2003 Chevrolet Avalanche complaints

MY SPEEDOMETER, OIL GAUGE,GAS GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING IN THE DASH APPROXIMATELY 9 MOTHS AGO AND WE HAVE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL GM RETAILER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A CLUSTER THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC AND THAT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIEND THAT HAVE A CHEVROLET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I THINK THAT GM SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WE DID NOT KNOW WE WERE PURCHASING IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY ON MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM SAYING THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CLUSTER ON VEHICLES UNDER 75,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAD 90,000. THIS ISSUE IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY A LARGE AMOUNT OF OWNERS AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE- READ ANYWHERE FROM 20 -80 MPH WHILE AT REST THEN WOULD MOVE BACK DOWN TO 0 AFTER STARTING THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES (DROPPING 5-10 MPH PER START) NOW IT IS PEGGED AT OVER 120 MPH AND WILL NOT MOVE. *TR

GENERAL MOTORS MAILED ME A NOTICE ADVISING THAT MY VEHICLE (2003 AVALANCHE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN OCT 2003) "COULD DEVELOP A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR MORE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE NEEDLES MAY STICK, FLUTTER, OR BECOME INOPERATIVE." IT WAS ADDITIONALLY NOTED THAT "THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INACCURATE READINGS, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE." REMEDY OF REPLACEMENT WAS OFFERED FOR VEHICLES WITHIN 7 YEARS OF ORIGINAL DATE PLACED IN SERVICE OR 70,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS THIS PROBLEM IN SPEEDOMETER. MY VEHICLE HAS OVER 80,000 MILES AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REPAIR OFFER. THE CONDITION IN MINE IS EXHIBITED WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 45-50 DEGREES (TYPICALLY IN WINTER), AND BEGAN LAST WINTER. I ASSOCIATED IT WITH THE WEATHER AND DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, NOW THAT I KNOW IT IS A DEFECT, I BELIEVE GM SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT IN ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. I BELIEVE IT CAN BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE - NO SPEEDOMETER - NO FUEL GAUGE READING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY SOMETIMES AND AT OTHERS NOT AT ALL OR INACCURATELY. *TR

IT JUST BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING THE WRONG SPEED AND NOW IT DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! I AM AN MP AND HOW CAN I EXPECT OTHERS TO FOLLOW THE LAWS WHEN I CAN NOT EVEN TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING? *TR

TRAVELING AT 55 MPH AND REAR-ENDED A TOWED VEHICLE WITHOUT LIGHTS. DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. THE PROBLEM AFFECTS THE SPEEDOMETER GIVING ERRATIC READINGS. REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER READS 80 -120 MPH. OR DOESN'T REGISTER AT ALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK OR COMPLETELY STOPPED THE SPEEDOMETER READS 60 MPH. I HAVE TO TURN THE TRUCK ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT GOES DOWN TO 0. *TR

SPEEDOMETER BROKEN. CAN READ ANYWHERE BETWEEN 40 AND 120 MPH WHEN STOPPED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED I AM GOING. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETHING THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIX. *TR

FAILURE OF MY SPEEDOMETER TO WORK PROPERLY ON MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE. *TR

AT A REGULAR SERVICE INTERVAL, THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAS A BAD SEAL AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS PREMATURE SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY REPAIR DUE TO TIME ELAPSED SINCE PURCHASED WAS OVER 36 MONTHS. *TR

THE ACCESSORY LIGHTS ON MY STEERING WHEEL THAT OPERATE RADIO VOLUME, SOUCE, ON-STAR, ETC ARE NOT ALL WORKING. I WAS TOLD AT BRADSHAW CHEVROLET THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAIR ALOT OF THESE AND WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED AS RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND YOU CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT WHICH BUTTON TO SELECT. ALSO NOW THE LIGHT FOR MY MILEAGE AND ENGINE OPERATION HAS FADED OUT UNTIL I CAN BARELY READ IT. *TR

MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED REPORTING ERRORS IN SPEED AND NOW SHOWS 60 MPH WHEN PARKED AND IMMEDIATELY GOES OFF SCALE WHEN DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 30 MPH. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY ALL THE TIME. *AK

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BAD AT 42,000 MILES. AFTER READING SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, HOW DO I KNOW IF MY SPEEDOMETER IS WORKING RIGHT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 AVALANCHE AND OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY THE TACHOMETER STARTED SHOOTING UP TO 6000 RPMS, AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TICKING INSTEAD OF MOVING SMOOTHLY, AND NOW IT STAYS AT 0 ONCE I AM DRIVING FOR 5 - 10 MINUTES.*AK (1) NOT SURE WHAT LEAD TO IT.. IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING OUT OF THE BLUE (2) I CAN NOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING (3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE I HAVE SPOKEN WITH 3 PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE AND LOOKED AT FORUMS AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY GM I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY IF THIS ISNT RESOLVED AND I AM ONLY 25.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. ON APRIL 19, 2006, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW LOCKED IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER FROM CHEVROLET, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WINDOWWAS RARELY ROLLED DOWN ,AND CHEVROLET STATED THAT THE LESS THE MOTOR WAS USED THE FASTER IT CAN BECOME WORN. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT EXPLANATIONWAS JUST AN EXCUSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000. *AK

SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 Z71 AVALANCHE WORKS ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHO I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON SPEEDOMETER (INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS) FOR MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE CLUSTER AS PART OF "GOODWILL" BY GM BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MANY AVALANCHES AND OTHER GM SUVS HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS (USUALLY A BAD STEPPER MOTOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER). COST TO REPLACE CLUSTER IS ABOUT $350-$400 INCLUDING LABOR. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND HOW WIDESPREAD IT IS, I THINK THE NHTSA ENGINEERS SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND PERHAPS TELL GM THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR. I HAVE TO ESTIMATE MY SPEEDS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 58000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TALKED WITH MY CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THIS IS BECOMING VERY COMMON. GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO GET THIS FIXED. *JB

NOTICED CLUNKING IN STEERING, GMC DEALER REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROX. 20,000. CLUNKING RETURNED AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES, AND AGAIN REPLACED INTRMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT., AT THE COST OF $270. THIS IS A LOT TO SPEND EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS SO WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED IN CHEVY AND GMC PRODUCTS OF THIS TYPE (AVALANCHE, SUBURBANS,TAHOE AND YUKONS) ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE A "SAFET ISSUE", IT IS QUITE DISCERNING, AND I BELIEVE GM SHOULD PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF APPOPRIATE ACTION TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.*AK

THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLE FELL OFF MY VEHICLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED- THE HOUSING BOLTS HAD BROKEN OFF - I WAS INFORMED THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. 1 YEAR AND 3 MONTHS LATER I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY AT MY EXPENSE SINCE IT WAS OVER A YEAR I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AGAIN. HOW CAN THE SAME THING HAPPEN? THIS IS DANGEROUS AS THE LAMP AND HOUSING FELL OUT AND WERE DANGLING ON MY VEHICLE WITH A SMALL WIRE AS I DROVE, UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD STOPPED. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE Z71 WITH 59000 MILES. I NOTICED MY VEHICLE BEING VERY SLUGGISH THE DAY BEFORE. WHEN I LEFT FOR WORK, I COULD BARELY GET UP TO 50 MPH, IN ORDER FOR ME TO STAY AT 50 MPH I WOULD HAVE TO REACH 3000 RPM. AFTER I TURNED DOWN A SIDE ROAD, I COULD ONLY GET UP TO 20 MPH AT 3000 RPM. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FOR HELP. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE GASKET WAS BAD WHICH CAUSED THE CONVERTERS TO FAIL AND CLOG UP THE Y PIPE. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED WITH ONLY 59000 MILES. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY AVALANCHE. I'VE READ ON FORUMS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TYPE OF TRUCK AND YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GASKET, BOTH CONVERTERS, Y-PIPE AND THE O2 SENSORS. *JB

SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING INACCURATE SPEEDS. LATELY IT READS 55 MPH WHEN AT A STOP AND PEGS OUT AT AROUND 60 MPH. REPLACEMENT RANGES FROM $220 FOR "DO IT YOURSELF" KIT WITH OLD PART NEEDING TO BE RETURNED FOR CORE CHARGE TO $650 AND UP FROM THE DEALER. STILL HAVEN'T FIXED PROBLEM. PART IS STILL IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 Z71 AVALANCHE WORKS ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHO I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON SPEEDOMETER (INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS) FOR MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE CLUSTER AS PART OF "GOODWILL" BY GM BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MANY AVALANCHES AND OTHER GM SUVS HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS (USUALLY A BAD STEPPER MOTOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER). COST TO REPLACE CLUSTER IS ABOUT $350-$400 INCLUDING LABOR. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND HOW WIDESPREAD IT IS, I THINK THE NHTSA ENGINEERS SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND PERHAPS TELL GM THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR. I HAVE TO ESTIMATE MY SPEEDS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 58000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ REPORTS WHERE SPEEDOMETER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN 10,000 MILES. *JB

SPEEDOMETER STICKING ON 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4WD,NOTHING LEADS UP TO IT JUST DRIVING AND IT STICKS AT A CERTAIN SPEED WONT CORRECT ITSELF,TO CORRECT IT YOU HAVE TO UNHOOK BATTERY CABLES AND THEN IT IS OK FOR A WHILE UNTIL IT STICKS AGAIN,THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 4 TIMES NOW HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL TO FIX PROBLEM. THIS CAN NOT BE CAUSED BY BAD DRIVING BY OWNER OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE,THIS IS SOMETHING ELECTRONIC. *JB

AFTER PURCHASING A 2003 IN AUG, ITS NOW AT 80,000 MILES AS NOV 06, AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO CHEV, THE FUSE FOR SPEEDOMETER IS LOCATION IN DASH AND IS PART OF A CLUSTER UNIT SUPPORTING MANY INSTRUMENTATION PARTS. IT COST 550.00 TO REPLACE. I WORKED WITH CHEV FOR A MONTH TRYING TO OBTAIN A CLEAR ANSWER FOR THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY ITEM. ALL I GOT WAS 75,000 MILE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I EXPLAINED THAT IF ANYTHING, A SPEEDOMETER SHOULD WORK FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. SIX CALLS LATER AND PLENTY OF "ILL GET BACK WITH YOU", CHEV WOULD NOT STAND UP TO ANY REPAIR OR REVIEW OF THIS FAULTY ITEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER REPORTS ON THIS ITEM HAVE BE FOUND AND IF ANY RECOURSE IS AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS WITH THIS ISSUE??? THANK YOU. *NM

ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO MY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTED GOING HAYWIRE. SOME DAYS IT WORKS AND SOME IT DON'T. WHEN IT ISN'T WORKING IT WILL SAY I AM DOING 30 WHEN I AM REALLY DOING 70 OR I CAN COME TO A STOP AND IT SAYS I AM DOING 20 MPH. THIS IS A GENUINE SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DONE ASAP. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ALL HAVE SEEMED TO START OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHICH IS RIGHT AFTER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY FOR MOST OF US. MY TRUCK HAS 80K MILES ON IT AND I AM NOT ABOUT TO PAY $500 FOR A SAFETY HAZARD THAT GM SHOULD PAY FOR. *NM

SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER FAILS IN MANY OF THE GM TRUCKS, REQUIRING A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER.. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES BECAME LESS AND LESS EFFECTIVE OVER TIME. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ROTORS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED IN A SALT BELT STATE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS SHOULD WEAR OUT NOT RUST. UPDATED 10/13/06. *JB

MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE 1500 SPEEDOMETER READS 30 MPH WHEN I'M DRIVING AT 70 MPH. AFTER I STOPPED THE TRUCK, SHUT OFF MOTOR AND TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION AND RESTARTED TRUCK AND BEGAN DRIVING, SPEEDOMETER READ CORRECTLY AGAIN. LATER, SAME DAY, SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING 25 MPH WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH TRAFFIC, HAD TO GAUGE SPEED WITH TRUCKS TACH. SAME FIX WORKED AGAIN. PLEASE GO TO WEB SITE TOPIX.NET , THERE ARE 30 MORE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CHEVY AVALANCHE/TAHOE/SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER. *NM

THE VEHICLE (2003) CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE POPPING SOUND WHEN STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE POPPING SOUND IS STILL PRESENT DESPITE HAVING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR IT ABOUT FIVE TIMES. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SOUND IS IN THE STEERING BOX AREA AND IS A DEFECT WITH IT AND THAT GM IS INVESTIGATING. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IF IT CONCERNS THE STEERING BOX, I AM CONCERNING ABOUT AN (POSSIBLE)EVENTUAL STEERING FAILURE. *NM

SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DRIVING IN 40 MILES SPEED LIMIT AND THE SPEEDOMETER READS 120. SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT RESET TO 0 WHEN STOPPED. NO INJURIES, NO CRASHES BUT WITH THE SPEEDOMETER DEFECTIVE COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE INJURY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINS. THE INSURANCE AGENCY WAS ALERTED AND DETERMINED THE TIRE DELAMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP P26570R17. *AK

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENLY. BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO ONE OF THE VEHICLES SAFTEY FEATURES IT SEEMS LIKE THE TSB (050941001) FOR THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT A COMMITMENT FROM THE OWNER TO PAY FOR A DIAGOSTIC CHECK AND THEN FIGHT THEM TO PAY. *NM

2003 CHEVORLET AVALANCHE 1500 - DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSALS FAILED (FRONT GONE, REAR GOING. I HAD DEALER REPLACE BOTH) - I NOTICED THE NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK VEHICLE IN. HAD I NOT NOTICED OR COULD NOT PINPOINT THE CAUSE I MAY HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING AND IT COULD HAVE FAILED AND FAILING WHILE DRIVING ON THE THRUWAY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING AS THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVESHAFT IMPACTS THE ROAD. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN TALKING WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE FOLKS WITH WHOM I TALKED COULD NOT SAY WHETHER GM HAD A DATA BASE ON THE AVERAGE/MEAN FAILURE TIME ON THE UNIVERSALS. I WANTED TO DETERMINE SHOULD I START CONCERNING MYSELF AS I GET TO 100,000 MILES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST ME. SO I AM WRITING YOU IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER UNIVERSAL FAILURES AROUND 50,000 MILES. *JB

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE 2003 AVALANCHE WAS NOT A STANDARD TANK AND THAT THE FUEL LEAKAGE ISSUES WERE NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE GAS TANK HAD A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT CAUSED IT TO BE TOO THIN AROUND ONE OF THE SEALS. THE TANK WAS SO THIN, THAT IT COULD BE PRESSED AS IF IT WAS SOFT RUBBER. THE SOFT AREA HAD BECOME SO WEAK, THAT GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB

MULTIPLE FAILURES OF SPEEDOMETER. SOMETIMES STICKS, REPORTS INCORRECT SPEED, OR JUMPS ABOUT. PERIODICALLY WORKS FINE. NO RHYME OR REASON TO PROBLEM. DEALER - MORITZ CHEVROLET FORT WORTH SAYS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ($500), THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES, AND THAT THE ITEM IS NOT COVERED AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *NM

AFTER GREEN LIGHT AND I CROSSING MAIN ROAD NORTH ON PAXTON ST. ADVANCING AT APROX. 30 MPH A TRUCK IN FRONT STOPPED QUICKLY TO MAKE A 'U' TURN ON PAXTON AND I SLAMMED MY BRAKES AT LEAST 400 FEET AWAY BUT MY TRUCK DIDN'T STOP AND CRASHED TO THE BACK OF THE OTHER TRUCK. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR REPAIRS OF OTHER VEHICLE BUT FEARING PREMIUM INCREASE I DIDN'T CLAIM THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON MY AVALANCHE TRUCK. AS OF TODAY I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RECALL FROM GM ABOUT REPAIRS NEEDED ON MY TRUCKS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE AND BOB WATSON CHEVROLET DEALER KNOWS ABOUT MY TRUCKS DAMAGE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATES THE SPEEDOMETER REFLECTS AN INACCURATE READING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

PICK A PROBLEM. PIN FROM TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE TOO SHORT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT 8000 MILES. 4 QUARTS. LOW ON OIL WITHIN MONTH OF CHANGING. NO LEAKS AND NO EXPLANATION FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHERE THE OIL WENT. A/C FUNCTIONED IMPROPERLY AFTER TRUCK SURGED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. STILL NO EXPLANATION. REMOTE ENTRY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. INTERIOR LIGHTS PULSE WHEN TRUCK IDILING. HEATER MOTOR FUNCTIONS ACCORDING TO SPEED OF VEHICLE, SLOW WHEN BRAKING AND SPEEDS UP WHEN ACCELERATING. DRIVERS POWER WINDOW STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND STARTED WORKING THE EVENING BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. POPPING NOISE FROM EXHAUST JUST AFTER STARTING AND SHUTTING OFF. FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE RUNNING I CONTINUOUSLY HEAR COOLING FLUIDS FLOWING. SOMETIMES THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. BRAKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. ALWAYS FEELS AS THERE ISN'T ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP IN A NORMAL DISTANCE. ALONG WITH THE REMOTE ENTRY NOT WORKING THE PERSONAL PRESETS FOR DRIVER 1 MOST OF THE TIME DO NOT OPERATE WITH THE REMOTE ENTRY. I HAVE TO SELECT DRIVER 1 FROM THE INTERIOR TO ENGAGE SETTINGS. BED PLASTICS ARE FADING. BUTTONS FOR RADIO ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND RADIO ARE FLAKING. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE FIRST ONE AFFECTED THE SPEEDOMETER GIVING FALSE READINGS. REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER READS 120 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, OR COMPLETELY STOPPED,THE SPEEDOMETER READS 90 MPH. THE SECOND PROBLEM DEALS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS SHE PULLS THE FUSE TO GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE FIRST PROBLEM AFFECTED THE SPEEDOMETER GIVING FALSE READINGS. REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER READS 120 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK OR COMPLETELY STOPPED THE SPEEDOMETER READS 60 MPH. THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY WIPE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. ONE WIPER GOES LEFT AND THE OTHER GOES RIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HIT EACH OTHER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. *AK

THIS CONCERNING MY 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH 47,987 MILES. THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" STAYS ON AFTER IGNITION ABOUT 20% OF THE TIME. ADDITIONALLY ON TRIPS OF OVER 15 MINUTES IT WILL COME ON DURING DRIVING. ONCE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON IT STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WORK UP BEFORE THEY WOULD CONSIDER COVERING THE COSTS ON FIXING THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DESPITE THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES BEING VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITHOUT QUESTION. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH HE STRUCK A MEDIAN HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THREE PEOPLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE FUEL TANK BEGAN EMITTING A GAS SMELL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN HALF FULL. *TS OVER TIME SMALL PUDDLES OF GAS COULD BE SEEN UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS STOPPED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TANK HAD A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, WHICH CAUSED IT TO BE TOO THIN AROUND ONE OF THE SEALS. THE TANK WAS SO THIN IN THAT AREA, THAT ONE COULD PHYSICALLY PRESS IT DOWN LIKE SOFT RUBBER. THE SOFT AREA HAD BEEN STEADILY WEAKENING THE SEAL UNTIL IT FINALLY FAILED CAUSING GAS TO LEAK OUT OF IT. *JB

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS AND ONLY LOWERS THE NEEDLE 5 MPH FOR EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS IN YET. I WILL BE TAKING THIS IN NEXT WEEK. THE DEALER SAID WHEN I CALLED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THEY WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT TO VERIFY THAT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE AVALANCHE AND THE SILVERADO PICKUPS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON, HE HAS TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO TURN THEM OFF.*AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS AND ONLY LOWERS THE NEEDLE 5 MPH FOR EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. DEALER HAS SEEN SEVERAL IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. NEEDLE MOVES WITH A JUMPING MOTION AND DOES NOT MOVE SMOOTHLY AS IT DID BEFORE. DEALER QUOTED A COST OF $500-$600 TO REPLACE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS NOT A USUAL ITEM THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE REPLACED IN VEHICLES. AS SEVERAL HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY ONE DEALER (RELIABLE CHEVROLET) IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS, NOT ONLY WITH THE AVALANCHE, BUT OTHER SILVERADO MODEL TRUCKS, REQUESTING RESEARCH ON MANUFACTURER DEFECT FOR RECALL. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILGATE WHEN LOWERED HAS A TWO EDGED HOOK PROJECTION ON EACH SIDE THAT IS SHARP. ON 7-15-05 HIS GRANDDAUGHTER JUMPED OFF THE TAILGATE AND SCRATCHED HER LEG ALONG HER THIGH; A 8-10"LONG SCRATCH. *AK *NM

DT: THE CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW SPEEDS. HE STATED THAT ON CURVES WHEN SLOWING DOWN BRAKES FAILED. THE CALLER HAD PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED A MONTH AGO. HE SAID THE REAR ROTORS WERE MORE WORN OUT THAN THE FRONT ROTORS. RECALL 05V379000 ON ABS BRAKES WAS ISSUED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO MODEL YEAR. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S FAULT, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD CALL MANUFACTURER, AND HAVE THEM GET IN CONTACT WITH DEALER. THE CALLER HAD A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT AT A STOP SIGN. *AK

DT: WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY MELTED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY. THE CONSUMER CONSULTED THE DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NO RECALLS WERE INVOLVED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SERVICE SHOP, AND THEY REPLACED THE OLD BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE. THE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. A FRIEND SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING AGAINST AC DELCO BATTERIES. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS AN AC DELCO FACTORY BATTERY. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. *AK

DT: 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FADED AT 25000 MILES. WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC THEY WILL GO TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL BRAKES FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ANY INJURY OR ACCIDENTS. THIS STARTED ON JUNE 15, 2005.