• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

What Problems Have You Had With Your AV?

1

1busboy

GUEST
You know how it is, I am feeling like "why me", why does it always happen to me? Here is my list of problems since I got my AV:

1) ?first week of ownership: door cladding coming off - repaired

2) second week of ownership: popping sound from from brakes when braking, due to insufficiant lubrication - repaired

3) ?2 months of ownership: snapping noise on full stop, due to loose rear differential bolt - repaired

4) 4 months of ownership: when accelerating to pass on highway, tranny stuck, lost speed quickly. - sill a mystery

5) 8 months of ownership : rust above doors, due to metal shavings from intallation of factory roof rack -
repaired

6) 9 months of ownership : brake pedal going to floor, due to lack of brake fluid - repaired

7) 1 year of ownership : hit & run, damaging front clad bumper - still trying to figure a way to get white scuff mark off ?:7:

7) ?1 year & 1/2 of ownership: water in "middle" ofcargo area, on top of mat - still fighting this one ?:8:

So guys & gals, let's hear your stories....

 
Sorry to hear about your problems, 1busboy :6:.

In terms of our AV, I can see why Chevy Trucks are the most dependable longest lasting trucks on the road :). Just a couple of minor problems which have required just two visits to the dealer (oil changes don't count ;)): problems getting the tailgate shut and the right front shock went bad but I think that was the dealer's fault because it was just fine before they rotated the tires).

A couple somewhat minor other problems are the blue smoke on startup (I haven't seen it in a while) and minor midgate leakage.

You may think that is more than just a couple problems but this is the most reliable vehicle we have ever had.
 
Just starting my 10th month of ownership and only problem so far has been the oil smoking problem that was taken care of via the TSB.

Now that I have the HPPIII tuning installed, I feel like I have a new truck all over again. O the joy :love:

Jamie
 
CoAvZ71 said:
Sorry to hear about your problems, 1busboy ?:6:.


You may think that is more than just a couple problems but this is the most reliable vehicle we have ever had.


Thanks for your reply. I should mention that the engine would probably have to fall out before I wouldn't own an AV!!!
 
Can you give me the details on your door cladding problem? ?I have the cladding on the drivers rear door coming off at the top edge and I'm going to the dealer in a week or two, I'd like to know how you and the dealer adressed it. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Thanks
 
Hey BlueZ71, as per your request, I have sent you an email to the address you provided.

I don't think you will have any problems. :B:
 
Just passed my 1 year mark, and only 40 mods...I must be getting old :p
Problems:
1) Cargo panel #3 weatherstriping not glued on properly, dealer replaced whole panel.
2) Condensation in passenger fog light, dealer replaced.
3) HVAC controls intermittent, dealer has looked at this problem four times and it's still not fixed :8:
4) Condensation in drivers side fog light, happened recently, appointment not made yet.
ThThThat's all folks
 
I have owned mine since April 02 problems are few but there is one that is puzzling. I checked the search engine and could not find this topic.

When shifting into Drive, the gear selector wants to drop into 3rd. There seems to be some play between Neutral, Drive and 3. I have to negotiate with it to find drive otherwise it will want to stay in 3rd or Neutral. I have gotten used to now, but am wondering if long term use will create future problems. The dealer i bought it from Ron Carter in Alvin has a decent service dept, but it is a 40 minute drive from where i live and work. The closest Chevy dealer Norman Frede in Clear Lake has a terrible attitude regarding warranty work on vehicles not purchsed from their dealer.

Anyway, has any one else had a similar issue with the shifter?

By the way My Av came with a soft bed cover, and I am happy to say it does not leak!!!! ;D
 
I've had my AV since April '02. It's been in the shop once for a rattle in the driver's door :(and a bad sounding door chime. They both sound petty, but they were annoying as hell. The rattle turned out to be the door lock linkage and the door chime was a bad speaker. The kicker is the door chime speaker is integrated into the computer module. So, in order to replace the speaker, they would have to replace the whole computer and reprogram the new one. I said forget it. I didn't want to risk installing a re-manufactured computer with an intermittent problem that was never fixed after it was returned from the field. Suddenly the annoying door chime wasn't so annoying anymore.

I knock on wood and hope all my current vehicles don't turn into the three previous :6:Fords I've owned. :D: Sometimes a vehicle is just a lemon...Chevy, Ford, you name it. The key is how the manufacturer makes good on the lemon they sold you.

Truckman :B:
 
By the way My Av came with a soft bed cover, and I am happy to say it does not leak!!!! ;D[/quote]


Probably a wise choice..... :)
 
I'm coming up on one year of ownership with 10,000 miles of NO problems, no visits to dealer, no repairs (I've changed my own oil and done the chassis lube, and fixing scuffs on the cladding where I hit a rock doesn't count). ?I feel fortunate, given the problems some have had, but also know that there are other trouble-free Av's out there. ?

I hope that once you get the early problems worked out, that your Av will join the ranks of those with few problems!
 
Cracked rear window frame. 1 trip to dealer. That has been it. I must have got a Wednesday built truck.

I had the soft cover too. But bit the bullet and put the hard cover on. No leaks.
If you need a spare soft cover and all hdwe and bag let me know. It would be cheap.
 
1) HVAC not allowing ventilation to the front floor.
2) Dashboard wavy, dealer replace entire dash.
3) Tires out of balance
4) Alignment out
5) Glove box trim missing screws in way of the lock
6) Rust under weather stripping in way of the roof racks
7) Weather stripping by front mirror for drivers door has white threads hanging out....

Other than these..... love it (except for performance and fuel economy).

Have yet to "change it"
 
I've been the happy owner of my AV since May 02', (mother's day gift ;D) Anyway, the only few problems we've had with it are an intermittant buzzing noise or humming in the overhead OnStar speaker, which we were told was the internal temperature gauge (??) and couldn't be fixed. Apparently the dealership is awaiting a recall before doing anything on it.

The second was a weird whistling noise when excelerating, on the passenger side. We were told it was something to do with a loose bolt/nut on the transmission (??) and supposed to be corrected today.

Only other item is a discoloration on one of the bed panels, don't think that was addressed with today's service visit though. Next time.

:B:
 
I have had my Av for 4 months and the only problems that I have run into are;

Very small amount of water in bed following high pressure washing less than a shot glass. Not a real problem.

Wind noise at the midgate rear window area after the first snow. Went away when temp went up. Had more snow last night, no noise this time. Go figure.

So far this has been one of the best new vehicles I have owned. Get better milage than I did in a 78 Jeep Cherokee with a 6 cyl. Constatnly average about 15 mpg with a high so far of 17. Expect to get close to 20 on a pure highway trip. Had a 3/4 ton Ford 4x4 and on a good day it got 8 mpg. My neighbor used to laugh at me because his 26' Winabago got 12.

Love the Av. :love:

Happy holidays to all. ;)

Coach
 
I have an AV I purchased Nov 22, 2002. First problem I encountered is CD player not working--any CD put in shows "ERR" on display. I have inserted brand new CD's and still no go. Have an apoointment to have it fixed.

The bad thing about these factory installed radio/CD/cassete sound sytem is you have to yank the whole thing out. Now I will be driving around with a big gash/hole in my dash until the replacement unit comes back. Some manufacturers like Ford make theirs even oval shaped so it is virtually impossible to replace with aftermarket parts if you want a premium sound system. Talk about having a captive audience and cornering the market. I remember my old Tercel in the 1980's--no problem with installing my own Pioneer sound system with the removable face plate (fad back then).
 
Just heard back from our dealer at 15,000 miles service....we were hearing wheel/axle noise when driving straight, turning and slowing down. They are gonna have to REBUILD THE WHOLE REAR END of our Avalanche (replace gears, etc) :cry: They say they saw metal shavings. Argh....I hope this fixes it. It is covered under warranty, but I'm worried that we'll see other problems now.
 
I've had my AV for a week now. I've experienced one glitch so far. While driving to work one morning, the passenger side HVAC started blowing like an equatorial heat-wave. (I have the manual dual-zone unit). Nothing I did changed the temp. But when I started it up at lunch time, the problem magically disappeared. I talked to the dealer and he said this is fairly common and Chevy is aware of it. They haven't made up their mind whether or not to do anything about it yet (they being Chevy). Supposedly it will reset if you shut the vehicle off for a couple of minutes. Anyone else experience this problem??

Regards,

JoBu
 
"The second was a weird whistling noise when excelerating, on the passenger side. We were told it was something to do with a loose bolt/nut on the transmission (??) and supposed to be corrected today."

ng0254, could you let us know what they did to repair this?? I have exactly the same 'whistle' and it drives me nuts!!

Thanks!
 
spec66 said:
I have owned mine since April 02 problems are few but there is one that is puzzling. ?I checked the search engine and could not find this topic. ?

When shifting into Drive, the gear selector wants to drop into 3rd. ?There seems to be some play between Neutral, Drive and 3. ?I have to negotiate with it to find drive otherwise it will want to stay in 3rd or Neutral. ?I have gotten used to now, but am wondering if long term use will create future problems. ?The dealer i bought it from Ron Carter in Alvin has a decent service dept, but it is a 40 minute drive from where i live and work. ?The closest Chevy dealer Norman Frede in Clear Lake has a terrible attitude regarding warranty work on vehicles not purchsed from their dealer.

Anyway, has any one else had a similar issue with the shifter?

By the way My Av came with a soft bed cover, and I am happy to say it does not leak!!!! ;D

I would bring it in. Most likely just needs a linkage adjustment.
 
I have had mine for a little under 5 months. It has almost 14,000 miles and I have had no problems at all. Not even any fogging of the fog lights.

The only complaint I have is the paint they use now is pretty thin and chips easy. Otherwise this truck has been perfect.
 
Have owned an 02 nd now 03

Both have had to have drivers side shock replaced b/c of annoying squeaking noises, bolt on front end installed wrong and leaked oil all over the under side.

on 03 4wd message came on about needing maintaince happened on long trip went to dealership told me the problem and never had problem again.

overall best vehicle I ever owned. getting 18 mpg on highway.

landmanjim
 
I have a Nissan Maxima and was thinking of buying a AV. But, after looking at the TSB's and the club web site, I am wondering why I should go from a car with no problems to a vehicle with many problems. I have had three Nissans. Please help. I love the AV but don't need the headaches.
 
DonSq said:
I have a Nissan Maxima and was thinking of buying a AV. But, after looking at the TSB's and the club web site, I am wondering why I should go from a car with no problems to a vehicle with many problems. I have had three Nissans. Please help. I love the AV but don't need the headaches.


You are saying your NISSANN has no TSB? Take alook bet you would be surprized/....I bet everycar has some TSB...

PS for the record I have had no problems with my 2002.....UNless I broke it myself.....
 
My 2002 has been virtually trouble free. With 8000+ members, you will no doubt hear some complaints, some of which may not be valid. According to the Consumer Guide website, the Maxima is not without it's share of problems. The number of happy Av owners here far out number those with problems.
 
Back
Top