Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
1425–50K
1050–75K
1175–100K
16100–150K
4150K+
62 reports with mileage · 9 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 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
71 reports
66,650 miles · Jan 7, 2009
Electrical System
WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO STOP, MY SPEEDOMETER DID NOT ZERO OUT. WHEN I STARTED TO GO IT CONTINUED FROM WHERE IT WAS. I DID NOT REALLY KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING. SEVERAL STOPS AND EACH TIME IT DID NOT ZERO. TO GET IT ZEROED I HAD TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT ZEROED OUT. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES THI…
Read full complaint
WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO STOP, MY SPEEDOMETER DID NOT ZERO OUT. WHEN I STARTED TO GO IT CONTINUED FROM WHERE IT WAS. I DID NOT REALLY KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING. SEVERAL STOPS AND EACH TIME IT DID NOT ZERO. TO GET IT ZEROED I HAD TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT ZEROED OUT. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES THIS BRINGS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE STARTER AND BATTERY. IT COULD ALSO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS YOU REALLY HAVE NO CLUE ON YOUR CORRECT SPEED. VEHICLE: 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10254102
40,000 miles · Dec 9, 2008
Electrical System
2005 AVALANCHE SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING SLOWER THAN I WAS TRAVELING ONE MONTH LATER IT DOESN'T WORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10251174
46,500 miles · Nov 3, 2008
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER HAS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. IT MAY NOT MOVE AT ALL OR IT MAY TELL ME I AM GOING 120 MPH. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER AVALANCHE OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD OR ARE HAVING THE SAVE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 47,000 MILES. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON OLDER MODELS, BUT NOT ON MY 05.
NHTSA ODI #10247563
29,675 miles · Sep 24, 2008
Electrical System
ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER, WORKS SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES STAYS AT 0 MILES AN HOUR, SOMETIMES READS 30 OR SO MILES AN HOUR AT A COMPLETE STOP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243340
8,000 miles · Feb 9, 2006
Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING NOISE. THIS OCCURRED ON NORMAL ROADS DURING NORMAL STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS …
Read full complaint
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING NOISE. THIS OCCURRED ON NORMAL ROADS DURING NORMAL STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA ODI #10149913
18,000 miles · Nov 14, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING A TRAILER WHEN THE TRAILER HIT A SPOT OF ICE. THEN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE MA…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING A TRAILER WHEN THE TRAILER HIT A SPOT OF ICE. THEN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10142596
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2005
Power TrainStructure
2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HEADLIGHT WAS LOOSE AND FELL OUT WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVE TRAIN MAKES A CLANKING NOISE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS AFTER A THUNDERSTORM, THE NEXT MORNING, THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT WATER HAD SATURATED IN THE TAILGATE AREA. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10142113
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2005
Suspension
WHINE IN THE REAR END OF 2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE , DEALER SAYS THEY CAN NOT HEAR IT KNOCKING OR TICKING IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10136815
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THE TRUCK SLOWS BUT JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING THE ABS FEATURE ACTIVATES AND THE BRAKES MAKE AN ANNOYING GRINDING SOUND THEN STOPS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10135718
1,500 miles · May 28, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON 3/15/05 THE NEW GTO OIL PUMP FAILED. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 3/16/05. ON 4/07/05 THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO US AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS PERFECT!THE NEXT DAY 4/08/05 THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED THAT DAY, AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOW FIXED!!! TWO [2] DAYS LATER ON 4/11/05 THE CAR WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO TH…
Read full complaint
ON 3/15/05 THE NEW GTO OIL PUMP FAILED. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 3/16/05. ON 4/07/05 THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO US AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS PERFECT!THE NEXT DAY 4/08/05 THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED THAT DAY, AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOW FIXED!!! TWO [2] DAYS LATER ON 4/11/05 THE CAR WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER, IT IS NOT FIXED, IT IS A PIECE OF USED AND REPAIRED , BROKEN CAR. WE PAID FOR A NEW 4OO HP GTO, AND NOW AFTER ALL THIS AGONY HAVE HAD TO PAY AN ATTORNEY $4000.00 TO GET THIS MESS TAKEN CARE OF. THIS CAR ON THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP HAD A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE WINDOWS, EXECPT THE WINDSHIELD, A SPOTTY AND DISCOLORING. THIS I REPORTED THAT DAY. THIS IS A JOKE, GMC WILL NOT HELP IT'S CUSTOMERS FOR ANY REASON. THE DEALER, EARLY ON IN THIS MESS ASKED GMC TO EXCHANGE CARS FOR ME, NOPE! THEY SAID IT HAS TO GO THRUOGH THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS IS A FAILURE!!!! NOW I WANT MY INVESTMENT PLUS!!! YOUR COSTOMER SERVICE IS A JOKE!! I WAS GUARANTEED ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS AND PROMISED A CALL BACK AND IT NEVER HAPPENED!!! ONE GENTLEMAN MR. JARRET, SAID " I WILL CALL YOU IN 10 [TEN] DAYS . SO I CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. MAY FISRT WAS 10 [TEN] DAYS. I HAD TO CONTACT MR. RICK WAGONER'S OFFICE 7 [SEVEN] TIMES BEFORE MR. JARRET RETUNED HIS PROMISED CALL! I CAN GO ON AND ON WITH DOCUMATION ABOUT THE WAT THIS WAS MISHANDLED. WE WRE TREATED AS LAIRS. WHILE THE WHOLE TIME IT WAS GMC>
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.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
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.
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.
2005 Chevrolet Avalanche Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration