2002 Chevrolet Avalanche problems
Owners have filed 562 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. Brakes is the most reported problem area, at 40% of complaints. Next are body & structure (12%) and engine (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 562 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 40% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 52 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 45 and 12
- Typical mileage
- 45,000 miles 389 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 75 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 85 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 66 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 51 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 43 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 29 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 15 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 5 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Of the 389 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 45,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 65,000 miles (185 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 52 complaints mention a crash; 45 injuries reported; 12 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche with enough data (431 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Traveling at 65 MPH passing another car switched land and rearend went out. Did 360 degree and hit the side on high way. Air bag did not deploy. It did $9000 in damage to the front end. Steering feels like its hitting another metal dealer has to grease the steering shaft every 25,000 miles factory defect but I have to pay for it after warranty ran out. Applying brake when making a turn if truck goes over a road hole or bump in the road anti-lock brake does not work and loose control of the truck.
Dt: the contact stated the parking brake on 2002 chevrolet avalanche was bad. The pads were completely worn out .the brake was nonfunctional. This happened because of a defect in the design, not because of the brake. The pads needed to be changed, and the rotors needed to be sanded. The mechanic said the design was such that the parking brake will wear out even if it was not used. The contact has not been using the parking brake.
About 4 years ago the ABS system failed....I had to replace a part on my 2002 chevy avalanche 's ABS system..again the same noise occurred and again it is the ABS system..4 years ago it was out of warranty 38,000 miles I had to pay out of pocket $1,200. It is at the dealer now being repaired... ..I'm sure it will be $1,200 or more...again.