2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
The Verdict
The 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche has 671 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are brakes (301 complaints) and body (180 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 16/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Avalanche, consider the 2012 model year which has 92% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2012 has 92% fewer complaints
View the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
Odometer Fraud. The contact previously owned a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The contact stated the vehicle was sold to a private buyer with an odometer reading of 205,000 miles. Subsequently, the contact discovered the vehicle was listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace with a rolled-back odometer reading of 158,000 miles. When the contact’s daughter inquired about the discrepancy, the seller confirmed the lower mileage. Upon further investigation, the contact found a second listing for the same vehicle displaying 178,000 miles. The contact messaged the seller and inquired about the accuracy of the odometer reading. The current status of the vehicle was unknown.
CAR CRASH AND BRAKS LOCKED AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY, INJURIES LEFT UNPAID AND VEHICLE DAMAGES.
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The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was firm, and vehicle kept accelerating unintendedly. Several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty ABS module. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the vehicle was not included in a recall because he was not located in a salt State. The failure mileage was unknown.
‘’’’’’FRAME’’’’’’I was heading to work and and something snapped while driving. I then brought vehicle to fire stone in Kingsport tn. I was told it tie rod end had it replaced well the sound was still thier. Then I returned with vehicle pitman arm and bracket replaced nope banging noise was still there. I then called corporate up spoke Mike I was told to return the vehicle bake to fire stone on a weds all day long they were looking over the vehicle come to find out frame snapped where cross member is on drivers side of vehicle. While the passenger side was still solid. I am not the only one dealing with issue as of now I am finding out more vehicles 2002 to the the 2005 chevy avalanches 5.3 4x4’s have this problem. Why hasn’t there been a recall on this issue like Toyota has done. I have 276,000 miles on this truck would like to have it fixed.
Vehicle was involved in a collision, striking a cement stair case and embankment, before rotating to final rest during which time the cab separated completely from the frame. One occupant was trapped in the cab and one was ejected. Information submitted by case investigator, Trp. [XXX] - Iowa State Patrol INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and oil warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer, the 4-wheel drive function, parking brake, and headlights failed to operate as needed. The instrument panel light failed to illuminate, the gear shifter did not display the selected gear, the sub-frame was corroded, and the wheel hub bearing assembly was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
While driving I suddenly experienced a loss of power. Immediately the truck sputtered to a rolling stop. I was unable to use power steering or power brakes due to the loss of fuel. I later discovered that the fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter was not properly connected. Upon attempting to reconnect, it was noticed that it had broken. The male nipple which goes from the fuel tank, outward about 1 inch, had broken off and was inside of the quick release connection for said fuel line.
STEERING: I stopped in my daughter yard and was unloading a 16ft trailer of hay and everything was working normally. When I got back in cranked the engine I started pulling forward, I did not have any power steering at all. I first thought the steering wheel had locked but I really had to power down on the steering to get it to turn. No noise, no indication, no problems of any kind with the steering or anything wrong while driving just a few minutes before. The power steering just stopped working period. I told my daughter we were lucky this hadn't happened on the road while pulling the loaded trailer. This could have been very dangerous or deadly if it had gone out while we were pulling the loaded trailer while on the road. If we had been going around a curve or making a turn and it had happened like it did in the yard while parked with NO indication of a problem it would have been very, very bad especially again with NO indications of a problem with the steering and pulling a trailer loaded with hay. I shudder to think what could have happened if we had been going around a curve at 55mph on the highway and this had happened. Power steering fluid pump up to the full line on the check stick when I pulled it out of the power steering pump. I have had the Avalanche for 3 years and have never had to add fluid nor does it have leak anywhere. Again, NO steering problems whatsoever before this.
I went to stop my 2002 Chevy Avalanche 1500 and the pedal started to pulsate like my brake assist was gone as I nearly rear end a vehicle and had to swerve out of the way do to the brakes not wanting to stop the vehicle as there supposed to normally. The truck has a p0265 code which is a fault in the ECBM do to the solder joint on the relay in the board. I'm a mechanic for a living and i cant believe this recall still hasn't been addressed a long time ago! This needs to be looked into ASAP and its not just the 2002 avalanche. All these vehicle's listed have this issues but instead of recalling the EBCM for the solder issues they decide to recall it for corrosion on the wheel speed sensors big mistake that still to this day needs to be addressed. 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade, EXT & ESV 1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe 2002-2006 Chevrolet Avalanche 2002-2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer & EXT 2003-2006 Chevolet SSR 1999-2007 GMC Sierra 2000-2006 GMC Yukon / Denali / XL 2002-2007 GMC Envoy / XL 2004-2005 GMC Envoy XUV
Stopping, from between 5 and 10 mph, after a small drive - like a few yards.. the anti-lock brake engaged, made a pulsing / ratcheting noise and the brake pedal vibrated -- but the truck did not stop. I could not press down on the pedal any harder, and the truck took SUBSTANTIAL distance to come to a stop. --Dry road. -- I also have an ABS light on the dash from time to time.
THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PANEL ON 2002 AVALANCHES RUST. MY TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND NOT RUNNING. I WALKED BY AND MY HAND MADE CONTACT WITH THE RUSTED SPOT CAUSING AN INJURY RESULTING IN ME HAVING TO GO TO THE ER TO GET THE CUT CLEANED AND A TETANUS SHOT. *TR
STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURNOVER WHEN YOU DRIVE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED WHEN HIS VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A GUARDRAIL. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, THE VEHICLE MADE A TAILSPIN AND VEERED THE VEHICLE INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT'S SON'S VEHICLE MADE IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S SON SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD AND BACK AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS TRANSPORTED TO A WHERE HE WAS TREATED FOR GLASS REMOVAL FROM HIS HEAD AND BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES RESULTING FROM THE COLLISION. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT, HOWEVER, THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND TAKEN TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
I LOST MY BRAKES TOTALLY NOT JUST HALF OF THEM PULLING A SMALL TRAILER WITH IRON GOING DOWN A LONG HILL IN MANKATO, MN. ON MADISON AVE. I REAR ENDED A PICK UP WHICH PULLED OVER AND I CONTINUED ROLLING DOWN THE HILL BUILDING SPEED SO I HAD TO DRIVE MY TRUCK INTO A WALL WITH MY DAUGHTER INSTEAD OF REACHING THE NEXT INTERSECTION. GM HAS NOW CHANGED THEIR BRAKE LINES IN TO STAINLESS STEAL SINCE 2003 BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKE LINES. MY BRAKE LINES ARE ON TOP OF FRAME RUNNING BACK TO THE REAR AXLE WITH THE GAS TANK BLOCKING MOST OF THE LINES. THERE IS ONLY 1.5 INCHES BETWEEN THE FRAME AND BODY. ALONG SIDE IS THE WIRING HARNESS GOING BACK TO THE REAR, NO ROOM TO INSPECT OR SEE YOUR BRAKE LINES. THIS COULD OF BEEN SO WORSE BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRAFFIC AND OUR LIVES. DO SOMETHING PLS... POLICE REPORT 18-25773 MANKATO POLICE DEPT. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!
HEARD SNAP WHILE DRIVING HIT MEDIAN,AND TOTALED MY TRUCK.IT NEEDS TO BE NOTICED IF ANY BODY HASN'T BEEN KILLED YET
TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, SLOWING DOWN, APPLYING BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO RESISTANCE, PARK BRAKE DIDN'T ,HELP ALMOST HIT MY GARAGE, STEERED TOWARD GARDEN LANDSCAPE TIES, THAT STOPPED ME, LOOKED UNDER TRUCK, LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING , BOTH BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS WERE RUSTED BADLY AND DRIPPING.
EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF THE FRAME, BRAKE LINES, TRANSMISSION LINES, AND FUEL LINES. THE BRAKE, TRANSMISSION AND FUEL LINES RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT AND REQUIRED A FULL REPLACEMENT. THE FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND HAS DETERIORATED WELL BEYOND THE FRAME OF MY 2003 CAMARO Z28 WHICH IS 9 YEARS OLDER! THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 80K AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, SO THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE AMOUNT AND LEVEL OF RUST, EXCEPT THAT THERE WERE INFERIOR METALS AND MANUFACTURING MATERIALS USED IN ITS CONSTRUCTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, THE DRIVER FORCEFULLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION IN MULTIPLE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,258. *TT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT TAPPED THE FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON AND ILLUMINATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (BOB BROWN CHEVROLET IN ERVINGDALE, IA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
671 total