Chevrolet Avalanche Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,966 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet Avalanche, across 15 model years (1999–2013). The 2002 model year has the most complaints (444). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Chevrolet Avalanche years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Avalanche year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2002 Avalanche: 444 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2007 Avalanche: 377 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2008 Avalanche: 258 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2000 Avalanche: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 Avalanche: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2006 Avalanche: 11 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Avalanche problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 591 | 12 | 47 |
| Structure problems | 275 | 13 | 4 |
| Electrical System problems | 206 | 11 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 164 | 6 | 14 |
| Service Brakes problems | 147 | 12 | 11 |
| Power Train problems | 100 | 12 | 7 |
| Engine | 72 | 12 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 61 | 8 | 1 |
| Steering | 51 | 10 | 6 |
| Suspension | 49 | 9 | 2 |
| Tires | 49 | 8 | 2 |
| Visibility | 47 | 6 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 41 | 11 | 3 |
| Parking Brake | 39 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 31 | 10 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 31 | 7 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 29 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 10 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 25 | 9 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 5 | 4 |
| Wheels | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet Avalanche problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2011: air bags (55)
- 2010: air bags (53)
- 2008: air bags (132)
- 2007: air bags (225) · structure (75)
- 2004: electrical system (60)
- 2003: service brakes (51)
- 2002: service brakes, hydraulic (115) · structure (67) · service brakes (54)
All Chevrolet Avalanche model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Avalanche | 82 | 2 | — | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 Avalanche | 36 | 3 | — | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Avalanche | 127 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Avalanche | 111 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 Avalanche | 76 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Avalanche | 258 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Avalanche | 377 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Avalanche | 11 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Avalanche | 71 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Avalanche | 165 | 5 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Avalanche | 204 | 4 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Avalanche | 444 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Avalanche | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2000 Avalanche | 2 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1999 Avalanche | 0 | 0 | — | — |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Avalanche years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2002 (444), 2003 (204), 2004 (165), 2007 (377), 2008 (258) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Avalanche year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Avalanche?
Air Bags, with 591 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Avalanche have?
18 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.