2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Powertrain (other) Problems

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

TRANSFER CASE FLUID LEAKING FROM A HOLE IN THE CASE CAUSED BY INTERNAL PUMP RUB. ALL THE TRANSFER CASE OIL EXPELLED ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE AND POSSIBLY A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615495

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

Mileage

72,394 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE NO POWER WAS GETTING TO THE WHEELS. I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE RPMS WENT UP, BUT THE TRUCK COULDNT GET PAST 30 MPH. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT. I BABIED THIS TRUCK. THEIR IS NO REASON FOR A CHEVY TRUCK WITH 60000 MILES OF LIGHT ROAD USE SHOULD BLOW A TRANNY. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. 3200 DOLLARS TO FIX A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST LASTED 100000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10567282

Incident

Dec 5, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

AT 95,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION EXPLODED, REPLACED. 1 YEAR LATER, BRAKE LINE EXPLODED, LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID, ALL 4 BRAKE LINES REPLACED AS THEY WERE NOT MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND HAD RUSTED. 6 MONTHS LATER, DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS ALL WORN, AFFECTING STEERING, DIFFERENTIAL AND RELATED PARTS ALL REPLACED. ALL EXPLOSIONS TOOK PLACE WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS, NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, THANK GOD! MECHANIC (FRIEND OF MINE) SAYS HE NEVER SAW ANY CAR WITH AS MANY BAD PARTS AS MY AVALANCHE! I ALSO THANK GOD I BOUGHT IT USED. AMERICAN ENGINEERED CARS HAVE SUCH BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN THAT I NEVER BUY THEM NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509997

Incident

May 23, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

REAR BRAKE DUST SHIELDS RUSTED THROUGH AT 62,438 MILES ALLOWING DIRT, STONE, AND OTHER MATERIALS INTO BRAKE SYSTEM. DUST SHIELDS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223243

Incident

Aug 4, 2006

Mileage

62,438 mi

2002 AVALANCHE EMERGENCY BRAKE ISN'T WORKING AND THE REAR END WENT OUT IN IT YESTERDAY 8/10/07 AT 92,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199298

Incident

Aug 10, 2007

Mileage

92,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER 20MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS THE SPEED INCREASES OR WHILE DRIVING OVER POTHOLES THE NOISE INCREASES. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE NOISE CAME FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION AND THE DRIVESHAFT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ID

10151478

Incident

Feb 26, 2006

Mileage

93,000 mi

2002 AVALANCHE WITH 81,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE...STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH A VERY LIGHT HUM IN THE BACK END. ON 12/8/05 MADE SEVERAL LARGE CLUNKING NOISES AND DIED (STOPPED TURNING). THE GARAGE STATED THAT A MAIN BEARING HAD BROKEN APART SENDING METAL THROUGHOUT THE REAR AXLE AND DESTROYED THE DRIVE SYSTEM. $2000.00 JOB TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BACK AXLE DRIVE SYSTEM WITH A USED ONE. MECHANIC SAID NO REASON FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED I SPEAK WITH THE DEALER BEFORE I HAD THE WORK DONE. DEALER DID NOTHING EXCEPT QUOTE ME $3000.00 FOR THE SAME REPAIR AND SAME USED PART. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146530

Incident

Dec 8, 2005

Mileage

81,200 mi

REAR AXLE LOCKED UP AND THEN BLEW UP INSIDE IT'S HOUSING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141345

Incident

Oct 5, 2005

Mileage

58,077 mi

2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE EXPERIENCING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AS WELL AS THE FRONT END SHIMMIES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE ONLY PROBLEM THEY FOUND WAS THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER BROKEN PARTS FELL OUT. *NM *NM

NHTSA ID

10121472

Incident

Mar 24, 2005

FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARING FAILURE ON 02 AVALANCHE AT 51,000 MILES- BROUGHT TO DEALER BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE CLUB AVALANCHE WEBSITE. THIS DEFECT COULD LEAD TO WHEELS FALLING OFF AND CATASTROPHIC INJURY. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING . *AK

NHTSA ID

10108360

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

MEXICAN ASSEMBLY FACTORY FAILURE. THERE WAS A MAJOR FAILURE OF THE REAR AXLES AND PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. *BF THE REAR AXLES HAD GROOVES WORN IN THEM AND THE REAR BEARING FAILED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE PARKING BRAKE REMAINED INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE ACCELERATION WOULD HANG UP AND A POP WOULD BE HEARD IN THE REAR, THERE WAS A RATTLE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE AXLE SEALS LEAKED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10111069

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

15,896 mi

BEGINNING ON 06/09/03 AND CONTINUING TO THE CURRENT DATE, MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECURRING FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LEAK. FIRST 3 REPAIRS WERE FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL SEALS, UNTIL IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VENT TUBE WAS PLUGGED, THE NEXT 4 TIMES FOR REPAIR WERE DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A TRIP FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL PURGES THE FLUID OUT THE VENT TUBE. THE LAST TRIP I TOOK THE VEHICLE ON WAS A 400 MILE ROUND TRIP AND THE VEHICLE UNDERBODY WAS HALF COVERED IN DIFF OIL, AND IT CONTINUED TO DRIP FOR 2 DAYS. MY CONCERN IS A LONGER TRIP, WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR, WOULD RESULT IN THE SEIZING OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AT HIGHWAY SPEED, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10087020

Incident

Jul 5, 2004

Mileage

31,300 mi

OVERTIME I KEPT HEARING A WHINING NOISE, SMELL OF OIL, HEAT AND LIGHT VIBRATION FROM THE DRIVELINE. AT THE DEALERSHIP ON A 100, 000 MILE TOTAL OIL, TRANSMISSION AND COOLANT CHANGE (DID THIS AT 97,018 MI. 1/2/04). THE MECHANIC DID NOTICE A BIT OF PLAY IN THE FRONT & REAR DRIVELINE (DRIVE SHAFTS FROM TRANSFER CASE TO THE FRONT WHEEL AXLE CASE AND THE REAR AXLE CASE), SOME OIL LEAKAGE ON THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR AXLE, THIS WAS NORMAL HE TOLD ME. MECHANIC FOUND BOTH FINE AND SMALL PIECES OF METAL IN THE FRONT 4X4 TRANSMISSION CASE, BUT SAID THIS WAS NOT A BIG PROBLEM. MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE U-JOINTS REPLACED SOMETIME ON THE DRIVE SHAFTS AND THIS WOULD STOP THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. AT COLDWATER, MI. (1/14/04), I HAD TO REPLACE A RIGHT FRONT HUB BEARING; MECHANIC REPORTED TO ME THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THE REAR AXLE FOR NOISE. MECHANIC FOUND SOME PLAY IN THE DRIVELINE U-JOINTS, RIGHT REAR AXLE AND PINION SHAFT, AND SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. ON 1/26/04 I HAD BOTH REAR & FRONT DRIVESHAFT U-JOINTS REPLACED & BALANCED (FLEET PRIDE SAID THERE WAS SOME PLAY IN THEM). THE NOISE AND VIBRATION STOPPED, BUT THE OIL & HOT SMELL STAYED. THEN THE LIGHT VIBRATION AND SOME NOISE (BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 40-75 MPH) STARTED TO RETURN IN JUST 150 MILES. AT 106,606 MILES THE REAR AXLE STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE AND HARD VIBRATION THEN STOPPED TURNING AT 106,607 MILES. I HAD THE REAR AXLE REMOVED AND FOUND THAT THE MAIN BEARING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MECHANICAL LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL (EATON G-80) HAD BROKE APART SENDING METAL THROUGH OUT THE REAR AXLE AND DESTROYED AXLE DRIVE SYSTEM. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PARTS & DAMAGE TO THE REAR. THE FRONT AXLE IS STARTING THE SAME THING, LEAKING, HOT SMELL AND NOISE. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH YOUR SYSTEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS AND WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID THEY ARE CHECKING INTO IT. SERVICE BULLETINS 03-04-17-001, 03-07-30-005, 02-04-21-005A. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057003

Incident

Feb 7, 2004

Mileage

106,607 mi

TRANSMISSION AND/OR REAR AXLE LOCKS UP WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION CAUSING ERRATIC VEHICLE HANDLING AND/OR LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. * CB

NHTSA ID

10054422

Incident

Jan 16, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

I HAVE NOT GIVEN PERMISSION TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO START REPAIRS. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE REAR AXLE OR REAR END THAT WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND MUST BE REPLACED. I WAS QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF $2,400 FOR A USED PART AND $3,000 FOR A NEW PART. THIS TRUCK HAS AROUND 42,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED JUNE 1, 2003. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS RANGING FROM REPLACEMENT OF CD'S TO A DOOR WINDOW MOTOR PROBLEM. I INQUIRED/COMPLAINED ABOUT A NOISE IN THE REAR END AT AROUND 25,000 MILES PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN. HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE TAILGATE WOULD FALL OPEN WHEN LOCKED OCCASIONALLY, BUT THIS WAS ADJUSTED AFTER TAKING IT BACK FOR REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ONE HUB ASSEMBLY ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK AT A COST OF $250.00. THERE IS AN OIL USAGE PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL QUART TO BE ADDED BETWEEN CHANGES. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS TRUCK IS A LEMON AND NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED TO DISCERN IF IT HAS HAD SOME PREVIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ALTHOUGH IT WAS PURCHASED NEW THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD HAVE HAD SOME MALFUNCTIONS BEFORE IT WAS DELIVERED. I MISPLACED MY RECEIPTS, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL GIVE ME ANOTHER COPY. HOWEVER, I WILL SEARCH FOR THEM AS VERIFICATION THAT I TOOK THE TRUCK IN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR VARIOUS AND SUNDRY COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

10070167

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

THE CONSUMER HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR PINION BEARINGS BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. LATER THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS REPLACED. *NLM *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10042269

Incident

Apr 20, 2003

Mileage

57,000 mi

TRANSMISSION/DRIVELINE FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10002621

Incident

Dec 14, 2002

Mileage

14,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS BLOWING OUT OIL CAUSING OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE TO BURN, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE GEAR OIL BLOWS ON LEFT FRONT BRAKE AND ALL THE RUBBER HOSE WIRES, LINES TIRES AND RUNNING BOARD MAKING THE LEFT BRAKE FAIL WHEN WET.*JB

NHTSA ID

8008024

Incident

Feb 1, 2002