Illustration2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. IGNITION SWITCH IS SHORTING OUT, HAVE TO JIGGLE KEY TO START. WHEN DRIVING TUCK LOOSES POWER AND SHUTS OFF LOOSING ALL POWER STEERING AND ALL POWER BRAKES. HAD TO MUSCLE TRUCK TO SHOULDER OF ROADWAY AND RESTART. DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE ABS. THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND THE SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS ABS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL ON THE ABS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL CHEVROLET VEHICLES IN ALL S…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE ABS. THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND THE SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS ABS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL ON THE ABS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL CHEVROLET VEHICLES IN ALL STATES, NOT JUST THE WINTER STATES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE - DOES NOT WORK - DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION TECHNICIAN AT DEALER STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AVALANCHE. THE COST TO REPAIR THE PARKING BRAKE AND ALL THE AFFECTED PARTS IS APPROX. $ 600.00. TECHNICIAN STATED THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. *TR
RUPTURE OF PLASTIC-LIKE FUEL LINES ABOVE THE GAS TANK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ABS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,00…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ABS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.
I HAVE A CHEVROLET 2002 AVALANCHE. THERE WAS A LOT OF CLICKING AND CLACKING IN MY STEERING. I HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED AND REALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY A CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER IDENTIFIED A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET. THERE IS A LINKAGE IN THE STEERING THAT IS CATEGORIZED AS A SHAFT #19153614 THAT WAS NOT CORR…
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I HAVE A CHEVROLET 2002 AVALANCHE. THERE WAS A LOT OF CLICKING AND CLACKING IN MY STEERING. I HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED AND REALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY A CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER IDENTIFIED A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET. THERE IS A LINKAGE IN THE STEERING THAT IS CATEGORIZED AS A SHAFT #19153614 THAT WAS NOT CORRECTLY DESIGNED WHEN MANUFACTURED. ACCORDING TO THE CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER CHEVY HAD TO REDESIGN THE SHAFT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY ORIGINALLY I REQUESTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COVER THE COST OF $201.95 COST. THEY HAD SOME FOREIGNER FROM THE PHILLIPINES CALL ME TO TELL ME THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THIS MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP FAILURE. IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS SWEEPING UNDER THE RUG. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY OF THESE SHAFTS. THANK YOU. *TR
HOOD METAL AROUND THE LATCH IS ROTTING. AND THERE IS DELAMATION OF THE METAL. *TR
I WAS REFUSED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION BECAUSE OF NO EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT 2002 SERIES OF CHEVROLET TRUCK HAD A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS THEN TOLD CHEVROLET DID A SILENT RECALL ON TRUCKS WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. HOWEVER I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND T…
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I WAS REFUSED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION BECAUSE OF NO EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT 2002 SERIES OF CHEVROLET TRUCK HAD A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS THEN TOLD CHEVROLET DID A SILENT RECALL ON TRUCKS WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. HOWEVER I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE REPAIRS COST $525.88. ALSO I WAS TOLD TO SET THE BRAKE TO INSURE THAT IT WOULDN'T FAIL IN THE FUTURE. NOTHING IN OWNERS MANUAL TELLS YOU TO SET EM. BRAKE SO IT WOULDN'T WEAR OUT BY NOT BEING SET IN ORDER TO KEEP IT ALIGNED TO PREVENT WEAR. *TR
GENERAL MOTORS SERVICE BULLETIN #02-05-26-002 2002-2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 SERIES MODELS I HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND GM OR THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME 'TOUGH LUCK' THIS IS !@#$% AND THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS PARKING BRAKE ISSUE!!! EVERY REPAIR PERSON I TAKE TO KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING OBSCURE!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT AND CRUISE TO A STOP. AS OF NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RUSTE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT AND CRUISE TO A STOP. AS OF NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,800. UPDATED 0310/08. *LJ
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