Chevrolet Avalanche reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 435 complaints about the Chevrolet Avalanche with NHTSA since 2010, most often about other or unspecified and airbags. Chevrolet has filed 3 warranty extensions and 4 service campaigns for it, and there are 8 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Avalanche? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Avalanche a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 435
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 3
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 4
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 8
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Avalanche with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 111 | Other or unspecified (49%) | 3 | 3 |
| 2012 | 52 | Other or unspecified (62%) | 3 | 3 |
| 2011 | 155 | Airbags (43%) | 5 | 7 |
| 2010 | 117 | Airbags (49%) | 3 | 6 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Avalanche model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Avalanche, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionDec 2013· Backup camera and rear sensors· model years 2010–2011
Special Coverage Adjustment ? Throttle Position Sensor Replacement
- Warranty extensionJun 2013· Electrical system· model years 2010–2011
11273A - Special Coverage (additional population added). The throttle position sensor may cause the engine to run rough and cause the malfunction indicator lamp and/or and Engine Reduced Power message to illuminate.
- Warranty extensionJun 2013· Cruise control and speed control· model years 2010–2011
Special Coverage Adjustment ? Throttle Position Sensor Replacement
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2010–2014
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignMar 2016· Electrical system· model years 2010–2013
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignAug 2015· Electrical system· model years 2011–2013
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignOct 2012· Equipment and accessories· model years 2010–2011
12138 - customer satisfaction program. Normal engine vibration while in active fuel management (afm) mode may cause the transmission dipstick tube to fatigue and fracture.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Avalanche model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Other or unspecified193 (44%)
- Airbags160 (37%)
- Body and structure74 (17%)
- Engine26 (6%)
- Electrical system23 (5%)
- Transmission and drivetrain18 (4%)
- Cruise control and speed control10 (2%)
- Stability control9 (2%)
Safety recalls
8 recalls cover at least one Avalanche model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles…
Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500,…
Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD,…
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…
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac escalade ext, chevrolet avalanche, silverado ld and gmc sierra ld vehicles.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- EA21002Engineering analysis· opened Sep 2021, still open· Airbags· model years 2010–2013
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA's own page for the 2014 Chevrolet Avalanche has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Avalanche reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 435 owner complaints, 3 warranty extensions and 4 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 8 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2011 (155), 2010 (117), 2013 (111). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Avalanche?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name other or unspecified (44%), airbags (37%), body and structure (17%). Chevrolet has filed 3 warranty extensions covering the Avalanche, listed on this page.
Which Avalanche model years have the most complaints?
2011 (155), 2010 (117), 2013 (111). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Avalanche with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Avalanche?
Yes: backup camera and rear sensors (model years 2010–2011); electrical system (model years 2010–2011); cruise control and speed control (model years 2010–2011). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Avalanche?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 8 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.