2006 Chevrolet Avalanche Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)325.0%
- Brakes216.7%
- Driver assistance18.3%
- Engine18.3%
- Fuel system18.3%
- Exterior lighting18.3%
- Airbags18.3%
- Transmission18.3%
- Body & structure18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I MADE A STOP, UP ON TAKING OFF MY TRUCK MADE IT TO SECOND GEAR AND I HEAR A LOUD BROKEN NOISE, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON SECOND GEAR.
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP IT FEELS LIKE I AM BEING BUMPED FROM BEHIND, OR LIKE THE ENGINE JUST DROPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. VERY HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 50 MILES CONSECUTIVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BUT WILL GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE LINE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. ..UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF UPDATED 2/5/2013 *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING 35MPH ON DRY ROAD. 2WD JUMP OUT OF GEAR ACTED LIKE WENT INTO NEUTRAL I HAD NO DRIVE OR ANY OF MY GEARS CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH NO WARNING. WENT TO PUT IN PARK IT GRIND WITH LOUD NOISE. ONLY WAY TO GET TRUCK TO MOVE WAS TO PUT IN 4WD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP IT FEELS LIKE I AM BEING BUMPED FROM BEHIND, OR LIKE THE ENGINE JUST DROPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. VERY HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 50 MILES CONSECUTIVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BUT WILL GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR AND THAT FUEL WAS NOTICED LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE HOSE WAS RUBBING IN THE FUEL TANK CAUSING A HOLE ON THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT PERSONALLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,862. UPDATED 12/26/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHAT HE SAW INSIDE THE SWITCH, WAS OLD BURNT CLEAR PLASTIC MELTED DOWN, HALF OF THE SWITCH WAS WORKING AND THE OTHER HALF WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. UPDATED 12/31/13
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, DASHBOARD SAYS SERVICE AIRBAG, AFTER VEHICLE SAT FOR AN HOUR AFTER HAVING BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER 250 MILES THAT DAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THE LIGHT BLINKS AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND GOES OUT, THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS COMES BACK ON AND STAYS ON. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. HE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ALTHOUGH THE RPMS INCREASED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION CENTER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HIT SOMEONE IN THE BACK OF HIS CAR AND DID A LOT OF DAMAGE ON MY TRUCK AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO ? WHY. THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK WAS PUSHED BACK APPROX. 6 TO 10 INCHES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .