2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1639.0%
- Electrical717.1%
- Interior & seats49.8%
- Visibility37.3%
- Engine24.9%
- Brakes24.9%
- Body & structure24.9%
- Driver assistance24.9%
- Exterior lighting12.4%
- Powertrain (other)12.4%
- Tires & wheels12.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIRBAG RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED
THE DASH IS CRACKED IN THREE SPOTS, OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, VENT AREA AND AT THE CORNER OF THE AIR BAG.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING 60MPH AND LOST ALL LIGHTS POWER MOTOR EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE CAME BACK ON AND REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER TILL IT WAS PARKED GM'S SAID MY TRUCK WASN'T COVERED SO I ASKED FOR THE RECALLED PART NUMBER AND WAS RUSHED OFF THE PHONE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED AND DECREASED, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENLY, AND THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH DIFFERENT WARNING SENSORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE IN MAY OF 2017 WHEN IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AMPLIFIER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK WITH REMOTE OR WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE. *TR
IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT CHEVROLET/GM HAS A MAJOR QUALITY PROBLEM WITH POWERDOOR LOCKS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS. ONE ONLY NEED TO GOOGLE CHEVY DOOR LOCKS TO GET AN IDEA OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM. (SEE HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F206D4B AS AN EXAMPLE). AS A FREQUENT TRANSPORTER OF SMALL CHILDREN IT IS HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. DOORS LOCK OR UNLOCK WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THESE VEHICLES EITHER EXPOSED TO RISKS OF INADVERTENT OPENING DOORS OR BEING LOCKED INTO VEHICLES AT THE TIME OF POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS WHERE THERE IS NO EASY OR SAFE WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISKS FROM RANGING FROM CAR THEFT TO HIJACKERS TO SIMPLE BURGLARY AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHETHER A DOOR IS LOCKED OR NOT UNLESS YOU GO AROUND AND TRY EACH ONE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS OR IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AND WILL NOT DO SO UNTIL THE NHTSA TAKES A PUBLIC STAND ON THE CONTINUED SAFETY RISKS THAT THESE DEFECTIVE DOORLOCKS PRESENT TO ALL WHO RIDE IN THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE/INEFFECTIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE ACQUAINTANCES THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO BY GM. THEIR STATEMENTS, THAT THE SYSTEM IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE OTHER VEHICLES WE CHECKED WERE THE SAME WAY, SAYS IT ALL. WE HAVE BEEN PLACING A BOOK OVER THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE DEFROST EXIT TO HELP CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE AVALANCHE IS A VEHICLE FRAUGHT WITH BLIND SPOTS, SO BEING ABLE TO CLEAR THE RIGHT HALF OF THE WINSHIELD IS MOST IMPORTANT. THE INSTRUCTION I HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH GM, IS THAT, IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, THEY HAVE A DEPARTMENT TO HANDLE IT. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN MORE THAT PATIENT REGARDING THIS MATTER. I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ANTHING MORE THAN WHAT I SHOULD EXPECT FROM A $50K, OR A $5K VEHICLE, SAFETY! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE PROBLEM IS THE HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM(RECALL10153) WAS RECALL AND FIX ONE TIME NOW IT'S BEEN RECALL AGAIN AND GM JUST WANTS TO DISABLE THE FEATURE AND GIVE THE CUSTOMERS 100 DOLLARS.THE INITIAL RECALL ((08048) WAS DONE ON NOV 4 2008 AND THE MILEAGE WAS 6,544. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL DEPRECIATE THE VEHICLE VALUE, AND GM IS NOT ASSUMING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REDESIGN THE PART AND FIXING IT THE PROBLEM THE PROPER WAY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES OVER A SPAN OF THREE YEARS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THE PROGRAM SENSOR KIT NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LS VALVE COVER, NUMBER ONE PLUG, CYLINDER HEAD, PISTON RINGS, AND A DEFLECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WAS FLUSHED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. IT THE 5.3L WITH ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. GM KNOWNS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE RINGS AND PISTONS OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, 5,000.00 - 8,000.00. SINCE IT'S IT'S A DESIGN FLAW, I FEEL THEY SHOULD FIX IT AT NO COST. IT CONSUMES OVER QUART AND A HALF PER 1000 MILES, BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY AND AT TIMES 2 QUARTS WITH PULLING HEAVY LOADS. I HAVE DONE A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WITH THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE ADMITTED IT GOES THROUGH A LOT OF OIL. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED, AND THE DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME NEVER MENTIONED THIS TRUCK COULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING 60MPH AND LOST ALL LIGHTS POWER MOTOR EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE CAME BACK ON AND REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER TILL IT WAS PARKED GM'S SAID MY TRUCK WASN'T COVERED SO I ASKED FOR THE RECALLED PART NUMBER AND WAS RUSHED OFF THE PHONE
TAKATA RECALL CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEEDED SERVICE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, BREAK SENSOR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
GALVANIC CORROSION BETWEEN DISSIMILAR METAL (ALUMINUM AND STEEL) COMPONENTS IN THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLED BED COVER SYSTEM IS CAUSING THE LATCHING MECHANISMS FOR THE BED COVER TO DISINTEGRATE AND CEASE TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. THE BED COVER PANELS CAN NO LONGER BE RELIABLY LATCHED AND ARE SUBJECT TO BREAKING FREE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING TRANSIT. A BED COVER PANEL THAT DEPARTS THE VEHICLE DUE TO LATCH FAILURE WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL ROADWAY HAZARD. THERE IS NO WAY ISOLATE THE DISSIMILAR METALS TO STOP THE CORROSION. *TR
DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK WITH REMOTE OR WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT NEEDED SERVICE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, BREAK SENSOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES OVER A SPAN OF THREE YEARS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THE PROGRAM SENSOR KIT NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LS VALVE COVER, NUMBER ONE PLUG, CYLINDER HEAD, PISTON RINGS, AND A DEFLECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WAS FLUSHED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING 60MPH AND LOST ALL LIGHTS POWER MOTOR EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE CAME BACK ON AND REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER TILL IT WAS PARKED GM'S SAID MY TRUCK WASN'T COVERED SO I ASKED FOR THE RECALLED PART NUMBER AND WAS RUSHED OFF THE PHONE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
1-TAKATA RECALL 2- REAR DIFFERENTIAL- I HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT 153,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON DIFFERENT ONLINE FORUMS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. IT COST ME OVER $3,000. IT HAD MANY BROKEN PARTS INSIDE OF IT. IT COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEELS AND CAUSED A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. THANK YOU
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY NEW TRUCK IS A 2008 I GOT IT ON AUG-31-08. FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS IT WAS OK THEN IT START LOSING TIRE PRESSURE ON ALL 4 TIRES I GOT 1300 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG THAT THAT'S HOW TIRES BREATH. I HAD IT CHECK BY GOODYEAR THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TRUCK AND SAID THE MEGA WHEELS ARE BAD. THE TIRES ARE LOSING 4 TO 5 POUNDS EVERY 2 TO 3 DAYS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT I DO NOT WANT TO GET HARD OR MY FAMILY. PS HELP! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .