Model year record

2011 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 recalls & problems

The 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 has 2 safety recalls and 28 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (11 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints28filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SuspensionJan 6, 2011

Rear › Axle › Spindle

Recall 11V00700030,566 vehicles

Problem: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

SuspensionDec 17, 2010

Rear › Axle › Spindle

Recall 10V6430001,262 vehicles

Problem: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Avalanche 1500 2WD FFV

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Avalanche 1500 4WD FFV

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · 4-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Typical mileage*
Air bags	11	0	65,000 mi
Unknown or other	11	0	55,000 mi
Electrical system	4	0	65,000 mi
StructureBody	4	0	44,186 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)	3	0	65,000 mi
Power train	3	1	30,000 mi
Engine	3	0	34,256 mi
Vehicle speed control	2	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electronic stability control (esc)
SERVICE STABILITRAC SYSTEM INDICATION COMES ON, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. HAPPENS RANDOMLY, CANNOT FIND A "COMMON CAUSE" SPENT LOTS OF MONEY ON PCM, BCM, MEMORY SEAT MODULE, BATTERY CABLES, BATTERY, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, ETC. ETC. DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN VEHICLE DROPS INTO POWER REDUCTION MODE.
May 2, 2018 · 65,000 miles
Air bags
SAFETY ISSUE. DASH IS CRACKING NEAR AIRBAG. THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG OR SHRAPNEL FROM DASH CAUSING HARM DURING DEPLOYMENT. DASH IS ALSO CRACKING OVER STEERING WHEEL AREA.
Nov 14, 2018 · 80,000 miles
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL; NO GM REMEDY FROM TN CHEVROLET DEALERS. LIVE IN MARTIN, TN. 38237 NOTR: BELOW DATE FIELD WILL NOT ALLOW PRIOR YEAR DATE; RECALL +2 YEARS OUTSTANDING WITH NO REMEDY VIA GM TO DATE.
Jan 1, 2018
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL - MY AIRBAG IS UNDER RECALL AND I CONTACTED MY DEALER WHO DOES NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT OR KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT HOW I CAN GET A NEW PART. I AM FEARFUL TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TAKATA
May 27, 2017
Unknown or other
DASH IS CRACKED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE.
Jan 1, 2017 · 90,000 miles
Air bags
2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS DASHBOARD CRACKING ALL AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. MY CONCERN IS IF THE AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED FOR ANY REASON THE HARD PLASTIC DASHBOARD MATERIAL WILL SHATTER A SCATTER ALL THROUGH THE CABIN INJURING MYSELF, OR WORSE MY FAMILY. MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER READING ALL THE REVIEWS THIS IS NOT A CONCERN OF GM EVEN THOUGH MOST VEHICLES HAVE THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS THEY ARE SIMPLY WAITING FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GET INJURED BEFORE THEY HAVE TO DO A RECALL DUE TO USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS. THIS WAS MY FIRST CHEVROLET AND WILL BE MY LAST, WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT.
Sep 5, 2017 · 110,000 miles
Air bags
AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON THE TRUCK WILL SURGE WITH NO WARNING CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT TO BLACK OUT AND WOULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO STOP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WITH NO KEY AND CONTROL ON THE STEERING NOT FUNCTIONAL
Jun 5, 2017
Air bags
GENERAL MOTORS DASH CRACKS ON VARIOUS AVALANCHE MODEL YEARS. MY RESEARCH SUGGEST OTHER GM VEHICLES SIMILAR TOO THE AVALANCHE. MY METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AVALANCHE IS TYPICAL. COMPARING TOO OTHER GM VEHICLES OF OTHER OWNERS. CRACK ARE NEAR IDENTICAL IN LOCATION. PRESENTLY ONE AT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. SECOND CRACK ON THE INSTRUMENT DASH HUMP. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF A DESIGN FLAW. CRACK PICTURE ARE THE BEST I CAN DO. AIRBAG CRACK IS NEAR THE QUARTER. TWO PICTURES SHOW THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABUSED. GENERAL MOTORS CONTACT HAVE PROVED USELESS. "IF I WANT THE CRACK REPAIRED, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FROM MY OWN POCKET."
Apr 29, 2016

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.