Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. The contact was driving 15 MPH when the brakes were applied and the brake pedal went to the floor abnormally followed by the illumination of the brake warning lamp. She mentioned that the driver was able to stop the vehicle by using the emergency brake. The vehicle was taken to a local shop who stated that the master cylinder and the brake lines needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 230,000.
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche brakes complaints
Page 4 of 8: complaints 71 to 100 of 200, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Sudden brake failure while driving. Upon inspection 1 brake line burst the other 3 were severely corroded and about to fail.
I was driving down the highway and came up to a traffic light that changed just as I was getting to it. I had to hit the brakes a little harder than normal to make sure I stopped in time. Everything seemed fine at first but about 30 feet from the light the brake pedal went to the floor and I wasn't stopping. Fortunately, no one was in front of me and the cross traffic hadn't started to move yet. I ended up not being able to stop until I was well into the intersection. When I got the truck to the shop they found out that one of the steel brake lines that run along the frame had blown out. All of the metal lines on the frame rails are very rusty and need to be replaced. The repair is estimated at $1000.00. Thankfully no one was hurt but this could have caused a very serious accident. These lines should be made out of noncorrosive metal like stainless steel to prevent this sort of thing from happening.
While travelling on interstate 95 I applied my brakes to slow the vehicle only to learn that the brake system had failed. This was caused by a leak in the ridge metal brake line which comes in contact with the cars frame. Upon investigating I have learned that this condition is a known problem for this vehicle. If I hadn't tried to apply the brakes on the open highway and had waited until exiting the highway this could have resulted in a very serious multi car accident.
According to my local gm dealer's service manager my problem with my chevrolet avalanche break lines rusting through and causing break failure is due to the fact that gm built these vehicles with a material that is not resistant to corrosion. Hundreds of complaints can be found on the internet regarding this problem, but thus far no recall has been made. For a few extra dollars vehicle manufacturers should be required to make this (break lines) from a rust resistant material. Gm will probably do everything it can to avoid recalls but believe me it's not an isolated problem... It's accidents waiting to happen!
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. While driving 35 MPH the contact applied the brakes and they would not respond, in order to stop the vehicle the contact had to apply the emergency brake. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who stated that the hydraulic brakes lines were cracked due to rust. The vehicle was not serviced and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 31000.
Sudden loss of brakes upon brake application. Brake fluid leaking from brake line where brake line connects to brakes.
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 *cn the consumer stated after the brake failure, the frame and cross member rotted and the vehicle was scrapped. Updated 03/25/11
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated there was an unusual increase in stopping distance when braking. In addition, the ABS would activate abruptly just as the vehicle would come to a stop. The manufacturer was contacted and advised there were no recalls on the vehicle and would not provide any further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 84,000 and the current mileage was 84,400. Updated 7/20/10 *cn updated 07/23/10
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated that while applying the brakes at 55 MPH, the brake and anti-lock brake warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. Simultaneously, the brake pedal fell farther into the floorboard than usual, causing an increase in the stopping distance. The contact shut off the engine and upon restarting, the warning lights were no longer illuminated. The vehicle had not been to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 122000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at speeds of 55 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes would not engage. The ABS warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact shut off the engine and disconnected the battery cable in order to shut off the ABS motor. The dealer stated that the ABS marginal would need to be replaced. The dealer made repairs accordingly at the owners expense. The contact stated that the federal safety agency campaign id number 05v379000 (service brakes, hydraulic: antilock) was directly related to the failure; however, his state (florida) was not included in the recall. The contact experienced the identical failure a second time. The manufacturer told the contact that they would call him to determine if they could provide any assistance with the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. The contact engaged the brake pedal while driving approximately 25 MPH and the vehicle kept going forward. The contact almost rear ended another vehicle. The contact purchased new brakes and the vehicle has continued to accelerate. The contact never notified the manufacturer. He did contact the authorized dealer the second time the vehicle failed to stop. The dealer stated that the sensor caused the failure to occur. The contact stated that he had an extended warranty and the dealer advised him that the warranty would not cover the expenses. The failure mileage was 43,000. The current mileage was 45,180.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. Whenever the contact attempts to stop the vehicle at low speeds, the brakes would pop back and forth as if the anti-braking system had been activated. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer and the contact did not notice any differences beforehand. The current and failure mileages were 79,000. Updated 10/06/09 *bf updated. 10/08/09
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. While driving 20 MPH, the brakes failed to work properly. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. There is a recall for the 2005 chevrolet avalanche. The brakes worked properly and they stated that everytime he took the vehicle in for service they would state that the brakes are fine. The failure mileage was unkown and the current mileage was 80,000.
Anti-lock brake system stays on and took to a repair shop. They advised us that there was a recall on it. Then we took it to the chevrolet dealership and they told us there was no recall. Did some research on the internet and found that there was indeed a recall. Chevrolet dealership not cooperating.
Re: the federal safety agency campaign id # 05v37900, the federal safety agency action # pe05020. I purchased 2002 avalanche in late july, 2006, from fucillo chevrolet in east greenbush ny; mileage ~44,000. In november, 2008 (~55,000 miles), I noticed unwanted ABS activation at low speeds as described in above references. Independent mechanic confirmed. Fucillo chevrolet declined to provide recall service, advising that it had already been done, notwithstanding that the problem had not been remedied. Chevrolet declined for the same reason, advising that the recall repair had been done at fucillo in july, 2006, and that their obligation under the recall was to perform the recall service only one time, irrespective of whether the service fixed the defect.. I then had an independent mechanic repair the defect at my expense. He advised that the recall service had not been done, as could be determined during the repair. If the recall repair was not in fact done, then the dealer misrepresented to chevrolet (and me). However, irrespective of whether the recall service had actually been done or not, it appears to me that chevrolet and the dealer have taken the position that their obligation does not extend to remedying the defect -- they apparently make no distinction between effective repair work and ineffective repair work. In either event, chevrolet and its dealer knew that there was an unsafe vehicle subject to recall and declined to remedy the defect.
About 4 years ago the ABS system failed....I had to replace a part on my 2002 chevy avalanche 's ABS system..again the same noise occurred and again it is the ABS system..4 years ago it was out of warranty 38,000 miles I had to pay out of pocket $1,200. It is at the dealer now being repaired... ..I'm sure it will be $1,200 or more...again.
Rear brake dust shields rusted through at 62,438 miles allowing dirt, stone, and other materials into brake system. Dust shields replaced.
Brakes were pulsating and took to local brake shop for check. Rear brake job completed. Left rear rotor needed replacing due to damage from parking brake. Parking brake also replaced. Service technician indicated damaged rotor from parking brake was a design flaw by gm and although chevy avalance hasn't had a recall on this flaw, the tahoe has.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. While driving 5 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and heard a buzzing noise coming from the steering area. The vehicle then began to pull to the right. The ABS warning indicator light illuminated. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 05v379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock). The failure mileage was 65,000 and current mileage was 104,000.
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. I will never purchase a gm again, b/c they have dumped all of us with analog service like a disease...I was told I could trade my truck and onstar would give me an additional year free! Big wow...that is an insult. My truck was just paid for in august and in october I find out the big safety device of onstar is over.
2002 chevy avalanche with a non functioning parking brake. Customer states that if any of the defective vehicles were to get into an accident it could seriously injure or maybe even result in death for someone.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. While driving 25 MPH, the brake pedal depressed completely to the floor and made the vehicle difficult to stop. The brake fluid leaked. The dealer stated that the brake and bleeders failed. Repairs were not made. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 45,400. Updated 01/02/08. *lj the consumer stated the dealer claims to have replaced the line to the master cylinder when infact they just union spliced into defect area. Updated 12/12/07
2002 avalanche emergency brake isn't working and the rear end went out in it yesterday 8/10/07 at 92,000 miles.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet avalanche. While driving 45 MPH downhill, the contact heard a noise coming from the vehicle. He attempted to stop, but the brakes failed. The vehicle stopped when the right rear tire blew out. The contact experienced the same failure as noted in the federal safety agency campaign # 05v379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock). The vehicle was towed to a shop and has been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 70,224.
2002 chev avalanche, intermittent activation of ABS at speeds typically below 10mph. On 2 occasions resulted in brakes not stopping the vehicle completely, required brake pedal to be pressed with full body weight to bring vehicle to a stop. Brakes seem to work normally when stopping at from speeds greater than 10mph.
Tl* - the contact called stating that he took 2002 chevrolet avalanche 1500 to the dealership on 09/29/05 for wheel inspection, at the time the vehicle's odometer read 59,289 miles. An inspection was done with invoice stating wheel sensor and inc. Cleaning was done. The contact stated that he felt that they didn't apply zinc/x to the sensor during inspection. The vehicle malfunctioned on 11/13/06 while he was pulling into the driveway and the vehicle didn't stop once the brakes were applied. The contact stated the vehicle damaged the garage door. The contact took the vehicle back to dealership on the next day, and was shown that the wheel speed sensor was not in its proper place and it was rusted. The dealership told the contact that the rear wheel brake dust covers were rusted and they needed to be repaired before they would fix the problem. Also, he was having brake problems. The contact stated that on several occasions he had to use emergency brakes to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that he did his own research on his vehicle and found a recall 05v379000 for 2002 chevrolet avalanche for the service brakes, hydraulic: anti-lock. The contact informed the dealership of this recall, and was told that they would not repair the recall until he replaced the wheel speed sensor. *ak the dealer would not fix the wheel speed sensor issue, if the consumer didn't have the rear brake backing plate replaced at his expense. Updated 01/29/07.
Dt*: the contact stated the rear brake rotors were rusting and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined the steel part was a manufacturer defect. The manufacturer was contacted and denied that the problem was a manufacturer defect. The vehicle has yet to be repaired. Updated 10/23/2006 - the rear brake plated also rusted so badly that one had fallen to pieces. The consumer was told by the dealer that some rotors from this year were replaced before the brake pads were.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 45 MPH on normal road conditions extended braking distance was observed. The problem was due to heavy corrosion of the brake rotors. The four rotors had been replaced twice. The vehicle has been operated in a salt belt state. The rust cracked the metal creating a worsening failure condition. Updated 11/3/2006 - the consumer feels that the rotors were made of an inferior material.
2002 avalanche 1500 truck. Electric brake control module, ABS and brake light would come on and stay on when I hit a bump, contacted chevy has no recall but said that module has failed and possible failure of brakes to operate correctly. Spoke to a friend that owns a chevy suburban, had the same problem. My cost to replace $1162.41 please respond.
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