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2005 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Avalanche 1500 years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

110 reports with mileage · 19 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

17 reports
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59,500 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Power Train

2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES, HAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO WARNINGS OF ANY TYPE. VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS (TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT 30K MILES). VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON. 2ND AND 4TH GEAR CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO "COME OUT OF GEAR" CAUSING A LOSS O…

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2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES, HAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO WARNINGS OF ANY TYPE. VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS (TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT 30K MILES). VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON. 2ND AND 4TH GEAR CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO "COME OUT OF GEAR" CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10317649

80,800 miles · Sep 25, 2009
Power Train

AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SERVICE 4 WD LIGHT CAME ON, STATED VEHICLE LOST SPEED/POWER AND THE 4 WD SELECTOR SHIFTED ON ITS OWN INTO 4 WD HI.....VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION...TO LOSE SPEED AND POWER IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285204

79,000 miles · Jun 30, 2009
Power Train

"SERVICE 4WD" STARTED TO BE DISPLAYED ERRATICALLY IN THE DIC. 4WD SYSTEM STARTED TO FUNCTION ERRATICALLY 4WD CONTROL SWITCH WITNESS LIGHTS LIGHT ERRATICALLY OR DO NOT LIGHT AT ALL. 4WD LOW RANGE ENGAGED BY ITSELF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING - THIS WAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAZARD, FORTUNATELY IT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED AND AT A PLA…

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"SERVICE 4WD" STARTED TO BE DISPLAYED ERRATICALLY IN THE DIC. 4WD SYSTEM STARTED TO FUNCTION ERRATICALLY 4WD CONTROL SWITCH WITNESS LIGHTS LIGHT ERRATICALLY OR DO NOT LIGHT AT ALL. 4WD LOW RANGE ENGAGED BY ITSELF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING - THIS WAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAZARD, FORTUNATELY IT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED AND AT A PLACE WHERE THE VEHICLE COULD BE STOPPED SAFELY. GENERAL MOTORS HAS ISSUED TSB 05-04-21-003C (APRIL 15, 2008) FOR THIS CONDITION HOWEVER OWNERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT IT OR THE POTENTIAL ASSOCIATED ACCIDENT RISK. RESEARCH ON THE WEB AT VEHICLE OWNER CLUBS SHOWS THIS CONDITION TO BE A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM FOR GM VEHICLES USING THE THIS TYPE OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE SAME SITES SUGGESTS THAT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WAS A CHALLENGE TO GM AND IT WAS A "HIT-AND-MISS" APPROACH WITH MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO GET IT RESOLVED. THIS MALFUNCTION COULD BE CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ON A SLIPPERY STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD ( JUST TO GIVE A FEW EXAMPLES). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275379

61,937 miles · Jan 29, 2009
Power Train

CAR STARTED JERKING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF THEN ONCE I GOT ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND LATER FOUND OUT THAT TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256689

40,000 miles · Aug 26, 2008
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE. 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, AT 40,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED. $3,000 OUT OF POCKET........ I EXPECT A LITTLE MORE THAN 40,000 MILES OUT OF A $35,000 TRUCK. NOW I'M GETTING MAIL ABOUT A SPEEDOMETER LAWSUIT, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY GUY BUT IF THIS IS WHAT I CAN EXPECT FROM GM MAYBE …

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I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE. 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, AT 40,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED. $3,000 OUT OF POCKET........ I EXPECT A LITTLE MORE THAN 40,000 MILES OUT OF A $35,000 TRUCK. NOW I'M GETTING MAIL ABOUT A SPEEDOMETER LAWSUIT, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY GUY BUT IF THIS IS WHAT I CAN EXPECT FROM GM MAYBE ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10239841

49,500 miles · Feb 22, 2008
Power Train

NORMAL DRIVING. GM TSB 05-07-30-017B TALKS ABOUT AN ISSUE THEY HAVE ON SEVERAL THOUSAND 2004-2006 VEHICLES THAT CAN ALLOW FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTAMINATION, LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT UNDER TOWING, THE VEHICLE CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS CONDITION IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIR…

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NORMAL DRIVING. GM TSB 05-07-30-017B TALKS ABOUT AN ISSUE THEY HAVE ON SEVERAL THOUSAND 2004-2006 VEHICLES THAT CAN ALLOW FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTAMINATION, LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT UNDER TOWING, THE VEHICLE CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS CONDITION IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS ALSO CAN LEAD TO REPAIR COSTS OVER SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT THE MANUFACTURER, OR WARRANTY COMPANIES, WILL NOT COVER. GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS BY THE ISSUANCE OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS, YET REFUSES TO EDUCATE THE OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, AND REFUSES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AND DAMAGES IT CREATES. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER CASES WHERE THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WITH NO REMEDY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218908

2,000 miles · Jun 1, 2005
Power Train

I OWN A 2005 AVALANCHE WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. WHEN TURNING SHARPLY WHILE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, GOING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THE TRUCK BOGS DOWN AND STOPS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT REALIZE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. IF I WERE TO MAKE A U TURN THE VEHICLE WILL COME…

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I OWN A 2005 AVALANCHE WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. WHEN TURNING SHARPLY WHILE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, GOING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THE TRUCK BOGS DOWN AND STOPS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT REALIZE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. IF I WERE TO MAKE A U TURN THE VEHICLE WILL COME TO A STOP IF THE WHEELS ARE TURNED TWO SHARPLY. MY DEALER DID NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS UNTILL I BROUGHT IT TO HIS ATTENTION.THE DEALER WENT OUT ON HIS LOT AND DROVE AN AVALANCHE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO DETERMINE IF I WAS NUTS OR NOT. WELL I AM NOT NUTS AS THIERS DID EXACTLY WHAT I SAID. THE DEALER THEN CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND WAS TOLD THIS CONDITION IS NORMAL SO THE U JOINTS AND GEAR BOX WILL NOT BE DAMAGED. IF THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL TO LOCK UP WHY DON'T THEY PUT IT THE OWNERS MANUAL? SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT OVER THIS CONDITION AND IT WILL BE MORE THAN U JOINTS OR GEAR BOX.

NHTSA ODI #10123833

Official recalls

1

06V289000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Aug 3, 2006

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.