The Lemon IndexChevrolet Avalanche reliability.
Is it reliable? Not really. 1.3× the average car's complaints.
Worse than average · 2002–2012
20122nd generation
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Chevrolet Avalanche videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2012.
Years to avoid
None.
No Chevrolet Avalanche year drew much more than the average car's complaints.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-avalanche/" title="Chevrolet Avalanche reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="376" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/chevrolet-avalanche/">Lemon Index</a> (Chevrolet Avalanche reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Chevrolet Avalanche.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the Chevrolet Avalanche reliable?
Not really. It draws 1.3× the average car's complaints. Fewest complaints: 2012.
Is the Chevrolet Avalanche a good car?
Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2002-2012: Lemon Index 129; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2012 drew the fewest complaints since 2010 and 2011 the most.
What are the best Chevrolet Avalanche years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold since 2010: 2012, 2011. 2012 drew the fewest.
What Chevrolet Avalanche years should you stay away from?
No Chevrolet Avalanche year drew much more than an average car's complaints.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Avalanche have?
52 safety recalls across the 11 model years we track. Most: 2003 (7), 2004 (7), 2002 (5). Each year's page lists them, and every Chevrolet Avalanche recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Chevrolet Avalanche problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name electrical, body structure and brakes most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 198 | about twice the average car's complaints | 288 | service brakes, hydraulic (25%) | 5 | — | 13–14 |
| 2003 | 130 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 99 | electrical (24%) | 7 | — | 13–14 |
| 2004 | 155 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 106 | electrical (42%) | 7 | — | 14–15 |
| 2005 | 123 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 54 | electrical (41%) | 5 | — | 14–15 |
| 2006 | – | too few complaints to score | 10 | transmission & drivetrain (20%) | 3 | — | 14 |
| 2007 | 90 | about average | 44 | body structure (25%) | 5 | — | 14–16 |
| 2008 | – | too few complaints to score | 17 | doors, locks & latches (29%) | 4 | — | 14–16 |
| 2009 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 8 | transmission & drivetrain (38%) | 5 | — | 16 |
| 2011 | 70 | about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car | 17 | transmission & drivetrain (41%) | 5 | — | 17 |
| 2012 | 46 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 12 | body structure (17%) | 3 | — | 17 |
| 2013 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 15 | body structure (33%) | 3 | — | 17 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: en.wikipedia.org. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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