U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet AVALANCHE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,966 owner complaints analyzed

18 distinct recall campaigns

67,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,334 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 571 of 1,966 complaints (29.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	380	19.3%
Steering behavior	109	5.5%
Transmission and shifting	85	4.3%
Electrical and battery issues	60	3.1%
Engine operation	38	1.9%
Fuel system concerns	35	1.8%

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

571

Unknown Or Other

312

Service Brakes

147

Electrical System

126

Structure:Body

121

Structure

Engine

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Air Bags: 571; Unknown Or Other: 312; Service Brakes: 147; Electrical System: 126; Structure:Body: 121; Structure: 80; Engine: 72; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 67

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

181

25,000 to 49,999

279

50,000 to 74,999

290

75,000 to 99,999

235

100,000 to 149,999

236

150,000 and above

113

Under 25,000: 181; 25,000 to 49,999: 279; 50,000 to 74,999: 290; 75,000 to 99,999: 235; 100,000 to 149,999: 236; 150,000 and above: 113

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (290). 632 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.

2001

2002

2003

2004

129

2005

144

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

104

2014

148

2015

122

2016

150

2017

212

2018

136

2019

120

2020

102

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
2001	3
2002	38
2003	79
2004	129
2005	144
2006	71
2007	51
2008	31
2009	37
2010	48
2011	60
2012	73
2013	104
2014	148
2015	122
2016	150
2017	212
2018	136
2019	120
2020	102
2021	61
2022	15
2023	16
2024	9
2025	5
2026	2

2001: 3; 2002: 38; 2003: 79; 2004: 129; 2005: 144; 2006: 71; 2007: 51; 2008: 31; 2009: 37; 2010: 48; 2011: 60; 2012: 73; 2013: 104; 2014: 148; 2015: 122; 2016: 150; 2017: 212; 2018: 136; 2019: 120; 2020: 102; 2021: 61; 2022: 15; 2023: 16; 2024: 9; 2025: 5; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 380 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 109 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 85 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 10135341 · 2005-09-05 (September 5, 2005)

GMC RECALL ABS - WHY ONLY RECALL 14 - 20 STATES???? WE LIVED AT LAKE TAHOE, CA WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR BRAND NEW AVALANCHE, AND LIVED THERE SEVERAL YEARS AFTER. WE HAVE THE BRAKE PROBLEM!! WE HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY ATTENTIVE WHEN DRIVING TO BE ABLE TO BRAKE SOON ENOUGH. OUR BRAKES ARE NO LONGER "QUICK" AS THEY WERE WHEN THE TRUCK WAS NEW. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL (UNNECESSARY) BRAKE JOBS, AND CHECKS TRYING TO MAKE THE BRAKES WORK CORRECTLY. NO DEALER HAS EVER MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM, AND ALWAYS TOOK OUR MONEY AND SAID OUR BRAKES WERE FINE!! WE W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135341 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000328 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED FIVE (5) TIMES. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 24,042 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001053 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS THE VEHICLE STALLS RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKES. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 28,366 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001053 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10017067 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

FRONT END SHAKES AFTER GOING OVER PAVEMENT JOINT OR SMALL BUMP IN ROAD SURFACE. VERY NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS OF 50 TO 55. STEERING WHEEL THEN START DOING SAME, APPLYING BRAKES MAKE IT STOP. PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE MADE COMMENT OF CONDITION. DEALER STATED IT'S A TRUCK, THAT'S HOW THEY RIDE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017067 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002621 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

TRANSMISSION/DRIVELINE FAILURE

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002621 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049490 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)

2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500 HAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THAT CANNOT BE FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. CHEVROLET SAYS IT IS "ENGINE FADE AND A STIFF SUSPENSION". IT IS A POWER TRAIN PROBLEM, PERHAPS IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS NOTICEABLE WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON AND PRONOUNCED WHEN CLIMBING HILLS OR TOWING ANY LOAD. THE DEALER (LARRY GREEN CHEVROLET IN BLYTHE CA AND CHEVROLET)BOTH HAVE OPEN FILES ON THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE SAME DEALER WAS REPURCHASED BY CHEVROLET AND THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049490 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006957 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JB VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES. DEALERSHIP CHECKED IDLE SPEED AND FUEL PRESSURE, ENGINE WIRING HARNESS JUNCTION BLOCK ASSEMBLY REPLACED. REPLACED TANK TO ENGINE RETURN. PCM REPLACED. FUEL SENDER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. IGNITION KEY WARNING SWITCH WAS INOPERATIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,840 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006957 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10059702 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)

VENTILATION SYSTEM LEAKED WATER INTO THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT, WATER BLEW OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE RADIO SPEAKERS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059702 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168632 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF THE STALLING OF MY 8.1 L EQUIPPED AVALANCHE, MOSTLY AT IDLE, SUCH AS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, DRIVE THRU'S, ETC. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS TURNING IN TRAFFIC CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WORKED, BUT ONLY RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE STALLING AGAIN, OR RUNNING TILL THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE, WHICH AGAIN IT STALLED. IT WAS SEVERAL MINUTES TILL I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS RESTARTED RIGHT…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10051383 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)

VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL FUEL TANK. MUST HOLD NOZZLED TIGHTLY AGAINST FILLER OPENING. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. THEY "FIXED" IT, BUT THE DIFFICULTY CONTINUES.

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051383 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088567 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)

GAS TANK AND FUEL SYSTEM BECAME CONTAMINATED WITH RUST AND WAS CLOGGING THE FUEL INJECTORS. CHEVROLET DEALER REPLACED 2 FUEL INJECTORS AND FUEL LINES AND CLEANED EXISTING GAS TANK. $1300 WORTH OF REPAIRS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088567 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

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

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2000