2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500: brake failure

Filed Mar 9, 2017 · Engine · 35,000 miles · PA

2002 chevy avalanche 2500 with 8.1 engine dies without warning at driving speeds. The battery light comes on, after the vehicle shuts down, but no check engine light and no warning whatsoever. The vehicle just shuts down. When this happens there is no power steering and no brakes for this 7000 pound vehicle. Sometimes, once pulled over and shutting everything off and trying to restart it will restart, sometimes taking up to 10 minutes of trying to crank it intermittently before it will restart. It has done this, off and on, at random intervals over the years I have owned it. I have read on the internet others from who have the same problem and most likely solution seems to be the crankshaft position sensor which some say has been recalled on the 2001 model engine for the silverados, but cannot find anything for the same 2002 engine, which is the same engine. This is dangerous and frightening enough at "back road" speeds, but considerably more so at major highway speeds as the vehicle loses all power when the engine shuts down, leaving the driver unable to steer, brake or immediately restart the vehicle leaving it stalled in the middle of the interstate there is no code in the ECM so the dealers have not been able to diagnose it. Does someone have to die before something is done?

Filed Sep 13, 2016 · Brakes · 200,000 miles · MN

My son was driving my 2002 avalanche when the brake pedal went to the floor without any prior warning or dash lights. Although he did go through the intersection he was trying to stop for there was no traffic and no accident. The problem was a brake line failing.

Filed Jan 19, 2014 · Brakes, Fuel system · 62,313 miles · OH · crash

The avalanche is our tow vehicle (only) which is why it has so few miles for a 2002 model year vehicle. Normally it is towing a 9000 pound 28 foot toy hauler, but just by pure luck it was towing a single axle flat bed trailer with the cab for a 1935 chevrolet pickup on it back from the body shop. I pulled into the driveway and tried to stop and there were no brakes. Tried to apply the parking brakes and the cable snapped. Stopped by driving up a hill into the grass. Took the avalanche to the dealer where they told me the brake lines all had to be replaced and they were no longer available from the manufacturer. In the course of getting the brake lines out they found that the fuel lines were also leaking and had to be replaced. The total bill for repair was $2900.00, plus the vehicle was out of service for 6 weeks. Granted the vehicle is 12 years old, but I have a 1963 studebaker that still has solid brake and fuel lines. It is only by the grace of god that the avalanche wasn't towing a 9000 pound 28 foot long trailer at 70 MPH when the brakes failed. There was no warning light, no indication at all that there was a pending problem. Someone could have been killed. These vehicles need to be recalled, and I need to be reimbursed for the repairs.

Filed Jan 1, 2014 · Brakes · 131,000 miles · IL

Brake pedal went to the floor, used emergency brake to stop. Found brake line under drivers door rusted through and gushing fluid.

Filed Oct 30, 2013 · Brakes · 134,250 miles · MA

Complete brake failure while towing a trailer, pedal right to the floor I'm lucky to be alive. No warning whatsoever brakes had been working fine before incident. Subsequent inspection revealed blown brake line below drivers door at frame rail and all lines look terrible. Online investigation shows this to be very common problem lets get this recall issued before anyone dies. The ability to stop is priority one there is nothing more important.

Filed Oct 11, 2013 · Brakes · 76,000 miles · PA · crash

When pulling into my driveway, the brakes pedal went all the way to the floor. I ran into my utility trailer, but no damage was caused. Avalanche is at the garage now, he informed me this is common with chevy trucks. All brake lines need to be replaced and it will cost between $1000 and $1200.

Filed Jul 11, 2013 · Brakes · 43,983 miles · NJ

Driving on the highway at 50 MPH applied brakes to stop at traffic light and pedal went to the floor. I had no brakes, pulled over to the side of the road and after examination saw brake fluid under truck.

Filed Jun 28, 2013 · Brakes · 65,000 miles · NH

Rusted brake lines burst causing brake failure.

Filed Sep 25, 2012 · Brakes · 80,000 miles · IA

As I was about to park my avalanche in the street in front of my home I pressed the brake pedal to come to a stop and the brake pedal was firm and then became soft and depressed quickly quite farther than normal. The avalanche continued to roll and I had to pump the brakes to get it to come to a full stop. After getting out of the vehicle I inspected the underside of the vehicle and found a great deal of brake fluid on the under body and puddled on the ground. As I inspected the vehicle I found that the brake lines were heavily corroded and flaking off rusted material. The brake line failed because of weakened tubing caused by excessive corrosion. The brake light did not come on and there was no preliminary warning of brake failure. The failure of the brakes caused the vehicle to have an excessively longer distance to stop than normally would be acceptable. I frequently tow a 6,500 lb pull behind camper with my avalanche and if this brake failure had occurred during towing and in traffic during a stop it most likely could have caused an accident.

Filed Apr 2, 2011 · Electrical · 100,395 miles · TN

2002 chevy avalanche 2500 with 8.1 engine dies without warning at driving speed. The battery light comes on, after the vehicle shuts down, but no check engine light, no problems with alternator or battery charge. No sputtering or sluggishness, no warning whatsoever. The vehicle just shuts down. When this happens there is no power steering and no brakes for this 7k pound vehicle! Sometimes, once pulled over and shutting everything off and trying to restart it will restart immediately, sometimes it takes up to 10 minutes of trying to crank it intermittently before it will restart. It has done this twice in the last three days and a dozen times at random intervals over the last several months I have read on the internet others from who have the same problem and most likely solution seems to be the crankshaft position sensor which some say has been recalled on the 2001 model engine for the silverados, but cannot find anything for the same 2002 engine. This is dangerous and frightening enough at "neighborhood" speeds, but considerably more so at interstate speeds as the vehicle loses all power when the engine shuts down, leaving the driver unable to steer, brake or immediately restart the vehicle leaving it stalled in the middle of the interstate!

Filed May 5, 2010 · Brakes · 46,798 miles · NY

Coming up to stop sign on a downhill back road, I experienced partial brake failure followed quickly by complete brake failure as I tried to stop the vehicle. Fortunately, I was only doing 5mph or less at that point but I went thru the stop sign and had to make an abrupt turn to the right and onto a shoulder to avoid hitting a car coming from my left. Again, I was still heading downhill and picking up speed. I tried to use the emergency brake but it wasn't effective much so I pulled the tranny down into second and ultimately down to first to get the speed down. I was able to turn into a local cul-de-sac which at first goes down hill and then uphill. I was finally able to stop and from there I limped the 1/4 mile back to my house in first gear and park it. I called aaa for a tow truck and had it towed to my mechanic. He reported to me that the entire brake line system was badly corroded and asked me if I parked the vehicle a lot at the seashore. I told him "no" but I don't garage the vehicle either especially during the winter. He said that ha had never seen anything like it. He had to replace all of the brake lines, hoses, fittings and bleeder screws. It cost $1,246.12 and, yes, he showed me all of the lines and parts which he removed---I couldn't believe it. I considered filing this report at the time but #1: I'm a procrastinator and #2 I thought it was a fluke since again I don't garage my vehicle, I don't drive it that much ( 50k miles in approx. 9 yrs) and I get a lot of salt on the vehicle during the winter since I live on a hill. I'm now sorry for not reporting this sooner since I no longer have the old parts of my braking system available to me but I figured I better let you know just what happened in my case because I read a newspaper article on 04/05/10 that said you were looking at 110 complaints of brake failures in general motors suvs of all sorts.