Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes — runs 4.7× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
444Complaints
4Recalls
38Crashes
0Fires
31Injured
3Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Service Brakes (12.2% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Service Brakes complaints here are 4.7× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 54 · 12.2% | Recalled | Recall 05V379000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 46 · 10.4% | Recalled | Recall 05V379000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 37 · 8.3% | Recalled | Recall 05V379000 |
| Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments | 32 · 7.2% | Recalled | Recall 04V129000 |
| Parking Brake | 28 · 6.3% | Investigation closed | DP05009 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 16 · 3.6% | Investigation closed | PE06016 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 444 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Fuel System, Gasoline
NHTSA campaign 06E043000 · 2006 · reported 05/19/2006
THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
NHTSA campaign 05V379000 · 2005 · reported 08/29/2005
THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
NHTSA campaign 04V129000 · 2004 · reported 03/17/2004
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.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“TOTAL TREAD PLY SEPARATION ON A FIRESTONE LT 265 R75 16 STEELTEX AT LOAD RANGE E TIRE. TIRE CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 2002…”NHTSA complaint 10059020 — filed 02/26/2004 · TIRES:TREAD/BELT
“REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS FRONT AND BACK 3 TIMES WITHIN 1 YEAR.”NHTSA complaint 10059021 — filed 02/26/2004 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
“REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS FRONT AND BACK 3 TIMES WITHIN 1 YEAR.”NHTSA complaint 10059021 — filed 02/26/2004 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche?
Service brakes issues are the most-reported category, cited in 54 of 444 NHTSA complaints (12.2%), followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (46), service brakes, hydraulic (37), structure:body:tailgate:hinge and attachments (32). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
444 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 38 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 31 reported injuries. 3 deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
