2011 Chevrolet AVALANCHE: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY MAKE THE VEHICLE SURGE FORWARD QUICKLY. IF I NOT JUST AS QUICK TO APPLY A FIRM BRAKE I RISK HITTING THE CAR OR PEDESTRIANS NEAR ME WHICH HAS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASION. ON ONE OCCASION, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD SO FORCEFULLY THAT IT CAUSE THE FRONT LEFT BUMBLE TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE PLANNED PATH AND HIT A BRICK COLUMN. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN SITUATIONS WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN, I.E. MAKING TURNS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, PARKING, ETC. IT…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515326 at NHTSA ↗

AT TIMES WHEN MY AVALANCHE IS SLOWING DOWN (CLOSE TO A STOP) THE TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION (DOWNSHIFTING?). ALMOST LIKE A SURGE OF ENERGY UNEXPECTEDLY PUSHES THE TRUCK FORWARD. IT DOES CATCH ME OFF GUARD AT TIMES, BUT LUCKILY I HAVE NOT STRUCK ANYTHING WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT RATHER INTERMITTENTLY. I AM HOPING THAT GM CAN FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND POSSIBLY ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10533370 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE BEGAN TO NOTICE WHEN SLOWING DOWN (FOOT OFF THE GAS AND COASTING WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, OR BRAKE APPLIED) AT ANY AREA WHERE MY SPEED DECREASES TO LESS THAN 15 MPH THAT MY AVALANCHE WILL SEEM TO SORT OF LUNGE FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS I BELIEVED IT WAS RELATED TO ME AND IGNORED IT. THE NEXT COUPLE OF TIMES I EXPERIENCED THIS I THOUGHT THERE MAY BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE GAS OR ENGINE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS (WHO OWN THE SAME YEAR MODEL AVALANCHE AND SUBURBAN - THE SUBURBAN AND AVALANCHE ARE MADE FROM THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,146 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543618 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LTZ AND AT TIMES WHEN THE TRUCK DOWN SHIFTS IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I REALLY NEED TO HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE TRUCK FROM POSSIBLY HITTING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IN FRONT OF ME. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME AND IT'S RATHER RANDOM. I FEEL THAT IS WORSE THEN IT HAPPENING ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL, BUT I FEEL A FIX IS DEFINITELY IN ORDER. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552388 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CONSTANTLY VIBRATING. IN ADDITION, A CRACK WAS VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DASHBOARD NEAR THE AIR BAG HOUSING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554806 at NHTSA ↗

FIRST FEW MONTHS EXPERIENCED TRUCK LUNGING FORWARD WHILST ATTEMPTING TO STOP. EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH SERVICE DEPT. THEY STATED NATURE OF THE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. MARCH 2013 CALLED GM SERVICE #[XXX] AFTER EXPERIENCING ON HIGHWAY @ 65 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING AS I APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN RPM'S JUMPED TO 4500 AND ACCELERATED. 3/21/13 MILEAGE 24,565 WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP NO CODES WERE FOUND. WAS REFERRED BY GM TO TECH SPECIALIST 3/26/13 @ [phone removed] EXT. 32664 TOLD TO GET SECOND OPINION THEN COMPLETELY IGNORED BY GM FOR FOLLOW UPS. AP…

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596991 at NHTSA ↗

DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING EVERYWHERE. AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE HARD PLASTIC DASH, AFRAID IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY THAT IT WOULD SEND SMALL PIECES OF CRACKED HARD PLASTIC AS PROJECTILES. DASH IS ALSO CRACKED AROUND IN DASH SPEAKER, AND BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631217 at NHTSA ↗

CHROME DOOR HANDLES FELL OFF.I READ THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE CHROME HANDLES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 53,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637795 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

Consequence: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.