2011 Chevrolet Avalanche problems
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 34% of complaints. Next are body & structure (14%) and drivetrain & axles (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 161 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 63,000 miles 114 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 | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 17 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 31 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 24 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 24 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 114 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 62,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 68,000 miles (24 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 2 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 91% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche with enough data (107 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet avalanche. While driving 35 MPH and attempting to engage the brakes, the vehicle did not slow down and the ABS failed. As a result, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained unknown injuries, but did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician verified that the ABS failed and needed to be reset.
When I am slowing down to a stop the transmission will suddenly make the vehicle surge forward quickly. If I not just as quick to apply a firm brake I risk hitting the car or pedestrians near me which has happen on several occasion. On one occasion, as I was turning into a parking space the vehicle suddenly surged forward so forcefully that it cause the front left bumble to travel outside the planned path and hit a brick column. This problem only occurs in situations when I am slowing down, I.e.
Dashboard cracked for no apparent reason could be a safety issue if the air bags happen to deploy. I have also read that this issue happens to these series trucks and if it is a manufactures defect GM should be required to replace them. Thanks, andrew
My dash cracked at 17000 miles, cracked right down the middle for no reason. The only reason I knew it was cracked as I heard a terrible rattling and my dash was what I can only describe as jumping. In cleaning the dashboard one afternoon I noticed a large crack, I immediately went to the dealership with this problem.