U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

28 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 28 complaints (39.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	6	21.4%
Steering behavior	3	10.7%
Transmission and shifting	2	7.1%
Electrical and battery issues	2	7.1%

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.

Air Bags

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Engine

Power Train

Structure:Body

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Electrical System: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 7 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.

2011

2012

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 10; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10399427 · 2011-05-07 (May 7, 2011)

2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE - PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKES, TRUCK WON'T STOP AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION # PE05020, CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. I WAS TOLD THE RECALL IS VIN # SPECIFIC, HOWEVER THE NHTSA ACTION DESCRIBES THE RECALL AS STATE SPECIFIC( I RESIDE IN AURORA, OHIO-SOUTHEASTERN SNOW BELT OF LAKE ERIE). THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE WORK DONE 2 YRS AFTER PURCHASE AND THE SERVICE AND REPAIR FORM STATED " REAR BRAKES CORRODED CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE ". MY COMPLAINT IS WHY WON'T CHEVY OR THE DEALER HONOR THIS RECALL WHEN IT STAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399427 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10449962 · 2012-03-01 (March 1, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE E BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 03/28/12 *BF UPDATED 03/29/12

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449962 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10451757 · 2012-03-15 (March 15, 2012)

REDUCED ENGINE POWER , ENGINE DIES NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES ALMOST REAR ENDED ON I-25. TROUBLE CODE SAYS P2135 THROTTLE BODY HAS HAPPENED 20 TIMES OR MORE IN 8 MONTHS. DEALER WHERE PURCHASED SAY THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM THEN SAID NEW WIRING HARNESS MIGHT FIX IT,KNEW THE PRICE WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP? THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF POSTS ON LINE ABOUT PROBLEM,BUT THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT.WIRING HARNESS REPLACED THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND CHECKED PEDDLE CHECKED STILL HAPPENS ,HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS. NO SOLUTION . I HAVE TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAY TO G…

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451757 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10995067 · 2017-06-14 (June 14, 2017)

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON THE TRUCK WILL SURGE WITH NO WARNING CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT TO BLACK OUT AND WOULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO STOP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WITH NO KEY AND CONTROL ON THE STEERING NOT FUNCTIONAL

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10995067 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10593395 · 2014-05-22 (May 22, 2014)

I WAS IN LINE AT A DRIVE THROUGH AT BURGER KING AND AS I PULLED UP TO THE CASHIERS WINDOW TO PAY FOR MY FOOD THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SHAKING AND LURCHING TRYING TO GO FORWARD. I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE HOW HIGH THE TACHOMETER WAS, BUT IT SEEMED TO ALMOST PEG FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON. FINALLY I JAMMED THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE. I SAY JAMMED BECAUSE IT TOOK GREAT STRENGTH TO GET IT OUT OF DRIVE. FOR ABOUT 10-15 SE…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593395 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11180729 · 2019-02-18 (February 18, 2019)

SERVICE STABILITRAC SYSTEM INDICATION COMES ON, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. HAPPENS RANDOMLY, CANNOT FIND A "COMMON CAUSE" SPENT LOTS OF MONEY ON PCM, BCM, MEMORY SEAT MODULE, BATTERY CABLES, BATTERY, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, ETC. ETC. DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN VEHICLE DROPS INTO POWER REDUCTION MODE.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180729 at NHTSA ↗