Chevrolet Avalanche Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Chevrolet Avalanche across 12 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (54). The words owners use most often: “brake lines” (44% of reports).
- 147service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $2,050typical 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 65 of 147 complaints (44%)
- Went floor: mentioned in 38 of 147 complaints (26%)
- Line rusted: mentioned in 9 of 147 complaints (6%)
- Stainless steel: mentioned in 8 of 147 complaints (5%)
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 Chevrolet Avalanche at $2,050, and half of them between $1,550 and $2,250.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2015), 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 135 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 147 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
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 (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Model years: 2002
Problem: Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles may experience unwanted antilock brake system (abs) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas. This recall will be launched in the "salt belt" states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maryland, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia only.
Risk: This can cause increased stopping distances during low-speed brake applications, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel speed sensor, and check the peak-to-peak output voltage to ensure the wheel speed signal is within specifications. The recall began september 22, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Model years: 2004, 2005
Problem: Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
Risk: If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc trucks at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Model years: 2003, 2004
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.
In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds meaning it wouldnât go above 25 miles an hour. The entire dash would light up. It threw numerous…
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was firm, and vehicle kept accelerating unintendedly. Several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was…
Vehicle sometimes without warning, would shut down.Yes its available for inspection. Its unsafe because of the element of surprise when suddenly finding out that the ability to control the vehicle is dangerously compromised. Specifically when trying to steer or brake effectively or even trying to…
STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL NOT WORKING CAN NOT FIND PART TO REPPLACE AS GM HAS DISCONTINUED THE PART NEEDED STEERING ANGLE POSITION SENSOR GM PART 15886733 i need this part, why is it discontinued?
After washing my 2007 avalanche the seatbelt on the passenger side exploded and my brakes started to fluctuate and make a spring noise. This all happened as i drove away from the car wash.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Avalanches have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 147 owner complaints about service brakes for the Chevrolet Avalanche. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Avalanche service brakes?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes problems on the Chevrolet Avalanche?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,050 (half paid between $1,550 and $2,250), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Chevrolet Avalanche?
The most frequent phrase is “brake lines”, in 65 of 147 complaints, followed by “went floor” (38).
Other Chevrolet Avalanche problems
- Air Bags problems (591)
- Structure problems (275)
- Electrical System problems (206)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (164)
- Power Train problems (100)
See all Chevrolet Avalanche problems.