Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 19 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WE OWN A 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE AND THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE RIGHT SEAL. WE HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE. MY BEST FRIEND AND HER HUSBAND BOUGHT A USED CHEVY SILVERADO AND HAVE REPLACED THE SEAL 3 TIMES SINCE THEY HAVE BOUGHT THEIRS. THERE NEED TO BE SOME RESEARCH DONE ON THESE SEALS. *TR
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.
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE HUB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE HUB IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY. *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
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING/CLICKING NOISE COMING FORM THE FRONT/REAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
1.BRAKES--PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR...THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 DIFFERENT TIMES 2.BRAKES--HAS BEEN RETURNED AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR BRAKE- ROTOR PROBLEMS 3.SUSPENSION NOISE--HAS BEEN RETURNED AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR NOISE 4.OIL LIGHTS--HAS BEEN RETURNED 3 TIMES FOR OIL CONSUMPTION--LEAKS 5.ELECTRICAL--HAS BEEN RETURNED TO REPLACE ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR WINDOWS 6.ELECTRICAL-- LOCKS-CLICK AND CLICK AND KEEP CAUSING, AND THE HORN---BEEPS NON STOP THIS ALL WHILE DRIVING 7.VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LIGHT AND HORN WOULD NOT STOP FLASHING AND BEEPING THE DEALER NOR CHEVROLET WANT TO EXCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE....WE ARE TOLD THAT THE NOISES(AND VIBRATION) FROM THE SUSPENSION JUST STANDARD FOR THE VEHICLE. THE BACK ROTORS HAD GROOVES WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND..WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE GROOVES THEY TOLD US THIS WAS NORMAL FOR "HEAVY DUTY" TRUCKS..BRAKES..WAS TOLD WE SHOULD ONLY EXPECT TO GET 6-7 THOUSAND MILES. DEALER SHOULD TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES GO BAD THERE IS NO WARNING...I JUST HAD NO BRAKES...THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE LAST TIME I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO UNIVERSITY MOTORS.....TO DATE HAVE HEARD NOTHING FORM UNIVERSITY MOTORS OR CHEVROLET.... *LA
1. BRAKES-AGAIN..PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR 2. NOISE STILL COMING FROM SUSPENSION 3. CAN SMELL OIL BURNING RETURNED VEHICLE TO UNIVERSITY MOTORS THEY CHECKED BRAKES AND TOLD ME NO CORRECTION WAS NEEDED....SUSPENSION NOISE WAS TOLD THAT WAS JUST HOW THE VEHICLE SOUNDED, I COULD FEEL THE VIBRATION ON THE FLOOR... OIL SMELL--THEY TIGHTENED THE OIL FILTER. *LA
1. BRAKES AGAIN... NOISE AND VIBRATION... 2. NOISE FROM SUSPENSION RETURNED VEHICLE TO UNIVERSITY MOTORS 1. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED WITH A SLIGHT LIP, REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS... 2. THEY SAID COULDN'T FIND WHERE NOISE COMING FROM, MAY HAVE BEEN FROM BRAKES...(TOLD THEM NO, THIS IS THE SAME NOISE SINCE 10790 MILES). *LA
1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT... 2. OIL LIGHT... 3. NOISE STILL PRESENT AND GETTING WORSE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO UNIVERSITY MOTORS... 1. THEY CLEARED THE CODES AND SAID MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO GAS(I USE BP GAS) 2. ADDED 2 QTS. OIL(OIL WAS CHANGED ON 12/29/02@UNIVERSITY MOTORS AND REPLACED THE PVC VALVE. 3. REAR LOCATOR BAR WAS LOOSE THEY TIGHTENED. *LA
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE EXPLODED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF THE TRUCK. THIS HAPPENED WHILE GOING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN HOUSTION TEXAS. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. ONCE I WAS STOPPED, ALL OF THE BEARINGS AND PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY FELL OUT ON THE GROUND. ALL THAT WAS KEEPING THE WHEEL ON WAS THE BRAKE DISK. THE TRUCK HAD ONLY 63,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND HAD NEVER BEEN DRIVEN IN ANY ABUSIVE CONDITIONS. A NEW WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND HUB WAS INSTALLED BY A FIRESTONE TIRE AND BRAKE SHOP LOCATED ON THE KATY EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE THE OLD PARTS FROM THE REPAIR JOB AND ALLOWED MY CHEVY DEALER TO LOOK AT THEM. THE REP SAID THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO SINCE I AM 28.000 MILES OVER THE WARRENTY. *AK
AT 19,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. AS A RESULT THE FRONT END COLLAPSED.*AK
FRONT END SHAKES AFTER GOING OVER HIGHWAY JOINTS OR SMALL BUMPS IN ROAD SURFACE. VERY NOTICEABLE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS OF 50 TO 65. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES JUST AFTER HITTING BUMPS. NOTICED ON CURVES, WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS, FRONT TIRES SEEM TO LOSE TRACTION WITH DRY ROAD SURFACE. HAD APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN PROBLEM WAS FIRST OBSERVED. I SUSPECTED THAT THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE DEFECTIVE; THE FRONT END WOULD BOUNCE EXCESSIVELY WHEN PUSING UP/DOWN ON BUMPER WHEN PARKED. AFTER SECOND TRIP TO DEALER; THEY AGREED TO CHANGE THE FRONT 2 SHOCKS BUT SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SHOCKS WERE REALLY DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE REPAIR AND ROAD TEST, THE DEALER AGREED THAT THE SHOCKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND SUBMITTED AS A WARRENTY CLAIM. MY PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS COMPLAINT #10017067.*AK
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE THROUGH A PARKING LOT, TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO DRIVE UP TO MY BANK'S ATM, WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE APPEARED TO BUCKLE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE LEFT FRONT OF THE TRUCK FELL TO THE GROUND. THE LEFT FRONT A-ARM AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE DUE TO PREMATURE METAL FATIGUE.
TRAVELING AT 65 MPH PASSING ANOTHER CAR SWITCHED LAND AND REAREND WENT OUT. DID 360 DEGREE AND HIT THE SIDE ON HIGH WAY. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IT DID $9000 IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. STEERING FEELS LIKE ITS HITTING ANOTHER METAL DEALER HAS TO GREASE THE STEERING SHAFT EVERY 25,000 MILES FACTORY DEFECT BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT. APPLYING BRAKE WHEN MAKING A TURN IF TRUCK GOES OVER A ROAD HOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD ANTI-LOCK BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AND LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. SUSPENSION IS NOT GOOD. *LA
WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, A SEVERE POPPING NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND CAN EASILY BE FELT IN ONE'S FEET. HAVE BEEN INTO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR REPAIR TO NO AVAIL. DEALER WANTS ME TO "LIVE WITH IT" FOR A WHILE AND SEE IF IT GETS WORSE. UNACCEPTABLE.*AK
FRONT END SHAKES AFTER GOING OVER PAVEMENT JOINT OR SMALL BUMP IN ROAD SURFACE. VERY NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS OF 50 TO 55. STEERING WHEEL THEN START DOING SAME, APPLYING BRAKES MAKE IT STOP. PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE MADE COMMENT OF CONDITION. DEALER STATED IT'S A TRUCK, THAT'S HOW THEY RIDE. *JB
WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNK AND POP SOUND, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JG *JB
THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 7 OCCASIONS YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *MR *NLM
THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR PULLING A BOAT & TRAILER WEIGHING NO MORE THAN 3500 LBS WITH A TONGUE WEIGHT OF NO MORE THAN 300 LBS. ALTHOUGH ALL INFO GIVEN BY CHEVROLET SAYS THE VEHICLE WILL PULL 7,100 LBS WITH A TONGUE WEIGHT OF 1,065 LBS. MAX. WHILE PULLING ANY BOAT & TRAILER (WE HOOKED UP SEVERAL TRAILERS) THAT FALL UNDER THESE MAX. WEIGHTS, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VIBRATES AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HOOKED SAME BOAT & TRAILER UP TO COMPARABLE AVALANCHE WITH SAME RESULTS. DEALERSHIP ADMITS THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SUSPENSION, BUT CHEVROLET CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A DEFECT.*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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