RoadVitals

2010 Chevrolet Avalanche Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
111
Latest Nov 11, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 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

  • Airbags5355.2%
  • Engine66.3%
  • Driver assistance66.3%
  • Powertrain (other)33.1%
  • Brakes11.0%
  • Other / unspecified11.0%
  • Suspension11.0%
  • Visibility11.0%

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

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

53
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AIRBAG RECALL HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE 2016 WITHOUT A REMEDY.

NHTSA ID 11377536 · filed Dec 2, 2020

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 11376301 · filed Nov 25, 2020
All 53 reports naming airbags

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DASHBOARD IS SEVERELY CRACKED. EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES NOT SECURED TO UNIT.

NHTSA ID 11397948 · filed Feb 25, 2021

MY CHEVY CRACKED DASH.

NHTSA ID 11351199 · filed Aug 25, 2020
All 16 reports naming body & structure

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds meaning it wouldn’t go above 25 miles an hour. The entire dash would light up. It threw numerous codes. Had to be towed to get it looked at but then would mysteriously start without issue. I took it to young Buick gmc in Layton Utah with no resolution. Finally in December 2020 it was determined by now Heritage Chevrolet in Evanston Wyoming to be the Onstar module. This part was no longer available and couldn’t be replaced. The dealership’s solution was to wire around the faulty part which has allowed the truck to start and no longer go into limp mode from 70mph on highway to 20mph without notice. I immediately got a hold of Chevrolet to get a satisfactory answer about why I couldn’t get the part that was making the vehicle unsafe to drive. They said the part was no longer being manufactured and it wasn’t their problem sorry about the inconvenience Case number [XXX]. I did have the dealership wire around it so I have the truck working, but Chevrolet did not care about the truck going into limp mode suddenly on the highway and it could have caused an accident. They not not offer any compensation for the part not being manufactured and according to to your website if a part is causing a safety issue they are they are required to have that part fixed. I am still upset about their lack of support and service and want Chevrolet held accountable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID 11623041 · filed Nov 1, 2024

ASKING IF ANYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE 2010 CHEVY AVALANCHE AND THE ECM PROBLEMS THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING , THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND SERVICE STABILITRAK. IT WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR , NOR WOULD IT START , THIS HAD HAPPENED TO THE TRUCK THREE TIMES NOW , THE FIRST TIME IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND IT STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START AT ALL , SO I TOOK THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE OFF FOR 30 MINUTE AND IT FIXED IT . THE SECOND TIME ALL THE LIGHT AND BUZZERS WENT OFF , I HAD LACK OF POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT SO I TOOK IT HOME , I WAS LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T GET IN A WRECK BECAUSE IT DROPPED DRASTICALLY IN SPEED ALL AT ONCE , AGAIN I TOOK OF THE CABLE , AND WENT TO HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC READING DONE AT A PARTS STORE , THE NEXT DAY I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CLEARED ALL THE HISTORY ON IT AND TOLD ME TO CALL WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN , IT SEEMS THAT THE 2010 AVALANCHE HAS THIS PROBLEM ALOT , SO TODAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN , FOR NO REASON , *TR

NHTSA ID 11328433 · filed Jun 11, 2020
All 8 reports naming electrical

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AN ADDITIONAL TWO TIMES; HOWEVER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID 11279769 · filed Nov 13, 2019

STABILITRAC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH SERVICE BOTH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND SOMETIMES FLASHES. TRUCK IS IDLING VERY ROUGH AND SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT HARD FROM 2ND TO 1ST.

NHTSA ID 10936083 · filed Dec 18, 2016

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.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I AM VERY DISASIFIED WITH THE WAY THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HANDLED. I DRIVE A 2010 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LTZ WITH 111,000 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 WITH 38,000 MILES. A YEAR LATER DURING THE SUMMER TIME I BEGAN TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES (WHILE IN MOTION VEHICLE GUAGES START SPAZZING OUT GOING UP AND DOWN, RADIO CUTS IN AND OUT, DOOR LOCKS CYCLE UP AND DOWN AND VEHICLE STALLS, DOESNT SEEM TO ACCELERATE AND SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY TRAVELING 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY IT BEGINS TO ACT UP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THREE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND MULTIPLE CARS DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED AS I TRY TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE BUT SEEMS STUCK IN NEUTRAL PREVENTING ME FROM QUICKLY GETTING OFF THE FREE WAY. AT TIMES I WILL CYCLE THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND ALL POWER CUTS OUT. I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE AND LIGHTS FLICKER BACK ON, WHICH IS MY CUE TO CYCLE THE IGNITION KEY BACK ON. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND OTHERS IT DOESN'T. AT TIME POWER DOESN'T COME BACK FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES. THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, STATING THEY COULDNT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY ASSUMED THE IGNITION SWITCH SO THAT WAS CHANGED BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET WHERE THEY OPENED A CASE BUT IT TROUBLES ME THAT THEY WORK ON A CASE BY CASE AND STATED THEY ARENT AWARE OF MULTIPLE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF AGAIN WHERE THEY STILL COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THE CABLE MAY POSSIBLY BE THE REASON SO THAT IS STILL PENDING. IF THIS IS SO COMMON AND A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS ON THE HIGHWAY WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR CHEVROLET. I HAVE ATTACHED A DOCUMENT SENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE CABLES. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL.

NHTSA ID 11203913 · filed Apr 26, 2019

MY DASHBOARD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. IT'S BEEN KEPT OUT OF THE SUN AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. ALSO BACK UP SENSORS STOPPED WORKING, I HAD THEM REPLACED BY THE DEALER. BUT ONLY LASTED 6 MONTHS

NHTSA ID 10995764 · filed Jun 18, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds meaning it wouldn’t go above 25 miles an hour. The entire dash would light up. It threw numerous codes. Had to be towed to get it looked at but then would mysteriously start without issue. I took it to young Buick gmc in Layton Utah with no resolution. Finally in December 2020 it was determined by now Heritage Chevrolet in Evanston Wyoming to be the Onstar module. This part was no longer available and couldn’t be replaced. The dealership’s solution was to wire around the faulty part which has allowed the truck to start and no longer go into limp mode from 70mph on highway to 20mph without notice. I immediately got a hold of Chevrolet to get a satisfactory answer about why I couldn’t get the part that was making the vehicle unsafe to drive. They said the part was no longer being manufactured and it wasn’t their problem sorry about the inconvenience Case number [XXX]. I did have the dealership wire around it so I have the truck working, but Chevrolet did not care about the truck going into limp mode suddenly on the highway and it could have caused an accident. They not not offer any compensation for the part not being manufactured and according to to your website if a part is causing a safety issue they are they are required to have that part fixed. I am still upset about their lack of support and service and want Chevrolet held accountable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID 11623041 · filed Nov 1, 2024

MY TRANSMISSION WHEN TAKING OFF FAST SOUND LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL AND THEN WHEN I LET OFF THE FAST IT GOES IN GEAR. ALSO MY DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND FOUND BE A SERIOUS AIRBAG ISSUE. I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED SO I COULD BE FIXED ASAP. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD.!!!

NHTSA ID 11120938 · filed Aug 19, 2018

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds meaning it wouldn’t go above 25 miles an hour. The entire dash would light up. It threw numerous codes. Had to be towed to get it looked at but then would mysteriously start without issue. I took it to young Buick gmc in Layton Utah with no resolution. Finally in December 2020 it was determined by now Heritage Chevrolet in Evanston Wyoming to be the Onstar module. This part was no longer available and couldn’t be replaced. The dealership’s solution was to wire around the faulty part which has allowed the truck to start and no longer go into limp mode from 70mph on highway to 20mph without notice. I immediately got a hold of Chevrolet to get a satisfactory answer about why I couldn’t get the part that was making the vehicle unsafe to drive. They said the part was no longer being manufactured and it wasn’t their problem sorry about the inconvenience Case number [XXX]. I did have the dealership wire around it so I have the truck working, but Chevrolet did not care about the truck going into limp mode suddenly on the highway and it could have caused an accident. They not not offer any compensation for the part not being manufactured and according to to your website if a part is causing a safety issue they are they are required to have that part fixed. I am still upset about their lack of support and service and want Chevrolet held accountable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID 11623041 · filed Nov 1, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE TOW HITCH WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED WHILE THE TRAILER WAS ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID 10715200 · filed May 7, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CRACKED DASHBOARD KEEPS GETING WORSE, SERVICE AIRBAGS LIGHTS NOW ON. IVE HAD NUMMEROUS SERVICE SUSPENSION ISSUES AND HAD ALREADY FIXED A THRTTLE TPS SENSOR TAT LEFT ME STRANDED ON A DAY IT WAS 0 DEGREES OUTSIDE GET GM ACCOUNTABLE!!! *TR

NHTSA ID 11321085 · filed Apr 14, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM EXCESSIVE FRONT/SIDE WINDOW FOGGING IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND THE MANUAL HVAC CONTROLS WILL NOT PERMIT THE USE OF A/C TO REMOVE THE HUMIDITY FROM THE CABIN. IN SUMMER MONTHS OR TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING, THE A/C WILL ENGAGE WHEN THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER IS ENABLED AND IS EFFECTIVE. WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM IN FULL DEFROST AND NO A/C, THE FOGGING ACTUALLY GETS WORSE AND VISIBILITY DECREASES TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WE HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER AND WIPE THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE GLASS DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 OR SO TIMES SINCE ACQUIRING THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2010. AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE DEALER RESOLVE IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10556228 · filed Dec 16, 2013

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

Data on this page last refreshed .