Chevrolet Avalanche Reliability Problems

Avalanche owners have made 690 complaints over 12 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 29th in overall reliability out of 40 Chevrolet models, with real interior and engine concerns.

3 Common Chevrolet Avalanche Problems

A list of some of the most common issues Avalanche owners have to deal with.

  1. Cracked Dashboard

    Multiple GM vehicles from the 2007-2014 model years are developing dashboard cracks. One of the most common areas of concern is around the passenger airbag cover, leaving owners wondering about potential safety risks.

    Continue reading article "Cracked Dashboard" A crack sloping down from left to right on a Chevy dashboard

  3. Takata Recalls

    A large number of Chevy vehicles have been recalled because they contain dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata. The shrapnel-hurling inflators have been recalled in over 37 million vehicles (and counting).

    Continue reading article "Takata Recalls" A crash test dummy about to hit an airbag with the Takata logo superimposed on top.

What Avalanche Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

Avalanche Generations

The Avalanche has 2 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 1st generation (2002–2006).

Avalanche Key Numbers

  1. 690 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 1,936 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 21 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Avalanche Class-Action Lawsuits

The Avalanche has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

  • Airko, Inc., et al., v. General Motors LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      A General Motors Vortec class action lawsuit alleges oil consumption problems plague the vehicles because of defective piston rings. The GM Vortec class action lawsuit includes these vehicles equipped with Generation IV 5.3-Liter V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engines.

  • Dismissed

    Szep, et al., v. General Motors LLC.

    1. Dismissed

      The judge ruled the plaintiff lacks standing to maintain nationwide class claims because “named plaintiffs lack standing to assert claims under the laws of the states in which they do not reside or in which they suffered no injury.”

    2. Case Filed

      The alleged oil consumption causes low oil levels, insufficient lubricity and engine damage due to piston rings which don't maintain enough tension to keep oil in the crankcase. In addition, the plaintiff alleges the oil life monitoring systems make the problem worse.

    Problem
    5.3L Vortec 5300 Engine Oil Consumption
    Class Vehicles
    • 2010-2014 Avalanche
    • 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado
    • 2010-2013 Chevrolet Express
    • 2010-2013 Silverado
    • 2010-2014 Suburban
    • 2010-2014 Tahoe
    Location
    Ohio

  • Martell, et al., v. General Motors LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      The class action lawsuit alleges General Motors manufactured and sold vehicles that consume abnormally high quantities of oil because of numerous problems with the engines. The plaintiff claims the primary problem is the piston rings that don't hold enough tension to keep engine oil in the crankcase, resulting in low oil levels and inadequate lubrication of engine components.

  • Smith et al. v. General Motors, LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      A GM cracked dash lawsuit alleges owners can spend thousands of dollars to replace cracked dashboards and instrument panels the automaker should have recalled.

    Problem
    Cracked Dashboard
    Class Vehicles
    • 2009-2014 Silverado
    • 2009-2014 Tahoe
    • 2009-2014 Suburban
    • 2009-2014 Avalanche
    Location
    Michigan

  • Monteville Sloan Jr,, et al., v. General Motors LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      The alleged oil consumption causes low oil levels, insufficient lubricity and engine damage due to piston rings which don't maintain enough tension to keep oil in the crankcase. In addition, the plaintiff alleges the oil life monitoring systems make the problem worse.

Recent Avalanche News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Toss another lawsuit onto the ever-growing pile of GM Vortec oil consumption cases.

    The Missouri based class-action is the latest in a series of suits saying the 5.3L Vortec engine churns through oil because of defects in the low-tension piston rings. The problem is compounded by GM's questionably designed oil life monitoring system which doesn't warn owners when oil levels get dangerously low.

    In fact the system doesn't monitor oil levels at all, just the quality of the oil itself. So while the engine may be dry and on the verge of collapse, rest assured that last quart of oil is still in tip-top shape. 👍🏼…

    keep reading article "Missouri Vortec Oil Consumption Lawsuit Latest in a Series Against GM"

  2. GM owners tired of their dashboards looking like a faultline have taken the matter to the court.

    General Motors allegedly tells consumers the damage is merely cosmetic, but the plaintiffs claim in addition to safety hazards, the damaged dashboards and instrument panels cause a loss of value of the vehicles.

    GM wasn't going to issue a service campaign or recall, and the feds won't investigate issues they don't consider to be a safety defect. With so many of these vehicles having this problem, owners had no other choice but to file a lawsuit.

    https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2018/gm-cracked-dash-lawsuit.shtml

    keep reading article "Cracking Dashboards and Safety Hazards Lead to Lawsuit"

  3. Earlier this year, General Motors (GM) announced a preliminary recall for 1.9 million vehicles with Takata airbag inflators.

    But then, a couple months later, they decided that recalling some of those vehicles wasn't necessary. Researchers have found a combination of age, moisture, and high temperatures can make the ammonium nitrate inside of Takata airbag inflators unstable, causing them to explode in a dangerous way.…

    keep reading article "GM Given Time to Prove Takata Airbags Not Faulty"

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