Most common 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche problems
Share of the 111 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Avalanche complaints by model year
Best Avalanche years: 2006, 2012, 2009. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
2010 Chevrolet Avalanche recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche owners say
Air bags all 53 →
For no apparent reason, my dash started cracking next to the passenger airbag at around 48,000 miles. The large crack began to spread across the dash until, after a few months, it was all the way across to the steering wheel. Now small cracks are beginning to spider out. There seems to be no support underneath the dash and with every small bump in the road it becomes worse and worse. The dash must be made of an inferior material for it to crack so easily. If the air bag does inflate, the dashboard could burst into thousands of sharp pieces that could be a cause of serious injury or death. I have gotten a repair estimate to replace the dash for $1,500. However, some of the thousands of people that have this same problem say they have had the dash replaced, only to have it crack again. …
During the calendar year 2016, I have experienced two(2) severe dashboard cracks. One crack in front of my instrument cluster occurred while driving as I heard it "crack". The other crack appeared on the passenger side above the air bag panel. I am not sure when this crack appeared, but concerns me relative to the air bag operation/safety. I have drilled holes at the end of the crack on the driver side in an attempt to stop the progression, but the crack continues to get larger. The dash apparently is becoming brittle and the cracks are continuing to grow. I can only assume that soon I will have pieces of the dash come off exposing electrical wiring and components below the dash. Due to the safety concerns and appearance aspects, I am having the dash replaced by my dealership at a cost to me of almost $1,000. …
Body & structure
During the calendar year 2016, I have experienced two(2) severe dashboard cracks. One crack in front of my instrument cluster occurred while driving as I heard it "crack". The other crack appeared on the passenger side above the air bag panel. I am not sure when this crack appeared, but concerns me relative to the air bag operation/safety. I have drilled holes at the end of the crack on the driver side in an attempt to stop the progression, but the crack continues to get larger. The dash apparently is becoming brittle and the cracks are continuing to grow. I can only assume that soon I will have pieces of the dash come off exposing electrical wiring and components below the dash. Due to the safety concerns and appearance aspects, I am having the dash replaced by my dealership at a cost to me of almost $1,000. …
Beginning of December 2015, noticed a dash crack over instrument panel behind steering wheel. Also small crack by passenger air bag. Contacted and took to ray Chevrolet. I expressed concern about crack by airbag--was told by service manager that it was probably not a safety issue and the amount that I had to pay was determined by a formula by GM. GM said there is a formula but local dealer has leeway on price. First offer was $320; second offer by dealer $200. GM says they can't help. Noticed on the internet, lots of complaints about this very issue. Crack by dash appears to be getting larger. Car is in excellent condition and has been well cared for. 57,000 miles.
Electrical system
In October of 2020, my avalanche only would start in winter after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. It was also on numerous occasions go into limp mode while driving at normal city speeds meaning it wouldn't go above 25 miles an hour. The entire dash would light up. It threw numerous codes. Had to be towed to get it looked at but then would mysteriously start without issue. I took it to young Buick gmc in Layton Utah with no resolution. Finally in December 2020 it was determined by now Heritage Chevrolet in Evanston Wyoming to be the Onstar module. This part was no longer available and couldn't be replaced. The dealership's solution was to wire around the faulty part which has allowed the truck to start and no longer go into limp mode from 70mph on highway to 20mph without notice. …
Asking if anyone knows about the 2010 Chevy Avalanche and the ECM problems that alot of people are having , the check engine light came on and the display showed reduced engine power, service traction control, and service stabilitrak. It would not go in gear , nor would it start , this had happened to the truck three times now , the first time it would not go into gear and it stopped and would not start at all , so I took the negative battery cable off for 30 minute and it fixed it . The second time all the light and buzzers went off , I had lack of power and the check engine light came on and the display showed reduced engine power, service traction control, and service stabilitrak while I was driving it so I took it home , I was lucky that I didn't get in a wreck because it dropped drastically in speed all at once , again I took of the cable , and went to have the diagnostic reading …
2010 Chevrolet Avalanche engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 19 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche a good car?
Based on 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Avalanche rates average: 18% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Avalanche 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 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche?
The air bags — 53 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (16) and electrical system (8).
How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Avalanche?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2012 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002, 2003 and 2004. See the full Chevrolet Avalanche years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 25% 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.