The Lemon IndexAll carsChevroletAvalanche2009
200820112nd generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 16,432 in the U.S. in 2009 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 8 complaints in its first 3 years.
8 owner complaints, first 3 years 16 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2009 Ford F-150 472009 Chevrolet Silverado 242009 Ram 1500 93
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Only 6 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V050000 (airbags), 21V053000 (airbags) and 21V052000 (airbags) done? It has 5 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Has this car had that problem?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Chevy sent dealers 1317 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Flare and or harsh 2-3 shifts”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Chevy's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 8 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 11K to 88K miles (18K to 142K km) on the car (6 of all 8 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 1317 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Flare and or harsh 2-3 shifts
- Cadillac/chevrolet/gmc: locations of high speed gmlan wiring concerns
- Cadillac/chevrolet/gmc/hummer: some suvs and trucks are exhibiting a condition where by…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 5
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Show all 5 recalls
- Electrical · recall issued 2010
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALAN…
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2009
GM IS RECALLING 27,188 MY 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE HYBRID, ESCALADE ESV, AND ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SUBURBAN, TAHOE, TAHOE HYBRID, AND COLORADO; AND GMC YUKON, YUKON HYBRID, YUKON XL, AND CANYON VEHIC…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Chevrolet Avalanche recall, all years · All Chevrolet recalls
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,750 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
Every Chevrolet Avalanche year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2009 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-avalanche/?y=2009" 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/2009/">Lemon Index</a> (2009 Chevrolet Avalanche reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche reliable?
We can't score it: only 16,432 were sold in the U.S. in 2009 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (38%), speed control (12%) and lights (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche get?
16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 38% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche cost in fuel a year?
About $3,750 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Avalanche year is better than the 2009?
Nearby, the 2012 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about half as many complaints as the average car).
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. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works