2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Electrical System Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and independently turned off. After restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

Both air bags deployed for no reason driver and passenger

MY DASH IS CRACKED RIGHT BY THE AIRBAG AND RIGHT OVER THE CLUSTER WHICH I FEEL IS A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED TO MAKE THE DASH AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS ' COULD BUST AND PIECES COULD FLY INJURY SOMEONE OR PUNCTURE THE AIRBAG I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW DISH THANK YOU HOPE TO HEAR BACK SOON. FURTHERMORE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE THE TRUCK WILL LOCK BY ITSELF WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION OR LAYING ON THE CONSUL IS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON ME AGAIN THANK YOU

OH MY 08 AVALANCHE MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKED RIGHT BY THE AIRBAG AND RIGHT ABOVE THE PLASTER IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. MY VEHICLE ALSO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BY ITSELF WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION OR NOT IN THE IGNITION

THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE AIR BAG. CAUSING SAFETY HAZARDS. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAWED DESIGN GM REFUSES TO OWN UP TO. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE TRUCKS TO COME TO A STOP ON THE INTERSTATE.

Mileage: 125,000

MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK TO WALMART TO GET A COUPLE OF ITEMS WITH HER WERE MY SON IN LAW AND DAUGHTER. ONCE ARRIVING THERE(APPROX. 3 MI) THEY NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY SON IN LAW OPENED THE HOOD TO DISCOVER A FIRE, HE THEN RAN INTO WALMART WHERE AN EMPLOYEE GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER THEY GOT HOME I CHECKED IT OUT AND THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES TO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. IT WAS STILL IN ALL TH HE FACTORY TIE DOWNS AND WASN'T TOUCHING ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CHAFED IT OR PINCHED THE WIRES. THE TRUCK WAS ON CITY STREET THEN IN PARKING LOT

Mileage: 202,000

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE LTZ, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH LIGHT COMING ON WITH SERVICE AIR BAG, WIRING BY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL A PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS WHEN IT RUNNING, STATIONARY, WHEN I START THE TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. NO FIX AS OF YET. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME FROM MARCH TO PRESENT DAY STILL ONGOING!!!!

Mileage: 157,000

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE CODE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT A POSSIBLE ISSUE COULD BE THE AMOUNT OF KEYS ON THE KEYCHAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGE FOR THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY FLUCTUATED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WAS FAILING TO CHARGE WHICH MAY INDICATE THE PART WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVER DOOR WORKED OFF AND ON WITH EITHER ARMREST SWITCH OR KEY FOB. PROBLEM NOW AFFECTS ALL FOUR DOORS. *TR

Mileage: 23,000

THE WIRE HARNESS UNDER DASHBOARD WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM AND SHORTED OUT CATCHING FIRE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN STOPPED AND ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITHIN SECONDS RESULTING IN VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE BUT HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. HOWEVER IT DID SHORT OUT OTHER ELECTRONICS INSIDE THE VEHICLE SUCH AS THE REARVIEW MIRROR PUTTING ME OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

THE VEHICLE DOORS WILL UNLOCK AND LOCK SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING, IT WILL ALSO CAUSE THE DASHBOARD, CLOCK-RADIO AND ONSTAR SYSTEM TO FLICKER OFF AND ON. THEN IT WILL START TO THROW ERROR MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD ABOUT STABILITRAK AND THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS DISABLED. *TR

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). *TR

Mileage: 60,000

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.

Mileage: 41,000

COMMUTING TO WORK APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, TRAVELING IN THE DARK AT 7 AM, I FLIPPED MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON AND SUDDENLY ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION WENT OUT OF THE AUTOMOBILE (NO HEADLIGHTS OR ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION). THIS LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 2 SECONDS AND SUDDENLY AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WAS RESTORED. THINGS AFTER THAT SEEMED OK, BUT ABOUT 6 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE "SERVICE STABILIZER CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS" . I TRAVELED ANOTHER 11 MILES TO PLAINVILLE, AND WHEN I ARRIVED THE "STABILIZER CONTROL LIGHT WENT OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THEM TO EVALUATE IT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS AND TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION REFLECT NORMAL. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE ISOLATED OR DUPLICATED. I CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS YESTERDAY, TO REPORT THE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND HOW CRITICAL THIS IS AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED AT THAT SPEED DRIVING IN THE DARK. I ALSO ASKED THEM IF THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR REPORTINGS OF THIS OCCURRENCE AND RECEIVED A MIXED RESPONSE. THERE RESPONSE WAS BUREAUCRATIC, TAKE IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. I SAID NO. I AM NOT PAYING ANOTHER $150.00 TELL ME WE CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. I KEPT STRESSING THERE IS A PROBLEM "VEHICLES SUDDENLY DO NOT JUST DROPPED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND FUNCTION AND MAGICALLY JUST COME BACK ON". THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE TO HAPPEN. I ALSO INFORMED THEM AS A COURTESY I WOULD SPEAK TO THEM (GENERAL MOTORS) FIRST BEFORE I CONTACT THIS AGENCY. I ALSO TRIED TO EMPHASIZE TO THEM, PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO THE CORPORATION TO REPORT SAFETY AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUES DIRECTLY. THE NATURE OF THE RESPONSE IS BASICALLY WE DON'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS WE RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM GM SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. *TR

Mileage: 58,214

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE ,THE TRUCK HAS BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FOR THE PAST MONTH THE TRUCK WILL FLICKER WHEN I DRIVE BUT IT IS UN CONSTANT. AT FIRST I THOUGH IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE SO I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE AND THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID THE BATTERY IS FINE ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE TRUCK. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND ALL THE REVIEWS AND THAT THE AVALANCHE DID HAVE A RECALL ON THERE ELECTRICAL ISUESS. SO I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HOW IT MIGHT HAVE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THEY SAID NO. SO I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEM TURN OFF COMPLETELY AND LOCKED UP ON ME. I COULD OF BEEN IN A WREAK BUT THANKFULLY THE HIGHWAY WAS NOT BUSY AND I STOP ON THE HIGHYWAY. I THEN TRIED TO TURN THE TRUCK ON AND SHOWED NO LIFE AT ALL IN THE TRUCK. I KEPT TRYING TILL FINNAY IT TURNED ON. SO I COULD OF DIED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH CHEVY. I WOULD LIKE YAW TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A BIG LAWSUITE AND ALL I WANT IS MY TRUCK TO WORK FINE, THANK YOU.

Mileage: 80,100

RIGHT FRONT DOOR POWER LOCK DOES NOT WORK. CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH REMOTE OR WITH INSIDE CONTROL. CAN ONLY UNLOCK/LOCK DOOR BY BUTTON ON DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

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 NHTSA 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 NHTSA TAKES A PUBLIC STAND ON THE CONTINUED SAFETY RISKS THAT THESE DEFECTIVE DOORLOCKS PRESENT TO ALL WHO RIDE IN THESE VEHICLES. *TR

ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED ON THREE OF THE 4 DOORS ON THIS TRUCK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO CODE P0452, WHICH IS FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR DEFECTIVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $500 TO REPAIR. SPOKE WITH MY BROTHER-IN-LAW TODAY WHO HAS A 2002 AVALANCHE AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FUEL SENSOR AND HIS REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DOOR HANDLE OF MY VEHICLE IS PLATED IN CHROME. THIS CHROME IS NOW COMING UNDONE, AND IS RAZOR SHARP. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED ON THREE OF THE 4 DOORS ON THIS CAR. THE NEITHER THE KEY FOB OR THE DOOR MOUNTED LOCKING SWITCH WILL TOGGLE THEM BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITION. YOU CAN HEAR THE ACTUATOR TRYING TO WORK BUT THEIR IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LINKAGE PREVENTING THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR IN CONVENIENCE, AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 12,500

2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WINDSHIELD WASHER AND WIPER OCCASIONALLY COMES ON AND WASHES THE WINDSHIELD 3 TIMES. THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP IT. THE WIPER IS COMPLETELY OFF DURING THE 3 WASH CYCLES. MAY GO A MONTH BETWEEN INCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE REGARDING HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 03/22/10

Mileage: 5,000