Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 4 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

4 total · 4 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V053000 · Feb 2021

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V054000 · Feb 2021

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V050000 · Feb 2021

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 10E043000 · Sep 2010

AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.

Remedy
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

111 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
6

Most reports here involve transmission slipping.

transmission slipping 3sudden stalling 1
A recent report: MY TRANSMISSION WHEN TAKING OFF FAST SOUND LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL AND THEN WHEN I LET OFF THE FAST IT GOES IN GEAR. ALSO MY DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND FOUND BE A SERIOUS AIRBAG ISSUE. I'VE SEEN…
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MY TRANSMISSION WHEN TAKING OFF FAST SOUND LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL AND THEN WHEN I LET OFF THE FAST IT GOES IN GEAR. ALSO MY DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND FOUND BE A SERIOUS AIRBAG ISSUE. I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED SO I COULD BE FIXED ASAP. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD.!!!

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11120938 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
9

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 4software faults 2electrical shorts 1
A recent report: In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds…
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In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds meaning it wouldn’t go above 25 miles an hour. The entire dash would light up. It threw numerous codes. Had to be towed to get it looked at but then would mysteriously start without issue. I took it to young Buick gmc in Layton Utah with no resolution. Finally in December 2020 it was determined by now Heritage Chevrolet in Evanston Wyoming to be the Onstar module. This part was no longer available and couldn’t be replaced. The dealership’s solution was to wire around the faulty part which has allowed the truck to start and no longer go into limp mode from 70mph on highway to 20mph without notice. I immediately got a hold of Chevrolet to get a satisfactory answer about why I couldn’t get the part that was making the vehicle unsafe to drive. They said the part was no longer being manufactured and it wasn’t their problem sorry about the inconvenience Case number [XXX]. I did have the dealership wire around it so I have the truck working, but Chevrolet did not care about the truck going into limp mode suddenly on the highway and it could have caused an accident. They not not offer any compensation for the part not being manufactured and according to to your website if a part is causing a safety issue they are they are required to have that part fixed. I am still upset about their lack of support and service and want Chevrolet held accountable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11623041 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
48

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 4electrical shorts 1
A recent report: Heard a Loud Pop Bang noise then discovered Dash cracked in several multiple places. Currently need to have airbags attended to as when I last called when it was convenient for me to take vehicle…
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Heard a Loud Pop Bang noise then discovered Dash cracked in several multiple places. Currently need to have airbags attended to as when I last called when it was convenient for me to take vehicle into repair , the repair place can’t meet my needs for time frame to repair. Am now afraid driving with all the cracks in dash but can Not be without vehicle.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11624558 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
16

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

premature wear 2
A recent report: My dashboard is cracking in several places, also my panels for the truck bed are warped.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11437459 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
32

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 8corrosion 1
A recent report: Having alot of issues with the drain tubes especially with the front top tubes my floor boards are being soaked. The tubes are plastic so when and why for the drain tubes and how often should they be…
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Having alot of issues with the drain tubes especially with the front top tubes my floor boards are being soaked. The tubes are plastic so when and why for the drain tubes and how often should they be really be changed. The seal above driver door and passenger door in front are not always put in correctly or they move causing the water to cross over and pull into car instead of exiting. And the ac plug also problem. Certain years do not have the cabin filters .The engine light is very sensitive as well.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11417523 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 111 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2011 and 2024, roughly 8 a year, which is about the same as the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2010 has 111 complaints on file, fewer than the 2011 (127). Of the 4 model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche we cover, the 2011 has the most (127). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.