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2006 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

32 reports with mileage · 7 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

39 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2015
Air Bags

THE WARNING FOR AIRBAG MALFUNCTION /INOPERATIVE. CAME ON TOOK INTO DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS BAD MODULE . THEY REPLACED IT . 6MO LATER SAME ISSUE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS BAD CONTACTS . SO THE DEALER CLEANED THEM LIGHT WENT OUT FOR 6 MO. AND CAME BACK ON . I CALLED DEALER THEY SAID WARRANTY RAN OUT .BUT I COULD TALK TO DIST…

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THE WARNING FOR AIRBAG MALFUNCTION /INOPERATIVE. CAME ON TOOK INTO DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS BAD MODULE . THEY REPLACED IT . 6MO LATER SAME ISSUE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS BAD CONTACTS . SO THE DEALER CLEANED THEM LIGHT WENT OUT FOR 6 MO. AND CAME BACK ON . I CALLED DEALER THEY SAID WARRANTY RAN OUT .BUT I COULD TALK TO DISTRICT MANAGER ABOUT ISSUE . AT WHICH HE TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW AIRBAG WHICH WOULD COST OUT OF POCKET 3000 DOLLARS . I ANSWERED THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND ISSUE STILL NOT SOLVED. HIS ANSWER WAS THEN HE WOULD CHARGE ME 1500 . YEAR LATER THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE AS IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING UNDER THE AIRBAG THAT IS THE ISSUE . HAVE NOT HEARD FROM CHEVROLET SINCE NOW WITH ARCING IN DASH BOARD AND THNP8 CONTROL SWITCH GOING OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS EQUIPMENT ON CHEVROLET VEHICLES DANAGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712608

147,000 miles · Feb 24, 2015
EngineFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE/FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE/FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI #10690219

150,000 miles · Apr 25, 2014
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER WIRE HARNESS AND RESISTOR MELTED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RESISTOR PERSONALLY BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER WIRE HARNESS AND RESISTOR MELTED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RESISTOR PERSONALLY BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10584936

87,000 miles · Nov 4, 2012
Air BagsElectrical System

MY "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT HAS STEADILY BEEN ON FOR A FEW WEEKS, CHECKED THE FUSE, CHECKED BASIC CONNECTORS (NO LOOSE WIRES). HAVE BEEN DOING INTERNET RESEARCH & FOUND MANY FORUM DISCUSSIONS ON THIS TOPIC DATING BACK TO 2003! I SEARCHED THIS SITE & FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. CONSIDERING ONCE THI…

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MY "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT HAS STEADILY BEEN ON FOR A FEW WEEKS, CHECKED THE FUSE, CHECKED BASIC CONNECTORS (NO LOOSE WIRES). HAVE BEEN DOING INTERNET RESEARCH & FOUND MANY FORUM DISCUSSIONS ON THIS TOPIC DATING BACK TO 2003! I SEARCHED THIS SITE & FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. CONSIDERING ONCE THIS "SERVICE" LIGHT IS ON, THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL?? I AM DEFINITELY NOT EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GONNA CHARGE TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE & THEN FIND OUT WHAT THEY WILL CHARGE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE, ALTHOUGH MANY OWNERS HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR DEALERS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME "FIX". THIS SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE TO DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CONSIDERING IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483291

82,421 miles · Sep 6, 2012
Electrical SystemVisibility

HVAC BLOWER DID NOT FUNCTION ON CERTAIN OR ALL BLOWER SPEEDS. THE HVAC BLOWER RAN CONTINUALLY WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE KEY REMOVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474103

35,000 miles · Jul 24, 2011
Air Bags

SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING STAYS ON AT ANY SPEED AND THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT! DEALER SAYS GM ONLY HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL YET! IS GM LIABLE IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10414877

79,100 miles · May 23, 2010
Power Train

2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4WD IN 2WD HI, DRIVING AT 55 MPH WITH TRANSMISSION IN D, ENGINE REVVED FREELY AS IF TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. COASTED TO A STOP ONTO SHOULDER, SHIFTED INTO PARK, RELEASED FOOT BRAKE, VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD (DOWNHILL), APPARENTLY BECAUSE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. SES INDICATOR NOT O…

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2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 4WD IN 2WD HI, DRIVING AT 55 MPH WITH TRANSMISSION IN D, ENGINE REVVED FREELY AS IF TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. COASTED TO A STOP ONTO SHOULDER, SHIFTED INTO PARK, RELEASED FOOT BRAKE, VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD (DOWNHILL), APPARENTLY BECAUSE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. SES INDICATOR NOT ON. TURNED OFF ENGINE. NO CODES (HAD CODE READER IN GLOVE BOX). TURNED ENGINE ON, SHIFTED TRANSMISSION INTO D AND FELT TRANSMISSION ENGAGE (APPARENTLY, TRANSFER CASE HAD ENGAGED FROM NEUTRAL). ACCELERATED GRADUALLY AND DROVE DOWN HIGHWAY FOR 1/4 MILE AND WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED, TRANSFER CASE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, AGAIN, ENGINE REVVING FREELY WITH TRANSMISSION STILL IN D. COASTED TO A STOP ON SHOULDER, PRESSED 4WD HI AND FELT TRANSFER CASE ENGAGE, PRESSED 2WD HI AND FELT TRANSFER CASE DISENGAGE BUT NOW IN 2WD HI INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL. ACCELERATED GRADUALLY AND DROVE DOWN HIGHWAY AND WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED, TRANSFER CASE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, AGAIN, ENGINE REVVING FREELY WITH TRANSMISSION STILL IN D. COASTED TO A STOP ON SHOULDER, AND REPEATED ABOVE SEQUENCE ON TRANSFER CASE TO SHIFT INTO 2WD HI. SHIFTED TRANSMISSION INTO 3, ACCELERATED GRADUALLY AND DROVE DOWN HIGHWAY, TRANSFER CASE REMAINED IN 2WD HI. SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP ON SHOULDER, TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED ENGINE AND SHIFTED TRANSMISSION INTO D, ACCELERATED GRADUALLY AND DROVE DOWN HIGHWAY AND WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED, TRANSFER CASE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ONCE AGAIN. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, REPEATED SEQUENCE TO ENGAGE TRANSFER CASE INTO 2WD HI, SHIFTED TRANSMISSION INTO 3 AND DROVE VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. STILL DIAGNOSING ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331888

134,700 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT DID NOT ENGAGE. THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,700. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000.

NHTSA ODI #10325357

89,596 miles · Feb 11, 2010
Power Train

DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT, I LOST 3RD AND 4TH GEARS IN MY TRANSMISSION UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION. I HAVE AN '06 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Z71 WITH LESS THAN 89,600 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR A UHAUL TRAILER ONCE FOR ABOUT 250 MILES. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, TRAVELING 50-55 MPH WHEN IT OCCURRED…

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DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT, I LOST 3RD AND 4TH GEARS IN MY TRANSMISSION UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION. I HAVE AN '06 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Z71 WITH LESS THAN 89,600 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR A UHAUL TRAILER ONCE FOR ABOUT 250 MILES. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, TRAVELING 50-55 MPH WHEN IT OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT, HOWEVER I WAS ALMOST REARENDED BY FOLLOWING TRAFFIC THE MOMENT IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN DECREASE OF SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION GAVE NO WARNING BEFORE IT BROKE. I STILL HAD 1ST AND 2ND GEARS AS WELL AS REVERSE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A MECHANIC AND HE ESTIMATES REPAIR COSTS TO BE AROUND $3000. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL FORUMS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A "COMMON" PROBLEM HAPPENING TO AVALANCHES THAT ARE 2-6 YEARS OLD AND HAVING AS FEW AS 14,000 MILES ON THEM. MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THIS IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE 2002 ACCORDING TO OTHER AVALANCHE OWNERS. THE FORUMS I FOUND THE INFORMATION ON ARE; CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM, AVOWNERS.COM, AND CHEVYAVALANCHE.COM. THIS IS MORE THAN AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, HAVING HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN AVALANCHE'S AS EVIDENCED ON THE FORUMS. THIS DEFECT IS KNOWN BY GM AS EVIDENCED BY THERE OWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER "08-07-30-027 JUNE 08 A/T - NO MOVEMENT IN DRIVE OR 3RD GEAR". IT IS A FLAWED DESIGN OR FLAWED PARTS ARE BEING USED. GM SHOULD RECALL ALL AFFECTED TRUCKS WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS FATALLY INJURED DUE TO A FAILURE ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY. AN INVESTIGATIVE LOOK AT GM'S REPAIR RECORDS TO SEE HOW MANY TRUCKS HAVE BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS, THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME OR SIMILAR FAILURES, WOULD PROBABLY WARRANT A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAFETY OF THIS PRODUCT, AND WHETHER GM SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO INSTITUTE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308734

64,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010
Air Bags

NO ACCIDENT YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304035

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.