2013 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 2013 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
- Body & structure830.8%
- Airbags623.1%
- Electrical27.7%
- Exterior lighting27.7%
- Steering27.7%
- Powertrain (other)13.8%
- Suspension13.8%
- Brakes13.8%
- Driver assistance13.8%
- Engine13.8%
- Fuel system13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED WHICH IS EXPOSING THE AIRBAG
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.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING IS ILLUMINATED IN MY DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER. A RECALL WAS ISSUED BY GM - 14515 - BUT THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, WHICH INCLUDED THE AIR COMPRESSORS, POWER LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, AND POWER SEATS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
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
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.
TOP REAR BREAK LED LIGHT . LET'S WATER AND MOISTER IN SIDE . DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED 2 ALL READY AND 3RD ONE IS LETTING WATER IN THE LIGHT HOUSING ALL READY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017
RECALL NHTSA 13VOO1000. *TR
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
RECALL NHTSA 13VOO1000. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, WHICH INCLUDED THE AIR COMPRESSORS, POWER LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, AND POWER SEATS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
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
MY VEHICLE SPEED APPEARS TO BE FLUCTUATING, ENGINE BRAKING ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS COME ONE. I WAS DRIVING AND IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OR THE CLUTCH KICKED IN THEN REENGAGED. ONLINE FORUMS DEPICT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME INCIDENTS. THE ISSUE AFFECTS MANY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE. SOME BELIEVE THAT THE ONSTAR SYSTEM OR THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. WHEN I TOOK IT IN LAST TIME, THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A FAULTY ABS SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AS THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OFF AND ON AND I FELL THIS PUTS US AT RISK. THESE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE PARKED, DRIVING, AND TURNING, BE IT ROADWAYS, DRIVEWAYS, PARKING LOTS, ETC.
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
MY VEHICLE SPEED APPEARS TO BE FLUCTUATING, ENGINE BRAKING ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS COME ONE. I WAS DRIVING AND IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OR THE CLUTCH KICKED IN THEN REENGAGED. ONLINE FORUMS DEPICT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME INCIDENTS. THE ISSUE AFFECTS MANY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE. SOME BELIEVE THAT THE ONSTAR SYSTEM OR THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. WHEN I TOOK IT IN LAST TIME, THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A FAULTY ABS SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AS THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OFF AND ON AND I FELL THIS PUTS US AT RISK. THESE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE PARKED, DRIVING, AND TURNING, BE IT ROADWAYS, DRIVEWAYS, PARKING LOTS, ETC.
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
. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY AVALANCHE HAS DEVELOPED A ROUGH IDLE AT TIMES EVER SINCE NEW. SOMETIMES IT IS ROUGHER THAN OTHER TIMES AND IS NOT CONSTANT. I HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES AND CONTACTED CHEVROLET SUPPORT. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND SINCE THERE ARE NO TSB'S THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT. ONE DEALER SAID THE FUEL TRIM LEVELS ARE VERY LEAN WHICH CAUSES THE ROUGH IDLE. I NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH AN IDLE LIKE THIS AND BELIEVE THE FUEL TRIM LEVELS COULD BE ADJUSTED IN THE COMPUTER TO SMOOTH OUT THE IDLE. CHEVROLET SUPPORT JUST DIRECTS ME BACK TO THE DEALER IN A CIRCLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED OUT YET BUT I DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN WHICH COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION OR MAKING A TURN. THE IDLE FOR A COMPUTER CONTROLLED ENGINE IN A VEHICLE THIS EXPENSIVE SHOULD IDLE ROCK SOLID, THANKS FOR LOOKING INTO THIS FOR ME.
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 .