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2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 14 of 20 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

20 reports
84,000 miles · May 8, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

ENGINE DIES, DOOR LOCKS START OPENING AND CLOSING, ALL DASH LIGHTS GO OFF, RADIO GOES OFF,CAR STARTS ON OWN 3 TO 6 SECONDS, DID THIS AT 60 MPH AND AT 15 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #10863814

130,000 miles · Apr 29, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

MY TRUCK HAS 2 MAJOR CRACKS ON THE DASH THAT JUST APPEARED WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE JULY 2013. ONE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT ON THE DASH AND CRACKS FROM MY DISPLAY BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECOND CRACK IN THE DASH IS IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGERS SEAT AN…

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MY TRUCK HAS 2 MAJOR CRACKS ON THE DASH THAT JUST APPEARED WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE JULY 2013. ONE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT ON THE DASH AND CRACKS FROM MY DISPLAY BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECOND CRACK IN THE DASH IS IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGERS SEAT AND RUNS INTO THE AIRBAG. ALL GM MODEL SUV/TRUCKS FROM 2007-2013 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS ISSUE. IF EITHER OF MY AIR BAGS HAVE TO DEPLOY, WE COULD GET KILLED BY THE SHARP CRACKED SHARDS BUSTING OUT OF THE DASH AND STABBING US. I BOUGHT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE WHEN MY FIRST BORN SON WAS 1 MONTH OLD BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING A LITTLE HONDA CIVIC AND WANTED SOMETHING SAFER FOR MY CHILD. NOW HE IS 2 1/2 AND I ALSO HAVE A SECOND SON NOW THAT JUST TURNED 6 MONTHS. I'M DISAPPOINTED IN CHEVY FOR NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM WHEN ITS GOING TO CAUSE A DEATH! IT WOULD BE REALLY UNFORTUNATE IF MY CHILDREN OR ONE OF THEIR PARENTS GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS DASH ISSUE. GM WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WANTS TO CHARGE 1300.00 TO FIX IT!!

NHTSA ODI #10862212

18,300 miles · Apr 26, 2016
Unknown Or Other

CRACK IN DASH NEXT TO THE AIRBAG. DASH BOARD BECOMES UN ATTACHED BETWEEN MOLDS, CAUSING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AREA TO BOUNCE AND BECOME UNSTABLE WHICH MAY LEAD TO IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT SINCE THE SHIFTING AND DETERIORATION OF SUPPORTIVE MOLDINGS AND PLASTICS CAN NOT SUPPORT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. THE CRACK HAPPENED WHILE TH…

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CRACK IN DASH NEXT TO THE AIRBAG. DASH BOARD BECOMES UN ATTACHED BETWEEN MOLDS, CAUSING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AREA TO BOUNCE AND BECOME UNSTABLE WHICH MAY LEAD TO IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT SINCE THE SHIFTING AND DETERIORATION OF SUPPORTIVE MOLDINGS AND PLASTICS CAN NOT SUPPORT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. THE CRACK HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A STOPLIGHT ON A FULL SUN DAY, WARM DAY. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 18000 MIES.

NHTSA ODI #10861597

38,000 miles · Mar 12, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

CRACKS IN DASH COVER AROUND AIR BAG AND OVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. NO HARD ROAD HITS, NO JUNK ON THE DASH. HEARD A RATTLE, LOOKED UP THERE AND FOUND THE CRACKS. THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS ACROSS INTERNET. SEAT TRACKS ROUGH SLIDING AND MOTOR FAILURE. OUTSIDE MIRROR MOTOR FAILURE. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER AND DONT MOVE SEATS MUCH. LACK OF U…

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CRACKS IN DASH COVER AROUND AIR BAG AND OVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. NO HARD ROAD HITS, NO JUNK ON THE DASH. HEARD A RATTLE, LOOKED UP THERE AND FOUND THE CRACKS. THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS ACROSS INTERNET. SEAT TRACKS ROUGH SLIDING AND MOTOR FAILURE. OUTSIDE MIRROR MOTOR FAILURE. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER AND DONT MOVE SEATS MUCH. LACK OF USE KILLS MOTORS? REAR WINDOW LEAKING WATER DUE TO PLASTIC FRAME SHRINKING, CRACKING AND LEAVING A GAP. ONLY TOOK THE WINDOW OUT ONCE BEFORE FINDING IT LEAKING 2 YEARS LATER DUE TO THE PLASTIC FRAME SHRINK AND CRACK. DOOR HANDLES PAINT FALLING OFF IN FLAKES. FRONTS REPLACED BY DEALER AT 17K. 38K REAR HANDLES STARTED DOING IT. DEALERS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING AFTER 36K. 78K ON TRUCK NOW, MAKING LAST 575.00 PAYMENT THIS MONTH AND TRUCK NEEDS THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BUYING A 45K TRUCK AND USING IT AS A FAMILY TRAVELER IT WOULD BE THE LAST ONE I WOULD HAVE TO BUY SINCE IT IS WELL CARED FOR. THESE TRUCKS ARE NOW KNOW FOR PROBLEMS AND LESS APPEALING. SELLING IT ISN'T EASY BECAUSE OF THESE CONTINUAL ISSUES GM FAILED TO ADDRESS. THE TRUCK WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2013 MOST LIKELY DUE TO MFG DEFECTS AND COMPLAINT RATIOS. ALL GM TRUCKS HAVE THESE ISSUES FROM 07 THROUGH 2013.

NHTSA ODI #10846227

107,000 miles · Aug 4, 2015
Air Bags

DASHBOARD CRACKED AROUND THE AIRBAG AREA. CONCERNED OF FLYING DEBRIS IN CASE OF AN INCIDENT THAT INVOLVES AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10746272

67,000 miles · Jan 29, 2015
Structure

MULTIPLE CRACKS IN DASHBOARD DECK AROUND AIRBAG COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF; LITERALLY APPEARED ONE DAY AND HAVE SPREAD AND GOTTEN WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679627

110,000 miles · Aug 31, 2013
Structure

GOT IN TO MY CAR THAT MORNING AND HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM MY DASH AND CAME TO FIND OUT MY DASH WAS CRACKED. I DO NOTHING BUT HIGHWAY DRIVING SO THERE WERE NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES TO CAUSE IT. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE COME TO FIND OU…

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GOT IN TO MY CAR THAT MORNING AND HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM MY DASH AND CAME TO FIND OUT MY DASH WAS CRACKED. I DO NOTHING BUT HIGHWAY DRIVING SO THERE WERE NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES TO CAUSE IT. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A CHEVY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING DISCLOSED OR ARE THEY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WEBSITES WITH CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION ON THE BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS OF CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS WHO NEED THE ISSUE RECTIFIED . *JS

NHTSA ODI #10538224

134,475 miles · Dec 18, 2011
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING TO A CHURCH FUNCTION WITH MY WIFE AND ABOUT 30MPH UNDER ACCELERATION, MY TRUCK STARTED LUGGING LIKE IT WAS IN 6TH GEAR. IT STARTED SHAKING THEN THE TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN ABOUT 500 RPM'S. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND LOOKED GOOD. I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRIP TOMORROW MORNING AND NO…

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I WAS DRIVING TO A CHURCH FUNCTION WITH MY WIFE AND ABOUT 30MPH UNDER ACCELERATION, MY TRUCK STARTED LUGGING LIKE IT WAS IN 6TH GEAR. IT STARTED SHAKING THEN THE TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN ABOUT 500 RPM'S. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND LOOKED GOOD. I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRIP TOMORROW MORNING AND NOW I AM STUCK. I TOOK IT FOR ANOTHER DRIVE TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED AND IT DOES. I PUT THE CRUISE ON ABOUT 60MPH AND THE TRUCK WAS BUCKING AND THE RPM'S WERE GOING CRAZY. I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE I HAVE HAD WITH THIS TRUCK SO FAR WITH ANOTHER ISSUE AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440346

68,800 miles · Dec 13, 2011
Wheels

CRACKED RIM FLANGE IN 2 LOCATIONS. INFO AS FOLLOWS: WHEEL 20X8.5JX; MADE IN CHINA; T-DOT GM; CRACKS ARE AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 2:30, FULL LENGTH OF THE FLANGE WHERE THE TIRE MOUNTS, ON THE INBOARD (MOUNTING) SIDE OF THE WHEEL. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE RIM AND NO TIRES WERE DAMAGED AS REMOVAL WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO A R…

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CRACKED RIM FLANGE IN 2 LOCATIONS. INFO AS FOLLOWS: WHEEL 20X8.5JX; MADE IN CHINA; T-DOT GM; CRACKS ARE AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 2:30, FULL LENGTH OF THE FLANGE WHERE THE TIRE MOUNTS, ON THE INBOARD (MOUNTING) SIDE OF THE WHEEL. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE RIM AND NO TIRES WERE DAMAGED AS REMOVAL WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO A RAPID AIR LOSS - TPMS SYSTEM PROVIDED EARLY WARNING OF DIMINISHED AIR PRESSURE. 2009 AVALANCHE MILES: 68,800 OEM TIRE FITMENT: DUELER H/L ALENZA 275/55R20 WINTER FITMENT: BLIZZAK 275/55R20 ROTATION DONE DURING SWITCH-OVERS MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES +/- 2500 MILES TRAILER SERVICE, LIGHT DUTY. NO OFF-ROAD ACTIVITIES NO OVERLOAD ACTIVITIES PHOTOS AND ORIGINAL WHEEL AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439762

3,788 miles · Mar 11, 2011
Power Train

09 CHEVY AVALANCHE THE DRIVE SHAFT OR BALL JOINT WAS UNDERSIZED BY 5/1000 TO MAKE THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFT CORRECTLY/THUS CAUSING SLACK WHICH MAKES NOISES FROM A JAR TO SOUNDING LIKE YOU WERE HIT IN THE REAR. 3 TIMES TO DEALER--3/30/10 AT3,788 MI, 10/28/10 W/8,185 MI TO3/3/11 W/14,000 MI. THEY TELL ME NOW ITS NO FIX, BU…

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09 CHEVY AVALANCHE THE DRIVE SHAFT OR BALL JOINT WAS UNDERSIZED BY 5/1000 TO MAKE THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFT CORRECTLY/THUS CAUSING SLACK WHICH MAKES NOISES FROM A JAR TO SOUNDING LIKE YOU WERE HIT IN THE REAR. 3 TIMES TO DEALER--3/30/10 AT3,788 MI, 10/28/10 W/8,185 MI TO3/3/11 W/14,000 MI. THEY TELL ME NOW ITS NO FIX, BUT HAS 100,00 MI WARRANTY. IT IS GETTING WORSE AND COULD FINALLY TWIST AND BREAK WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT W/ BODILY HARM,IT IS GETTING MUCH WORSE AND AFFECTS LATE 08 MODELS THRU 2011. A CERTIFIED LETTER SENT ON 11/22/10 AND RECEIVED 11/29/10 TPSCOTTLAWSON..DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER AND RELATIONSHIP SERVICES, AS OF 3/11/11 NEVER REPLIED TO MY E-MAIL OR PHONE. A $48,000 VEHICLE THAT SEEMS LIKE A 1,000 DOLLAR. THEIR HAS TO BE THOUSANDS OF THESE ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389858

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.