2009 Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
72,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 20 complaints (45.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 15.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Air Bags: 9; Unknown Or Other: 7; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Structure: 2; Engine: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2011: 3; 2013: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10389858 · 2011-03-11 (March 11, 2011)
09 CHEVY AVALANCHE THE DRIVE SHAFT OR BALL JOINT WAS UNDERSIZED BY 5/1000 TO MAKE THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFT CORRECTLY/THUS CAUSING SLACK WHICH MAKES NOISES FROM A JAR TO SOUNDING LIKE YOU WERE HIT IN THE REAR. 3 TIMES TO DEALER--3/30/10 AT3,788 MI, 10/28/10 W/8,185 MI TO3/3/11 W/14,000 MI. THEY TELL ME NOW ITS NO FIX, BUT HAS 100,00 MI WARRANTY. IT IS GETTING WORSE AND COULD FINALLY TWIST AND BREAK WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT W/ BODILY HARM,IT IS GETTING MUCH WORSE AND AFFECTS LATE 08 MODELS THRU 2011. A CERTIFIED LETTER SENT ON 11/22/1…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,788 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440346 · 2011-12-18 (December 18, 2011)
I WAS DRIVING TO A CHURCH FUNCTION WITH MY WIFE AND ABOUT 30MPH UNDER ACCELERATION, MY TRUCK STARTED LUGGING LIKE IT WAS IN 6TH GEAR. IT STARTED SHAKING THEN THE TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN ABOUT 500 RPM'S. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND LOOKED GOOD. I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRIP TOMORROW MORNING AND NOW I AM STUCK. I TOOK IT FOR ANOTHER DRIVE TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED AND IT DOES. I PUT THE CRUISE ON ABOUT 60MPH AND THE TRUCK WAS BUCKING AND THE RPM'S WERE GOING CRAZY. I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY M…
Owner-reported narrative. 134,475 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862212 · 2016-04-29 (April 29, 2016)
MY TRUCK HAS 2 MAJOR CRACKS ON THE DASH THAT JUST APPEARED WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE JULY 2013. ONE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT ON THE DASH AND CRACKS FROM MY DISPLAY BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECOND CRACK IN THE DASH IS IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGERS SEAT AND RUNS INTO THE AIRBAG. ALL GM MODEL SUV/TRUCKS FROM 2007-2013 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS ISSUE. IF EITHER OF MY AIR BAGS HAVE TO DEPLOY, WE COULD GET KILLED BY THE SHARP…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194959 · 2019-04-09 (April 9, 2019)
MY 2009 AVALANCHE LTZ HAS A DASH THAT HAS CRACKED COMPLETELY IN HALF, PLUS IS CRACKING ON THE AIRBAG PASSENGER SURROUND. MY CONCERN OTHER THAN SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS IS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE DASH PIECES LODGE THEMSELVES BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DASH HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR DAMAGED BY THE OWNER IN ANY WAY, AND THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION I HAVE NOTICED THIS DEFECT IN EVERY TRUCK OF THIS TYPE. PLEASE HAVE AN AGENT CONTACT ME IF ADDITIONAL INFO…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002731 · 2017-07-02 (July 2, 2017)
MAJOR DASH CRACKING ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DASH HUMP. 3-4" CRACK ON THE LEFT OF THE HUMP, APPROX 6-8" ON THE RIGHT. ANOTHER CRACK STARTING AT THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH, GOING THROUGH THE DASH MOUNTED SPEAKER OPENING FROM THE FRONT VENTS ALL THE WAY TO THE WOOD TRIM ABOVE THE RADIO (6-8"). ANOTHER CRACK TO THE FRONT LEFT OF THE AIRBAG, APPROX 2" LONG. RATTLING ON EVERY LITTLE BUMP. I BELIEVE THIS HAS ALSO COMPROMISED SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THAT CONTROL THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS. SEVERAL OF THE CRACKS WER…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002731 at NHTSA ↗