Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic115
- Structure67
- Service brakes54
- Parking brake37
- Engine and engine cooling35
- Tires34
- Power train25
- Visibility22
- Air bags22
- Suspension19
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 31 injuries and 3 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 75 2002 Avalanche vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 40 people died inside them, and 28 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche failed the safety check 2.13% of the time — 6% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 175,372 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
4 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche.
| 2004395 5 Nov 2004 | Brakes Certain vehicles located in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador may experience unwanted Antilock Brak… |
| 2004102 18 Mar 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the galvanized-braided-steel tailgate support cables used to support the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position can corrode over t… |
| 2002068 11 Apr 2002 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles fail to conform to CMVSS 209, seat belt assemblies. These vehicles have a condition where one or two sensors in the driver's and front seat pas… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637242 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE OPTIONAL CHROME TUBULAR ASSIST STEPS. *TT |
| 637223 | THIS MESSAGE INVOLVES THE THREE-PIECE HARD SURFACE CARGO COVER. *TT |
| 637216 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE JUNE EDITION OF EMERGING ISSUES FOR VARIOUS MODELS. *TT |
| 637189 | SUBJECT REGARDING WET CARPET AT PASSENGER FOOT WELL CONDITION. *TT |
| 636665 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE END GATE DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *TT |
| 636554 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING WATER LEAKS IN THE REAR PASSENGER AND THE FRONT SEATING AREAS. *TT |
| 636521 | CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY BE SUSPECT OF A MID GATE GLASS ENCAPSULATION CRACKING CONDITION. *TT |
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634905 | SOME VEHICLES WILL NOT MOVE WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS REQUESTED, NOISE, SHUDDER, POOR PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION / TRANSFER CASE SLIPS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT, SLIPS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *TT |
| 634899 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON THE SERVICE 4WD INDICATOR ILLUMINATING WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2725 SET. *TT |
| 634821 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MANUAL LOCK LEVER COMES LOOSE FROM THE DOOR TRIM PANEL. *TT |
| 634805 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 634788 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A MILD TO SEVERE ENGINE PING (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SPARK KNOCK) USUALLY WORSE DURING ACCELERATION AND / OR AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. *TT |
| 634723 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A MILD TO SEVERE ENGINE PING (SPARK KNOCK) DURING ACCELERATION AND / OR ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0332 SET. *TT |
| 634530 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEADLAMP CONDENSATION. *TT |
| 634515 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE ENDGATE APPEARS TO BE CLOSED BUT OPENS PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 634214 | SUBJECT REGARDING WATER LEAK REPAIRS FOR WET CARPETING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN CERTAIN MODELS INCLUDING THE EXT MODEL. *TT |
| 634212 | PRODUCT FEEDBACK REQUEST FOR VEHICLE EXHIBITING REAR AXLE WHINE CONDITION UNTIL MAY 24, 2002. *TT |
| 631241 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE FUEL TANK ON 2002 CHEVROLET AND GMC C/K SERIES IS DIFFICULT TO FILL FROM APPROXIMATELY 3/4 TO FULL . *SLC |
| 631213 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON WATER LEAKING DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE ENDGATE. *SLC |
| 629714 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO COMPLETELY FILL THE FUEL TANK. *TT |
| 629672 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLUTTER NOISE IN THE AREA OF THE LOWER WINDSHIELD PILLARS. *TT |
| 629611 | EXHIBITING A CONDITION WHERE THE UPPER REAR CORNERS OF THE FRONT FASCIA ARE DEFLECTED OUTBOARD OF THE FRONT FENDER AT THE WHEELHOUSE OPENING. *TT |
| 629593 | INFORMATION ON CUSTOMERS REPORTING INTERMITTENT STALL OR NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 629441 | CARGO COVER SEAL PULLS OFF. *YD |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALL
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION
HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES
TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation