAD. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 92,207 MILES ON VEHICLE AND 7, 319 MILES ON 265/70R17 CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC LL TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL GETTING TIRES TO REPLACE THE CAPITOL TIRES BUT ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TO REPLACE THE TIRES THE FRONT HAD STARTED TO SHAKE JUST LIKE THE BACK AT 92,221 MILES ON THE VEHICLE BUT NOT AS MUCH. WALMART CHANGED THE TIRES AND THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THE TIRES WERE REALLY BAD WITH TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AND ALSO THAT THIS BRAND TIRE WERE RECALLED. I HAVE TAKEN THESE TIRES BACK TO TIRE PROS WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND NOW IS AWAITING THEM TO SEND THESE TIRES BACK TO THE TIRE COMPANY FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF THE TIRE. THE RECALL # IS 14T013-8570 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
NHTSA complaint #10854512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHILE UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE CONTACT'S ATTENTION BY THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE BRACKET ON THE RACK AND PINION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10809690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 10/13/2015 I TOOK MY AVALANCHE TO GALLES CHEVROLET , ALBUQUERQUE, NM FOR REPAIR OF A CRACKED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND FAULTY L/R DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. I PICKED IT UP ON 10/15/2015. WHILE PARKING THE TRUCK ON 10/17/2015 I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS NO POWER TO LOCK THE LOCKS WITH THE KEY FOB. IT WAS AS IF THE BATTERY I HAD HAD REPLACED NEW ABOUT 6 WEEKS PRIOR SUDDENLY WENT DEAD. THEN I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE IN THE DOORS/LOCK ACTUATORS AND SUDDENLY THE BATTERY POWER WAS RESTORED. I NEXT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON NEW MEXICO HWY 485 ON 10/25/2015 ONLY WORSE. WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MILES AT SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 35-50 MPH THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED THE DOORS NUMEROUS TIMES, THE AIRBAG, STABILATRAC, AND ABS SENSOR ALARMS KEPT ACTIVATING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY DISENGAGED MANY TIMES AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. WHEN WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND IMMEDIATELY LOST BATTERY POWER AND HEARD THE SAME CLICKING NOISES IN THE DOORS AND NEEDED A HOTSHOT FROM ANOTHER DRIVER TO GET RESTARTED. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME IN THE DARKNESS WITH ALL EQUIPMENT AND LIGHTS WORKING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ON 10/26/2015 I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER INCIDENT OF SUDDEN SENSOR AND LOCK ACTIVATIONS AND ALARMS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND THE HWY. THIS WENT ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN STOPPED. I HAD THE BATTERY, CHARGING SYSTEM AND FAULT CODES CHECKED BY A FIRESTONE MECHANIC 2X ON 10/26/2015 BUT NO FAULTS WERE FOUND IN THE COMPUTER AND THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM CHECKED OUT GOOD. THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT THE ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION WAS THAT THE BATTERY OR ONE OF THE COMPUTER MODULES WAS SOMEHOW LOSING ITS GROUND CONTACT BUT HE CHECKED EACH OF GROUND CONTACT WIRES AND FOUND EACH SECURELY CONNECTED. I WILL TRY TO TAKE A VIDEO OF THESE EVENTS IF IT OCCURS AGAIN .
NHTSA complaint #10786178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE OTHER DAY I STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I TURN RIGHT (OR LEFT IN REVERSE) AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND MY STEERING IS AFFECTED. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO REPORT IT. I DON'T FEEL IT IS FAIR THAT AS THE CONSUMER THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. I ALSO DON'T FEEL ITS FAIR TO HAVE TO SPEND UP $400 WHEN ITS ALL SAID AND DONE EACH TIME THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10725848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOST COMPLETE POWER OF CAR. COULD NOT STEER, OR BRAKE. HAPPENED IN SNOW. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS HAPPENED 5 OTHER TIMES. 3 IN THE LAST WEEK WITH THE SNOW AND RAIN. THERE IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE. HAVE RESEARCHED THIS FOR MONTHS AND THERE ARE MANY AVALANCHE OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10693257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS DRIVING MY AVALANCHE THE STABILITY TRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL TURNED ON MY TRUCK REDUCED POWER TO HALF AND IT PULLED RIGHT. I DROVE INTO LOTS OF DIRT AND MY BRAKES WERE AFFECTED TOO. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2007 AVALANCE STABILITRAK TRACTION CONTROL TURNING OFF INTERMITINGLY. I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES ON THIS ISSUE AND I AM STILL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS STARTED OVER A YEAR AGO AND WHEN BRINGING IT IN FOR SERVICE THERE WERE NO CODES FOUND FOR THIS PROBLEM. TODAY AFTER PICKING UP MY TRUCK ONCE AGAIN AND PAYING THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE REMOTE CONTROL DOOR LOCK RECEIVER BEING ONE OF THE CODES SHOWING THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE PART REMOVED WAS STILL GOOD. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE CHEVY DEALER HAS NO CLUE ON HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. EVERYTIME I START MY TRUCK EVEN SITTING AT IDLE THE BELL STARTS CHIMING AND THE TRIANGLE SIGNAND THE WARNING READS SERVICE STABILITRAK THEN SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL (OFF) ACTIVATES WITHIN A FEW MINIUTS. THIS KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF AS I AM DRIVING AND WHEN ITS IN THE OFF POSITION THE TRANS SHIFTS GEARS VERY HARD. LOOKING TROUGH THIS FORUM I CAN SEE THAT THIS HAD BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE PAST WITH 2003 AND UP AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUTTHIS ISSUE WITH THEIR TRUCKSBUT I HAVE NOT COME ACROSS ANYONE WHO CAN GIVE THE ANSWER ON HOW TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. DOSE ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM OR HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM WITH AN ANSWER.
NHTSA complaint #10664460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I REPLACED THE TIRES ON MY 2008 AVALANCHE ,GOT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND NOW WHEN I DRIVE IT I HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND . I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND IT SAID THAT MANY CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING SHAFT ON THESE TRUCKS.
NHTSA complaint #10658927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 2004 IT SOUNDS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. IT MAKES A NOISE LIKE ITS LOOSE. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS STURDY IT'S JUST UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL IT SOUNDS LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10629236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OR CONTROL, WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP ALLEGEDLY FIX THE PROBLEM, WE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING (CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL) AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP OR SKIP GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE TO BUSY TO HELP US. ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DEFECTS CAUSED MY HUSBAND TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND ULTIMATELY FLEW OFF THE ROAD AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER (ROLL OVER).
NHTSA complaint #10604372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MOISTURE. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN SNOW. TRAVELING AROUND 55 MPH WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF SNOW ON THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK STALLED. AT THAT TIME, I ALSO LOST STEERING ABILITY AND BRAKING ABILITY. TRUCK WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO MECHANIC. REAL ISSUE NEVER FOUND. BASICALLY DRIED OUT AND STARTED AGAIN (2) DAYS. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING RAIN. WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE AT 40 MPH AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. TOWED AGAIN AND STARTED RIGHT UP THE NEXT DAY. THIRD INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, APRIL 25, 2013 WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM. DID NOT HIT ANY WATER JUST STALLED ON IT'S OWN. AGAIN, STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED FOR A THIRD TIME. TALKED TO CHEVROLET THIS MORNING THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE BUT I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS AND IT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY FOLKS.
NHTSA complaint #10584804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A VERY LOUD POP EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10522096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 95,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION EXPLODED, REPLACED. 1 YEAR LATER, BRAKE LINE EXPLODED, LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID, ALL 4 BRAKE LINES REPLACED AS THEY WERE NOT MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND HAD RUSTED. 6 MONTHS LATER, DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS ALL WORN, AFFECTING STEERING, DIFFERENTIAL AND RELATED PARTS ALL REPLACED. ALL EXPLOSIONS TOOK PLACE WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS, NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, THANK GOD! MECHANIC (FRIEND OF MINE) SAYS HE NEVER SAW ANY CAR WITH AS MANY BAD PARTS AS MY AVALANCHE! I ALSO THANK GOD I BOUGHT IT USED. AMERICAN ENGINEERED CARS HAVE SUCH BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN THAT I NEVER BUY THEM NEW.
NHTSA complaint #10509997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE HWY IN GEORGIA, THE STEERING WAS HARD TO CONTROL/LOCK, THE TIRE SLED, WAS RUST AND CORRODE ON STRUCTURE, BRAKE AREA, WHEEL AREA, FRAME, TIRE BROKE OFF, ALMOST FLIPPED AND WAS HIT FROM THE BACK, AND TWICE IN THE FRONT AFTER SLAMMING INTO A CEMENT DIVIDER AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL, I INJURED MY LEFT SIDE, NECK, BACK, AND HIP. BLESSED THAT MY PREGNANT DAUGHTER IN HER 8TH MONTH WASN'T IN THE TRUCK WITH ME. I HAD DONE MULTIPLE REPAIRS ON THE FUEL TANK, TIRE ROD, KNOCK SENSOR, ABS BRAKES, RUNNING BOARD,BRAKES,ROTORS, ETC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RUST ON THE FRAME WON'T EFFECT THE TRUCKS PERFORMANCE AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME GOOD. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE AND TWO OF US GOT INJURED. IF THESE TRUCKS ARE HAVING AND BEEN HAVING THESE ISSUES- WHY DO THEY JUST PULL ALL OF THEM AND GIVE PEOPLE OTHER OPTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10497946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE AND, SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING ON THE INSIDE. I HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT CHECKED REGULARLY AND THE ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN SPECS AND THE SUSPENSION WAS WITHOUT DEFECT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP, TO THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT AT CHEVROLET AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND THAT WAS A CAUSE FOR THIS CONDITION. RECENTLY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK ITS SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE CUPPING ON THE INSIDE. THE DEALER SHARED A TSB WITH ME INDICATING THAT THIS CONDITION WAS NORMAL. I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AGAIN AND THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR ANY ACCOMMODATION FOR THIS. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE DESIGN THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE BUT CHEVROLET IS DENYING THIS. PLEASE HELP AS I HAVE FOUND THIS CONDITION TO ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10434288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SUDDENLY LOCK WITHOUT WARNING PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10386843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2003 AVALANCHE WITH APPROX.113000 MILES. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN A MINI SHOPPING CENTER I WENT TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME. I COULD NOT MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I THEN PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND CRANKED IT BACK UP AND MY STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKED. ON THAT FRIDAY WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 264E COMING OF EXIT MY STEERING LOCKED AGAIN. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE BEHIND ME, AND I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING AT TWO DIFFERENT SPEEDS. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS? THIS IS SO DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10368825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.