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Should I Buy An Av.. Given All These Problems?

JS73751

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2003
Messages
208
Location
Long Island, NY
I was thinking about an Avalanche and have been reading everything I can, and have spent hours
checking out all the posts. ?I have to tell you that I am a little apprehensive after reading about
some of the problem areas that seem to be all too common, especially the water leakage.
Are the problems of the leakage, driveline and braking noises, etc. ?just on the Chevy or does anyone know if they are a problem on the ETX as well. ?I know they have different powertrains,
but I am concerned that the level of quality is far less in a Chevy than in a Cadillac. ?This is my first post and in NO WAY am I looking to make trouble, I am just concerned about buying a new vehicle that seems to have a number of recuring problems. ?I currently drive a DTS with some mods and have never had a problem with it. ?Besides the Avalanche being less expensive, I believe it to be the better looking vehicle when compared to the Cadillac. ?Thanks, JS

Edit note: topic changed by admin to be more descriptive
 
I havent had any water problem's...go through a high pressure car wash 2 times a week....I was here before i purchasesd mine also...just bite the bullet...i promise you ......there is not another vehicle that compares....and i know 5-7 thousand others that will agree....come on guys help push him over the edge.....into avalanche heaven
 
Hi JS,
I too was like you and spent a lot of time reading posts on this forum before I decided to purchase. Remember that people post problems here because they have problems and that there is a huge silent majority of Av owners out there that have had very few problems. I can't comment on long term quality since I have only been drving my Av for about 4 weeks but I can tell you I have had none of the problems you mentioned (water leaks, brake noise, etc). I think GM has worked out many of the problems in the '03 but I'm sure not all. There is always going to be a small percentage of vehicles with problems but that is the risk you take.

I have been very pleased with my truck. It rides great and meets all of my needs for human and cargo transportation. Good Luck with your decision.
 
JS73751 said:
I was thinking about an Avalanche and have been reading everything I can, and have spent hours
checking out all the posts. ?I have to tell you that I am a little apprehensive after reading about
some of the problem areas that seem to be all too common, especially the water leakage.
Are the problems of the leakage, driveline and braking noises, etc. ?just on the Chevy or does anyone know if they are a problem on the ETX as well. ?I know they have different powertrains,
but I am concerned that the level of quality is far less in a Chevy than in a Cadillac. ?This is my first post and in NO WAY am I looking to make trouble, I am just concerned about buying a new vehicle that seems to have a number of recuring problems. ?I currently drive a DTS with some mods and have never had a problem with it. ?Besides the Avalanche being less expensive, I believe it to be the better looking vehicle when compared to the Cadillac. ?Thanks, JS

Obviously as the founder of the site my view could be seen as bias, so I'll let Consumer Reports do the talking. In the April 2003 buyers guide for new vehicles Consumer Reports gave the Chevrolet Avalanche a recommended and a best pick, it also was the highest rated full size pickup truck for customer satisfaction.

As other people have noted you're not going to read a bunch of "my Avalanche is perfect and I just wanted to let you know" posts because that just isn't human nature.

Water leaks: Simple. The Av your considering take it through a high pressure car wash on the test drive.

Oil leaks: Not a real problem

Oil burning: Solved by August 2001 built Avalanches

Rust on trim: Nonexistant since the roof racks became factory installed

Brake noise: Ehhh? Haven't seen any major complaints on that.

Driveline: You got one there. The 4WD electronic switching module is junk and subject to a high rate of failure. The good news is it is a quick fix. The front differential failure issues are reserved to the 2002 models, the 2003 front differentials are greatly improved.

I would chalk up most of the problems you've read here on the 2002's as first production year issues. Almost all of them were addressed in the 2003 model year, quite effectively IMHO.

In the end it's up to you but if you do some checking and exercise the education you got here you'll get an incredible vehicle.
 
Keep in mind that the Avalanche is about 85% Suburban including the frame, running gear, interior, etc. The only difference is bodypanels. If a Suburban has problems, probably the AV will.

Water leaks - make sure that the midgate is closed all of the way. Many people reach in from one side and shut it, and only manage to get one side latched. If the covers are on and the tailgate is closed it is just like a car. Air is trapped inside and it is much harder to shut. I always clinb into the center and use both hands, one towards the left side and one towards the right side. My AV is one of the first 3000 built and I have had no problems other than the rear window frame cracking (replaced under warrenty, I believe Chevy made a design change). When I go through a high pressure car wash I get a few drops through the sunroof (The water jets at the car wash clear the roof by about 4 inches, I think that the rubber on the spray heads actually touch the OnStar antenna). I would buy another, and there are a few on this site that have already traded in their 2002 for a 2003.
 
I was in your shoes late last year, and I joined and
scanned ALL the threads to learn as much as I could.
I was worried about the leaks, especially.

I ended up with a 2003 Z71 4WD. I can tell you
I have no problems with this vehicle so far (3k).
It does make some 4WD noise, however I
have probably driven about 400 miles in 4HI
so far (snowboarding) and the noise has
lessened considerably, so I believe some of this
was gear mesh break in.

The Av is a much better vehicle than my Land Rover,
and my wife prefers the Avalanche over the
Land Rover to ride in every time. It is quiet,
it rides very smothly, the engine is cast iron
block/smooth and tight.

The seats do not feel as durable as the Land Rover
seats, but time will tell. They adjust more and are
comfortable.

The trans is not as smooth as the ZF in the Land Rover
(and BMW/Volvo, etc.) however the ZF has a bad
reputation for frying clutch packs as soon as the
valve body wears. We'll have to wait and see
how the Avalanche trans holds up, but I do
not see a major worry here.

The bumpers are a bit wimpy - the plastic is
just not enough - there does need to be some
actual structure behind there. I think this may
be the one item I like the least. I think I can
address this by adding a sportsman bar to the
front and getting a fabricator to build me some
fog light guards onto it, then re poweder coating
it.

I really like the utility of this vehicle, the room inside,
the power/towing, the height/view, the 4WD,
and the overall execution of the format. Plus
no door dings with the tupperware sides!

I recommend you check out whichever vehicle you
are serious about very thoroughly. I recommend
you check out the dealer and their service
even more thoroughly. I think in the end almost
any vehicle can be a dream or can be hell, and
the dealer you have to depend upon plays a greater
role in this than almost any other factor, as time
goes on.

So, focus in on your needs, find a vehicle (Avalanche)
that meets them, and then really concentrate
on finding, or establishing a dealership relationship
which will allow you to enjoy your vehicle.

The Avalanche does fit my needs, and I am happy
with it so far, and this is from someone who
would never own a F*RD or a Chevy - ever -
because I did perceive them to be basically junk.
And I think growing up in the 70's and 80's
there was a lot of crap sold to US customers.

The Avalanche seems to be very different from
my perception of a GM vehicle and does seem
to be a very solid and well built rig.

Emery
 
Hi JS

Welcome to the world of Avalanches!! We just purchased our second Av and are in love with both of them. Our first was a 2002 Z71 that we bought in the fall of 2001. We did have a problem with oil burning but our dealership worked with us until the problem was resolved. They even paid for the oil changes while they were trying to figure it out!! The Z71 had 29,000 miles on it when we traded and was basically trouble free once the oil thing was fixed. We traded because Hubby wanted more extras and we needed more power to pull our travel trailer. We have had our 2003 big block for about a month and are very satisfied with it. We both have ford trucks at our jobs and they just don't compare to our AV's. Our other ride is a 2002 cadilac seville and we fight over who gets to take the Av :cautious:. I think the others were right to advise you to get to know your dealership and find a rig that fits your needs. We definitely AV lovers. Good Luck!!
 
JS73751 said:
?This is my first post and in NO WAY am I looking to make trouble, I am just concerned about buying a new vehicle that seems to have a number of recuring problems. ?I currently drive a DTS with some mods and have never had a problem with it. ?Besides the Avalanche being less expensive, I believe it to be the better looking vehicle when compared to the Cadillac. ?Thanks, JS

JS,

Great idea to check out the truck before hand. I don't know if the complaints raised in this bb are any more than those raised in bb's devoted to different models.

I had a water problem right after I bought the truck but the dealer fixed it. They said the midgate was misaligned. No big deal.

Other than that, no problems at all. I think it's a great vehicle.
 
JS,

I have had my Avanlanche for about a year and a half now. I have had only one problem with my truck and that was a flaw that Chevy fixed in the 03 model. The problem was that the Avalanche consumed oil. Once I took it into the deal and had them look at it they fixed it right away with no promblems. Just so you know i have a 2002 Z71 fully loaded. I have actual bought 2 cars brand new from Chevy and only had one factory problem on both of them. My '98 Blazer they recalled the day time running lights, because people where complaining about getting blinded by them. How stupid is that!!!! I think the quility of Chevy is great. My family pretty much has all GM cars and we never have a problem with any of them. I hope I pushed you to a Avalanche. Please let us know what you decide on.
 
Thank You very much for the feedback. I really appreciate the time and effort put into your responses. I was quite pleased (and somewhat surprised) at Consumer Reports recommendation. Went to a dealership today to show my wife the Avalanche and she thought it was "neat"! I will continue to read theforum with interest and I will begin to search for a reputable dealer here on Long Island. Once again, THANKS!
JS
 
JS, everyone seems to have all the bases covered already covered so I'll just say that if I had to do it over again, I would buy another Avalanche in a heartbeat! ;D
 
i too read all about trouble with water leaks in the midgate
but love the truck so much just HAD to get one and glad i did great truck got to own one ...
 
I only have 5.000 miles on mine, but they have been problem free, not one issue.
 
JS73751 said:
I was thinking about an Avalanche and have been reading everything I can, and have spent hours
checking out all the posts. ?I have to tell you that I am a little apprehensive after reading about
some of the problem areas that seem to be all too common, especially the water leakage.
Are the problems of the leakage, driveline and braking noises, etc. ?just on the Chevy or does anyone know if they are a problem on the ETX as well. ?I know they have different powertrains,
but I am concerned that the level of quality is far less in a Chevy than in a Cadillac. ?This is my first post and in NO WAY am I looking to make trouble, I am just concerned about buying a new vehicle that seems to have a number of recuring problems. ?I currently drive a DTS with some mods and have never had a problem with it. ?Besides the Avalanche being less expensive, I believe it to be the better looking vehicle when compared to the Cadillac. ?Thanks, JS

Hello Fellow Long Islander!!!!!

There have been a lot of people who have done just as you have. You read all the posts and you hear of all these problems and you get scared.

It's human nature to complain when something goes wrong and keep quite when everything goes ok. Just imagine who huge a news paper would be if it reported everything good that happened, or how large this site would be if everyone posted that their car started in the Morning as expected.

The Avalanche was rated Motor Trends Truck of The year and it was also given excellent rating by Consumer Reports.

The Avalanche is a vehicle that if a person can afford it, they will have a lot of enjoyment from it. The 5.3 Engines has more than enough power for the average person. The more seasoned hauler has the 8.1 liter choise.

You will never be in a situation on Long Island that will exceed the abilities of this truck. During the last snow storm , the one we got more than 20 inches, my truck was going through snow banks and drifts like it was being pulled by THE MAN himself and not anything made of human hands. :D

Please feel free to email me or PM me. We can even meet up if you'd like. I would be happy to give you the run down.

Good Luck you will not regret the purchase!!!!!
 
JS

I have 2003 Z-71. 3500 miles. I did my first oil change today, no metal or anything else in old oil. Dipstick still showed full, before change. As to the water leak I wash mine with a pressure washer we use to wash tractor trailers, very high pressure< no leaks whatsoever. As to some of the posts about noises and such, check them before you buy. As I have read these posts I have tested my truck in all of those situations (steering, 4wd, etc) and I have had none of those occur in mine. I have the Bose sys. I like it. No electronic probs at all. Just my .02
 
Thanks for the good news and offers to get together. ?Powersurge, I have visited your sight in the past and could not help notice how familiar things looked. ?I have pretty much overcome my
fears of the problems mentioned. ?Right now I am trying to decide between the AV and the EXT.
As I mentioned earlier, I like the looks of the AV better than the EXT. ?Looks more like a truck
and less like an MTV "Cribs Car". ?Problem is that I lease for business puposes. ?I can lease the EXT for a better price on a dollar per dollar basis due to the high residual on the EXT, and a not so great residual on the AV. ?I have also been dealing with the Cadillac dealer (Sarant in Farmingdale) for 14 years and have a great relationship with a number of people there. ?(BTW their service dept. is great). ?I still have not made up my mind. ?I will probably be the only EXT
owner trying to make my EXT look like an AV ! ?As Always, Thank You... JS
 
JS73751 said:
Thanks for the good news and offers to get together. ?Powersurge, I have visited your sight in the past and could not help notice how familiar things looked. ?I have pretty much overcome my
fears of the problems mentioned. ?Right now I am trying to decide between the AV and the EXT.
As I mentioned earlier, I like the looks of the AV better than the EXT. ?Looks more like a truck
and less like an MTV "Cribs Car". ?Problem is that I lease for business puposes. ?I can lease the EXT for a better price on a dollar per dollar basis due to the high residual on the EXT, and a not so great residual on the AV. ?I have also been dealing with the Cadillac dealer (Sarant in Farmingdale) for 14 years and have a great relationship with a number of people there. ?(BTW their service dept. is great). ?I still have not made up my mind. ?I will probably be the only EXT
owner trying to make my EXT look like an AV ! ?As Always, Thank You... JS

Hey Man,
I always forget this guy's screen name. Many will know his name by the pic I have attached. I talked to this guys and he put only about $3,000 into his truck. HE did all the work himself. His truck looks better than any EXT out there. I love this truck. This is the Best Avalanche I have scene thus far.

This picture proves you can have an Avalanche that is sicker than an EXT..

 
I'm new to the club-don't own an AV but joined because I want one. I've read a lot of the posts and am wondering if you, as owners, feel that the number and type of your collective problems are normal or excessive for a newer model truck. I've owned 2 new vehicles (94 Explorer and now 01 Tahoe 4x4-built @ the Janesville WI plant). Maybe I was just lucky, but I didn't have ANY problems with either (I LOVE my Tahoe). I really like the 03 WBH but am concerned with ditching my near-perfect Tahoe only to acquire a bunch of headaches. I read that the AV is built in Mexico; perhaps this is an issue (I also read in a post that the Janesville plant has the best reputation for quality)? Your opinions are appreciated. I'd like to be able to change my screen name ;) Thanks
 
I've only had mine 17 days, but I've had zero problems.
One thing is you will generally only hear from people who DO have problems, and some of them will be very bitter, and some will over-react.
I had one new car that they forgot to put any power-steering fluid in (new Rack and Pinion the second day, under warranty). It was therafter extremely reliable.
My reading of the posts here is that Chevy had some early build problems, and a few design problems, in the first year. Not at all unusual. Some vehicles have had 10 major recalls in their first year.
Second year has been very good, if not outstanding.
There's one design flaw that can still bite you (the 4WD selector) but that only gets some people not even a substantial minority. It's awfull if you get it, but you probably won't. And I'm confident it WILL get fixed.
So my estimate is that the Avalanche's level of problems is well on the low end of low/normal.
 
Welcome wannabe!!

I think you will find that a vast majority of members havn't had any problems at all. I have owned mine for more than a year and havn't had any problems at all.

You can change your screen name by signing in and click on "profile" at the top of the page. Enjoy! :D
 
Real nice vehicle, I have owned many new cars and trucks in my 53 years and can state that the 03 AV I purchased is the best of the lot. Very dependable, perfect ride. hauled 800lbs of mulch last weekend and never knew it was loaded. No troubles, and I am very finicky about things. The nice thing is you ride on a suburban frame, not the trucky feeling. I was scared about the cost, but after my last by-pass surgery, postponed the 02 for the 03 because of it, I decised what the H^%3 and went for it. never looked back. with the people on this site to guide you, it is clear sailing. (did I say that, me being a power boater?) :rolleyes: :p
 
Hi wannabe, welcome to the club.

It's a good thing that you found this club before buying. Through our experience you will get an idea of things that you might look for.

I have owned my Av for 10 months now, I have 15,000 miles on it and have had only minor problems that were covered under warranty. I had one of my water channels replaced in the bed and my passenger side mirror cracked for no reason. I have not had any problems with oil consumption or water leaks, I mention these because they seem to be the "biggest" problems for some others on this site.

I think it's like any vehicle. If you look around you will find people who have '94 Explorers and '01 Tahoes that have had major problems with them. I guess it's just the luck of the draw.

Well good luck.

-Mark
 
3,000 miles and counting. I traded in a '97 Yukon. Liked the smaller size of the Yukon better than the AV. Av does drive nice and I have had very few problems so far. I am concerned about all the plastic, but you are getting around most of that. I will be pulling a 5500 lb camper this summer. Taking the panels off is not hard, but a chore every time I want to put something taller in the back. Nice engine, nice brakes, nice interior, bad MPG, tall and long in the back to parallel park, etc.

 
50,000 miles and nothing too major, SES light came on once in a while but that was due to bad gas, other than that its been a great 50k!......I know, I know hey what can I say, I drive alot.
 
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