2008 Chevrolet Avalanche: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Apr 12, 2016 · Body · 84,000 miles · KS · 1 injury

The chrome on the passenger side front door handle has begun to peel and is very sharp. A passenger cut their hand on the handle last week. I have since had to cut a portion of the chrome off and apply tape over the handle to prevent this from happening again.

Filed Feb 15, 2015 · Electrical · 23,000 miles · TX

Door locks on driver door worked off and on with either armrest switch or key fob. Problem now affects all four doors.

Filed Nov 12, 2014 · Body, Fuel system · 58,000 miles · MA

My 2008 avalanche with 72,000 miles on it, is completely rotting away underneath. I've had to replace many parts, shocks, autoride compressor, fuel pump module, had body rust repaired, have had 3 door handles fall right off.. Last 2 mechanics told me that all parts located underneath truck are rotting away and that I need to get rid of truck because it is not worth repairing. I have tried to work with gm but they claim that its normal wear and tear. Paid 30k for truck dec 2011. Have membership to car wash, and keep it very clean. Undercarriage included. Cant get my service suspension light to shut off, even the dealer cant. This truck should not be rotting away the way it is.. Please help.

Filed Aug 18, 2014 · Body · TX

At present 3 outside door handles are broken & may be pulled off at any time. These are: rt front pass., rt rear pass. & left rear pass. Doors. This represents an expense to me of $450 or $500. I, or previous owner, have replaced 3 door handles: rt front pass., under warranty; left rear 13 july 2010, $124; & driver's door 23 apr 2013, $155. Local chevy service dept said reason for this failure is likely because handles are made of plastic, not metal; but they can't repair for free because gm doesn't acknowledge responsibility. I have owned many gm products in my 75 years, but I think this will be my last because quality of their vehicles sucks like an egg-sucking dog and, like the dog, it seems to be endemic.

Filed May 21, 2014 · Locks · 60,000 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated that the front and rear driver's side as well as the rear passenger's side doors failed to unlock when engaging with the key fob. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the door lock actuator failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 8/28/14*cn updated 09/10/2014

Filed May 20, 2014 · Locks · 75,940 miles · MI

Because my doors won't lock when put into drive it made me vulnerable to being carjacked. As they also won't lock when using the remote.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · TX

2008 chevy avalanche. Over a two year period had all 4 door lock solenoids replaced due to failure. When I thought I had doors the doors locked they were not. Cost me about $150 for the first lock--when I raised [xxx] the chevy service manager accommodated the cost of the other three over a period of time--I pointed out when I searched the web is was a major issue, with not just the avalanche but also the tahoe, surburban and silverado. When I ask if the new solenoid was an improved unit the manager said he did not know but the part # did not change---sound familiar??--crazy!!!! As of one month ago I no longer own the avalanche. When I told the service manage there should be a recall, he said they only recall for safety issues---I told him that it looked like a safety issue to me--the owner thinks the doors are locked but one may not be. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 22, 2014 · Electrical, Locks · 41,000 miles · NJ

Left rear power door lock stopped working at 38,000 miles. Right rear power door lock stopped working at 42,000 miles. Right front power door lock stopped working at 53,000 miles. Driver side power door lock stopped working at 61,000 miles. At this time it is very unsafe when children are in the back seats and the doors lock are unable to unlock the doors. I am unable to unlock the back doors unless I stop the vehicle and climb through the two front seats to get to the manual locks located at the back of the doors. If the vehicle is in a serious accident and anyone is not aware that the power locks no longer work they may not be able to get out of the truck. Previously the doors locked when the truck started to move forward automatically and now if children are in the truck they could possible fall out of the truck if the doors open while truck is moving.

Filed Jun 7, 2013 · Body · SC · 1 injury

My 79 year old wife badly cut her finger while opening the door of our vehicle. The door handle of my vehicle is plated in chrome. This chrome is now coming undone, and is razor sharp. Today the last of the 4 door handles broke due to defect on the handles themselves. Gm states that these are trim and not considered mechanical (even though they perform a mechanical function) so they aren't recalling them even though this issue is widespread and is a safety issue. If a vehicle is involved in an accident. The passengers inside are unconscious or unable to open the door themselves due to injury , the door handles could break as a firefighter or other person from the outside tries to open them.. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen and gm knows about this problem they are choosing to ignore it. Recall and replace these door handles with ones that can actually open the door before someone gets hurt! I am on high doses of coumadin and if it were my finger I could have bleed to death. Get this recalled please.

Filed Jan 16, 2013 · Locks · 22,000 miles · LA

The doors would not unlock after stopping & putting in park. I took it to the dealer & they replaced the actuator. It worked o.k. For a while & took it back & they replaced the actuator again. It continues to not unlock occasionally. I feel this could be a safety issue if the vehicle was involved in an accident or if vehicle were to catch on fire. I have looked on the internet regarding this problem and found several incidents on this topic but nothing from gm. I think gm should look into this problem and fix it before someone pays with their life. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 8, 2013 · Electrical, Locks · GA

It is well known that chevrolet/gm has a major quality problem with powerdoor locks that has been going on for many years. One only need to google chevy door locks to get an idea of the magnitude of the problem. (see http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f206d4b as an example). As a frequent transporter of small children it is hard for me to understand why the federal safety agency does not consider this a major safety issue. Doors lock or unlock without warning leaving small children in the back of these vehicles either exposed to risks of inadvertent opening doors or being locked into vehicles at the time of potential accidents where there is no easy or safe way to open the doors from inside or outside of the vehicle. These vehicles are also subject to increased risks from ranging from car theft to hijackers to simple burglary as you never know whether a door is locked or not unless you go around and try each one from the outside of the vehicle. General motors has consistently refused to address this or improve the quality of the product and will not do so until the federal safety agency takes a public stand on the continued safety risks that these defective doorlocks present to all who ride in these vehicles.

Filed Aug 31, 2012 · Body · 50,000 miles · AZ · 1 injury

The plating on the interior door handle is peeling to the point where it is cutting my finger each time I open the door.