Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 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
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and independently turned off. After restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE LTZ WITH THE 5.3L V8 ENGINE WITH ADAPTIVE FUEL MANAGMENT. IT WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 120K MILES. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING OIL, 1-2 QUARTS PER 3000 MILES. RECENTLY THE ENGINE STARTED PRODUCING WHITE/BLUE SMOKE ON START UP AND OIL CONSUMPTION INCREASED TO 2-3 QUARTS IN 1500 MILES. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A MECHANICS SHOP AND I AM TOLD THAT FOR STARTERS I WILL NEED NEW VALVE COVERS THAT ARE REDESIGNED FROM THE ORIGINAL ONES AND THAT EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IS COMMON ON THIS ENGINE. I HAVE READ OF OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD TO HAVE PISTONS/RINGS, VALVE COVERS REPLACED, AND A BAFFLE PLACED INTO THE OIL PAN TO MITIGATE THE OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE THAT ISN'T A TYPICAL MAINTENANCE ISSUES SINCE THESE PARTS WEREN'T OEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. IT SEEMS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE TO HAVE OEM MODIFICATIONS COMPLETED OUT OF MY POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE WITH SPECIFIC PARTS MADE TO MITIGATE THE ISSUE. I AM VERY CONCERNED WHAT THIS ACCEPTABLE OIL CONSUMPTION WILL MEAN FOR THE LONGEVITY OF MY ENGINE.
STRESS FRACTURE IN FRONT DASH PAD AROUND AIR BAG COVER... EXTREMELY NOISE LIFTERS ON STARTUP ! *TR
MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK TO WALMART TO GET A COUPLE OF ITEMS WITH HER WERE MY SON IN LAW AND DAUGHTER. ONCE ARRIVING THERE(APPROX. 3 MI) THEY NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY SON IN LAW OPENED THE HOOD TO DISCOVER A FIRE, HE THEN RAN INTO WALMART WHERE AN EMPLOYEE GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER THEY GOT HOME I CHECKED IT OUT AND THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES TO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. IT WAS STILL IN ALL TH HE FACTORY TIE DOWNS AND WASN'T TOUCHING ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CHAFED IT OR PINCHED THE WIRES. THE TRUCK WAS ON CITY STREET THEN IN PARKING LOT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE STREET. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT COULD NOT BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO VERA CADILLAC (300 S UNIVERSITY DR, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33025, (954) 998-1684) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,693.
DROVE TO POST OFFICE, IT WAS NORMAL TILL I MADE A U TURN ON CITY STREET THEN ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BLINKING, PLUS SERVICE STABILITRAK & SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ALSO APPEAR ON DASH. DROVE HOME IMMEDIATELY AS TRUCK WONT SHIFT TO HIGH GEAR. CHECK CODE AND IT SAID P0307 CYCLINDER #7 MISFIRED LOOK UP GOOGLE TO SEE IF I CAN REPAIRED IT MYSELF AS READ TO REPLACE PLUG, WIRE AND COIL FOR CYCLINDER #7 SO I DID IT STILL SAME PROBLEM. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO TEST MY TRUCK AND FAIL COMPRESSION TEST. MECHANIC TALK TO ME AS I BOUGHT THE TRUCK LAST YEAR AND STILL PAYING FOR IT. DESCRIBE TO ME OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE SO TOLD HIM TO FIX IT HE SAY THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 TRUCK WHICH HAVE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE.
I DRIVE MY TRUCK ON THE WEEKENDS ONLY AND AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR I HAVE TO REPLACE CYLINDER #7 SPARK PLUG ALL OF THE TIME, ALSO GOT THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH AND THE FILTER REPLACED TWICE AND I GET A TAPPING SOUND AT IDLE DUE TO THE LOW OIL PRESSURE READING ON THE DASH, AND IT HAS HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, LAST BUT NOT LEASE THE CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD.
THE ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT (AFM) SYSTEM HAS FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOSE COMBUSTION IN ONE OF THE AFM CYLINDERS (CYLINDER 7 TO BE EXACT) DUE TO THE AFM LIFTER FAILED AND HAS JAMMED THE EXHAUST VALVE OPEN. GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO FIX. EVERYONE WITH THE AFM SYSTEM FROM GM FOR AROUND MY MODEL YEAR HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS OR HAVE COMPLETELY LOST THE MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WA ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LOW OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SANDS CHEVROLET (5418 GRAND AVE, GLENDALE, AZ 85301) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO GET MORE FREQUENT OIL CHANGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COURTESY CHEVROLET (1233 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROLLER LIFTERS FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT AND THE PISTON RINGS TO COLLAPSE. THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALSO COLLAPSED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND CHECK TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER LIFTERS FOR CYLINDERS 1, 4, 6 AND 7 FAILED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE IN THE ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE LIFTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO COURTESY CHEVROLET WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS WERE CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO SPEAK WITH NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,300.
THE 5.3 VORTEC ENGINE LIFTERS COLLAPSE TOOK TO DEALER FIXED FOR 1000.00 DOLLARS DROVE 30 MILES HOME FROM DEALERSHIP STARTED TICKING AGAIN DEALER SHIP FIXED IT SAID IT WAS ANOTHER SIDE LIFTER THAT WENT EASTER WEEKEND NO VEHICLE NOW AGAIN HERE 1 YEAR LATER ANOTHER TICKING WELL MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES EVERY 3 TO 4OOO MILES SYNTHETIC OIL WHEN IS CHEVY GOING TO EXEPT RESPONSIABILTY FOR BAD ENGINES CLASS ACT SUIT 50 YEARS OLD CHEVY MY WHOLE LIFE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK SOMEPLACE ELSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND WAS RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND THE OIL SCREEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE OIL PUMP AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO WASTE ANY MORE MONEY ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WAS THE MALFUNCTION OF THE ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND/OR THE VALVE LIFTER OIL MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY ON THE GENERAL MOTOR'S 5.3 LITRE ENGINE FROM 2007-2010. THE VLOM WAS BOLTED TO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE VALLEY, BELOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY. THE VLOM CONSISTED OF FOUR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED NORMALLY CLOSED SOLENOIDS. EACH SOLENOID CONTROLLED THE APPLICATION OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE ON THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE FILTERS ON THE CYLINDERS SELECTED TO DEACTIVATE. WHEN THE ASSEMBLY FAILS, OIL IS NOT DISTRIBUTED PROPERLY THROUGH CHAMBERS. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED REDUCED POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AFTER RECEIVING A NO OIL PRESSURE ALERT ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/07/15.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND THE LIFTERS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ UPDATED 03/29/16. *JB UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE OIL GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY REPLENISHING THE OIL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL VALVE CONTROL MANIFOLD FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS COULD NOT RECEIVE PROPER LUBRICATION FROM THE OIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE OIL VALVE CONTROL MANIFOLD, EIGHT LIFTERS, HEADS, WATER PUMP, CAMSHAFT, AND TIMING COVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,436. UPDATED 10/30/14*LJ UPDATED 4/27/2015 *JS
AT 73000 MILES TRANSMISSION BROKE JUST A FEW MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO STARTED EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND NOISY ENGINE. HAVE HEARD AND READ TOO MANY REPORTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE 5.3 LITER HAVING MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS I.E. CAMSHAFT LIFTERS PISTON RINGS AND VALVES ALL GOING BAD. *TR
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. INITIAL PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2014 AND GM DEALER DID SOME INITIAL WORK, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. ON APRIL 27, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING VERY, VERY ROUGH AND SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON (ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, STABILITRAC LIGHT AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHERS). I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL FOUND IT WAS 1.5 QUARTS LOW, SO I ADDED OIL AND STARTED ENGINE AGAIN. SO I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY GM DEALER. THE NEXT WEEK, THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THE WEEK OF MAY 5, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE PISTONS, RINGS, LIFTERS AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE ENTIRE LIST. I ASKED WHAT WAS THIS GOING TO COST AND WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE WORK. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THE TOTAL WOULD BE IN THE $4500 RANGE, BUT HE WOULD CHECK WITH GM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PAY PART OF THIS. NEXT DAY SERVICE MANAGER SAID GM WOULD PAY FOR ALL EXCEPT A $500 "WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE". MY RECEIPT SHOWS THEY REPLACED ONE PISTON, THE CAMSHAFT, 16 LIFTERS, LIFTER GUIDES, THE MANIFOLD, A SENSOR, 8 SPARK PLUGS, ADDED 6 QUARTS OIL, INSTALLED OIL FILTER, RECHARGED A/C SYSTEM AND CHARGED FOR NUMEROUS GASKETS, NUTS AND BOLTS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY ENGINE WAS MADE IN MEXICO. THEY SAID THEY USED PARTS MANUFACTURED IN CANADA ON MY REPAIR WORK. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE IS NOT NEW - IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO GM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WHY DIDN'T GM STOP USING ENGINES MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO BEFORE 2008 IF IN FACT THIS IS THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE TO PREVENT THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND CAUSING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PAY NEEDLESSLY FOR REPAIRS THAT GM SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR IN TOTAL - OR REPLACED THIS ENGINE TOTALLY! *TR
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MOISTURE. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN SNOW. TRAVELING AROUND 55 MPH WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF SNOW ON THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK STALLED. AT THAT TIME, I ALSO LOST STEERING ABILITY AND BRAKING ABILITY. TRUCK WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO MECHANIC. REAL ISSUE NEVER FOUND. BASICALLY DRIED OUT AND STARTED AGAIN (2) DAYS. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING RAIN. WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE AT 40 MPH AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. TOWED AGAIN AND STARTED RIGHT UP THE NEXT DAY. THIRD INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, APRIL 25, 2013 WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM. DID NOT HIT ANY WATER JUST STALLED ON IT'S OWN. AGAIN, STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED FOR A THIRD TIME. TALKED TO CHEVROLET THIS MORNING THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE BUT I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS AND IT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY FOLKS. *TR
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO FAULT CODE P0499 WHICH IS A FAULTY EMISSIONS EVAP VENT SOLENOID DUE TO ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAWS. *TR
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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