Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–113 of 113

2007 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2007 record →

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Dec 5, 200718,000 milesAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF THEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000.

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Oct 19, 200710 milesCA

THE LINEAR POSITION OF DOORS ARE IRREGULAR,THE FRONT FENDER IS BEYOND USUAL MEET. THE PLASTIC STRUCTURE OF THE BACK IS NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BODY.THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES WHICH IS A HAZARD AT NIGHT, ANYONE CAN MISTAKE THE FLICKERING AS THE CARS CHANGING LANES WHEN NOT THE CASE. SINCE THE DOORS ARE NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED THE WIND,DIRT AND MIST OF WATER, BYPASSES THE WEATHER STRIP. THERE IS OVERSPRAY ON BLACK EXTERIOR PAINT. SINCE IT WAS UP ON A RAMP THE DEALER SAID THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEE THE INSIDE OR TEST DRIVE WAS IF I GOT PRE-QUALIFIED ,THAT ENDED UP BEEN MY SALES CONTRACT! WHEN THE TRUCK WAS LOWERED DOWN THEY GAVE ME THE KEYS AT 7PM WHICH WAS DARK IN THE FALL, SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH. REPAIRS TO THE FUEL PUMP, DISTORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE BODY DEFECTS,REAR-VIEW MIRROR, LOUD SQUEALING BRAKES,THE HANDLES OF THE DOORS THAT HAS PEELED AND THE STEERING WHEELS INNER FACES HAS ALSO PEELED. THE STABILIZER LIGHT CAME ON WHEN MY FUEL PUMP WENTOUT AND SINCE THEN IT DOES NOT STABILIZE THE CHASSIS WHEN IN CONTACT WITH NATURAL HAZARDS SUCH AS RAIN, SAND,S NOW AND ANY TYPE OF UNEVEN TERRAIN. MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARS PERIODICALLY, ALTHOUGH MY TIRES ARE INFLATED WITH NITROGEN. MY RIGHT TAIL-LIGHTS LINEAR POSITION IS IRREGULAR, BUT NORMAL ON THE LEFT SIDE.MY BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD ON MY ONCE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MY GAS CAP INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO COMES ON PERIODICALLY AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED A COUPLE OF TIME. MY PASSENGER FRONT DOORS FRAME HAS A MALFORMAT

Electrical System
Filed Sep 11, 200715,000 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS FAILURE AND HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL DAYS BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TO DATE, THE VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED A NEW BATTERY, A NEW FUEL TANK SWITCH, ALL THE LOCKS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND A REPLACED CLUSTER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB UPDATED *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 9, 200733,856 milesGA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 70-75 MILES A HOUR, PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE PASSING GEAR ENGAGED, THEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE TRUCK GOT UNDER 40 MPH YOU HAVE NO DRIVE GEAR ONLY 1,2, OR 3RD GEAR WILL GET YOU MOVING. VEHICLE LOST 4TH GEAR.*JB

Power Train › Axle AssemblyFire
Filed Aug 27, 200712,832 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE AND BLACK SMOKE THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWING A TRAILER AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER FOR THE TRAILER. HE NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE REAR AXLE, WHICH THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT A DEFECTIVE PINION SEAL CAUSED THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY SYNTHETIC REAR AXLE FLUID. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE FUEL TANK, TRAILER, TAILGATE AND DRIVER SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,832. UPDATED 01-16-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR AXLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE GAS FILLER TUBE WAS ALSO BURNED. THE VEHICLE HAD 1800 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. UPDATED *JB

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody ShieldsCrash
Filed Aug 21, 200710,900 milesFL

OUR NEW 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT (NOT OUR FAULT) AND IT SUSTAINED FRAME DAMAGE. AFTER USING A GM DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO OUR VEHICLE AND RETURNING IT THREE TIMES IT STILL WAS RETURNED TO US IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHICH PUT OUR FAMILY IN A POTENTIALLY POSITION WHICH COULD OF CAUSED ANOTHER CRASH AND INJURY OR DEATH. WE DECIDED TO GET OUR VEHICLE PUT ON ANOTHER FRAME MACHINE FOR ANOTHER OPINION. THE MEASUREMENTS WERE REPORTED TO BE NOT WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS AND MEASURE AS FOLLOWS. THE FRAME HAS VISIBLE DAMAGE. THE FRONT SECTION OF THE FRAME IS SWAYED TO THE RIGHT. JUST BEHIND THE FRONT BUMPER MOUNTS THE FRAME RAILS ARE SWAYED 12MM. TO THE RIGHT. AT THE CONTROL ARM MOUNTING POINTS, THE FRAME IS ALSO SWAYED 15MM TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO RE-FRAME THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN BATTLING WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND ROGER DEAN CHEVY WITH SEVERAL CERTIFIED LETTERS ABOUT PUTTING OUR FAMILY IN AN UNSAFE POSITION AND THEY DISREGARD OUR POSITION AND BLAME EACH. THIS LEAVES OURSELVES AND THE PUBLIC IN A SITUATIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH OR WORSE IF WE CHOOSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH THESE DEFECTS. I CAN NOT BELIEVE A GM REPAIR FACILITY COULD GET AWAY WITH SUCH REPAIRS. NOT ONLY ONCE, TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THEIR ATTENTION TO NO AVAIL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THEIR REPAIRS AND THE VEHICLES THEY SEND OUT ON OUR STREETS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Aug 18, 200748,000 milesTN

THE SPEEDOMETER IS SPORADICALLY MALFUNCTIONING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME THREE TIMES AND SOMETIME THE SPEEDOMETER WILL REGISTER AS HIGH AS 30 MPH WHEN I AM STOPPED OR SHOW ABOUT 70 WHEN I AM DOING ABOUT 40. THEN AFTER A DAY OR TWO IT WILL START TO WORK AGAIN. I SEE WHERE MANY OTHERS HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT. *TR

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Filed Jul 25, 2007OK

STEREO VOLUME CUTS DOWN RANDOMLY WHEN LESSONING TO LOCAL STATIONS AND SPEED CONTROLLED VOLUME TURNED OFF ON SINGLE DISC AND 6-DISC CHANGER SYSTEMS. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN ON BASE MODEL STEREOS. CHEVY SAYS THAT THE NEW SYSTEMS PICKUP THREE SIGNALS OF A STATION AND PLAYS THE STRONGEST ONE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS PLAY THE STRONGEST ONE AND SWITCHED IN THE MIDDLE OF SONGS CAUSING THE VOLUME DROP. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINS, BUT CHEVY IS NOT CURRENTLY PLANNING ON FIXING THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THE CUSTOMER HAS TO LIVE WITH IT. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 11, 200727,673 milesGA

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 27,000 MILES. OLD PART REFERENCED AS SUN GEAR OR SPRAG GEAR BREAKAGE BETWEEN 4-WHEEL DRIVER TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION. PART FAILED UNDER ACCELERATION NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE GEARS EXCEPT PARK. VEHICLE COULD NOT MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER. PART IS UNDER BACK ORDER AND WILL TAKE AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME TO FIX. OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. GM WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

Seats
Filed Mar 22, 2007800 milesKS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE VEHICLE SEATS SIX PASSENGERS. WHEN SITTING IN THE CENTER FRONT SEAT THE PASSENGER'S KNEES MUST BE POSITIONED TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO OCCUPY THE ALLOTTED SPACE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING CONCERN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 800.*AK UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Mar 1, 200730 milesTX

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BATTERY GOING DEAD, MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SAY WHAT IS CAUSING PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND WHAT IS CAUSING IT. BEEN IN SERVICE 30 DAYS AND OVER 7 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WILL NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. *NM

Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems
Filed Jan 29, 20072,284 milesWY

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT THE RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE BY CHEVROLET WAS 30 PSI, WHILE THE TIRE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 44 PSI. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS CHANGED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HANDLED BETTER AT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CHEVROLET'S RECOMMENDED PSI WAS UNDER INFLATION OF THE TIRE. *AK UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint
Filed Aug 9, 200615 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR HEAD REST DID NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE REAR PASSENGERS. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - ADJUSTMENT OF THE REAR HEAD REST COULD NOT BE MADE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. WHEN RAISING THE HEAD RESTS TO THEIR MAXIMUM POSITION THEY DO NOT LOCK IN PLACE. ANY PRESSURE FROM THE PASSENGER'S HEAD CAUSED THE REST TO DROP TO IT'S LOWEST POSITION, CAUSING THE PASSENGER'S HEAD TO HIT THE REAR WINDOW. *NM

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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