Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 67 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 67, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 10/7/14*CN
WHEN WE PURCHASED A 2002 CHV AVALANCHE, IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ONSTAR. WHEN EVERYTHING WENT DIGITAL, WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A CONV KIT FOR OUR MODEL. SINCE WE TRAVEL, WHAT OPTONS D WE HAVE OF GETTING ONSTAR TO REPLACE OUR EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE EVERYTHIN EXCEPT THE PHONE, I GUESS. *TR
THE HANDLES TO THE BED COVERS HAVE DETERIORATED COMPLETELY OFF. NOT ALL OF THEM AS OF THIS WRITING BUT SOON THEY ALL WILL FALL OFF AT THE CONNECTION AT THE SIDE OF THE BED. THE CORROSION IS HAPPENING RAPIDLY. I RARELY TAKE THEM OFF, SO IT IS NOT FROM WEAR AND TEAR. I DO NOT HAUL THINGS IN THE BED THAT WOULD BEND, LEAK, OR CRACK THEM. I LIVE IN NORTH EAST TEXAS APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR EAST OF DALLAS. THERE IS A WHITE CORROSION THAT IS EATING THE METAL. SINCE THIS IS A NON SALT AIR STATE AND A NON ROAD SALT MIXTURE STATE (MAYBE 1X A YEAR WHICH I DO NOT DRIVE IF ROAD CONDITIONS CALL FOR STREET TREATMENT) IT IS NOT THAT. I RARELY DRIVE THE TRUCK, FOR I DO NOT WORK, I TAKE IT TO THE STORE, ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY AND I TAKE IT TO DALLAS EVERY NOW AND THEN. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS MY HANDLE FAILING AND ONE OF MY BED COVERS COMES OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE COVERS ARE HEAVY AND FAIRLY LARGE. I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD FLY FAR BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO RUN OVER ONE OF THEM. I HAVE THE COVERS OFF AT THIS POINT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS BUT THE TRUCK WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR THEM TO BE OFF. THE WIND WHIPS THE TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE LITTLE CONTROL AND I ASSOCIATE THIS WITH THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THAT IS GONE OFF THE TRUCK THAT WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE TRUCK WEIGHTED APPROPRIATELY FOR SAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS NOT THE BLOWING WIND BUT THE WIND CREATED AS THE TRUCK PICKS UP SPEED, THE MULTI AXLE TRUCKS ALSO CAUSE IT TO ACTUALLY MOVE UP AND OVER WHEN THEY PASS MY TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS AN INSECURE FEELING AND IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO CONFIDENT DRIVING. WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD ALONG WITH THE OTHER FACTORS IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL TAKE FLIGHT. THE COVERS ARE THE WEIGHT THAT KEEPS THE TRUCK FROM BEING BLOWN OUT OF THE LANE YOUR DRIVING IN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATIONS. SINCERELY, CORRODED BED COVER HANDLES,TX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES YET THEY WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED DUE TO ROAD SALT EROSION. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000. UPDATED 1/19/2010 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE FRAME AND CROSS MEMBER ROTTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCRAPPED. UPDATED 03/25/11
AT THE FIRST OF OCTOBER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ONSTAR STATING THAT MY SERVICE WOULD NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE FOR MY 2002 CHEVORLET AVALANCHE BEGINNING JAN 2008. ONSTAR IS A SAFETY DEVICE ON MY TRUCK...AND WAS THE DECIDING FACTOR IN CHOOSING A GM VEHICLE. SOME OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE 2003 GMCS AND THEY ARE REPAIRABLE BUT MINE IS NOT. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE..THEY JUST DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR IT. I HAVE HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH MY TRUCK, EG- HARDBODY FADING, WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION 3 YEARS BACK B/C EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS WORE...NO RECALL BUT THE PART WAS REDESIGNED..HMMM, TAILGATE LEAKING WATER, A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT TOOK 4 LONG TIMES AT THE DEALER FOR THEM TO FIND, BUT I CAN LIVE WITH ALL THIS...BUT MY ONSTAR WAS A GREAT PIECE OF MIND, ESP WITH AN ILLNESS AND NOW A NEW BABY. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A GM AGAIN, B/C THEY HAVE DUMPED ALL OF US WITH ANALOG SERVICE LIKE A DISEASE...I WAS TOLD I COULD TRADE MY TRUCK AND ONSTAR WOULD GIVE ME AN ADDITIONAL YEAR FREE! BIG WOW...THAT IS AN INSULT. MY TRUCK WAS JUST PAID FOR IN AUGUST AND IN OCTOBER I FIND OUT THE BIG SAFETY DEVICE OF ONSTAR IS OVER. *TR
POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING COMING FROM UNDER CAB AT DRIVERS FEET AND PASSENGERS FEET. TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER BOLT HOLES IN FRAME HAVE STRETCHED HORIZONTALLY AND ALLOW CROSSMEMBER TO SHIFT SIDE TO SIDE. ALSO FRONT BODY MOUNTS POP WHEN TURNING CAUSING STRESS ON FRONT MOUNT BOLTS. ** CHEVROLET SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND THE ONLY PATCH THEY HAVE FOR THE POPPING AT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT IS TO PUT WASHERS BOTH SIDES AND THE SAME PATCH FOR THE BODY MOUNTS.** NOTE PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE OF THE STRETCHED OUT HOLES. *NM
WATER IS ENTERING THE REAR FLOOR AREA WHEN RAINING. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS EXTREME WATER INTRUSION INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE, PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SEALS IN THE DOORS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BRAKES ON 2002 AVALANCHE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM RAY HUTSON, LACROSSE WI. USING CHEVROLET MAINTENANCE PLAN. 27,821 MILES - PERFORMED 6K MAINTENANCE WHICH INCLUDES; LUBE PARKING BRAKE, ROTATE TIRES, INSPECT BRAKES. OK WITH WORK. 30,533 MILES - PERFORMED DETAIL RECONDITION OF VEHICLE. POOR WORK. 30,583 MILES - REPAIRED TAILGATE, COMPLAINED OF DETAIL WORK. PICKED UP VEHICLE WITH NO NOTICEABLE MILEAGE BUT USED APPROX 6 GALS OF GAS. GUESSING THEY RAN THE ENGINE ALL DAY TO DRY OUT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. 30,916 MILES - COMPLETED TAILGATE REPAIR. OK 34,244 MILES - OIL CHANGE 38,085 MILES - OIL CHANGE AND GOODWRENCH PRE02004 MAINTENANCE CHECK LIST COMPLETED. OK 41,926 MILES - 6K MAINTENANCE SERVICE. FOUND BRAKES AND ROTORS BAD, HAD THEM REPLACED, TOTAL COST WAS $1,321.00. AT TIME OF PICKUP, REQUESTED REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING. WAS IT MY FAULT OR THE GOOD WRENCH PLAN, WHY WERE THE BRAKES NOT FOUND TO BE GOING BAD BEFORE THEY RUINED THE ROTORS? THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW. 2 WEEKS LATER- I CALLED THEM, SAID THEY WOULD CHECK WITH GMC. 4 WEEKS LATER -I CALLED THEM, SAID THEY WOULD CHECK WITH GMC. 3 MONTHS LATER, RECEIVED NOTICE FOR OIL CHANGE. WENT TO RAY HUTSON, ASKED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THEY HAD HEARD BACK FROM GMC THE FIRST WEEK, THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT AS PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO LOOK AT. AT THAT TIME, I FELT THAT I WAS NOT A CUSTOMER WORTH A PHONE CALL FROM THEM. *JB
IN FEB OF 2004 I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT (#10058789). IT WAS ABOUT MY TAILGATE THAT FELL COMPLETELY OFF WITH ME ON IT. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE TAILGATE STILL AND I TALKED TO A DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT ONE YEAR AGO. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO ME AND THEN I LET IT FALL BY THE WAISTSIDE. I NEED HELP PUSHING THEM TO REPAINT MY TAILGATE, AND REPLACE SOME PLASTIC MOLDING. HOW DO I DO THIS? THEY DON'T SEEM TO THINK IT IS THEIR ISSUE. THE TAILGATE IS DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE CABLES THAT THEY HAD A RECALL ON. *JB
THE PROBLEM IN QUESTION IS A 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH WATER GETTING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA, SOAKING THE FLOOR. THIS CONSTANT WATER CAUSES THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO CORRODE. THE SENSOR IS LOCATED ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. I HAVE HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED TWICE. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN FOR AS LONG AS THE AVALANCHE IS PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. IF THE SENSOR BECOMES FAULTY AND CAUSES THE TRUCK NOT TO DEPLOY OR POSSIBLY DEPLOY ACCIDENTALLY THERE COULD BE DAMAGES, INJURIES AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. *NM
DT: CONTACT STATED POWER WINDOWS WERE MESSED UP. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. HE TOOK VEHICLET TO THE DEALER ,AND THEY CHANGED SOMETHING ON IT AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. ON 8-17-05 THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. ALSO TAILGATE JUST DROPPED OPEN. HE SAID SOMEONE WORKED ON IT LAST YEAR AND IT WORKED FOR A WHILE. BUT CURRENTLY IT WAS MESSED UP AGAIN. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR. *AK
REMOVED MID-GATE GLASS ON 2002 AVALANCHE TO CLEAN AND NOTICED THAT PLASTIC AROUND MID-GATE WAS SEPARATED FROM ITSELF. WINDOW HAD NEVER BEEN OUT BEFORE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE TAILGATE DOOR FELL OFF. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON CHEVROLET AVALANCHE DEFECT FROM ELDORADO CHEVROLET IN MCKINNEY,TEXAS. COLD AIR ON PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO POOR SEALING AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I'M A SINGLE PARENT THAT NEVER RODE ON PASSENGER SIDE UNTIL WARRANTY WAS OUT. BODY REPAIRMAN,JOHN GRIGGS, LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT MY INSURANCE WAS DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON REPAIRING THE CONCERN AFTER AN ACCIDENT THAT COST OVER $10,000 IN REPAIRS. I REQUESTED JOHN TO CALL ME ON THE CONCERN. HE CALLED MY INSURANCE AGENT AND STATED IT COULD NOT BE CAUSED BY ACCIDENT. HE STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME CHEVYS AND THAT THEY WERE NOT SEALED CORRECTLY OR HAVE A BAD ACTUATOR. BRIAN NORTHINGTON, JOHN'S BOSS, OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST OF $240 TO SEAL IT CORRECTLY SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS OUT. THIS IS A CHEVY PROBLEM FROM GO. BRIAN STATED TWICE IN A CONDESCENDING VOICE HE WAS SO SORRY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WAS THERE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED! THEIR SO CALLED "CUSTOMER SERVICE" STINKS! THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO BILK MORE MONEY FROM CONSUMERS! I MADE A MISTAKE OF PURCHASING A 2004 TAHOE FROM ELDORADO CHEVROLET LAST YEAR. WHAT A MISTAKE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM! THEY DON'T GET IT: SOMETIMES, THEY WIN, BUT THEY REALLY LOOSE!! I HAD BEEN SAVING POINTS ON MY GM CARD, BECAUSE I WAS CONSIDERING A NEW PURCHASE. ELDORADO CHEVROLET HAS SOURED ME ON A GM PRODUCTS EVER AGAIN! DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT "DO THE RIGHT THING!" MEANS? OH, I FORGOT, THEY'RE IDIOTS. WHY TRY TO SELL A VEHICLE WHEN YOU CAN SHAFT SOMEONE OUT OF $240 AND LOOSE THEM AS A CUSTOMER FOREVER? WHERE DO THEY FIND THESE GUYS? IDIOT COLLEGE? *NM
TAILGATE WAS DOWN BECAUSE BOTH OF THE TAILGATE SUPPORT STRAPS SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE LOADING A RIDING LAWN, THE CABLE BROKE IN HALF. REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN. *SC THE CONSUMER HAD THE CABLE REPLACED AT A LOCAL DEALER WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CABLE THAT BROKE, UNTIL THE STAINLESS CABLE ARRIVED, HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. *JB
WATER LEAK DISCOVERED AGAIN FOR THE FIFTH TIME. DEALER HAS REPLACED CARPET AND PAD ON PREVIOUS REPAIRS AND NEW SEALS WERE INSTALLED. WAS DRY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. CARPET UNDER BACK SEAT IS SOAKING WET AGAIN. I AM EXTREMELY TIRED OF THIS MALFUNCTION IN DESIGN, CAUSING SUCH ISSUES. THE BED STAYS MOSTLY DRY, AND HONESTLY I NEVER EXPECTED THE BED TO BE DRY 100% OF THE TIME. HOWEVER THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUCK SHOULD NOT BE WET UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. DEALER HAS EXPLAINED HOW THE KEEP THE DRAIN CHANNELS CLEAR AND IT DOES NOT HELP AT ALL.*AK
WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE CAB, THROUGH THE MID GATE. EVENTHOUGH THE SALES PERSON TOLD ME THE COMPARTMENTS WERE ALL WATER TIGHT AND WOULD NOT LEAK. I HAVE COMPLAINED BUT THE SERVICE PERSON TELLS ME THAT WHAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE COMPARTMENTS ARE WATER RESISTANT NOT WATER TIGHT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS!!!*AK
VEHICLE HAS RUSTED BRAKE ROTOR. PROBLEMS WITH FRAME AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM COMPONENTS THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION RUSTED TO THE POINT OF METAL FATIGUE ESPECIALLY AT THE POINTS OF WELD THAT HOLD THE SUSPENSION TO THE FRAME. THE ROTORS WERE TORE UP AND THE PADS WERE GROUND DOWN. *SC
THE TAILGATE CABLE BROKE WHILE TWO PERSONS WERE SITTING ON IT. CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR TAILGATE TO BE INSPECTED ON A NHTSA RECALL 04V129000. *AK
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILGATE RELEASING AND HAD IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER TWICE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE TAILGATE FOR THE STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND MADE THE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO THE TAILGATE WHICH RELEASED EVEN WHEN LOCKED WITH A KEY. 04V129000. *JB. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILGATE RELEASING AND HAD IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER TWICE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 04V129000 ON TAILGATE STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND MADE THE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO THE TAILGATE WHICH RELEASED WHEN LOCKED WITH KEY. *AK
TAILGATE STRAP ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS BROKEN. DEALER IS REFUSING TO FIX SAYING MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN RECALL. WAS BUILT IN SEPTEMBER 2001. *NM
THE TAILGATE CABLES BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS STANDING ON TOP OF THE TAILGATE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO TA HOSPITAL BY CAR. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TAILGATE CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *TC
WHILE LOADING A 4 WHEELER ONTO MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE, BOTH TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED AND THE TAILGATE COMPLETELY FELL OFF. THE 4 WHEELER, MYSELF, AND THE RAMPS THAT WERE ON THE TAILGATE ALL FELL TO THE GROUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TAILGATE CABLES, BUT THE DAMAGE TO THE TAILGATE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY ARE WORKING THE ISSUE, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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