2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Tires & wheels Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE THERE IS A SMALL BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT WITH THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE LINE IS GOODYEAR P26570R17.

NHTSA ID

10149118

Incident

Dec 20, 2005

Mileage

42,290 mi

2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4X4. GOODYEAR AT 17" TIRES. ALL 4 TIRES EVENLY WORN 75% HAD SIDEWALL DETERIORATION WHERE TREAD AND SIDEWALL CONNECT AT 51500 MILES. WIRES WERE ACTUALLY STICKING OUT AND HAD LUMPS WHERE THE WIRE WAS FAILING. DEFINITELY NOT NORMAL WEAR PATTERN. FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOW OUT AND OUT OF CONTROL AND WHO KNOWS WHAT. CAUGHT THE FAILURE AND PRESENTED IT TO A GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. STILL POSSESS ALL 4 TIRES IF I COULD ONLY SHOW THEM TO AN ACTUAL GOODYEAR REPRESENTATIVE FOR REVIEW MY MIND WOULD BE AT EASE

NHTSA ID

10104155

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

51,500 mi

2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE-27.000 MILES. REGULAR TIRE ROTATION AND ALIGNMENT. TIRES STILL WORE IN IRREGULAR PATTERN. ON 12-13-04 NOTICED SPOT ON RIGHT REAR TIRE WHERE A "BUBBLE" HAD BURST AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE COMING THROUGH.(ABOUT 1" IN DIA.). VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK TO LOCAL TIRE RETAILER WHO STATED THAT TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN TO CAR DEALER. CALLED CAR DEALER. SENT TO GOODYEAR DEALER. FIRST TECH EXAMINED TIRE AND STATED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE. MANAGER CAME OUT AND SAID LACK OF MAINTENANCE WAS CAUSE OF PROBLEM. THEN STATED THAT 265/70R17 ATS WAS FOR OFFROAD USE AND NOT INTENDED FOR HIGHWAY USE ONLY. SAID ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH 265/70R17 RT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102909

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

27 mi

WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON INTERSTATE-15 THROUGH ST. GEORGE, UTAH, I EXPERIENCED A TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON MY LEFT REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHILE TOWING MY 23 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER. TOTAL TIRE MILEAGE: 26,995 MILES. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE 2500 TRUCK AND GET STOPPED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE FOR DAMAGE, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE I-15 WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES AT 15 MPH AND INSTALL A SPARE TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090831

Incident

Aug 28, 2004

Mileage

26,955 mi

ON THE HIGHWAY LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED, THE SPARE WAS PLACED ON, AND VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE TIRE DEALER, WHERE THE REMAINING TIRES WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURER STATED TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND WAS WILLINGTO REPLACE THEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091564

Incident

Sep 7, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTRO,L BUT MANAGED TO GAIN IT BACK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090253

Incident

Aug 16, 2004

Mileage

34,000 mi

THE RUBBER PEELED OFF OF MY REAR DRIVER TIRE DOWN TO THE STEEL CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO MY 02 AVALANCHE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10088354

Incident

Aug 17, 2004

Mileage

44,600 mi

DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION PRIOR TO A TRIP, TWO "RIPS" OF ABOUT 3 1/2" - 4 " WERE OBSERVED ABOUT 18" APART ON THE SIDEWALL, ABOUT 4 1/2" ABOVE THE TREAD ON THE SIDEWALL. THE SIDE OF THE TIRE IN BOTH PLACES WAS AWAY FROM THE CARCASS OF THE TIRE, REVEALING THE TREAD CAP AND THE INNER CARCASS OF THE TIRE. IT APPEARED THAT THERE WAS NO ADHESIVE BINDING THE OUTER SIDE OF THE TIRE TO THE CARCASS IN EITHER LOCATION. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF THE DAMAGE. NOTE: THIS DAMAGE COULD NOT BE DETECTED IN A CURSORY CHECK, EXCEPT IF THE "RIP" IS ALMOST ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL ROTATION AS IT SITS ON THE ROAD UNDER LOAD. *LA

NHTSA ID

10082395

Incident

Jul 17, 2004

ALL FOUR TIRES DEVELOPED A KNOT ON THE SIDEWALL NEXT TO THE TREAD. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE KNOT DEVELOPED BECAUSE THE BELT TURNED LOSE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TIRE. A GOODYEAR REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THE TIRES STILL HAVE HALF OF THE TREAD LIFE REMAINING. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10075722

Incident

May 21, 2004

Mileage

31,000 mi

WHILE WASHING THE TIRES, THE CONSUMER'S HAND WAS CUT DUE TO WIRES STICKING FROM THE SIDES. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD PARTS OF THE STEEL BELT STICKING FROM THE SIDE. THE STEEL BELTS WERE AT THE JUNCTION WERE THE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD MEET ON THE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT A PRORATED COST. *JB M

NHTSA ID

10073839

Incident

Jan 6, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

IN THE PAST 60 DAYS I HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS ANDF A FLAT TIRE ON THE ORIGINAL GOODYEAR TIRES OF 2002 AVALANCE. NEAR MULTICAR COLLISON LAST WEEK. FIRESTONE SAID "LOOKS LIKE TIRES ROTTEN INSIDE" SEARS SAID "WE HAVE HAD A QUITE A FEW AVALANCES IN LATELY".*AK

NHTSA ID

10078313

Incident

Jun 6, 2004

Mileage

4,000 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE TIRES WERE BEGINNING TO SEPARATE AT THE TREADS AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE SHOWING. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT ONE TIRE HAD A PLUG IN IT. *AK THE TIRES WERE BULDGING BY THE JUNCTION OF THE SIDEWALLS AND THREADS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10067490

Incident

Nov 19, 2003

Mileage

44,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES AS WELL AS THE LEFT REAR HAS BUBBLE AND INSIDE WALL ARE CRACKED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10074422

Incident

May 28, 2004

THE REAR PASSENGER AND BOTH FRONT TIRES ACCUMULATED BUBBLES. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10067029

Incident

Apr 6, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT IN PLACE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CABLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072099

WRONG SIZE SPARE TIRE ON AVALANCHE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060049

Incident

Feb 21, 2004

Mileage

36,818 mi

TIRE SEPARATION. NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THE GOODYEAR AT'S TIRES THAT CAME AS STANDARD ON MY AVALANCHE. I HAD 6 FLATS IN A 4 WEEK PERIOD AND FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE ALL TIRES AT 36,000 MILES DUE TO BELT SEPARATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060048

Incident

Feb 21, 2004

Mileage

36,818 mi

TOTAL TREAD PLY SEPARATION ON A FIRESTONE LT 265 R75 16 STEELTEX AT LOAD RANGE E TIRE. TIRE CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500 4X4, WITH A 12,000 LB TOW PACKAGE. WHEN I TOOK DELVIERY OF THIS VEHICLE IN 2001, FIRESTONE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF RECALLING OTHER TIRES THAT WERE FAILING THE SAME WAY, I WAS ASSURED BY BOTH CHEVROLET AND FIRESTONE THAT THIS PRODUCT FAR EXCEEDED THE SPECS FOR THE PURPOSE I SELECTED THIS VEHICLE, AND THESE WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NOW I SEE THAT THIS TIRE HAS HAD A LIMITED PRODUCTION DATE RECALL. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FILING A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE TO RE-COUP $1600.00 OF BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT I THOUGHT I SHOULD MAKE MY VOICE HEARD TO YOU. AS A SIDE NOTE I WAS TOWING MY TRAVEL TRAILER AT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 55 TO 60 MPH ON AN OVERCAST 60 DEGREE DAY IN FLORIDA, WHEN I FELT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A TRAILER TIRE GOING DOWN. AS I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE RIGHT LANE WITH LIMITED GUARD RAILED EMERGENCY SHOULDER SPACE TO PULL OFF, I IMMEDIATELY BEGAIN TO SLOW EVEN MORE AND PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO WARN FOLLOWING MOTORISTS OF MY FUTURE INTENTIONS. AS MY SPEED DROPPED TO AROUND 45 MPH IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND ENOUGH SHOULDER TO STOP ON, THE TREAD GRENADED OFF. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ESPECIALLY AWARE OF PROPER INFATIONS OF TIRES, CHECKING BY GAUGE BOTH THE TOW VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER EACH DAY BEFORE HOOKING UP AND PULLING, AS I DID THIS DAY BEFORE LEAVING THE CAMPSITE. SO UNDER OR OVER INFLATION IS NOT AN ISSUE HERE. THE TRAILER WAS BALANCED SO PERFECTLY THAT BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROAD, THE TIRE CASING WAS STILL INFLATED AND THE TRAILER WAS HOLDING THE TRUCK UP IN THE REAR. THIS AND THE LACK OF SPEED WERE PROBABLY THE ONLY REASON I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL, BECAUSE I AM SURE THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE CASING WOULD HAVE BLOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059020

Incident

Feb 16, 2004

Mileage

36,806 mi

TIRE BELTS SEPARATED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059660

Incident

Feb 10, 2004

Mileage

26,300 mi

STANDARD TIRES ISSUED WITH VEHICLE WERE OFFROAD WRANGLER HP WHICH HAVE VERY POOR RAIN HANDLING CAPABILITIES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS OR GIVEN OPTION OF SWITCHING TO HIGHWAY TIRES WITH BETTER RAIN CAPABILITY. AS A RESULT OF THE POOR CONTROL OF VEHICLE IN RAIN, FRONT EDGE WAS DAMAGED WHEN ENTERED PARKING LOT AND WAS TRYING TO TURN ON WET PAVEMENT AND SLID INTO WALL WHEN STEERING WAS NON-RESPONSIVE DUE TO TIRE SLIDING INSTEAD OF TURNING. SPEED WAS LESS THEN 10 MPH. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL ARTICLES ON INTERNET INDICATING SHOULD EITHER REPLACE THOSE TIRES OR HAVE THEM "SIPED" TO ACHIEVE BETTER CONTROL IN RAIN. SINCE MY AVALANCHE IS TWO WHEEL DRIVE I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH IF ANY ABOUT OFFROAD USE OR THAT THE STANDARD TIRES WOULD BE SO GEARED UP FOR OFFROAD USE AS TO MAKE THEM HANDLE POORLY IN RAIN. CAPITOL CHEVROLET SERVICE MANAGER CONFIRMED THIS INFORMATION WITH ME. I HAVE 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING IN THE NORTH UNDER ALL CONDITIONS WITH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM BEFORE WITH ANY VEHICLE WITH ANY KIND OF TIRE. MILITARY VEHICLE TIRES ARE VERY OFFROAD ORIENTED BUT NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IN RAIN. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10058403

Incident

Aug 13, 2003

Mileage

25,330 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

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BUBBLED ON THE SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO ROTATE TIRES PREMATURELY. *AK THE ROTATION DID NOT STOP THE TIRES FROM PUSHING OUTWARD IN THE THREAD AND TIRE WEAR. TREAD WEAR WAS ONLY 27%. *SC

NHTSA ID

10052027

Incident

Apr 5, 2003

Mileage

44,000 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

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 72 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048326

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

Mileage

38,000 mi

I HAD MY CHEVROLET AVAILABLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES TO FIND OIL SPRAYING UP ON THE DRIVERS DOOR THEY FOUND A CRACK IN THE FRONT DIFFER. SAID THEY PUT IN SOME GO IN THE CRACK AND IT DOESNT NEED REPLACED. IN MY OPION THE CASTING IN CHEVY AVALNCHES ARE DEFFECTIVE AND NEED REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037493

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

Mileage

2,498 mi