Most common 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 problems
Share of the 37 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 complaints by model year
Best Avalanche 1500 years: 2010, 2012, 2006. Years to avoid: 2003, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2007. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500:
Non-crash engine compartment fires
In response to an information request letter sent by the office of defects investigation(odi) during preliminary evaluation pe08-010, GM provided odi with 41 allegations of non-crash engine compartment fires including 16 allegations of fires originating with the ignition in the off position.one of the fires was determined to be caused by an arson event.odi has also received 5 reports, 4 of which are of duplicative…
Non-crash engine compartment fires
In a letter dated August 27, 2008, general motors corp. (GM) notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall number 08v-441) to address a safety relateddefect that can result in engine compartment fire in approximately 850,000 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid option.the subject vehicles of this investigation comprise over three-quarters of the recall population.
What 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 owners say
Air bags
Takara recall. On 7/11/18 I was in a head on car accident and front air bags s did not deploy, truck was driving 35mph when another truck pulled out into my lane and I hit him very hard , police noticed and asked several times if airs bags deployed and they did not
"Takata recall" in July 2016 I received a recall notice on my 2008 Avalanche Takata airbag. In June 2017 a service air bag light came on. I called the dealer (williams Chevrolet) in elkton maryland and they told me that I would have to pay for the fix. I called Chevrolet customer service and was told the same thing. I was told by both parties the recall didn't mean anything that I had to pay for the fix. I told both parties that I felt if there was a recall on this airbag and a service airbag light came on it is their responsibility to replace and fix my airbag under the recall at no cost to me. I called OnStar a was told that it should be fixed immediately. The recall notice states the airbag inflators it supplied to GM are defective and May rupture during deployment causing serious or fatal injuries. The truck has less than 93000 miles on it. …
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. While driving 60 MPH, the rpms increased and decreased, the headlights flashed intermittenly, and that the entire instrument cluster with different warning sensors illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was driven home. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer was not contacted or made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure in May of 2017 when it was diagnosed that the amplifier failed and was replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
Driving 60mph and lost all lights power motor everything the vehicle came back on and repeated this over and over till it was parked GM's said my truck wasn't covered so I asked for the recalled part number and was rushed off the phone
Locks & latches
It is well known that Chevrolet/GM has a major quality problem with powerdoor locks that has been going on for many years. One only need to google Chevy door locks to get an idea of the magnitude of the problem. (see http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f206d4b as an example). As a frequent transporter of small children it is hard for me to understand why the NHTSA does not consider this a major safety issue. Doors lock or unlock without warning leaving small children in the back of these vehicles either exposed to risks of inadvertent opening doors or being locked into vehicles at the time of potential accidents where there is no easy or safe way to open the doors from inside or outside of the vehicle. …
At about 30,000 miles I notice that the rear driverside door lock would not work properly sometime,but I did not take to shop.at about 34,000 miles it quite working altogether,hardly ever using that door I let the miles go by without taking in for repairs. Also the front driver side lock sometimes does not work properly. Now I guess at 38,000 miles I will have to pay if I want it fixed.
2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Avalanche 1500 rates average: 32% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Avalanche 1500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500?
The air bags — 16 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (7) and locks & latches (4).
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2012 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2005, 2004, 2002 and 2007. See the full Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 48% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.