IllustrationTHE ABS KICK IN WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED. *TR
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Avalanche 1500 years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avalanche 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1225–50K
1650–75K
3475–100K
37100–150K
27150K+
132 reports with mileage · 22 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Parking Brake. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
154 reportsI AM CURRENTLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE AS TO UNWARRANTED ABS ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO STOP A LOW SPEEDS OR HESITATES AT 5 MPH COMING TO A STOP. I BEGAN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO, ON OR ABOUT APRIL 14TH, 2010. I CONDUCTED A SEARCH OF YOUR WEB SITE AND SAW THAT THERE HAS BEEN PREVI…
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I AM CURRENTLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE AS TO UNWARRANTED ABS ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO STOP A LOW SPEEDS OR HESITATES AT 5 MPH COMING TO A STOP. I BEGAN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO, ON OR ABOUT APRIL 14TH, 2010. I CONDUCTED A SEARCH OF YOUR WEB SITE AND SAW THAT THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS FROM 2005. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AT THE NUMBER PROVIDED IN YOUR RECALL BULLETIN # 05V-379. WHEN I SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THEY TOLD ME MY VIN # DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. CHEVROLET WILL NOT HONOR ANY REPAIR TO THIS VEHICLE WHICH I BELIEVE CLEARLY FALLS WITHIN THE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. I PLAN TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE, AND FILE SUIT AGAINST CHEVROLET FOR THE COST OF THOSE REPAIRS. *TR
BRAKE LINE BURST NEAR ABS MODULE UNDER TRUCK. *TR
DASH LIGHT DON'T WORK. DIMMER SWITCH VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH. *TR
MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE 1500,2WD HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TRUCK STALLED AND THEN SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I REPLACED THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR AND IT WORKS WELL NOW...BUT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT SHUT OFF,I ALMOST CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT. *TR
AT THE END OF DECEMBER, WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO BRAKES. I DOWN SHIFTED AND COASTED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED …
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AT THE END OF DECEMBER, WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO BRAKES. I DOWN SHIFTED AND COASTED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACED. AT A HEFTY PRICE, I REPLACED IT ALL. THE OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ACTION # PE05020, NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000, GM CORP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ANTILOCK. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS IN MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE. THE RECALL ONLY TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA EXTEND RECALL TO REPAIR ONGOING PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE NOTIFIED GM AND EXPECT A FOLLO…
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NHTSA ACTION # PE05020, NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000, GM CORP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ANTILOCK. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS IN MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE. THE RECALL ONLY TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA EXTEND RECALL TO REPAIR ONGOING PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE NOTIFIED GM AND EXPECT A FOLLOW UP BY NHTSA.
PARKING BRAKE FAILS TO HOLD VEHICLE IN ANY ATTITUDE. SYSTEM IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IS TYPICAL OF GM SUVS AND LIGHT TRUCKS. SYSTEM DESIGN AND EXECUTION IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 CHEVERLOT AVALACHE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED. THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 07/06/10.*JB
WHEN DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN I FELT A LARGE "THUMP", IN CHECKING MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, DISCOVERED MY SPARE TIRE LAYING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CABLE MECHANISM HAD BROKEN DROPPING TIRE TO PAVEMENT- MAY BE MADE OF SAME CABLE AS TAILGATE CABLE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN BEHIND ME IT COULD HAVE BEEN A S…
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WHEN DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN I FELT A LARGE "THUMP", IN CHECKING MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, DISCOVERED MY SPARE TIRE LAYING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CABLE MECHANISM HAD BROKEN DROPPING TIRE TO PAVEMENT- MAY BE MADE OF SAME CABLE AS TAILGATE CABLE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN BEHIND ME IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA11001 · Brake Line Corrosion Failure
Opened Jan 5, 2011 · Closed Apr 8, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t