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U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

897 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

79,200 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 731 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 142 of 897 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior23626.3%
Steering behavior586.5%
Transmission and shifting495.5%
Electrical and battery issues444.9%
Fuel system concerns262.9%
Engine operation182.0%

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.

Air Bags
142
Service Brakes
127
Electrical System
113
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
111
Unknown Or Other
93
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
56
Structure:Body
40
Power Train
36
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags142
Service Brakes127
Electrical System113
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel111
Unknown Or Other93
Service Brakes, Hydraulic56
Structure:Body40
Power Train36

Air Bags: 142; Service Brakes: 127; Electrical System: 113; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 111; Unknown Or Other: 93; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 56; Structure:Body: 40; Power Train: 36

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
64
25,000 to 49,999
110
50,000 to 74,999
169
75,000 to 99,999
143
100,000 to 149,999
166
150,000 and above
79
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00064
25,000 to 49,999110
50,000 to 74,999169
75,000 to 99,999143
100,000 to 149,999166
150,000 and above79

Under 25,000: 64; 25,000 to 49,999: 110; 50,000 to 74,999: 169; 75,000 to 99,999: 143; 100,000 to 149,999: 166; 150,000 and above: 79

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (169). 166 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.

2005
3
2006
47
2007
80
2008
77
2009
72
2010
77
2011
65
2012
42
2013
34
2014
62
2015
53
2016
90
2017
93
2018
56
2019
15
2020
8
2021
9
2022
3
2023
1
2024
2
2025
4
2026
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20053
200647
200780
200877
200972
201077
201165
201242
201334
201462
201553
201690
201793
201856
201915
20208
20219
20223
20231
20242
20254
20264

2005: 3; 2006: 47; 2007: 80; 2008: 77; 2009: 72; 2010: 77; 2011: 65; 2012: 42; 2013: 34; 2014: 62; 2015: 53; 2016: 90; 2017: 93; 2018: 56; 2019: 15; 2020: 8; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 236 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 49 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 10158347 · 2006-05-26 (May 26, 2006)

THE PARKING BRAKE ON MY 2002 AVALANCHE HAS CORRODED. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WANTS $500.00 TO FIX IT. GM HAS CHANGED THE PARTS, WHICH REQUIRES A COMPLETE CHANGE OF THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158347 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10160945 · 2006-06-28 (June 28, 2006)

THE "CARGO LAMP ON" INDICATOR IN THE MESSAGE AREA OF THE DRIVER INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DISPLAYED WHEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ARE ACTIVATED; BOTH OVERHEAD LIGHTS IN THE FRONT OVERHEAD CONSOLE, THE THREE GARAGE DOOR/GATE BUTTONS(HOME LINK), BOTH VISOR MIRROR LIGHTS, AND BOTH FRONT DOOR COURTESY LIGHTS(THE ONES THAT COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED). ALL OF THESE ALSO NO LONGER TURN ON THE APPROPRIATE LIGHTS WHEN THEY ARE TRIGGERED. IN ADDITION, THE SUN ROOF/MOON ROOF OPEN/CLOSE BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS EITHER, ON THE 06/25/06 IT TRIGGERED THE "CARGO L…

Owner-reported narrative. 89,926 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160945 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10220498 · 2008-03-09 (March 9, 2008)

I HAVE A CHEVROLET 2002 AVALANCHE. THERE WAS A LOT OF CLICKING AND CLACKING IN MY STEERING. I HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED AND REALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY A CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER IDENTIFIED A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET. THERE IS A LINKAGE IN THE STEERING THAT IS CATEGORIZED AS A SHAFT #19153614 THAT WAS NOT CORRECTLY DESIGNED WHEN MANUFACTURED. ACCORDING TO THE CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER CHEVY HAD TO REDESIGN THE SHAFT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY ORIGINALLY I REQUESTED GM CUSTOME…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220498 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10172368 · 2006-11-01 (November 1, 2006)

FAILURE WAS/IS INEVITABLE. PARKING BRAKE SHOES ARE POORLY SECURED, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO FLOAT INSIDE OF HAT OF ROTOR. DRIVERS SIDE HAS THE RETAINING CLIP ORIENTED (UPSIDE DOWN) WHERE THE FLOATING BRAKE SHOE IS KEPT IN CONTACT WITH HAT AREA OF ROTOR BY GRAVITY AT ALL TIMES. WHAT IS WORSE, IS THAT THE AREA OF THE SHOE HAVING NO PAD IS IN CONTACT. THIS CAUSED THE METALLIC PORTION OF THE SHOE TO GRIND OVER A 1/4" INTO HAT AREA OF ROTOR. BOUGHT NEW AND AFTER 1 MONTH, EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED, HAD TO RELY ON TRANSMISSION IN PARK. DEALERSHIP SAID I …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172368 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10219741 · 2008-02-29 (February 29, 2008)

I WAS REFUSED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION BECAUSE OF NO EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT 2002 SERIES OF CHEVROLET TRUCK HAD A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS THEN TOLD CHEVROLET DID A SILENT RECALL ON TRUCKS WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. HOWEVER I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE REPAIRS COST $525.88. ALSO I WAS TOLD TO SET THE BRAKE TO INSURE THAT IT WOULDN'T FAIL IN THE FUTURE. NOTHING IN OWNERS MANUAL TELLS YOU TO SET EM. BRAKE SO IT WOULDN'T WEAR OUT BY NOT BEING SET IN ORDER TO KEEP IT A…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,602 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219741 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10252011 · 2008-12-16 (December 16, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE ABS. THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND THE SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS ABS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL ON THE ABS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL CHEVROLET VEHICLES IN ALL STATES, NOT JUST THE WINTER STATES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10224769 · 2008-04-16 (April 16, 2008)

RUPTURE OF PLASTIC-LIKE FUEL LINES ABOVE THE GAS TANK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 42,390 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10303189 · 2010-01-29 (January 29, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 CHEVERLOT AVALACHE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED. THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 07/06/10.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10182589 · 2007-02-14 (February 14, 2007)

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND LOST POWER. THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND TOWED IT TO HIS HOME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, W3HICH FAILURE IS RELATED TO A GAS LINE SENSOR. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS IN AN AWKWARD PLACE AND IF IT BROKE THEY WERE NOT RESPONS…

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182589 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10256326 · 2009-01-26 (January 26, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2,000. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256326 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2002
0
2003
0
2004
0
2005
1
2006
1
2007
1
2008
0
2009
0
2010
0
2011
2
2012
0
2013
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20020
20030
20040
20051
20061
20071
20080
20090
20100
20112
20120
20131

2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2010: 0; 2011: 2; 2012: 0; 2013: 1

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20021540Not available
200318200
200414400
20051291+1
20063910
200711310
2008370-1
20092000
2010600
2011282+2
2012160-2
2013291+1