2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 120,509 miles. The words owners use most often: “brake lines” (55% of reports).
- 51service brakes complaints
- 120,509median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 19%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Brake lines: mentioned in 28 of 51 complaints (55%)
- Went floor: mentioned in 12 of 51 complaints (24%)
- Brakes failed: mentioned in 9 of 51 complaints (18%)
- Side front: mentioned in 6 of 51 complaints (12%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche at $2,300, and half of them between $2,050 and $2,550.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 47 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 51 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
Chevrolet Avalanche service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Avalanche | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2012 Avalanche | 1 | 3% | 28,857 |
| 2011 Avalanche | 4 | 3% | 24,500 |
| 2010 Avalanche | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2009 Avalanche | 1 | 1% | 79,652 |
| 2008 Avalanche | 2 | 1% | 87,000 |
| 2007 Avalanche | 4 | 1% | 97,000 |
| 2006 Avalanche | 2 | 18% | 98,000 |
| 2005 Avalanche | 1 | 1% | 220,000 |
| 2004 Avalanche | 25 | 15% | 91,000 |
| 2003 Avalanche | 51 | 25% | 120,509 |
| 2002 Avalanche | 54 | 12% | 110,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
Risk: Consequently, the valve o-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal may require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the seat fracture.
Fix: Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on june 18, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; gmc at 1-866-996-9463; or hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 17 year old son was on the freeway and the brake pedal travelled all the way to the floor while attempting to stop. The service brake system light came on at the same time. Stopping distance was increased dramatically, by at least double. If there would have been a curve or car in front of him…
Brake line failure: i had a ruptured steel break line failure while applying normal breaking pressure on the pedal. After further inspection of break lines, i found all break lines were rusted and in danger of also rupture.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche. While driving at an unknown speed, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. The contact discovered that the brake lines near the driver side door were rusted and corroded, and brake fluid had leaked from the vehicle. The contact…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Chevrolet Avalanches have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 51 owner complaints about service brakes for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche (25% of the 204 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche service brakes?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes problems start?
The median reported mileage is 120,509 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,300 (half paid between $2,050 and $2,550), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche?
The most frequent phrase is “brake lines”, in 28 of 51 complaints, followed by “went floor” (12).
See all 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche problems or service brakes problems across all Avalanche years.