CarComplaints.com Notes: It didn't take long for the cladding to fade, discolor, and in some cases crack. Cladding is the protective plastic piece that runs along the outside of vehicles, and exposure to both heat and UV rays give the Avalanche's cladding a chalky, faded appearance.
Owners have said the problem is especially bad on the panels near the cargo bed. Eventually, GM agreed to a one-time treatment of ArmorDillo, a protective treatment similar to what you find in any auto shop. Unfortunately, that would only help for 6 months (on average).
Eventually, GM offered another coating solution for owners within the 3 year / 36,000 mile original warranty under TSB:04-08-111-001C.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,134 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.
The shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster does not illuminate therefore, I don't know what gear the vehicle is in. It seems like a safety issue to me. It occurs when I start the vehicle, am moving and when the headlights are on.
The fan motor control relay and connector short circuited and burned up. The location of this relay is behind and slightly below the glove box. General Motors issued a service bulletin special coverage adjustment bulletin no 11046 for this problem, however it was only valid in Canada, not the United States.
2005 Chevy Avalanche 1500 Z66 (5.3L flex fuel). Sudden warning from info center on dash that stabilitrak had been disabled. Traction control off and theft deterrent warning lights came on and stayed on until vehicle was stopped at a red light. Truck was turned off and restarted after approx. 1 minute. All systems normal when restarted. Problem was intermittent and when it returned later that same night, innova code reader was at the ready. P1626 code suggested loss of communication with modules among other issues. Problem very similar to another complaint [10631837] in a 4-wheel drive Avalanche--my truck has 2-wheel drive. Would not have been so willing to file a complaint with NHTSA except for the fact that my 2007 Avalanche ltz 4-wheel drive (5.3 flex fuel) also has experienced multiple loss of communication/voltage drop events among internal components with wacky events while either driving or while parked [to include but not limited to flickering headlights when applying the brakes, cruise control disengaging at speed either by itself or when lane change/turn signal activated, HVAC head unit going off and resetting, nav/radio going off with a "pop", drivers door control panel flashing along with headlights as truck is parked @ nite, a drivers seat that moves all the way forward as the doors are unlocked with the remote (easy exit feature never used by me), reverse mirror tilt active (though never set to do so), only rear doors locking when remote pushed--2 front doors had to be manually locked, engine hours back to zero, etc]. no immediate safety issues to date, but stabilitrak turning itself off while driving was not reassuring [and could pose a danger at highway speeds and/or hazardous driving conditions.] dealership has not been able to reproduce problem(s), but has suggested a known problem with the oem battery cables--mine tested ok per dealership.
After and during rain the seat warmers continually turn on over and over for several days. Its been happening since about 40,000 miles right after expiration.
At approx 47000 mi traveling at 65mph a heavy thud in the engine compartment that sounded like the whole engine block had dropped out, was able to coast off road to a vacant lot. Transmission toast with damage to ring and pinion gears, never towed anything, city driving to work and home mostly.(47K) miles. Really? 3500$ repair. Next speedometer failure at about 53K miles, im either going 0mph or 120mph. Also have lost alot of backlighting on my dashboard instrumentation along with cd player. Seems the cd player cannot eject a non existent cd, just makes clicking noise and says check disc. Now at 59K miles im experiencing the popping front end sound when turning sharply in reverse, possibly suspension or A-arm related have not looked into yet.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that the speedometer and fuel gauge failed. The RPM gauges became stuck and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was determined that the instrument cluster failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 68,000.
Speedometer went out. Bought gps to keep up with speed. Dealer would not fix problem. Then, oil pressure, water temp also stopped working. Come to find out, GM used defective stepper motors on instrument cluster from 02 - 07 I believe it was, not sure. I have had 1 speeding ticket and they tagged on wreckless driving for 20 mph over limit. I have been a dedicated GM owner my entire life. Don't think I will by one again. Seems to me they would want to do what they can to keep there customers, instead, they are running them away. I have know more loyalty for them at this point. I have a 2005 Chevy Avalanche Z71 absolutely love the truck but it has to go. Hummm...Toyota maybe, Dodge so many choices. Buy America, save America....bull crap. I'd better hush...
I pulled off on the side of the freeway to take a call. I started up my truck stepped on the gas to get back on the freeway and all of a sudden my speedometer went from 0 to the other end of the reading. It stayed there all the way home so I could not tell how fast I was driving. When I stopped, it started to go back down but as I would press the gas it would go all the way past the highest reading. It seems to get stuck now and then.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph the speedometer read that the vehicle was going 5 mph. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 120,000.
2005 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. Consumer states vehicle loss due to electrical instrument panel wire harness fire in fuse box the consumer stated he received a recall letter in September 2011 regarding the blower motor resistor which could potentially catch fire.
After starting the truck and turning on the ac the driver side was pushing hot air while the passenger side was cool. This problem has occurred several times over the past few months the only way to clear the error was to restart the truck. I have not brought the issue to the dealer as it happens so in frequently.
Owner was driving, attempted to turn up HVAC fan to higher speed but noticed that fan would not increase speed and stayed on the low speed. Then started to smell smoke. Pulled over, shut truck off but noticed HVAC blower fan was still running on low speed. Saw fire inside right side of dash. Fire originated inside right side of dash at location of blower motor and resistor components.
Speedometer stick, don't work and shows wrong speed at different times. Took to dealer says there was a problem in 2004, but mine was not covered in 2005 after there breakpoint ?? still not fixed.
The speedometer and temperature gauge on my instrument panel are pinned at max and min readings, no longer working at all. Nothing I'm aware of led to this happening. I plan on having the problem diagnosed and repaired shortly. I am aware that this year, make and model have had frequent problems of this sort, but am surprised my vehicle's VIN is not included as part of a recent recall: WW2.justanswer.com/uploads/bluegorilla/2009-09-28_123058_cluster_policy.pdf. I would ask that the decision to exclude my vehicle from this recall be re-examined.
My 2005 Chevy Avalanche has short in the speedometer, rear right tail lights not working, speedometer not working, check engine light-tire pressure light, the transmission shifting light not working properly it jumps reverse when I shift into drive and instead I go forward I am going backward and now my transmission is broken. It only shift to 3rd gear and I don't have the money to repair it. I call Chevrolet to repair these defective parts and equipments but they don't want to repair it. They said there is no recalls for my vehicle. And I almost hit somebody during stopping at the intersection. Because my car suddenly pulls on reverse. Can I ask the NHTSA please help me by demanding Chevrolet to repair my vehicle please! I would very much appreciated, [xxx] or let me know what I should please? information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hayden, ID, USA