The 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche has 3 safety recalls and 71 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (21 complaints).
Problem: ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.
Risk: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
Power train › Manual transmission › Shift pattern indicator
NHTSA recall 05V055000 · Feb 14, 2005 · 7,194 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.
Risk: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Service brakes, hydraulic
NHTSA recall 05V043000 · Feb 8, 2005 · 77,411 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Risk: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FOR FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF THE TWO-FUNCTION VALVE. IF THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FAILS THE TEST, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
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.
Crash test ratings
2005 Chevrolet Avalanche w/SAB; w/updated ESC
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
21.9%
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Instrument cluster/panel
21
0
0
0
60,000 mi
Air bags Frontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module
11
2
0
3
44,750 mi
Power train Automatic transmission
9
0
0
0
50,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
8
0
0
0
108,404 mi
Engine and engine cooling
5
0
0
0
25,840 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
4
0
0
0
90,000 mi
Steering
4
0
0
0
12,535 mi
Structure
3
0
0
1
—
Visibility Defroster/defogger/hvac system; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Fan/motor
3
0
0
1
—
Engine
3
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
3
0
0
0
203,000 mi
Tires Temporary/emergency spare tire
2
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 6, 2021 · 16,900 milesAir bags The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the passengerâs side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the passengerâs side air bag was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,900.
Feb 13, 2016Electrical system CLUSTER GAUGE IS NOT READ PROPERLY ALL READING ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
Dec 13, 2015 · 220,000 milesService brakes CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE BECAUSE OF FOUR CORRODED BRAKE LINES. ALL FOUR LINES CORRODED IN THE BRACKET HOLDING THE LINES TO THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THERE WAS INITIAL RESISTANCE AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP.
Dec 7, 2015 · 215,000 milesFuel/propulsion system THE FUEL LINES RUBBING TOGETHER CAUSING FUEL TO DUMP EVERY WHERE RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK N THIS IS NOT A RECALL. THEN I SAY ITS ATTEPMED MURDER CHARGE AGAISNT CHEVY....
Nov 16, 2015 · 203,000 milesUnknown or other THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP. CANNOT TELL WHAT GEAR I AM SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF. THE DIC BUTTONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL DO NOT LIGHT UP, CANNOT TELL IF I HAVE A MALFUNCTION WHEN DRIVING DURING THE DARK. I DID CHECK FOR A RECALL ON THIS AND SAW THAT THERE WAS AN OLDER ONE ISSUED IN 2005 AND THAT IT CLOSED IN 2011. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS BUT NONE THE LESS I FEEL THAT WITH BOTH COMPONENTS FAILING AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY CAN CAUSE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHEN IN OPERATION (DRIVING)
Oct 19, 2015 · 124,000 milesEngine CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED DUE TO POOR CASTING (KNOWN ISSUE BY GM). THIS LED TO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO LIFTERS. EXPECTED COST TO FIX IS APPROXIMATELY $1,500 IN PARTS UP TO $4,000 IN LABOR.
Aug 15, 2014 · 30,268 milesAir bags 8/15/2014 - SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAYED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS CRASH SENSOR (10370149). DEALERSHIP REPLACED SENSOR - COST $419. 07/10/2015 - SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAYED. DEALER DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AS ANOTHER CRASH SENSOR (10370149). DEALERSHIP REPLACED SENSOR - COST $473. I FIND IT CONCERNING THAT AIR BAG SENSORS ARE FAILING ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 35,000 MILES. I'M NOT SURE IF THE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONAL WHEN THESE SENSORS FAIL.
Jun 23, 2015 · 41,500 milesAir bags SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE APPEARS IN THE DIC (DIGITAL INFORMATION CENTER). SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THE CHEVROLET AVALANCHE.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
