2011 Chevrolet AVALANCHE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Chevrolet AVALANCHE has 161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: the dashboard cracked at the corner of the passenger side airbag and spidered out into the air vent. i brought it to the local chevy dealer, and basically told me to go away it wasn't under warranty. i bought an extended warranty i guess that doesn't cover anything. i know of hundreds of people wit.
161
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
55 complaints- • THE DASHBOARD CRACKED AT THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SPIDERED OUT INTO THE AIR VENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GO AWAY IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I GUESS THAT DOESN'T COVER ANYTHING. I KNOW OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WIT
- • THE DASHBOARD CRACKED FOR NO REASON IN TWO PLACES. ONE CRACK INVOLVES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER AND THE COVER IS COMING OFF DUE TO THE CRACK. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE BUT WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE CRACK IS GETTING WORSE AND THE AIRBAG COVER IS LIFTING UP W
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND THE ABS FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN I
“THE DASHBOARD CRACKED AT THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SPIDERED OUT INTO THE AIR VENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GO AWAY IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I GUESS THAT DOESN'T COVER ANYTHING. I KNOW OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WIT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
44 complaints- • CRACKED DASH NEAR PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT COULD CAUSE SHARDS OF PLASTIC TO BE PROJECTED DURING CRASH.
- • I HAD A CRACK THAT I NOTICED ON THE DRIVER SIDE ON THE DASH. A FEW MONTHS LATER I NOTICED ANOTHER ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ON THE DASH BY THE AIRBAG. I HAVE BEEN ON DIFFERENT CUSTOMER FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND HAS CAUSE
- • DASHBOARD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE AIR BAGS HAPPEN TO DEPLOY. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT THIS ISSUE HAPPENS TO THESE SERIES TRUCKS AND IF IT IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THEM. THANKS, ANDREW
“CRACKED DASH NEAR PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT COULD CAUSE SHARDS OF PLASTIC TO BE PROJECTED DURING CRASH.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
23 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CONSTANTLY VIBRATING. IN ADDITION, A CRACK WAS VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DASHBOARD NEAR THE AIR BAG HOUSING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPA
- • DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING EVERYWHERE. AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE HARD PLASTIC DASH, AFRAID IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY THAT IT WOULD SEND SMALL PIECES OF CRACKED HARD PLASTIC AS PROJECTILES. DASH IS ALSO CRACKED AROUND IN DASH SPEAKER, AND BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL.
- • CHROME DOOR HANDLES FELL OFF.I READ THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE CHROME HANDLES. *TR
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CONSTANTLY VIBRATING. IN ADDITION, A CRACK WAS VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DASHBOARD NEAR THE AIR BAG HOUSING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
9 complaints- • WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY MAKE THE VEHICLE SURGE FORWARD QUICKLY. IF I NOT JUST AS QUICK TO APPLY A FIRM BRAKE I RISK HITTING THE CAR OR PEDESTRIANS NEAR ME WHICH HAS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASION. ON ONE OCCASION, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE
- • AT TIMES WHEN MY AVALANCHE IS SLOWING DOWN (CLOSE TO A STOP) THE TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION (DOWNSHIFTING?). ALMOST LIKE A SURGE OF ENERGY UNEXPECTEDLY PUSHES THE TRUCK FORWARD. IT DOES CATCH ME OFF GUARD AT TIMES, BUT LUCKILY I HAVE NOT STRUCK AN
- • I HAVE BEGAN TO NOTICE WHEN SLOWING DOWN (FOOT OFF THE GAS AND COASTING WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, OR BRAKE APPLIED) AT ANY AREA WHERE MY SPEED DECREASES TO LESS THAN 15 MPH THAT MY AVALANCHE WILL SEEM TO SORT OF LUNGE FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS I BELIEVED IT WAS RELATED TO ME AND IGNORED
“WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY MAKE THE VEHICLE SURGE FORWARD QUICKLY. IF I NOT JUST AS QUICK TO APPLY A FIRM BRAKE I RISK HITTING THE CAR OR PEDESTRIANS NEAR ME WHICH HAS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASION. ON ONE OCCASION, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
9 complaints- • I HAVE BEGAN TO NOTICE WHEN SLOWING DOWN (FOOT OFF THE GAS AND COASTING WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, OR BRAKE APPLIED) AT ANY AREA WHERE MY SPEED DECREASES TO LESS THAN 15 MPH THAT MY AVALANCHE WILL SEEM TO SORT OF LUNGE FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS I BELIEVED IT WAS RELATED TO ME AND IGNORED
- • I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LTZ AND AT TIMES WHEN THE TRUCK DOWN SHIFTS IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I REALLY NEED TO HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE TRUCK FROM POSSIBLY HITTING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IN FRONT OF ME. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME AND IT'S RATHER RANDOM. I FEEL
- • THE DASHBOARD CRACKED FOR NO REASON IN TWO PLACES. ONE CRACK INVOLVES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER AND THE COVER IS COMING OFF DUE TO THE CRACK. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE BUT WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE CRACK IS GETTING WORSE AND THE AIRBAG COVER IS LIFTING UP W
“I HAVE BEGAN TO NOTICE WHEN SLOWING DOWN (FOOT OFF THE GAS AND COASTING WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, OR BRAKE APPLIED) AT ANY AREA WHERE MY SPEED DECREASES TO LESS THAN 15 MPH THAT MY AVALANCHE WILL SEEM TO SORT OF LUNGE FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS I BELIEVED IT WAS RELATED TO ME AND IGNORED ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 161 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: THE DASHBOARD CRACKED AT THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SPIDERED OUT INTO THE AIR VENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GO AWAY IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I GUESS THAT DOESN'T COVER ANYTHING. I KNOW OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: CRACKED DASH NEAR PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT COULD CAUSE SHARDS OF PLASTIC TO BE PROJECTED DURING CRASH.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CONSTANTLY VIBRATING. IN ADDITION, A CRACK WAS VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DASHBOARD NEAR THE AIR BAG HOUSING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY MAKE THE VEHICLE SURGE FORWARD QUICKLY. IF I NOT JUST AS QUICK TO APPLY A FIRM BRAKE I RISK HITTING THE CAR OR PEDESTRIANS NEAR ME WHICH HAS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASION. ON ONE OCCASION, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet AVALANCHE — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 161
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Chevrolet AVALANCHE