Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Transmission Problems

Transmission complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  16
• Driveline
  4
• Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
  3
• Driveline › Differential unit
  1
• Axle assembly
  1
• Automatic transmission › Torque converter
  1
• Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  815%
• 25k–50k
  1325%
• 50k–75k
  611%
• 75k–100k
  1426%
• 100k–150k
  815%
• 150k+
  48%

What owners report

When slowing down the vehicle surges forward even when brake is being applied. It does not appear to be related to engine surge as it does with sudden gear change as if the vehicle is speeding up from a stand still. This occurred as I was turning into a parking space which caused the vehicle to veer uncontrollably to the right (was making a left hand turn into parking space) and hit a brick column. It has also happened when coming to a stop and persons were about to walk across road scaring them and me! The vehicle continues to experience these same issues. Dealership has not been able to fix though they did acknowledge that my vehicle was the only one experiencing this issue.

I was driving my truck at about 45 MPH when the traction control light came on the dash and my truck suddenly went from 45mph to 20 MPH and the motor began to miss fire and buck. If there would have been someone following me they would of hit me in the rearend due to the sudden slowing of my vehicle.

09 Chevy Avalanche the drive shaft or ball joint was undersized by 5/1000 to make the 6 speed transmission shift correctly/thus causing slack which makes noises from a jar to sounding like you were hit in the rear. 3 times to dealer--3/30/10 at3,788 mi, 10/28/10 w/8,185 mi to3/3/11 w/14,000 mi. They tell me now its no fix, but has 100,00 mi warranty. It is getting worse and could finally twist and break which May cause an accident w/ bodily harm,it is getting much worse and affects late 08 models thru 2011. A certified letter sent on 11/22/10 and received 11/29/10 tpscottlawson..director of customer and relationship services, as of 3/11/11 never replied to my e-mail or phone. A $48,000 vehicle that seems like a 1,000 dollar. Their has to be thousands of these on the road.

I was driving to a church function with my wife and about 30mph under acceleration, my truck started lugging like it was in 6th gear. It started shaking then the tachometer was fluctuating up and down about 500 RPM's. I checked the transmission fluid and looked good. I have a very important business trip tomorrow morning and now I am stuck. I took it for another drive to see if the problem occurred at a higher speed and it does. I put the cruise on about 60mph and the truck was bucking and the RPM's were going crazy. I drive mostly highway miles. Very disappointed in the service I have had with this truck so far with another issue and now I have to deal with this.

Tl contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. While driving 65 MPH, the contact noticed white and black smoke through the rear view mirror. The brake pedal extended to the floor when it was applied. The vehicle was towing a trailer at the time of the failure. The contact was able to stop the vehicle using the electric brake controller for the trailer. He noticed fluid dripping from the rear axle, which then caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they determined that a defective pinion seal caused the failure, however, the fire department determined that the failure was caused by synthetic rear axle fluid. The fire damaged the fuel tank, trailer, tailgate and driver side rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 12,832. Updated 01-16-08. The consumer stated the rear axle caught on fire. …

Cracked dashboard on passenger side where airbag is fitted. Upper lefthand side of airbag. Traction control/stabilitrac system: service indicator warnings activate, switches from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive high even though selector is in 2wd mode. The first occurrence of this was at 70K miles, then again at 90K. Then again at 97K the transmission was damaged and needed to be replaced. Again at 101K miles the ringgear in the rear axel was destroyed. Rear axel was replaced. Fifth time for those counting, 116K miles service stabilitrac and service traction control warnings, switching from 2wd to 4wd high while moving, while parked, selector in 2wd position with someone at the wheel or cab empty. Evaporative emission control warning. Check engine light on, code comes back to eec. Indicating a leak in the return line. …

The vehicle was sold with significant rust damage to the underbody of the truck. The truck parts are rusted to a point the suspension, and axel are about to fall out. The truck is leaking gasoline due to the amount of rust. The power steering that they fixed after one day driving it had issues when sold is still having issues leaking fluid. It has been deemed unsafe to drive on road. The dealership sold the vehicle in unsafe conditions, and will not rectify the situation. I have documentation, and photos of the damage to the vehicle.

After purchasing my vehicle through a bank loan, the frame started to deteriorate resulting in suspension components to come loose and fall off. Lastly, rear driveshaft broke off, leaving me inoperable.

Related recalls (1)