NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
154 reports92,448 miles · Jun 9, 2011
Service Brakes, Electric
07/12/10 BRAKES FAILED ON 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE...BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND LEFT LANE WAS FREE OF TRAFFIC OR I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED AT BRAKE SPECIALIST FOR $573.55. 06/09/11 AS I APPROACHED RED LIGHT, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL TO THE FLOOR STOPPED JUST I…
Read full complaint
07/12/10 BRAKES FAILED ON 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE...BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND LEFT LANE WAS FREE OF TRAFFIC OR I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED AT BRAKE SPECIALIST FOR $573.55. 06/09/11 AS I APPROACHED RED LIGHT, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL TO THE FLOOR STOPPED JUST INCHES FROM STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK THE AVALANCHE TO REPAIR SHOP TX. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE AVALANCHE, FOUR RUSTED BRAKE LINES...$1700 TO REPLACE. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS "RUSTED BRAKE ISSUE WITH THE AVALANCHES AND IT SEEMS MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405790
76,000 miles · Jun 3, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD, REDUCING BRAKING PRESSURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONSTANT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN O…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD, REDUCING BRAKING PRESSURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONSTANT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED AN OPEN INVESTIGATION RELATING TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/11/11
NHTSA ODI #10404377
86,830 miles · May 16, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY; HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. SHE PURCHASED A BATTERY BUT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT TH…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY; HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. SHE PURCHASED A BATTERY BUT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO UNPLUG THE ABS MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ABS MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,835. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,830.
NHTSA ODI #10401129
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2011
Electrical System
THE DASH LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY SHOWING THE SECURITY LIGHT, GAS LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING. WHEN YOU SHUT THE TRUCK OFF IT STILL SHOWS THE YELLOW SECURITY LIGHT AND IT NEVER GOES OFF AND IF YOU LEAVE IT SITTING FOR 1 OR 2 DAYS WITHOUT DRIVING IT MAKES THE BATTERY GO DEAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386762
15,000 miles · Feb 20, 2011
Parking Brake
2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE ISSUE. ITS INSPECTION STICKER TIME AGAIN AND FOR THE 7TH YEAR IN A ROW I AM DUMPING MY WALLET INTO THE E BRAKE. I UNDERSTAND STUFF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OVER TIME BUT THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THIS YEAR ALL NEW CABLES AND NEW ADJUSTMENT SCREW KIT....AND BEHOLD STILL NO HOLDING POWER NEED NEW …
Read full complaint
2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE ISSUE. ITS INSPECTION STICKER TIME AGAIN AND FOR THE 7TH YEAR IN A ROW I AM DUMPING MY WALLET INTO THE E BRAKE. I UNDERSTAND STUFF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OVER TIME BUT THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THIS YEAR ALL NEW CABLES AND NEW ADJUSTMENT SCREW KIT....AND BEHOLD STILL NO HOLDING POWER NEED NEW SHOES AGAIN. THIS FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NEVER NEEDED IN PRACTICAL SENSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10383417
160,000 miles · Feb 20, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Z-71, BRAKE LINES RUSTY TO THE POINT OF FAILURE AT ANYTIME, SPONGY PEDAL, AND DIFFICULTY STOPPING. AT PRESENT TIME HAVE NOT REPAIRED DUE TO EXTREME COST. IF THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM THERE WILL BE A MASSIVE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT (IF MY FAMILY AND I SURVIVE). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10383363
89,580 miles · Feb 9, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4X4 WHILE VACATIONING IN FLORIDA. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2011, I NOTED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELY SPONGY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I NOTED A LEAKAGE BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR IT WAS BELOW THE NORMAL LEVEL. AN INSPE…
Read full complaint
I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4X4 WHILE VACATIONING IN FLORIDA. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2011, I NOTED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELY SPONGY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I NOTED A LEAKAGE BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR IT WAS BELOW THE NORMAL LEVEL. AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES INDICATED SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. I HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AND RENT A CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10381302
125,000 miles · Jan 9, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I WANTED TO ADD TO THE COMPLAINT ABOUT BRAKE EROSION ON 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE. MY FRONT BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT WHEN BRAKING. I NEARLY MISSED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS STOPPING WHEN I DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE NEARLY ALL MY BRAKE LINES DUE TO LEAKS. I LIVE IN UP-STATE NEW YORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10375295
60,067 miles · Jan 9, 2011
Steering
02' CHEVY AVALANCHE 60K MILES, I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN NOV.2010 IT IS JAN. 2011 NOT MORE THEN 45 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THE STEERING IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, GRINDING NOISE, TURNING NOISE, UNBEARABLE TO DRIVE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CONTACTED DEALER TO CORRECT, DEALER HAS NOT CONFIRMED WHAT WILL BE DONE YET? THIS IS NOT N…
Read full complaint
02' CHEVY AVALANCHE 60K MILES, I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN NOV.2010 IT IS JAN. 2011 NOT MORE THEN 45 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THE STEERING IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, GRINDING NOISE, TURNING NOISE, UNBEARABLE TO DRIVE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CONTACTED DEALER TO CORRECT, DEALER HAS NOT CONFIRMED WHAT WILL BE DONE YET? THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR TYPE OF ISSUE, FACTORY RECALL TYPE OF ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10375276
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2011
Parking Brake
EMERGENCY BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL ALTHOUGH RARELY USED. REPAIRS NEVER LAST. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR A DESIGN FLAW. NHTSA IS JUST LIKE THE SEC IN THAT THEY HAVE DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. THIS IS A VERY,VERY COMMON FAILURE ON THE AVALANCHE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOW CALLED A PARKING BRAKE ON THE COMPLAINT FORM AND MOST …
Read full complaint
EMERGENCY BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL ALTHOUGH RARELY USED. REPAIRS NEVER LAST. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR A DESIGN FLAW. NHTSA IS JUST LIKE THE SEC IN THAT THEY HAVE DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. THIS IS A VERY,VERY COMMON FAILURE ON THE AVALANCHE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOW CALLED A PARKING BRAKE ON THE COMPLAINT FORM AND MOST PEOPLE STOP AT "BRAKE,HYDRAULIC" INSTEAD OF SCROLLING FURTHER DOWN. THE FORM SHOULD HAVE THE SELECTION---"BRAKE,EMERGENCY" , BUT IT DOESN'T. THEREFORE , THERE IS NO EMERGENCY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10373858
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
Illustration