RoadVitals

2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
29
Latest Apr 18, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jan 2, 2013
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500, most frequently naming the body & structure, airbags and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 390 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure830.8%
  • Airbags623.1%
  • Electrical27.7%
  • Exterior lighting27.7%
  • Steering27.7%
  • Powertrain (other)13.8%
  • Suspension13.8%
  • Brakes13.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
13V001000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

Jan 2, 2013
54,686 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
The risk: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 12331View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 29
Body & structure
Filed Apr 18, 2021

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED WHICH IS EXPOSING THE AIRBAG

NHTSA ID
11408598
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Filed Jan 30, 2019

MY DEALER WORKED ON MY AC COMPONENTS IN 2015 (NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE) TO REPLACE THE AC CONTROLLER COMPONENTS, SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR MY DASH CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT TO CRANK THE VEHICLE. ON THE DRIVER SIDE OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS IT HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SIZE AND NOW IS CRACKED COMPLETELY CAUSING THE DASH TO BE TWO SEPARATE PIECES. SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS ARE IF A CRASH OCCURS WILL THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE BE SAFE OF SHARP FLYING DEBRIS WITHIN THE CAB. MY CONCERN IS NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT MY PASSENGERS. I HAVE INQUIRED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT REPLACING THE PART BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME IT INITIALLY CRACKED. MILEAGE OF INITIAL CRACK WAS APPROX 75,000.

NHTSA ID
11173023
Incident
Jun 17, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
Filed Jul 6, 2018

DASH BOARD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES

NHTSA ID
11109906
Incident
Mar 3, 2018
Mileage
51,254 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 13, 2018

THE ADHESIVE SECURING THE 4 PIECES OF DOOR TRIM IS BREAKING DOWN AND THE TRIM PIECES WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OFF ON THEIR OWN, A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORISTS DEPENDING ON WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENS. THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A NO MAINTENANCE ITEM. REPORTED TO CHEVROLET, CASE # 8-4199057982, AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED THAT THIS "LIFE OF THE VEHICLE" INSTALLATION IS DEFECTIVE AS THE 3 YEAR BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. AS A PRINCIPLE ENGINEER IN BOEING'S RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (WE TEST STUFF TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE), MY INFORMED OPINION IS THE DEFECT IS CAUSED BY POOR SURFACE PREPARATION PRIOR TO BONDING, ADHESIVE MATERIAL USED PAST IT'S WORKING LIFE, ADHESIVE MATERIAL PAST ITS SHELF LIFE, OR USE OF AN ADHESIVE MATERIAL WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE INTENDED ENVIRONMENT. AS THIS SAME TRIM IS INSTALLED ON NUMEROUS CHEVY, GMC AND CADILLAC TRUCKS AND SUV MODELS ANY CAUSE OTHER THAN THE FIRST TWO I LISTED WOULD INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
11101732
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Mileage
11,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 10, 2018

AT +/-83000 MILES THE DASH DEVELOPED A CRACK LEADING INTO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HOUSING. IT ALSO IS BROKEN AND, WHEN DRIVING, LOOSELY VIBRATING BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HOUSING. GIVEN THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH AIR BAGS, THIS IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11100738
Incident
Feb 15, 2018
Mileage
83,000 mi
Filed Apr 1, 2018

DASHBOARD CRACKING NEAR AIRBAG. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE THE MORE I DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
11082364
Incident
Feb 19, 2018
Mileage
105,000 mi
Filed Feb 6, 2018

SERIOUS LARGE CRACKS APPEARING IN PLASTIC DASHBOARD, AROUND AIRBAG AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ABOVE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ID
11067282
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Mileage
39,107 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 22, 2018

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT NOT SEALED ALLOWING THE LIGHT TO GET IN MOISTURE AND RESULT IN FAILURE OF LIGHT TO FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY LAW. MANUFACTURING DEFECT ALLOWS THIS LIGHT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME WHICH COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND.

NHTSA ID
11064162
Incident
Jan 22, 2018
Mileage
60,250 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIT3271Q

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

PIP6104

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

PIP4902V

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT6400A

This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-NA-255: Wax Coating on Frame Peeling, Metal Shows Corrosion/Rusting due to issue with getting product from current supplier listed in the bulletin.

PIP4902U

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT5214G

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013Viewing291034.7
2012160028.5
2011282041.0
2010600—
2009200028.8
2008370239.5
20071131248.5
2006392054.0
20051292044.2
20041442046.0
20031822150.2
20021542157.8

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.