Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Brakes on 2002 Avalanche and customer service from ray hutson, lacrosse wi. Using Chevrolet maintenance plan. 27,821 miles - performed 6K maintenance which includes; lube parking brake, rotate tires, inspect brakes. OK with work. 30,533 miles - performed detail recondition of vehicle. Poor work. 30,583 miles - repaired tailgate, complained of detail work. Picked up vehicle with no noticeable mileage but used approx 6 gals of gas. Guessing they ran the engine all day to dry out inside of vehicle. 30,916 miles - completed tailgate repair. OK 34,244 miles - oil change 38,085 miles - oil change and goodwrench pre02004 maintenance check list completed. OK 41,926 miles - 6K maintenance service. Found brakes and rotors bad, had them replaced, total cost was $1,321.00. At time of pickup, requested reason for this happening. …
At the first of October I received a letter from OnStar stating that my service would no longer be available for my 2002 chevorlet Avalanche beginning jan 2008. OnStar is a safety device on my truck...and was the deciding factor in choosing a GM vehicle. Some other family members have 2003 gmcs and they are repairable but mine is not. I find this hard to believe..they just do not want to pay for it. I have had some trouble with my truck, eg- hardbody fading, would not pass inspection 3 years back b/c emergency brake was wore...no recall but the part was redesigned..hmmm, tailgate leaking water, a loud popping noise that took 4 long times at the dealer for them to find, but I can live with all this...but my OnStar was a great piece of mind, ESP with an illness and now a new baby. …
When I bought my Chevrolet Avalanche new in 2002, as I left the dealership, I heard a horrible crash and found that the dealer had not latched the rear tail gate. It takes a great amount of effort to close it properly. Since then , on about 10 occasions, the gate has fallen down while driving. Approximately 1 week ago, I found that the left side cable had broken. I was going to call my local dealership today, but , on my way to drop my boys off at school, the gate once again fell down. I stopped and asked my 13 y.o. To slam the gate. When he tried to do this, the gate bounced back into his face and jammed. When I got out and looked, I saw that the right side hinge was dislocated, the right bottom of the gate was damaged, the left rear taillight was broken, there was a gouge on the left edge of the gate, and a minor paint scratch on the gate near the gouge. …
The rear window frame is breaking off of the glass. The frame and/or glass could become a projectile in the event of a crash. These stress fractures in the window frame occurred with the window in the installed position and I first noticed them on Sunday March 21, 2004. I have only removed the window once and that was over a year ago. The vehicle has never been in an accident and had approximately 45,000 miles on it when I noticed the fractures. This is an obvious manufacturer defect however when I took the vehicle to the dealership I was told that this was not covered under the warranty. I contacted GM customer service and was basically told the same thing. I believe that this defect is serious enough to warrant a recall.
The consumer experienced problems with the tailgate releasing and had it repaired by the dealer twice. The consumer received a recall letter on the tailgate for the straps. The manufacturer was contacted about the problem and made the additional repairs to the tailgate which released even when locked with a key. 04V129000. The consumer experienced problems with the tailgate releasing and had it repaired by the dealer twice. The consumer received a recall letter 04V129000 on tailgate straps. The manufacturer was contacted about the problem and made the additional repairs to the tailgate which released when locked with key.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. While traveling at 35 MPH, the contact applied the brakes yet they would not engage. In order to stop the vehicle, the contact had to apply the emergency brake. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the brake lines were replaced. The mechanic advised that the brake lines had failed due to road salt erosion. There were no prior warnings of the failure. The current and failure mileages were 31,000. Updated 1/19/2010 the consumer stated after the brake failure, the frame and cross member rotted and the vehicle was scrapped. Updated 03/25/11
One of my tailgate cables broke abruptly while I was climbing onto one corner of the tailgate. The corner dropped enough that I was dropped back to the ground. (I weigh about 185 lbs). I then inspected the other cable and saw no evidence of a problem, but when I leaned on that corner of the tailgate, the second cable also broke. I called my dealer, but since I was out of warranty on mileage, I was told that it would not be covered and that there were no service bulletins. I then opened a file with GM field service, and have not heard any response.
Tailgate cable snapped on a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche while loading atv. Cables snapped in the middle of the cable and not at ends. I was assured by sales representative that the tailgate can handle the weight of an atv. The the truck bed has an atv tread embedded into the mat to add traction while loading and unloading. I believe the cables need to be recalled and corrected before someone else is injured. I was quoted an estimate of $123.00 to fix. I want the manufacturer to pay for the damage since it resulted in a manufacturing defect.
Water leak discovered again for the fifth time. Dealer has replaced carpet and pad on previous repairs and new seals were installed. Was dry for about 6 months. Carpet under back seat is soaking wet again. I am extremely tired of this malfunction in design, causing such issues. The bed stays mostly dry, and honestly I never expected the bed to be dry 100% of the time. However the interior of the truck should not be wet under any circumstances. Dealer has explained how the keep the drain channels clear and it does not help at all.
In feb of 2004 I submitted a complaint (#10058789). It was about my tailgate that fell completely off with me on it. There is damage to the tailgate still and I talked to a dealership about it one year ago. They were supposed to get back to me and then I let it fall by the waistside. I need help pushing them to repaint my tailgate, and replace some plastic molding. How do I do this? They don't seem to think it is their issue. The tailgate is damaged due to the defective cables that they had a recall on.
Related recalls
Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position May corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on April 7, 20004. The recall began on September 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through October 29, 2004.
Body complaints in other Avalanche years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the body & structure of the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, 15% of the model year's 444 complaints. The component named most often is body › tailgate › hinge and attachments (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-129 (hinge and attachments, Mar 17, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 7 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.