2005 Chevrolet AVALANCHE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
71,685 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 71 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 14.1% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 9.9% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
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 | 12 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 12; Air Bags: 9; Electrical System: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Power Train: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Steering: 4; Engine: 3
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 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2005: 6; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 7; 2010: 5; 2011: 7; 2012: 10; 2013: 10; 2014: 11; 2015: 9; 2016: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10119934 · 2005-05-05 (May 5, 2005)
7/13/03 - PURCHASED NEW 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE VEHICLE FROM PIERRE CHEVROLET IN LAKE CITY, WASHINGTON 7/28/03 - REPORTED SPORADIC LOUD CLUNK NOISES COMING FROM TRANSMISSION TO SERVICE CENTER OF SAME DEALER. SERVICE CENTER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND STATED CLUNK NOISES WERE NORMAL IN THIS TYPE VEHICLE. NOISE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND WAS REPORTED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE AND SAME SERVICE CENTER NORMAL CLUNK NOISE EXPLANATION WAS PROVIDED. 1/12/04 - TOOK VEHICLE TO TODAYSCHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER IN BREMERTON, WASHINGTON AND INSISTED THAT CLUNK NOI…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,874 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443635 · 2012-01-12 (January 12, 2012)
ON JANUARY 8TH 2012, WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE CHURCH LOT WE HEARD A CLUNK NOISE. THE "TRANSMISSION HOT" DISPLAY CAME ON. WE MADE IT HOME AT A SLOWER RATE OF SPEED AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WENT OUT. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WHEN I GOT HOME. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, BUT JUST ASKED IF I WAS TOWING SOMETHING AT THE TIME AND OTHER QUESTIONS TO WHICH THE ANSWER WAS NO. I TOOK MY AVALANCHE TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY TO GET IT CHECKED. ON THE 9TH, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT 2ND AND 4TH GEARS WERE OUT. HE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO TEAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136815 · 2005-09-16 (September 16, 2005)
WHINE IN THE REAR END OF 2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE , DEALER SAYS THEY CAN NOT HEAR IT KNOCKING OR TICKING IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149913 · 2006-02-09 (February 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING NOISE. THIS OCCURRED ON NORMAL ROADS DURING NORMAL STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135718 · 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THE TRUCK SLOWS BUT JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING THE ABS FEATURE ACTIVATES AND THE BRAKES MAKE AN ANNOYING GRINDING SOUND THEN STOPS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10417434 · 2011-08-02 (August 2, 2011)
SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO OVERWHELMING RUSTED BRAKE LINES ,ROTORS,AND CALIPER BOLTS
Owner-reported narrative. 30,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10417434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478656 · 2012-10-04 (October 4, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, THE FUEL THAT WAS BEING PUMPED INTO THE VEHICLE BEGAN POURING OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE AND FUEL SPEWED OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK, SATURATING THE CONTACT WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CANISTER AND SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501174 · 2013-03-04 (March 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE SMELLED OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND THE FUEL FEED PRESSURE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF RUST. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE LINES WERE EXPOSED AND THE ROAD SALT CAUSED THE LINES TO RUST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,370. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 75,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254102 · 2009-01-07 (January 7, 2009)
WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO STOP, MY SPEEDOMETER DID NOT ZERO OUT. WHEN I STARTED TO GO IT CONTINUED FROM WHERE IT WAS. I DID NOT REALLY KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING. SEVERAL STOPS AND EACH TIME IT DID NOT ZERO. TO GET IT ZEROED I HAD TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT ZEROED OUT. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES THIS BRINGS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE STARTER AND BATTERY. IT COULD ALSO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS YOU REALLY HAVE NO CLUE ON YOUR CORRECT SPEED. VEHICLE: 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10387888 · 2011-03-03 (March 3, 2011)
SERVICE AIRBAG CAME ON WENT TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODE OR PROBLEM. WANTED TO REPLACE AIRBAG, HARNESS, WIRING HARNESS $2700.00. AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET FOUND OVER 5,000 OTHER GM VEHICLE OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10387888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491661 · 2013-01-07 (January 7, 2013)
ON 12/22/12 @ 5PM- SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I STARTED LOSING POWER. I DIDN'T GET HIGHER THAN 50 MPH BEFORE THE RPM STARTED INCREASING & MY SPEED STARTED DECREASING. I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY, AT THE FIRST EXIT, APPROXIMATELY 2MINS AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE LOSS OF POWER. FOUND A MECHANIC THAT WAS JUST CLOSING HIS SHOP & ASKED HIM TO GIVE A QUICK CHECK TOO SEE IF I COULD CONTINUE MY DRIVE HOME, 32MINS AWAY. THE MECHANIC CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD & UNDER THE BOTTOM & GUESSTIMATED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE FLYWHEEL. THE MECHANIC ALSO RECOMM…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,316 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491661 at NHTSA ↗