2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Body & structure Problems

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED WHICH IS EXPOSING THE AIRBAG

NHTSA ID

11408598

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

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

CRACKED DASHBOARD. ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ON RIGHT SIDE BY AIRBAG. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD OR IN 4X4 MODE. ONLY ABOUT 7500 MILES A YEAR. TREATED VERY WELL.

NHTSA ID

11022572

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED LEADING UP TO THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THROUGH EMAIL PHOTOS AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DASH PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH A DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10909335

Incident

Sep 23, 2016

Mileage

46,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD AT THE AIRBAG IS CRACKED. THIS WAS NOTICED UPON ENTERING THE CAR JULY 27, 2016. THIS WAS NOT THERE PRIOR AS THE DASH NOTICEABLY RATTLES AT THE SIGHT OF THE CRACK. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT CHEVROLET STATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE SUN CAUSING THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD TO DISINTEGRATE.

NHTSA ID

10896107

Incident

Jul 27, 2016

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 09/14/16 *BF UPDATED 09/21/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10882955

Incident

Jun 10, 2013

Mileage

1,000 mi

I OWN A 2013 CHEVY AVALANCHE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 CHROME DOOR HANDLES DUE TO THEM PULLING AWAY FROM THE DOOR WHERE THEY ATTACH AT THE REAR PORTION.. THIS IS A KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE BODY STYLE. TODAY I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOW REPLACED 3 UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY FOR THE OTHER TWO. I AM SURE THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY EVERY TIME AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OCCURS.

NHTSA ID

10837863

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE DASH SURROUNDS THE AIRBAG COVER. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY PREVIOUS 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE IN THE SAME EXACT AREA (BUT IN TWO PLACES INSTEAD OF JUST ONE). THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY OF THE 2007-2013 GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE A SIMILAR DASHBOARD AS EVIDENT BY THE HUNDREDS OF FORUM POSTS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "GM CRACKED DASH" WILL CONFIRM THIS. THE CRACKED AREA IN THE DASH COULD BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD AND POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INJURY DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF PLASTIC SHARDS BECOMING PROJECTILES DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG DURING DEPLOYMENT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A POSSIBILITY IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO BE PUNCTURED BY THE SHARP EDGES OF THE CRACKED PLASTIC. GM HAS NOT ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND BASED ON MANY OF THE FORUM POSTS, THE DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE FAULTY DASHBOARDS AT THEIR EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT DESIGN CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE BY GM TO NEWER REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE OR ELIMINATE THE CRACKING PROBLEM. SINCE THIS DEFECT IS A COSTLY REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE OWNER AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, SINCE IT IS POTENTIALLY A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY, I AM HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO URGE GM TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARDS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AT THEIR EXPENSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663424

Incident

Dec 6, 2014

Mileage

48,123 mi