2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Problems, Recalls & Reliability
451 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 49/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 78,750 miles.
Below average
Where 2003 sits among all Avalanche years
What owners report
“My 2003 chevy avalanche speedometer with 49,000 miles has stopped working. It either sticks at 40mph or registers 0.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Avalanche
“Brakes went out with no warning, two different times. On a highway stopping for a red light.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Avalanche
“The dashboard has developed a crack in the plastic on the passenger side right near the airbag area.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Avalanche
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 353 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 81,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 49,000 and 117,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
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…
Fix: 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,…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VEHICLES, DURING A 30 DEGREE LEFT ANGLE FRONTAL IMPACT OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY, A TEAR COULD DEVELOP IN THE MID-FRAME CROSS MEMBER AT ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. IF THE MID-FRAME CROSS MEMBER…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL TANK SHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 05V005000.
Led to recall campaign 04E067000.
Technical service bulletins
739 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2003 Avalanche TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche reliable?
The 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche drew 451 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 49/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche are electrical (136 complaints), brakes & stability (135), and airbags (26).
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche problems around 81,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 49,000 and 117,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.