Chevrolet Avalanche

Where it stands out against its peers

• Unknown or other: more complaints than 98% of 2013 cars — 52% of its 82 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 11%.
• Structure: more complaints than 96% of 2013 cars — 23% of its 82 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 6%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• STRUCTURE — 13 owners reported this
• AIR BAGS — 11 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 3 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

65% of 2013 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 4. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 14V827000

  If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

• 21V051000

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

  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 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 N212328770.

• 21V053000

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

  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.

• 21V054000

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

  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.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

• Brake line corrosion failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2010, closed January 2011.

• Non-crash engine compartment fires

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2008, closed September 2008.

• Crank position sensor failure - stall

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2006, closed September 2006.

• Parking brake failure

  Defect petition, opened December 2005, closed May 2006.

• Unwanted low-speed abs activation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2005, closed September 2005.

• Hydraulic pump failres

  Engineering analysis, opened April 2004, closed February 2005.

• Tailgate cable breakage

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2004, closed September 2004.

• Throttle sticking closed

  Engineering analysis, opened August 2002, closed January 2004.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Chevrolet filed 1656 bulletins about the 2013 Avalanche.

• Equipment: 556
• Electrical system: 250
• Engine and engine cooling: 144
• Power train: 124
• Equipment adaptive/mobility: 82
• Engine: 56
• Structure: 54
• Visibility: 47
• Wheels: 47
• Suspension: 32
• Other: 264

• This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available. · April 2026
• This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect. · March 2026
• This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance. · March 2026
• This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-NA-255: Wax Coating on Frame Peeling, Metal Shows Corrosion/Rusting due to issue with getting product from… · January 2026
• This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance. · January 2026
• This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities. · December 2025
• This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage. · December 2025
• This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit… · November 2025

1648 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.