How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche have?

The 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche has 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche?

Of 238 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is service brakes.

2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,096,644 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 238 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEAT BELTS 05V163000 2005-04-22 1,359,824 affected

Defect

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 POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT,…

Consequence

A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

Remedy

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, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT…

STRUCTURE 04V129000 2004-03-17 3,662,211 affected

Defect

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 SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

Consequence

ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES…

Remedy

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 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463,…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 04V045000 2004-02-04 68,875 affected

Defect

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 HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence

CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy

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 HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 03V019000 2003-01-27 5,734 affected

Defect

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 TEARS DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AND PRODUCES A SHARP EDGE, CONTACT…

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

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 FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SUSPENSION

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

Total complaints238

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“My 17 year old son was on the freeway and the brake pedal travelled all the way to the floor while attempting to stop. The service brake system light came on at the same time. Stopping distance was increased dramatically, by at least double. If there would have been a curve or car in front of him…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2016-03-26

“Brake line failure: I had a ruptured steel break line failure while applying normal breaking pressure on the pedal. After further inspection of break lines, I found all break lines were rusted and in danger of also rupture.”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-07-29

“The other day I started noticing that when I turn right (or left in reverse) at a low rate of speed the vehicle makes a clunking noise and my steering is affected. I started looking online for a remedy to this problem and found that several people had the same problem and did not know where to…”

STEERING · reported 2015-06-13

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche.while at a traffic light, the contact could not depress the brake pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES · reported 2015-03-23

“The rear brake line burst catastrophically and my brake pedal went to the floor. I was coming up to stopped cars at an intersection and had to swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid rear ending another truck. Luckily there were no cars in the lane at the time. I then had to make a sharp turn into…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-02-24

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 mph, the drivers seat reclined independently, which caused the contact to crash with another vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…”

SEATS · reported 2015-01-24

“My son was driving home from ice fishing , on a hilly and curvy road when the brakes failed. He had no brakes at all , he avoid a few tree before smashing into a smaller tree just missing were his friend was seated.the truck has been very well taken care of and was in great condition. I had the…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-01-14

“Vehicle experienced complete brake failure upon slowing for a traffic light. This was compounded by the downhill orientation of the road surface. Left roadway to avoid collision with tractor-trailer. There was no warning or indication of an impending brake failure. No indication that any part of…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-01-09

Defect investigations

Investigation DP05009 Opened 2005-12-20 · closed 2006-05-31

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Investigation DP05009 Opened 2005-12-20 · closed 2006-05-31