2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was firm, and vehicle kept accelerating unintendedly. Several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty ABS module. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the vehicle was not included in a recall because he was not located in a salt State. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11554315

Incident

Nov 7, 2023

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and oil warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer, the 4-wheel drive function, parking brake, and headlights failed to operate as needed. The instrument panel light failed to illuminate, the gear shifter did not display the selected gear, the sub-frame was corroded, and the wheel hub bearing assembly was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11451861

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

142,000 mi

BRAKE LINES ARE MADE OUT OF DEFECTIVE MATERIALS GM KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM THE LINES RUST OUT PREMATURELY . THE FIRST ONE BLEW OUT I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPACE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE SECOND ONE BLEW AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT PUSHED ON THE BRAKE WENT THRU THE RED LIGHT DODGED TRAFFIC .THE THIRD ON THE INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WAS STOPPING SUDDENLY PUSHED ON THE PEDAL ANOTHER BRAKE LINE BROKE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I MANAGED TO HIT THE MEDIAN CROSS THE MIDDLE AND GET IT STOPPED BEFORE A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE TRAFFIC HEADING THE OTHER DIRECTION ON INTERSTATE 81 . THE REST OF THE UNDER SIDE IS RUST AND CORROSION FREE ONLY THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT ! .THAT BEING SAID GM HAS A REPAIR KIT WITH COATED LINES THEY ALWAYS HAVE IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY KNOW ITS A MAJOR PROBLEM !!! I GOT A REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP $1580.00 I AM REPLACING ALL STEEL LINES . PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE

NHTSA ID

10816904

Incident

Dec 26, 2015

Mileage

7,900 mi

WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, >5MPH, THE ABS ACTIVATES AND VEHICLE CONTINUES ON TO THE POINT OF ENTERING TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, AT STOP SIGNS AND EVEN JUST PULLING OUT OF PRIVATE DRIVEWAY INTO TRAFFIC. MY LOCAL MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND INDICATED THAT A FRONT SPEED SENSOR WAS AT FAULT. AFTER INVESTIGATING NUMEROUS SITES, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM ON THE '02 AVALANCHE AS WELL AS OTHER SIMILAR CHASSIS TRUCKS FROM '99-'02. AND THESE WERE INCLUDED IN A RECALL OF OVER 1,353,700 TRUCKS UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V379000. THE REPORT STATED TO CONTACT GM AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR. WHEN I DID THAT, THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ACCORDING TO THE VIN. HOW DOES GM DETERMINE WHICH VIN IS AFFECTED? IS THE NHTSA MONITORING GM'S SELECTION PROCESS? I'VE OWN THE VEHICLE SINCE 6/05, AND THE ABOVE RECALL WAS INITIATED 9/05, BUT I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF NOTICE THAT MY VEHICLE MAY OR MAY NOT BE AFFECTED AND TO BRING IT TO A GM DEALER FOR INSPECTION. I'VE HAD ONE HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED YEARS AGO AT MY OWN EXPENSE, (I WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD BEARING BUT THEY HAD THE REPLACEMENT PART ONLY CAME ASSEMBLED AS THE BEARING, HUB AND SENSOR). THE DESIGNER MUST ALSO HAVE BEEN THE SUPPLIER. IT'S GOOD THAT THERE IS THE NHTSA TO TRY AND KEEP THESE MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CARS THEY PRODUCE, BUT WITH MORE AUTOMATION IN THE INDUSTRY TO CUT COSTS, YOU NOW HAVE 1 WORKER OVERSEEING WHAT IT TOOK 10 TO DO. MORE AND MORE MISTAKES ARE BOUND TO HAPPEN. OUR SAFETY IS WORTH MORE THEN THEIR CORPORATE JETS AND LAVISH LIFESTYLES.

NHTSA ID

10761430

Incident

Jul 30, 2015

Mileage

86,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK AND TOWING A TRAILER, I LOST ALMOST ALL MY BRAKING POWER. HAD TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. FOUND THAT A BRAKE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE (WHICH IS MOUNTED UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT, GREAT PLACE) HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BLEW OUT. FOUND ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED IN THIS AREA AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. LOOKS LIKE GM USED INFERIOR METAL BRAKE LINES IN CONSTRUCTING THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE IN AN AREA THAT GETS SEVERE EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY RENDERED UNSAFE WITH THE RUPTURE OF ONE BRAKE LINE, WHICH INDICATES THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS A FAULTY DESIGN. I WAS VERY LUCK TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP AND NOT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670701

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

93,000 mi

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR UPON BRAKING. HAD TO DOWNSHIFT TO LOW GEAR AND APPLY WHAT LITTLE BRAKE I HAD LEFT TAKING APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET TO STOP. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAR END COLLISION. SLOWLY RETURNED HOME ABOUT A MILE AWAY AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE HARD BRAKE LINE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAD BURST. NO PRIOR WARNING TO LOSS OF BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660867

Incident

Nov 21, 2014

Mileage

67,880 mi

APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION FOUND BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. VEHICLE REQUIRED 100% REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654831

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINE THAT GOES THE LENGTH OF THE TRUCK FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR BRAKES CORRODED THROUGH AND RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK. I HAD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD AND INTO SOME BRUSH AND A DRAINAGE DITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND AVOID HITTING CARS IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649935

Incident

Jul 10, 2013

Mileage

106,000 mi

DRIVING IN SCHOOL PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR NOTIFICATION FROM DASH DISPLAY, HAD TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE LINE AD RUSTED, BRAKE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK AND ALL BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS $1200.00 USD. ALL THE TIMES I TOOK TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE, NOT ONCE DID THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING BRAKE LINES. DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND MECHANICS AND OWNER'S OF SIMILAR VEHICLES SAID THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641734

Incident

Sep 9, 2014

Mileage

140,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10628709

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

GM HAD REPAIRED THE RUST BRAKE DEFECTS ON MY TYPE OF VEHICLE IN MANY SALT STATES THAT ENDURE COLD WEATHER. BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OUTRAGE THEY DID NOT REPAIR THIS SAME DEFECT IN MY STATE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS WHERE RUST CAUSES THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM TO NEEDLESS ENGAGE WHEN IT SHOULD NOT DURING SLOW SPEEDS SOMETIMES MAKING BRAKING DANGEROUS IN SLOW TURNING AND PARKING SITUATIONS. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FIXING THESE DEFECTS ON MY OWN BUT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE SYSTEM THIS PROBLEM HAS A TENDENCY TO RE OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626730

Incident

Aug 5, 2006

DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE TOWING A HORSE TRAILER, WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES THE BRAKE LINES BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616464

Incident

Aug 31, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10616269

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

PULLING BOAT (22 FT ) FROM THE BOAT LAUNCH TO THE MAKE READY AREA. STEPPED ON BRAKES AND PEDDLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WENT TO THE FLOOR ! UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES, THEY ARE RUSTED AND IN BAD SHAPE. THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ON TOP OF THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND GOES TO THE REAR WHEELS HAD BLOWN OUT !! *TR

NHTSA ID

10616094

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

Mileage

207,100 mi

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT FROM PARK THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENED IN JULY AND NOVEMBER 2013, AND AGAIN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608462

Incident

Jul 22, 2013

Mileage

105,000 mi

WAS DRIVING AROUND THE BLOCK AS I HAD JUST JUMP STARTED THE DEAD BATTERY. AS I APPROACHED A STOP THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE TRUCK KEPT ROLLING AS THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY. AS I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE THE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR. I NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A CAR COMING FROM THE SIDE STREET. I COASTED THE TRUCK HOME AND THERE WAS FLUID POURING FROM THE LINES JUST BEHIND THE ABS MODULE. ALL THE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10598016

Incident

May 28, 2014

Mileage

114,001 mi

AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST THE BRAKES CAUSING ME TO ROLL THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS COMING THROUGH FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION. IT WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC WHERE HE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE SO CORRODED THAT THEY BURST WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LINE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10592038

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT CHANGING TO RED, BRAKES WERE APPLIED MODERATELY HARD AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH SEVERELY REDUCED BRAKING RESULTING IN A STOPPING DISTANCE ABOUT 1 CAR LENGTH LONGER THAN NORMAL. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT DURING THIS INCIDENT. I CONTINUED ANOTHER MILE TO MY DESTINATION WITH REDUCED BRAKING. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, THE LEAK IN A CORRODED LINE ON TOP OF THE FRAME ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS APPARENT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER ABOUT 1 MORE MILE FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577094

Incident

Apr 2, 2014

Mileage

187,500 mi

ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON...THERE WAS A RECALL FOR "SALT" BELT STATES, HOWEVER, AREAS THAT GET SNOW AND ROADS ARE SALTED AS WELL SUCH AS RENO, NV, TRUCKEE, CA ETC AND OTHER STATES THAT HAVE SIMILAR CONDITIONS TO THOSE THAT WERE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS WELL.... SAME PROBLEM, SIMILAR CONDITIONS. WHY WOULD MY AREA NOT BE INCLUDED AS WELL?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10576538

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ABS ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S STATE WAS NOT MENTIONED AS ONE OF THE SALT BELT STATES THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568534

Incident

Mar 8, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME AROUND 9:30 PM. AS I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL I STEPPED ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES AT ALL, NO SAFTEY FEATURES KICKED IN, NO WARNING LIGHTS. JUST A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. LUCKILY FOR ME IT WAS A SMALL HILL AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY GOING INTO LOW GEAR AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I TURNS OUT THAT THE BRAKELINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS CONTROL BOX WERE ROTTED AND FINALLY GAVE OUT. THIS IS A 2002 TRUCK WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT. I KNOW FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH OLDER CARS THAT IF A BRAKE LINE FAILS, THERE IS A VALVE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CUT OFF THE OPEN LINE SO THERE IS SOME BRAKES LEFT. I REPEAT, NO SAFTEY FEATURES WORKED, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO VALVE KICKING IN,NOTHING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH GM. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE WEB BROUGHT UP THOUSANDS OF HITS ON THIS PROBLEM. JUST 20 MINUTES EARLIER I WAS ON THE NYS THRUWAY DOING 65 MPH. IF I LOST BRAKES AT THAT SPEED AND WITH THE OTHER TRAFFIC, THERE MOST CERTAINLY WOOD HAVE BEEN A CRASH AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE.

NHTSA ID

10567281

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

62,000 mi

SLOWED RAPIDLY FOR A VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. BRAKES WORKED FINE UNTIL SPEED DROPPED TO 15 MPH. THEN BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED AND WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. LIMPED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT CLOSING TIME. AWAITING ESTIMATE AND CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564425

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

Mileage

189,567 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ABS ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10559673

Incident

Jul 1, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE CORRODED AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN ALSO, THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 02/18/14

NHTSA ID

10558013

Incident

Dec 29, 2013

Mileage

157,000 mi

WAS DRIVING ON STREET FROM STORE TO HOME WHEN I NOTICED BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND THEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. MY SON WENT TO USE THE TRUCK THE NEXT DAY AND WHEN HE PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY TO STREET, COULD BARELY STOP. SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID ON DRIVEWAY. CHECKED BRAKELINE AND IT WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY WITH A HOLE IN IT. CAR HAS BEEN LAID UP AND NOT DRIVE-ABLE. RUSTING THROUGH THE BRAKELINE SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557852

Incident

Jun 28, 2013

Mileage

168,000 mi