Electrical System. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

165 reports

76,450 miles · Dec 31, 2012

Power Train

DROVE OFF A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 20MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION QUIT. REVERSE WORKS AND ALL THE LOW GEARS WORK OUT NOT ON AUTOMATIC MODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490612

30,307 miles · Nov 24, 2012

Service Brakes

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BRAKE LINES CORRODED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKING AT 35 MILES PER HOUR. DEALER WILL REPLACE ENTIRE TRUCKS BRAKE LINES EXTENSIVE REPAIR. PERSONALLY KNOW A FRIEND WITH A 2002 CHEVROLET THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPAIR CENTER HE REPAIRED HIS TRUCK AT INFORMED HIM THAT THEY REPLACED FOUR OTHER CHEVROLET TRUCKS BRAKE LINES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR FORTY YEARS AND NEVER REPLACED BRAKE LINES ON A CAR SOME WITH OVER 150,000 MILES ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485888

100,000 miles · Nov 7, 2012

Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER READOUT STUCK AT 40MPH WHILE VEHICLE PARKED. IF DRIVEN CONTINUES UP FROM THERE AND STICKS. NEXT DAY SPEEDOMETER RESOLVED ITSELF AND RPM GAUGE IS STUCK ON 6 WHEN IT SHOULD BE READING 2-3, ITS' BEEN STUCK FOR TWO MONTHS STILL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483635

52,500 miles · Oct 24, 2012

Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

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REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED FLUID CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING. LAST YEAR I HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND ROT. THE MECHANIC PERFORMING CURRENT REPAIRS STATS THAT THE FRONT HYDRAULIC LINES ARE RUSTING AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON. THE FRONT CALIPERS HAVE ROTTED OUT BLEEDER VALVES. THE FRONT CALIPERS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT WHEN THE FRONT HYDRAULIC LINES ARE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DIAGNOSED TO AN EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM LEAK. THE LEAK WAS TRACED TO A DAMAGED PLASTIC FITTING CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL PUMP METAL WAS ROTTED CAUSING THE JOINT TO EXPAND DAMAGING THE FITTING AND CAUSING THE LEAK. I DO NOT TRAILER A BOAT AND THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IMMERSED IN SALT WATER. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS AMOUNT OF UNDERCARRIAGE RUST AND METAL DAMAGE ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED WITH MANY MORE MILES AND YEARS OF SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482113

75,000 miles · Sep 21, 2012

Service Brakes

PUT ON BRAKES TO AVOID CAR SLOWING IN FRONT OF ME. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HAD ALMOST NO BRAKES. HAD TO SWERVE DRASTICALLY TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR. MECHANIC CHECKED THE TRUCK THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND CORRODED BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476705

78,803 miles · Jul 22, 2012

Service Brakes

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TURNING THE CORNER WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THE BRAKE LINE APPARENTLY BROKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. BRAKE FLUID WENT EVERYWHERE- WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP, BUT GOD FORBID IF I WAS ON A FREEWAY OR WAS PULLING MY BOAT! COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC! UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS, ALL OF THE BRAKELINES SHOWING UNDER THE DRIVERSIDE WHEEL WELL ARE CORRODED BADLY AND WILL NEED REPLACED. I HAVE OWNED ALOT OF CARS/TRUCKS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A BRAKE LINE. THE COSTS I HAVE BEEN QUOTED ARE UPWARD OF 1500.00 TO REPAIR DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN AND THAT THE PARTS HAVE TO BE ORDERED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A 2004 VEHICLE WITH THE LOW MILES IT HAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466935

30,000 miles · Jun 7, 2012

Electrical SystemFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HOT. THE COMPONENTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ILLUMINATED AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WIRES HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RADIO BECAME VERY HOT AND MELTED THE CD INSIDE OF THE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR A NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT NOT THE INSTALLATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10460905

93,120 miles · Mar 28, 2012

Electrical System

THE TRANSFER CASE BUTTONS ONLY LIGHT UP OCCASIONALLY BUT IT MIGHT BE THE NEUTRAL BUTTON THAT LIGHTS UP OR SOMETIMES THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE BUTTON. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS PEGGED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GUAGE. YESTERDAY MY RADIO QUIT WORKING DOES NOT EVEN LIGHT UP.

NHTSA ODI #10453322

133,678 miles · Feb 24, 2012

Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN DRAMATICALY IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON. WHEN STOPPED THE SPEEDOMETER MAY STICK AT ANY MPH OTHER THAN ZERO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449221

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2012

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGES HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT STATED HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE HOW FAST HE IS DRIVING AND DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,600.

NHTSA ODI #10447890

Official recalls

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.

05V163000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Apr 22, 2005

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.

05V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Feb 8, 2005

CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FOR FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF THE TWO-FUNCTION VALVE. IF THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FAILS THE TEST, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.

04V129000 · Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

Mar 17, 2004

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Feb 4, 2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

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

EA04012 · Hydraulic Pump Failres

Opened Apr 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 28, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System