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 2003 record →
DRIVING TO WORK. DRY CONDITIONS. HAD 4-5 CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN ME AND CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH. TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP. ABS DID NOT COME ON AND WHEELS DID NOT LOCKUP. I REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER AT ALL. BRAKE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. TRUCK JUST SLOWLY SLOWED DOWN. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *NM
DT: THE REAR WINDOW WAS REFLECTIVE AS IF IT WAS A MIRROR. WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE ON THE BACK WINDOW, IT REFLECTED FORWARD INTO THE CONSUMER'S VIEW. THIS HAPPENED NOT ONLY WHEN BACKING OUT BUT ALSO WHEN DRIVING. THE WINDOW SURFACE WAS VERY REFLECTIVE. THIS WAS EVIDENT IN DAY OR NIGHT. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER/ MANUFACTURER. *AK *JB
PREMATURE EMERGENCY (PARKING BRAKE) FAILURE. *JB
ON 3/23/04 WE PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, VIN: [XXX], WITH 13067 MILES ON IT FROM JERRY HAGGERTY CHEVROLET, GLEN ELLYN, IL. OVER THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 6 & 7, 2005, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING THE TRUCK WHICH BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE USED. ON 8/12/05 I DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AT WHICH TIME AN EVEN LOUDER NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN USING THE BRAKES. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR THE BRAKES TO BE CHECKED ON 8/17/05 AT BILL JACOB'S CHEVROLET, PLAINFIELD,IL. THE TRUCK HAD 25,000 MILES. THEY DETERMINED THE TRUCK NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AND A RIGHT SIDE ROTOR AND QUOTED A PRICE OF $400.00. IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED WARRANTY WORK EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SEEN BRAKES FAIL WITH AS LITTLE AS 10,000 MILES. WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH A SECOND COMPANY, MIDAS, WHO STATED THIS WAS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH GM TRUCKS WHERE THE BRAKES RUST AND FAIL PREMATURELY. MIDAS AGGREED TO REPLACE BOTH REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AT OUR COST OF $340.00. *AK UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
BRAKES FAILED, ALMOST SLIDE INTO CROSS WAY TRAFFIC. TOOK INTO 2 DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITIES( FIRESTONE & MERLIN BRAKES) THEY BOTH INFORMED ME THAT ALL 4 ROTORS WERE RUSTED ENTIRELY THROUGH FROM INSIDE OUT, MY TRUCK IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. I TRIED TO GET THE MANUFACTURE TO COVER THE COST OF THE ROTORS BUT THEY REFUSED AND INFORMED ME THAT THE ONLY ITEMS TO RUST ON MY CAR WAS CAUSED BY THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE 2 PEOPLE I SPOKE TO WERE OF NO HELP, VERY RUDE AND WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE. ( MICHELL BALYKEO AND STEVEN SCHWAUSCH). I HAVE JUST BEEN TURNED DOWN TODAY AND WILL TRY TO HAVE MY TRUCK REPAIRED SHORTLY. *JB
DT: CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON 7-25-05 CONCERNING SEAT BELTS. NO RECALL NUMBER WAS AVAILABLE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, AND COULD NOT REACH ANYONE BY TELEPHONE. SHE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HER SHE COULD BRING CAR IN THE NEXT MORNING AND PICK IT UP BY LUNCH TIME. SHE DID NOT THINK THIS WAS ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THE RECALL LETTER SAID IT SHOULD ONLY TAKE 15 MINUTES TO DO THE REPAIR WORK. SHE FELT SHE WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR IN ON 7-27-05 AT 10:00 AM. *AK
FAILURE OF FRONT CROSS MEMBER BEAM, EXCESSIVE NOISE(POPPING AND GRINDING)AND PREMATURE WEAR. FAILURE OCCURED AT 25000 MILES.PER CHEVROLET, THE PERSCRIBED FIX IS TO INSTALL HARDENED WASHERS AND GRIND AND POLISH FRICTION POINTS. THIS HAS BEEN DONE, YET PROBLEM CONTINUES. DEALER HAS TOLD ME THIS IS COMMON TO THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION BUT THEY CAN DO NO MORE AS CHEVROLET DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
THE REAR WINDOW IN MY AVALANCHE) I WAS WASHING MY TRUCK AND TOOK OUT THE REAR WINDOW TO CLEAN IT AND I NOTICE THAT THE RUBBER THAT IS AROUND IT, IS TOTALLY CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND IN THE OTHERSIDE ITS STARING TO CRACK MY QUESTION IS DO I HAVE TO CHECK WITH OTHER AVALANCHE OWNERS TO SEE IF THATS ONLY ON MINE OR DEPENDS ON HOW MANY LETTERS ABOUT THIS YOU RECIVE.
DT:THE TAILGATE LATCHES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY ,AND THAT IS WHAT IS CAUSING TAILGATE TO FALL DOWN AND WEAKENING OF THOSE CABLES.*AK
I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY TURN SIGNALS AS HAS BEEN LISTED IN THE RECALL OF 305,729 SUV LISTING THE 2003-2004 GMC ENVOY, OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA & ISUZU ASCENDER. BUT MINE IS NOT LISTED. I HAVE A 2003 AVALANCHE. I FEEL SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THE FULL SIZE SUV'S AND TRUCKS.
WHEN IGNITION KEY IS IN ACCESSORY POSITION AND VEHICLE IS IN PARK, THE BRAKE/SHIFTER INTERLOCK IS DISABLED, ALLOWING THE SHIFTER TO BE ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IF THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLOPE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTS FREEWHEELING DOWNHILL.*AK FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT...
WINDSHELD WIPERS WILL NOT RESPOND TO SWITCH. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY GM SERVICE MANAGERS THAT GM GOT A BATCH OF BAD MOTORS. I'VE TRIED THE 800-222-1020 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD TOUGH OUT OF WARRENTY. MY STEERING COLUMN HAS A CLICKING VIBREATING NOISE AND FEEL WHEN TURNING. I'M TOLD AGAIN BY THE SERVICE MGRS. THAT A NUMBER OF GM PRODUCTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE."IT'S A LUBERCATION PROBLUM CAUSING THE NOISE AND AGAIN TOUGH. THE WIPER MOTOR COSTS $325.00 AND THE STEERING COLUMN ANOTHER $300.00. MY CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD WITH 93000 MI. THE SPARK PLUGS ARE SUPPOST TO LAST 100,000. WHY IS EVERY THING ELSE FALLING APART? I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SEND ME A LOYAL CUSTOMER DISCOUNT FOR A NEW GM NO WAY. I'LL BUY A TOYOTA TUNDRA NEXT TIME IF I CAN'T GET SOME RESTITUTION FROM GM. *AK
WHEN IT RAINS THE MID GATE AREA BECOMES FULL OF WATER. THE WATER THEN ENTERS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO RETRO-FITTED THE MID GATE AREA. AFTER THE DEALER SERVICED IT THE WATER CAME INTO BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.*AK
I PURCHASED A CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2003 MODEL IN JUNE OF 2003. SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD CRACKING NOISES COME FROM THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON AT LEAST 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CROSSMEMBER. THEY NEEDED TO REDRILL AND TIGHTEN THE CROSSMEMBER AGAIN. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TODAY (2-16-05) AND SEEN AT LEAST 20 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM CHEVY AVALANCHE OWNERS. MODELS RANGING FROM 2002 UP TO 2005. OBVIOUSLY GENERAL MOTORS HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOW A SAFTEY RISK AS IF IT COMES LOOSE IT CAN INJURE OR KILL OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.*AK
INTERIOR BLOWER MOTOR SHORTS OUT CAUSING SMOKE TO FILL THE CABIN, THIS IS THE SECOND MOTOR THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED IN MY 2003 AVALANCHE. *NM
SERVICE 4WD COMES ON AND TRUCK REVERTS TO 2WD, DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED A FEW TIMES UNABLE TO CORRECT. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN ICY ROADS WITH NO NOTICE. *NM
"ELECTRICAL POWER SURGE" IS WHAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED IT. BLOWS HEAD AND FOG LIGHTS ON A REGULAR BASIC. I HAVE REPLACED THEM 6 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *NM
ENGINE USES 1 QT PER 2K MILES OF ENGINE OIL, ACCORDING TO DEALER THIS IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT IF NOT NOTICED OR CHECKED IT COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. I WOULD HAVE NOT BOUGHT THE TRUCK IF IT SAID "ENGINE BURNS OIL". *NM
PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH ONSTAR SYSTEM. PAID OVER 800 DOLLARS FOR A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT WORK IN ALASKA ACCORDING TO THE DEALER I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. I CAN'T USE THE SYSTEM IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION " WHICH HAS HAPPENED" I HAD TO FLAG SOMEONE DONE WITH A CELL PHONE AT 40 BELOW ZERO WEATHER. *NM
THE REAR PASSENGER STEP USED FOR ASSISTANCE NEAR THE BUMPER BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK
PREMATURE WEAR OF EMERGENCY BRAKES ON A 2003 CHEVROLET AVANLANCHE 1500. THE BRAKE IS NOT USED AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE BRAKES WORE OUT. MY REGULAR BRAKES JUST AT 28700 MILES JUST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE BACK BUT NOT THE FRONT. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE ALMOST LIKE NEW. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. GM JUST SAYS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. IT COST ME ABOUT $150 DOLLARS(REQUIRED FOR INSPECTION) TO FIX THOSE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO WEAR OUT. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY WEAR AS EMERGENCY BRAKES. GM SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN IT EITHER. CAN YOU HELP ME AND INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM? BASICALLY I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. SO MAYBE I SHOULDN'T USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT ALL. SINCE THEY CAN'T PROVE WHAT'S WRONG THEY WON'T HELP ME. SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCUSE NOT TO FIX WHAT'S WRONG. MAYBE IT'S JUST A WAY OF CAUSING THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO PAY MORE AT SERVICE/INSPECTION TIME. A SCAM!*AK
2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH HARSH AND SUDEN UNEXPECTED DOWN SHIFTS. DEALER HAS ATTEMPED REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. WHEN SLOWING IN TRAFFIC OR FOR A TURN THE TRANSMISSION WILL DOWNSHIFT HARD AND CLUNK AND BANG AS IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON SLIPPERY ROADS WHILE MAKING A TURN AS IT COULD CAUSE A SPINOUT. LAST CALL FROM DEALER THE SERVICE MANAGER READ TO ME A TSB FROM CHEVROLET SAYING THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION AND NOT TO ATTEMPT A REPAIR. NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE BEEN AN AUTO TECH FOR 38 YEARS. I FEEL THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR INSTEAD OF 2ND WHEN SPEED DROPS JUST BELOW 20MPH. THIS JUST MAY BE A SHIFT PROGRAM PROBLEM, BUT WHAT DAMAGE IS BEING DONE TO TRANSMISSION OVER LONG TERM? *AK
I AM HEARING A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM MY REAR WHEEL, I TOOK MY Z66 INTO THE SHOP AND HE SAID THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 50000 MILES ON IT. THE BEARINGS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED THAT SOON. *JB
AIR BAGS DO NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE IS BEING TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE POWER STEERING MADE A SQUEALING NOISE. THE RUNNING BOARDS FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE 4X4 LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLUID LEAK IN THE ENGINE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER 7.5 MONTHS OF HAVING REPAIRS DONE ON HIS VEHICLE THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO CLASSIFY IT UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TC
TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING GROWLING AND WHINING NOISE WHILE ATTEMPING TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR, THEN STARTED SLIPPING IN 4TH GEAR.SHIFTING WAS ALSO STIFF OR HARSHER THAN WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS. I TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS DISMISSED AS THEIR COMPUTER DID NOT RECORD ANY TROUBLE CODES. 1 WEEK LATER, AND ONLY 65 MILES TRAVEL DISTANCE, BOTH 2ND AND 4TH GEARS COMPLETELY FAILED, CAUSING A COMPLETE OVERHAUL AND REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 14, 700 MILES ON IT WHEN PROBLEM SURFACED. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NO KNOWN PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE.*AK
THE STEERING GEAR BOX APPEARS TO BE LOOSE, VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY ARE GETTING REPAIRED BUT THOSE OUT OF WARRANTY ARE NOT. WHEN I HAD THE TAILGATE HINGES REPLACED, THE DEALER EXPLAINED WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK BUT COULD NOT REPAIR IT. IT'S A NERVE RACKING VIBRATION WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AND FEELS LIKE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF.*AK
1. LOOSE STEERING: INETMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, 2. IT HAS NOT FAILED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT WAS TWISTED. 3. PART WAS STRAIGHTENED OUT, AND A NEW REPLACEMENT PART WAS ORDERED. AS OF THIS WRITING THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE SAME PART. IT HAS BE OVER 30 DAYS. *AK
2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, DRIVING DOWN ROAD SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE IS LOCKED IN ALL WHEEL DRIVE, OR 4 WHEEL DRIVE.LIGHT HAS COME ON 6 TIMES, DEALER HAS INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE SO FAR.*AK
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. *JB *SC
VERY LOUD POPPING, CLANKING, SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER WITH NO RESOLUTION.*AK
ALL GAUGES, WARNING LIGHTS,RADIO, AND HEAT/AIR CONTROLS START CHANGING ON THEIR OWN ,QUIT WORKING AND DON'T WORK PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. DEALER HAVE REPLACED ALOT OF WARNING SENSORS, REPLACED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TWICE, FUEL SENDING UNIT,CHECKED ALL THE MAIN GROUND POINTS OF WIRING. DEALER HAS THE OLD PARTS. I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY ARE STILL NOT FIXED. *NM
I WAS REMOVING THE RUBBER MAT IN THE BED OF THE 2003 AVALANCHE TRUCK TO CLEAN IT. TO REMOVE THE MAT YOU MUST FIRST REMOVE THE PLASTIC TRANSITION PLATE AT THE FRONT, JUST BEHIND THE REAR SEAT. TO REMOVE THIS PLATE YOU MUST SLIDE YOUR FINGER UNDER IT TO POP IT UP. AS YOU SLIDE YOUR FINGER UNDER IT YOU WILL SLICE YOUR FINGERS ON THE RAZOR SHARP PLASTIC. I SLICED MY FINGERS TO THE BONE, THE CUTS SHOULD HAVE HAD STITCHES BUT I BUTTERFLY BANDAGED THEM. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AS OF YET, BUT I THINK FILING DOWN THE SHARP EDGE WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *JB
ON SEPT 5TH 2004 WHILE PARKING MY VEHICLE IT LOST POWER AND VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I WAS UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE. UPON CHECKING THE ENGINE I FOUND THAT THE BATTERY HAD EXPLODED AND I FOUND THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE HAD COME OFF COMPLETELY ALONG WITH THE BATTERY TERMINAL. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT I BOUGHT ANOTHER BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE. I AM JUST WORRIED THAT IT MAY OCCUR AGAIN. HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING SIMLILAR OCCUR WITH OTHER VEHICLES LIKE MINE? I HAVE KEPT THE OLD BATTERY AND WILL CONTACT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE ON 9-7-04, DUE TI HOLIDAY I WAS UNABLE TODO ANYTHING ELSE. *AK
THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO SHAKE WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MESSED UP. THE DEALER FOUND LOTS OF METAL IN THE PAN. REBUIT THE BROKEN PARTS @ 15,000 MILES NOT A NEW ONE JUST REBUILT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 CHEV AVALANCHE DOWN A HILL I REALIZED THAT WHEN I STEPPED ON MY BRAKES, THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, BUT VERY SLOWLY. I HAVE TOWED MY BOAT WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SLOWING DOWN. I'M AFFRAID THAT IF I HAVE TO STOP QUICKLY THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME. I AM A STATE TROOPER AND I AM VERY FAMILLIAR WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEMS TO INCLUDE ABS. I ONLY HAVE 9000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS, I REQUESTED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES. I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MGR THAT THE BRAKES WERE WITHIN GM SPECS. I ASKED HIM WHAT THAT MEANT? HE SAID THAT HE HAD HAD A LADY COME IN SEVERAL WEEKS AGO COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING AND BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T GO AWAY HE CONTACTED THE GM ENGINEERS, THEY CAME OUT AND INSPECTED HER BRAKES, THEY TOLD HIM THAT HER BRAKES WERE WITHIN SPECS AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. HE THEN TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES WERE BETTER THAN HER'S. I ASKED HIM WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT, HE SAID THAT IF HER BRAKES WERE OK THEN MY BRAKES WOULD BE WITHIN SPECS. I TOLD HIM THAT I WASN'T SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE BRAKES WORKED AND THAT I WANTED HIM TO MAKE A NOTE OF MY DIS-SATISFACTION. HE NEVER WROTE THIS ON MY INVOICE. THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAD ADVISED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A PROBLEM WITH THE REMOTE CONTROLED OUTSIDE MIRRORS. THEY WERE NOT WORKING THE WAY THEY WERE DESIGNED. I WAS ADVISED
DURING A PANIC STOP/HARD BRAKE, BRAKING IS INSUFFICIANT. WITH MULTIPLE HARD BRAKES IN A ROW, BRAKING POWER IS REGAINED, THOUGH RETURN TO PREVIOUS STATE OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 6-12+ HOURS.*AK
2003 CHEVROLETR AVALANCHE, TAILGATE OPENS BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY IN COLDER TEMPERATURES TAILGATE LATCHES HAD TO BE MANUALLY OPENED TO GET TAILGATE TO SHUT AFTER A FEW DAYS TAILGATE WOULD DROP AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED CONTINUALLY DURING WINTER MONTHS.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATED SO HARD THAT THE DASHBOARD RATTLED. *AK
A WARNING LIGHT STATING "SERVICE 4WD NOW" APPEARED ON MY DASH OF MY 2003. CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANAUL, THIS INDICATES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION AT THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN FROM GM STATING NOT TO DO ANY REPAIRS FOR THIS CONCERN. MY VEHICLE IS NOW STUCK IN 2WD AND GM DOES NOT KNOW IF OR WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ERROR CODE LIGHT FOR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAME ON. *AK
WHILE PARKING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETECT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE DROPPING SPEED AND LOSING POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN. IF VEHICLE IS GOING UPHILL 25 MPH IS THE MAXIMUM SPEED. ON THE LEVEL ROADS 40 MPH IS THE MAXIMUM SPEED. THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME DEFECT, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK
ON DECEMBER 12, 2003 VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. CONSUMER STATED, THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN SEVEN TO EIGHT TIMES AT DEALER WITH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
SHORTLY AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AS HE PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE HE SAW FLAMES SHOOTING UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. A POLICE OFFICER NEARBY ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A SECOND POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED AND EMPTIED HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER BEFORE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNSTABLE DURING CROSSWINDS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY LEFT OR RIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY. *NLM THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS FOUND TO BE 4-5 P/SI LOWER THAN THE DESIGN VALVE. THE PRESSURE WAS INCREASED TO THE PROPER VALVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE HANDLING AND THE STEERING RESPONSE BACK TO A STABLE CONDITION. *SC
2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH "Z66" PACKAGE SPARE TIRE IS A 16 INCH TIRE. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH TIRES. SALES LITERATURE INDICATES THAT THE "Z66" PACKAGE UPGRADES ALL WHEELS 17 INCH WHEELS. DESPITE MANUFACTURE AND DEALERS CLAIMS THE VEHICLE HANDLING IS VERY ERRATIC WITH 16 INCH SPARE INSTALLED. DEALER STATED SPARE IS FOR TEMPORARY USE ONLY. THIS IS NO CONSOLATION WHEN THE NEXT EXIT ON THE HIGHWAY IS 40+ MILES AWAY. MANUFACTURE AND DEALER BOTH STATE THAT THE TSB RELEASED RESOLVES THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, CONSUMERS ARE NOT PROVIDED TSB'S IN THE SHOW ROOM. PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHEN PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. WHILE REPAIRING FLAT TIRE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND AND COULD NOT BE BALANCED EVEN WITH OVER 5 OZ OF WEIGHT ON TIRE. REPLACED TIRE WITH BRAND NEW TIRE WHICH REQUIRED 3.5 OZ WEIGHT TO BALANCE INDICATING BAD RIM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH STATE THAT IS NORMAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT FOR 17 INCH TIRES. THE 3 OTHER TIRES ON VEHICLE HAVE LESS THAN 3.5 OZ COMBINED WEIGHT TO BALANCE THOSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH STATE PROBLEM MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED WHEN ORIGINAL TIRE WENT FLAT. ORIGINAL TIRE CAME FROM DEALER WITH NO WEIGHTS INSTALLED AND TRUCK HAD PULL TO RIGHT WHEN NEW. *LA
CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW INTERIOR MIRROR AND REARVIEW EXTERIOR MIRROR DO NOT ADJUST ENOUGH TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY, AND A BLIND SPOT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ROLLED OVER TWICE AND HIT A TREE. NEITHER SIDE NOR FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR POLICE REPORT. *NLM
I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE WHO FIND THE XENON HEADLIGHTS A DANGER TO OTHER DRIVERS. THEY ARE BLINDING AND SOMETIMES CAUSE A MOMENT OF BEING UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD BEFORE ME. EVEN IF THE MOMENT LASTS A HALF-SECOND, I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE HEADLIGHTS BANNED.*AK
THE TRUCK CAME WITH 17 INCH GOODYEAR TIRES. THE SPARE IS A 16 INCH BRIDGESTONE TIRE. *AK
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.
Full record for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche → · Every Avalanche year → · How the figures are calculated →