2011 Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 10593573 · 2014-05-23 (May 23, 2014)
WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD EVEN WHEN BRAKE IS BEING APPLIED. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO ENGINE SURGE AS IT DOES WITH SUDDEN GEAR CHANGE AS IF THE VEHICLE IS SPEEDING UP FROM A STAND STILL. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT (WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO PARKING SPACE) AND HIT A BRICK COLUMN. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND PERSONS WERE ABOUT TO WALK ACROSS ROAD SCARING THEM AND ME! THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10630254 · 2014-09-02 (September 2, 2014)
THERE A DEEP GASH/CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT STARTS AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF PASSENGER AIRBAG! VERY CONCERNED AFTER I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE INSTANCES OF THIS ON GM VEHICLES 'ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THE COMPLAINTS DATE BACK TO 2006. ALSO NOTING THAT MOST EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 24-48 MONTHS AFTER NEW VEHICLE OWNERSHIP, THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND A SAFETY PROBLEM! #1 IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS EITHER FROM NECESSITY OR RANDOMLY DUE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE DASHBOARD BEING COMP…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,640 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669442 · 2015-01-01 (January 1, 2015)
AT @4000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AND #1 SPARK PLUG WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THE PLUG & OIL. AGAIN ABOUT ANOTHER 4000 MILE IT DID THE SAME THING. THEY REPLACED THE VALVE GUIDE SEALS, THAT STOPPED THE SPARK PLUG FROM GOING BAD, BUT I HAVE TO PUT A QUART OF OIL IN IT EVERY 3,000 MILES. A VEHICLE USING SYNTHETIC OIL SHOULD GO ABOUT 7,500 MILES OR MORE. THAT MEANS TWO QUARTS OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. THEY CLAIM WITH GENERAL MOTORS THAT IS ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A N…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683629 · 2015-02-16 (February 16, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND MY TRUCK SUDDENLY WENT FROM 45MPH TO 20 MPH AND THE MOTOR BEGAN TO MISS FIRE AND BUCK. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEONE FOLLOWING ME THEY WOULD OF HIT ME IN THE REAREND DUE TO THE SUDDEN SLOWING OF MY VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,256 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683629 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V643000 · Suspension:Rear:Axle:Spindle
Reported: 2010-12-17 (December 17, 2010)
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V007000 · Suspension:Rear:Axle:Spindle
Reported: 2011-01-06 (January 6, 2011)
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗