2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Complaints

MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, BY AT LEAST DOUBLE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CURVE OR CAR IN FRONT OF HIM THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PARKED THE TRUCK UNTIL IT COULD BE INSPECTED AND FOUND A LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. ALL OF THE MAIN BRAKE PIPES WERE RUSTED AND FRAGILE. TAKING TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALL BRAKE PIPES REPLACED WITH KIT MENTIONED IN (TSB) 13-05-22-001. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM IS FIGHTING A RECALL BY SIGHTING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BRAKE SYSTEMS AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES FOR BOTH SYSTEMS FAILED. AT THE VERY LEAST IT SEEMS THAT HAVING YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE BY ALMOST DOUBLE WITH OUT WARNING IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10855523

Incident

Mar 26, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10837117

Incident

Jul 12, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

BRAKE LINE FAILURE: I HAD A RUPTURED STEEL BREAK LINE FAILURE WHILE APPLYING NORMAL BREAKING PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION OF BREAK LINES, I FOUND ALL BREAK LINES WERE RUSTED AND IN DANGER OF ALSO RUPTURE.

NHTSA ID

10747108

Incident

Jul 29, 2015

Mileage

179,000 mi

THE OTHER DAY I STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I TURN RIGHT (OR LEFT IN REVERSE) AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND MY STEERING IS AFFECTED. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO REPORT IT. I DON'T FEEL IT IS FAIR THAT AS THE CONSUMER THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. I ALSO DON'T FEEL ITS FAIR TO HAVE TO SPEND UP $400 WHEN ITS ALL SAID AND DONE EACH TIME THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10725848

Incident

Jun 13, 2015

Mileage

181,062 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED, AND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10723547

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE.WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10701341

Incident

Mar 23, 2015

Mileage

115,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE UPON SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE DOWNHILL ORIENTATION OF THE ROAD SURFACE. LEFT ROADWAY TO AVOID COLLISION WITH TRACTOR-TRAILER. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF AN IMPENDING BRAKE FAILURE. NO INDICATION THAT ANY PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. IT WAS DISCOVERED UPON INSPECTION THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED COMPARED WITH OTHER BODY AND ENGINE COMPONENTS. METAL COMPOSITION OF BRAKE TUBING SEEMS VERY PRONE TO CORROSION. COMPLETE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS NOW NECESSARY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10691263

Incident

Jan 9, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST CATASTROPHICALLY AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS COMING UP TO STOPPED CARS AT AN INTERSECTION AND HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE TO AVOID REAR ENDING ANOTHER TRUCK. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE LANE AT THE TIME. I THEN HAD TO MAKE A SHARP TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT TO AVOID RUNNING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (WHICH DID HAVE TRAFFIC). I HAD ZERO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER. I TRIED PUSHING DOWN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT HAD NO EFFECT ( I LATER FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINES WERE FROZEN IN A LARGE CHUNK OF ICE NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL AND WOULD NOT MOVE). THE PICKUP BED DRAINS DOWN ONTO THE LOWER FRAME IN THIS AREA AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR THE ICE BUILDUP. I CONTINUED THROUGH THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND ALL I COULD TO WAS DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW MYSELF DOWN. LUCKY AGAIN...THE PARKING LOT WAS NEARLY EMPTY AND VERY LONG. AFTER ABOUT 4-500 FT I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO JAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS FAILURE. THE LINES WERE NOT LEAKING. I HAVE NOW READ ONLINE THAT GM HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS OF RUSTED LINES ON THEIR PICKUPS SUDDENLY FAILING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT SUDDENLY FAIL. THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. NON-CORROSIVE NICKLE COPPER BRAKE LINES EXIST THAT DO NOT RUST. THESE SHOULD BE MANDATORY ON ALL VEHICLES. *JS

NHTSA ID

10690668

Incident

Feb 24, 2015

Mileage

96,522 mi

IT STARTED WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT, BUT NOBODY WILL OWN UP TO FIXING IT, AS WE MOVED FROM PA TO FL. THEN THE BRAKE LINES WENT, ALL OF THEM, NOW WITH THE AIRBAG ISSUE THE PCM IS SENDING ALL KINDS OF STUPID CODES LIKE THE AIRBAG ISSUE IS AFFECTING THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679203

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

119,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED INDEPENDENTLY, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10678976

Incident

Jan 24, 2015

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM ICE FISHING , ON A HILLY AND CURVY ROAD WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. HE HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL , HE AVOID A FEW TREE BEFORE SMASHING INTO A SMALLER TREE JUST MISSING WERE HIS FRIEND WAS SEATED.THE TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER WERE IT HAS ABOUT $5000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. I JUST GLAD MY SON AND HIS DIDN'T GET HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676203

Incident

Jan 14, 2015

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10672249

Incident

Jul 10, 2013

Mileage

99,000 mi

STRAP ON GAS TANK BROKE (RUSTED THROUGH) WHILE DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD. TANK FELL AND HIT DRIVESHAFT. I WAS SURPRISED IT DIDN'T RUPTURE THE TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663469

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

Mileage

125,000 mi

BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE STATIONARY AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT (NO LIGHT ON DASH). UPON INVESTIGATION A BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND BRAKE FLUID COVERING UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663459

Incident

Dec 10, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 AVALANCHE AND I'VE NOTICE THAT OTHER CHEVY AVALANCHE HAS THE SAME RUST ON THE SAME PLACE IT SEEM THAT THE BACK QUARTER PANEL IS DEFECTIVE AND THE SPEEDOMETER TOO

NHTSA ID

10661665

Incident

Feb 2, 2008

THERE IS A GM RECALL #05068C- PRODUCT SAFETY- FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION. THE 2002 AVALANCHE IS LISTED, BUT MY 2003 IS NOT. I LIVE IN INDIANA, ONE OF THE STATES LISTED IN THE RECALL. MY 2003 AVALANCHE HAS THIS FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659652

Incident

Nov 20, 2014

Mileage

159,000 mi

ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME AND NOT WORK IF WE WHERE IN A CRASH. I CALLED GM ABOUT THE ISSUE AFTER LOOKING ON LINE AND REALIZING MY TRUCK WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO FIX IT AS THERE IS NO RECALL. THE TRUCK WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LOWER MILEAGE THEN ALLOWED. THIS IS DEFINITELY AND ISSUE. IT IS SUPPOSEDLY A MODULE UNDER THE FRONT SEAT OR WHEREVER IT IS LOCATED, AS SOME TRUCKS IT IS DIFFERENT PLACES. THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643870

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

119,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,053.

NHTSA ID

10643784

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

Mileage

143,053 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TO BACK BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED ALL BRAKE FLUID CAUSING AN INABILITY TO STOP. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL ALL FLUID WAS GONE AND NORMAL BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOSS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641505

Incident

Sep 3, 2014

Mileage

120,509 mi

THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WOULD BE A LOW THUMP THUMP SOUND EMANATING FROM THE AUDIO SPEAKERS. THE LOCK DOOR CHIMES STOPPED SOUNDING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641488

Incident

Mar 28, 2012

Mileage

81,416 mi

WHILE LEAVING A FUNERAL IN NEAR SWEETWATER TN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FELT PRESSURE AND THEN THE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE RIDING WITH ME. AFTER PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, I NOTICED I DID HAVE BRAKES BUT NOT POWER BRAKES. I PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM AROUND THE GAS TANK. WITH NO CHOICE, I HAD TO DRIVE THE TRUCK BACK TO KENTUCKY. APPR. 175 MILES IF NOT MORE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-75. I KNOW TRUCKS HAVE PROBLEMS AND I KNOW THERE IS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAVE HAD ON THESE TRUCKS. I HAVE OWNED CHEVY TRUCKS MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINES. DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, HOW IS CHEVROLET ISSUING A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641142

Incident

Oct 2, 2014

Mileage

137,000 mi

MY BRAKE LINE SPLIT OPEN WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THEY ARE VERY RUSTED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640307

Incident

Sep 30, 2014

WHILE PULLING MY BOAT ON A LONG DECLINE AT 55 MPH, A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SIGNALED TO TURN LEFT. I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL EASED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. I TOLD MY WIFE THAT THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM ALARM DID SOUND, BUT THAT DOES NOT COMFORT YOU WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP BEFORE PLOWING A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE COLLISION, ONLY DUE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC AND THE FACT THAT I WAS A GOOD DISTANCE BEHIND THE TURNING VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. I DIDN'T MEASURE MY STOPPING DISTANCE, BUT IT WAS WELL OVER 100 YARDS. I GOT OUT OF MY AVALANCHE AND SAW THE FLUID TRAIL. THERE IS A CLUSTER OF 5 BRAKE LINES RUNNING TOGETHER BY THE FRAME, RIGHT AT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ONE OF THOSE LINES BROKE. THEY WERE ALL SEVERELY CORRODED. I HAD THE TRUCK AND BOAT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPAIRED 5 CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE PAST WEEK. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637806

Incident

Sep 17, 2014

Mileage

125,900 mi

ON NOVEMBER 11, 2013 I WAS BACKING MY 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN MARYLAND WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. AS I WAS STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY LOST ALL RESISTANCE. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY BRAKING ACTION. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, WHO SAID THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND RUPTURED. I WAS CHARGED $1150 TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. TEN MONTHS (SEPT 5, 2014) AND LESS THAN 500 MILES LATER I AGAIN LOST ALL BRAKING POWER, THIS TIME WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH LEAVING A PARKING LOT NEAR A CARWASH. I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WHO SAID THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED. HIS ESTIMATE IS $2200 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631227

Incident

Nov 11, 2013

Mileage

34,511 mi

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IT WAS FINE BUT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. IT CONTINUED TO DO IT BUT THEN JUST STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I ACCELERATE UP A HILL. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE DIM. EVERYTHING ON THE MIRROR COMES AND GOES. IT WILL GO MONTHS WITHOUT WORKING AND THEN COMES BACK ON. THE SUSPENSION IS TERRIBLE. FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO SHAKE THE WHEELS COMPLETELY OFF THE TRUCK WHEN I HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. I'VE ALMOST LOST CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO IT SHAKING SO HARD. LATCH ON THE TAILGATE BROKE OFF AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ROTOR ON BACK COMPLETELY BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629240

Incident

Aug 7, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi