2003 Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
182 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 153 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 182 complaints (25.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 57 | 31.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 4.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 47 |
| Electrical System | 38 |
| Service Brakes | 28 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 47; Electrical System: 38; Service Brakes: 28; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 20; Air Bags: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Steering: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 37 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 39 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 37; 100,000 to 149,999: 39; 150,000 and above: 19
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 27 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2006: 17; 2007: 27; 2008: 22; 2009: 14; 2010: 19; 2011: 14; 2012: 12; 2013: 11; 2014: 15; 2015: 8; 2016: 7; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 57 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10163446 · 2006-07-25 (July 25, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OUTER HUB BEARING BECAME DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE INNER HUB BEARING TO BECOME DEFECTIVE. WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT SOMETHING FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THE TIRE AND RIM CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALER DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A DEFECTIVE HUB BEARING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195535 · 2007-07-07 (July 7, 2007)
ABS PUMP MOTOR WILL NOT SHUT OFF DUE TO A FAILED ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. ABS FUSE MUST BE REMOVED TO KEEP MOTOR FROM BURNING UP. ABS SYSTEM IS DISABLED. I AM TRYING TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NEW FACTORY PART IS TO EXPENSIVE. MUST USE VEHICLE WITH FAULTY ABS SYSTEM UNTIL REPAIRED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161366 · 2006-07-04 (July 4, 2006)
I HAVE BEEN HAVING ERRONEOUS SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. IT WILL BE WORKING FINE, AND THEN GO ERRONEOUS. IT WILL GET STUCK AT 60 MPH OR HIGHER. SOMETIMES IT IS EVEN 120! THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE WHEN IT IS RAINING. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF I REMOVE THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL FROM THE BATTERY AND RESET THE COMPUTER, IT BEGINS WORKING AGAIN. I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10161366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10207705 · 2007-11-02 (November 2, 2007)
SINCE PURCHASING THIS TRUCK ON 02/01/2007, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT HAVE NOT GOTTEN RESOLVED, HOWEVER THEY DO SEEM TO GET WORSE. THE WORST OF THESE PROBLEMS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE NORTHEAST EXTENSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE THE ENGINE "SHUT OFF". I WAS DOING APPROX. 60-65 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED DURING THE AM RUSH HOUR. AFTER LOSING ENGINE POWER I SOMEHOW MADE IT SAFELY TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER AND LET T…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158780 · 2006-06-01 (June 1, 2006)
PURCHASED A USED 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE AT A DEALERSHIP IN FEB 2006 UPON SERVICING THE VEHICLE TWO MONTHS LATER WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE UNDER CARRIAGE RUST. THIS CAR ORIGINATED IN MICHIGAN BUT I AM WONDERING IF IT WAS A KATRINA VEHICLE DURING AUCTION? RECENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH U-JOINTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. GM MECHANIC SAYS THE RUST IS EXTENSIVE AND CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IT WILL NEED A LUBE KIT TO RE-LUBE ALL THE MECHANICS UNDER THE TRUCK. NONE OF THIS UNDER CARRIAGE BODY RUST WAS DISCLOSED TO US UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FACT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162165 · 2006-07-11 (July 11, 2006)
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE IT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AT APPROX. 25000 MILES . NOW AT 56000 MILES IT IS CLUNKING AGAIN. THE DEALER SAYS THAT CHEVY DOESN'T SELL THE PART ANY MORE AND THAT THEY ONLY CAN GET IT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND JUST MAKING NOISE ISN'T ONE OF THEM THEY ALSO CLAIM THERE IS NO DANGER BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE IF THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE IN THE STEERING THAT IT WON'T BE DANGEROUS. WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN GET IT REPAIRED. I'VE WORK AS A MECHANIC FOR SEVERAL YEARS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343163 · 2010-07-14 (July 14, 2010)
APROACHING A STOP SIGN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICALE AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES I FELT A POP AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. USING THE PARKINNG BRAKE AND DOWN SHIFTING BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BEFORE I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. IT IS AN AUTOMETIC. AT THE END I HAD IT IN 1ST GEAR AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION FOR THE STOP. IT IS A 2003 AVALANCH VIN# [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 145,672 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251955 · 2008-12-16 (December 16, 2008)
IN THE MORNINGS I TURN ON THE TRUCK AND IT STALLS,AND THE IDLE BOUNCES UP AND DOWN LIKE IT IS GOING TO TURN OFF. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268554 · 2009-05-12 (May 12, 2009)
ENGINE STALLS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING. UNABLE TO GET ANY RESPONSE AFTER THE INITIAL STALL (IT WOULD NOT CRACK). BATTERY CABLES MUST BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTED AFTER TWO TO THREE MINUTES IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. NO ENGINE TROUBLE CODE DISPLAYED AFTER THE INCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10394246 · 2011-04-04 (April 4, 2011)
I CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKES AND WAS ADJUSTING THEM WHEN THE REAR BRAKE LINE STARTED GUSHING OUT BRAKE FLUID. IHAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND BEFORE I FINISHED HE SAID LET ME GUESS "YOU BLED THE FRONT BRAKES AND BLEW OUT THE BACK LINE NEXT TO THE GAS TANK BE HIND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL." THIS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HE SAID ALOT OF CHEVY TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HE IS GOING TTO CHANGE THE REAR LINE. HE SAID WHERE THE LINE IS MOUNTED ALLOWS GRIT SALT AND THINGS BUILD UP IN THIS SPOTCAUSING THE BRAKE LINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394246 at NHTSA ↗