2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on a lift at an independent mechanic, the independent mechanic found rust on the subframe. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact had purchased the vehicle two months prior to finding the rust. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to replace the muffler. The contact was informed that the subframe was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

NHTSA ID

11683105

Incident

Jul 26, 2025

Mileage

91,000 mi

SERVICE LIGHT DOSE NOT COME ON WHEN MY TRUCK WON'T NOT STARTED UP UNTIL I GOT IT TOWED

NHTSA ID

11414981

Incident

May 13, 2018

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THE CLUSTER IS OUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MODEL THIS IS OTHER THAN A Z66 SO I CANNOT SEE ON HOW TO PROGRAM MY PHONE AT TO THE ONSTAR OR ANY OF THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE SATELLITE RADIO THERE IS NO AUXILIARY PLUG IN HEATED SEATS IT'S ONLY THE BACK OF THE SEAT THAT WORKS I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S ALL THAT IS HEATED AND IT SAYS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COME WITH A KEY FOB I DID NOT RECEIVE MY CAR COMPLETELY DIES I HAVE TO TURN IT COMPLETELY OFF TURN THE KEY AROUND AND STARTED AGAIN THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED I DID NOT RECEIVE THE KEY FOB I CANNOT LOCK THE DOORS BECAUSE THE KEYS DON'T WORK IN THE DOOR BUT THEY DO AN IGNITION SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AROUND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING I HAVE TO CUT IT COMPLETELY OFF BECAUSE IT WILL STALL OUT TURN KEY AROUND AND IT START IT AGAIN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE REAL MILAGE IS. JELP IM A SINGLE AND ONLY IN COME PARENT TO 3 BOUS AND THIS MOMMA NEEDS HELP PLEASE

NHTSA ID

11386897

Incident

Jan 5, 2021

I AM A NEW OWNER OF A 2003 AVALANCHE, I WAS SATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE BUT MY SOONROOF FALLS UNDER THE APPROPRIATE SERIAL NUMBERS (6,000,000-6,300,000) RECALL STATES THAT IT MAY BE COVERED BY THE COMPANY WEBASTO HOLLANDIA. VEHICLE IS FINE TO DRIVE PLACES BUT SUNROOF MUST BE FIXED FOR COMING WINTER. IT WORRIES ME AS THERE'S A SLIGHT DANGER OF IT CAUSING A ROAD HAZARD IF IT WERE TO FALL OUT.

NHTSA ID

11384649

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

BRAKES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING, TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. ON A HIGHWAY STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11193455

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

I CAN HEAR A CLUNKING OR RATTLING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I CAN ALSO FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11192061

Incident

Mar 8, 2019

Mileage

121,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION, THE CLIP THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION LINE TO THE RADIATOR BREAKS ALLOWING THE LINE TO COME OFF RESULTING IN ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING LOST AND RESULTING IN DESTROYING TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

11162859

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

22,500 mi

MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS I SLID INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS IN NUMBER TO NUMBER TRAFFIC AND I TRIED CHANGING LANES. MY FRONT LEFT BUMPER TAPPED HIS REAR RIGHT BUMPER. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS SCRATCHED.

NHTSA ID

11160865

Incident

Jan 7, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE SECOND TIME SAYING THAT IS A VACUUM LEAK IN THE FUEL CAP I REPLACE THE CAP

NHTSA ID

11130262

Incident

Sep 18, 2018

Mileage

1,360,582 mi

CLADDING ON MY 2003 HAS TURNED GREY AND UGLY. THERE IS NOTHING USED THAT WILL RENEW IT BACK TO ORIGINAL LOOK. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM????

NHTSA ID

11129693

Incident

Jun 21, 2005

WAS DRIVING HOME AND BRAKES FAILED. MASSIVE HOLES IN THE LINES, PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. THANK GOD MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE NOT WITH ME THIS TIME. LUCKY I'M ALIVE. I WAS NOT ON A MAIN HIGHWAY. SO FAR THE COST IS UP TO $2000.00 TO REPLACE ALL THE LINES. ALSO NOW THE MASTER CYLINDER SEEMS TO BE FAULTY. ANOTHER $400.00. I HAVE READ WAY TOOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT GM BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT WAY TOO SOON MANY WITH LOW MILEAGE. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS IN THE FORM OF COMPENSATION. LIVES COULD BE LOST AND SOME PROBABLY HAVE.

NHTSA ID

11030157

Incident

Sep 22, 2017

Mileage

95,000 mi

I HAVE READ NHTSA # 05V37900 AND SEE THAT ADDRESSES THE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LINE THAT I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE THE BRAKE GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH NO WARNING THAT IS THE SAME AS THE 2002 THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR RECALL. IT APPEARS THAT THE SAME BRAKE LINES WERE USED ON THE 2003 MODEL. SO WHY WAS THE 2003 MODEL NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS LOSING THE BRAKES NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE AREA.

NHTSA ID

11019935

Incident

Aug 20, 2017

Mileage

176,000 mi

INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS STOPPED WORKING. NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK. START VEHICLE NO GAUGES MOVE. DRIVE AND NO GAUGES MOVE, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER

NHTSA ID

11015926

Incident

Aug 16, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED STOP LIGHT THE TRUCK WAS STOPPING NORMALLY AND WAS ALMOST STOPPED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT NEARLY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING ACTION WAS SEVERELY AFFECTED CAUSING A MUCH DELAYED COMPLETION TO THE STOP. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL COLLAPSED A CHIME CAME ON AND A BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH PANEL. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SLOWLY OUT OF TRAFFIC GOING VERY SLOW AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE GARAGE WHERE THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS A RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE.

NHTSA ID

10994090

Incident

Jun 8, 2017

Mileage

79,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST FUEL STATION. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THE REAR BRAKE LINE ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10979808

Incident

Apr 13, 2017

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FLUCTUATED INDEPENDENTLY AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA ID

10967809

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

Mileage

230,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HILL ON MY WAY HOME WITH MY THREE LILLTE KIDS IN THE TRUCK WHEN IT JUST SHUT OFF N WAS HARD TO STEER THE ABS LIGHT COME ON N THEN A LIGHT WITH A LOCK WITH A KEY THE TRUCK ACTED LIKE IT WANTED TO TURN OVER BUT DID N STILL TO THIS DAY IT WILL NO TURN OVER N START UP N STILL SHOWING THE LIL LOCK WITH A KEY.

NHTSA ID

10935940

Incident

Nov 14, 2016

Mileage

1 mi

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED ABOVE THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE 56000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I OWNED A 2008 MODEL AND HAD SAME ISSUE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ADDRESSED AND FIXED ON NEWER MODELS. I'M TOLD IT'LL COST ME $1500 TO FIX. IF THEY AREN'T GOING TO MAKE THIS GOOD I'M SWITCHING OVER TO TOYOTAS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR DAYS WHEN I WENT TO USE IT NOTICED THE CRACK. VERY DISSAPPOINTED!

NHTSA ID

10926521

Incident

Nov 16, 2016

THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT NEAR THE AIRBAG AREA.

NHTSA ID

10916490

Incident

Oct 15, 2016

Mileage

52,000 mi

LOST TOTAL BRAKING AT RED LIGHT AT BUSY INTERSECTION,45 MPH WITH THE GRACE OF GOD AVOIDED A BROADSIDE HIT, JUST MISSED A CHILD ON A BIKE, THIS WAS CAUSED BY A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. WHAT HAPPEN TO THE SAFETY BACK-UP IN THIS DESIGN ? THIS IS WRONG. IN SO MANY WAYS. IN THE USA WE NEED TO HOLD OUR SAFETY TO ITS HIGHEST. HOW MANY WILL DIE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED .

NHTSA ID

10896640

Incident

Aug 17, 2016

Mileage

125,623 mi

WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK ABS LIGHTS COME ON SAYS REDUCED POWER YOU MAYBE GOING 55 MPH THEN WHEN YOU HIT THE BUMP YOU LOOSE POWER MAYBE BE LUCKY TO GO 5 MPH VERY VERY DANGEROUS HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I CAN'T DRIVE MY TRUCK AFRAID I WILL GET KILLED

NHTSA ID

10882455

Incident

Apr 14, 2016

Mileage

220,000 mi

I LOST THE COMPLETE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO A LINE(S) BURST DUE TO RUST. THANKFULLY I WAS JUST COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT SO I WAS NOT GOING FAST. MY FOOT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE WARNING SOUND AND INDICATOR CAME ON, BUT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES OTHER THAN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH I USED TO PULL OVER. IT GOES TO THE SHOP ON TUESDAY SO I WILL KNOW THEN THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. HAD I BEEN GOING 30 OR 40 AND COMING TO A CROWED INTERSECTION, SOMEONE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY FOR ME TO STOP IN TIME. I HAD NO PRE-WARNING OF AN ISSUE, NO LOW FLUID INDICATIONS, NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS, JUST MY FOOT GOING TO THE FLOOR. PRETTY SCARY.

NHTSA ID

10882290

Incident

Jun 27, 2016

Mileage

179,000 mi

DASHBOARD ABOVE RADIO CRACKED REGARDLESS IF EXCELLENT CARE IF CAR AND SUN PROTECTION. UNDER MIRROR BACK TO AIR VENTS AND SPREADING ACROSS OTHER MID SECTION. OUT OF WARRANTY. OUT OF LUCK! NOT GOOD SINCE HAVE HAD MANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT DIDN'T CRACK UNDER SAME CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

10881687

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

DRIVING 50MPH COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT WITH CROSS TRAFFIC ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND PEDDLE WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NARROWLY MISSED A POSSIBLY DEADLY ACCIDENT. FOUND THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. VERY SURPRISED SINCE THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS TRUCK. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10795307

Incident

Nov 21, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE TO WORK DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, ANOTHER DRIVER HIT THEIR BRAKES ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN THE MORNING IN COLUMBUS, OH. I HIT MY BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR! AFTER I PUMPED THEM A FEW QUICK TIME, I RAN THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD WHILE LOOKING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL SAFE EXIT STRATEGIES. I DOWN SHIFTED, AND HAD A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE APPROXIMATELY 1/2" OF USABLE PEDAL JUST ABOVE THE FLOOR BOARD. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE BRAKE LINE PROBLEMS, AND HAVE BEEN FIXING THINGS ON THE TRUCK SINCE I GOT IT. MY WIFE'S TOYOTA RAV4 IS 1 YEAR NEWER (2004) AND THE UNDERSIDE OF HER CAR GLISTENS COMPARED TO OUR CHEVY AVALANCHE. THE KICKER: SHE DRIVES HER RAV4 EVERY WEEKDAY EVEN DURING SNOWY WEATHER, AND I DRIVE THE AVALANCHE ONLY ONCE A WEEK! I OWN ANOTHER VEHICLE (1997 BUICK) I USUALLY DRIVE. THE UNDER SIDE OF THE AVALANCHE IS THE EPITOME OF RUST - NOT JUST THE BRAKE LINES BUT EVERYWHERE! WHEN DID BRAKE LINES BECOME A WEAR PART? I AM PLEADING TO YOUR HUMANE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OVER PROFIT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS; GM TOOK EXTREME SHORTCUTS, ALL PARTS UNDER THE TRUCK ARE RUSTING BADLY MORE THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE. THIS ISN'T A NORTHEAST OR SNOW BELT PROBLEM, THIS IS A GM PROBLEM. WILL YOU PLEASE PREVENT THIS TRAVESTY FROM CONTINUING BEFORE MORE PEOPLE DIE UNNECESSARILY? SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEMS WERE MADE A REQUIREMENT, AND GM IS HIDING BEHIND THAT REQUIREMENT. WAS THAT THE NHTSA INTENT TO PERMIT HIGHER PROFITS WITH THE SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEMS? THAT IS WHAT GM IS USING IT FOR AND AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLES LIVES. WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT PROFIT OR LIVES? HAVE A NICE DAY!

NHTSA ID

10766296

Incident

Sep 17, 2015

Mileage

144,937 mi