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2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,092 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Chevrolet Avalanche electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #68

Jan 012013

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 84,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My speedo and fuel gauge either do not work or peg out in the instrument cluster. I never received the recall notice for my Z71 Chevrolet Avalanche and Chevrolet is saying that they put a limit on the year and mileage. If I would have known it was a recall I would have taken in my vehicle to have it fixed for free. Chevrolet is saying I have to pay for this.... this is not right.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #67

Oct 012011

Avalanche

  • miles
I purchased a used as-is 2003 Chevy Avalanche 1500 and I didn't notice until a couple of hours later that the speedometer wasn't working. I don't when it failed.

- Elyria, OH, USA

problem #66

Jul 282011

Avalanche 4WD 8-cyl

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. While driving approximately 55 mph, the contact noticed the entire instrument panel and gauges failed to operate. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the instrument panel cluster would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000... updated 08-07-12

- White Hall, MD, USA

problem #65

Jun 142010

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • 83,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. The instrumental cluster gear light indicator failed and she was unable to see what gear the vehicle was in. The manufacturer had a voluntary recall which included a limited warranty up to 70,000 miles; therefore, they would not offer any assistance with the repairs. The mileage on the vehicle exceeded the warranty mileage. The failure and the current mileages were 83,600. Updated 10/01/2010 updated 10/05/10.

- Pinole, CA, USA

problem #64

Dec 022009

Avalanche

  • 125,000 miles
The speedometer quits working while driving or stops working all together.

- High Point, NC, USA

problem #63

Jul 012009

Avalanche

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 mph, the speedometer seemed to be defective. The speedometer failed periodically which caused the cruise control to fail. The vehicle had not been inspected but the dealer, when called, stated that the contact would be responsible for any repair expenses. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The current mileage was approximately 155,000.

- Gibsonville, NC, USA

problem #62

Nov 252007

Avalanche

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact was driving approximately 60 mph; however, the speedometer reading was 100 mph. The speedometer and odometer displayed inaccurate readings. The odometer continued to increase the mileage traveled by one mile. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer advised the contact that a service letter was mailed to him prior to the failure regarding the odometer and a repair was also performed; therefore, they vehicle could not provide any additional free remedies. The vehicle had not been repaired when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 45,000. The current mileage was 98,000. Updated 11/16/10.

- Round Lake, IL, USA

problem #61

Nov 182009

Avalanche 8-cyl

  • miles
When driving my Chevrolet 2003 Avalanche my speedometer would stick and eventually fall to zero. After further investigation I have found that a majority of this model from 2003 -2004 have this problem.

- High Point, NC, USA

problem #60

Jan 102010

Avalanche

  • 91,726 miles
Speedometer stopped working.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

problem #59

Jan 062010

Avalanche

  • 102,000 miles
Speedometer stuck at 52 while stopped. Will not accurately measure rate of speed. Speedometer zero's at 52. Odometer appears to function correctly. No apparent cause other than defective equipment. Car make: Chevrolet year: 2003. Model: Avalanche 1500 4 door. Mileage 102,000.

- Double Oak, TX, USA

problem #58

Apr 252009

Avalanche

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Speedometer on 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche not working, stuck at 120mph. Complete cluster needs to be replaced. I never received any recall notice after purchasing vehicle in 2003. GM will not correct problem because it is out of warranty.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #57

Feb 032009

Avalanche

  • miles
My speedometer isn't working properly. It gets stuck while I drive and I don't know the speed of my truck when I drive and I seen that this is a known issue to Chevrolet.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #56

Jan 062008

Avalanche

  • 118,673 miles
Speedometer failure on 03 Chevy Avalanche. Apparently there was a lawsuit against GM because they used inferior parts within the instrument cluster that are prone to fail. They have since settled the suit in late 2007 and agreed to fix all vehicles with less than 70K miles. However, what about the rest of us with more than 70K miles that are driving without a speedometer because GM is charging $500 to repair the most important instrument in the car, the one that should last the life of the vehicle according to the lawsuit...... I've even gone so far as to try to find the parts for the speedometer, but they are not available. You have to purchase the entire instrument cluster as a unit. If that is not enough, I can purchase the cluster for $275 and install it myself, but the unit has to be programmed to the vehicle in order to work. This programming will cost $150 by the dealership. So basically, GM has everyone in my situation hostage for negligence on their part. It is only a matter of time before I get a speeding ticket or worse, hurt somebody in an auto accident because I am not aware of my speed of travel.

- Kirkwood, MO, USA

problem #55

Dec 302007

Avalanche

  • 75,000 miles
Shortly after 75, 000 miles the speedometer in my 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche started to register incorrect readings. At a idle it would register that I was going 60 mph. At approximately 65 mph it would register that I was going 0 mph. There was no rhyme or reason.

- Apache Junction, AZ, USA

problem #54

Jun 122006

Avalanche

  • miles
I have replaced the instrument cluster 4 times. 2 times in 2006 and 2 times in 2008, because the new ones put in were defective. The customer should in no way have to pay for this manufacturing defect. This was on a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche.

- Stoney Creek, 00, USA

problem #53

Nov 192008

Avalanche

  • 70,075 miles
Speedometer does not read zero while vehicle is stopped. It reads approximately 60 mph.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #52

Oct 112008

Avalanche

  • 70,000 miles
Speedomoter will not work, then stick and then not work.

- Chipley, FL, USA

problem #51

Feb 012005

Avalanche

  • 60,000 miles
Speed odometer has not worked for 3 out of the 6 years I had the truck, 2003 Chevy Avalanche.

- Gilbertsville, PA, USA

problem #50

Jul 192008

Avalanche

  • 118,000 miles
The instrument panel to include the speedometer, oil pressure, and battery gauge have stopped working on my 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. Being unable to tell the speed of my vehicle is a safety issue that I have been unable to get GM to resolve. The vehicle has not been involved in any type of accident the speedometer just started going from 10 miles per hour to 100 miles per hour. I called GM service, went to the local dealership and called the dealership where the vehicle was purchased. I received no help even when I tried to explain that not being able to tell the speed of the vehicle was a problem.

- Warrensville, NC, USA

problem #49

May 012007

Avalanche

  • 69,000 miles
My speedometer, oil gauge, gas gauge has stopped working in the dash approximately 9 moths ago and we have contacted our local GM retailer and they said that there is not a recall on a manufacturer defect. I was told that it was a cluster that was the problem by my personal mechanic and that it is very expensive to fix. I do not think that I should have to fix this problem since it is a manufacturer defect. I have several friend that have a Chevrolet with the same problem. I paid alot of money for this vehicle and I think that GM should fix the problem that we did not know we were purchasing in the first place.

- Denham Springs, LA, USA

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