2005 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the instrument cluster, especially a speedometer that reads wildly wrong speeds or sticks and falls to zero, and about a knocking or clunking in the steering when the intermediate shaft loosens. Fuel smells and leaks from aging fuel lines and corrosion of the steel brake lines also come up, usually on higher-mileage trucks. Many complaints describe problems appearing gradually and being quoted to owners as out-of-warranty repairs.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Speedometer and gauge cluster reading wrong or sticking

   • 43 complaints (33%)
   • median 56,898 mi at 4.0 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2019

   The speedometer reads far above actual speed, sticks at a value while stopped, or drops toward zero and stays there; some owners also report the tachometer, temperature or oil pressure gauges failing at the same time. Several say the dealer quoted several hundred dollars for a cluster replacement or told them the vehicle was outside a coverage program that applied to earlier model years. In many accounts the needle resets after the truck sits, then misbehaves again. Reported from roughly 36,000 to 125,000 miles, often after several years of use and sometimes intermittently at first.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the key and watch the speedometer and other gauges at rest, then drive and compare the reading to a GPS; a needle that does not sit at zero is a warning sign. Ask whether the instrument cluster has ever been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 chevy avalanche with 48,975 miles. At approx 47,000 tachometer stopped working. Tonight while driving the speedometer suddenly went to 60-80 MPH while I was only doing 40-45 MPH. When I turned the ignition off the needle only dropped to the 30 MPH level. While driving speedometer is sporadic as to speed but no completely inaccurate at any speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10248865, filed 2008-11, 47,000 miles

   “My 2005 chevy AVALANCHE 1500 speedometer is having problems. The gauge will read faster then what I am drive. Then it will stick at over 60 MPH, the arrow will point completely down. If I turn on and off engine the gauge will reset it self backwards 5 MPH each time I do this. It will work for two days after that then the problem happen all over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10330365, filed 2010-05, 56,898 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Service air bag light on

   • 9 complaints (7%)
   • median 78,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2015

   The service air bag message or warning light comes on and stays on, sometimes after rain or in humid weather and sometimes intermittently at first. Owners report dealers being unable to pinpoint the cause and spending hundreds of dollars on repairs that did not resolve it; several mention finding many similar reports from other owners. In some accounts the light is on steady and the air bag system is described as not active while it is lit. Reported between roughly 30,000 and 116,000 miles, with several owners noting it started in wet or humid conditions.

   What to check: Confirm the air bag light comes on briefly at start-up and then goes out; if it stays lit, ask for the stored codes to be read and for any prior diagnosis records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had my sensor light and the warning light that says service airbags come on and it won't go off. I have been on a few auto forums about this and there are hundreds of people with the same problem. The dealers can't seem to figure out what it is and people are spending hundreds of dollars to get it fixed, but it doesn't.”

   NHTSA complaint #10254422, filed 2009-01, 65,000 miles

   “The service air bag light staying on in my 2005 chevy avalanche. It use to be intermittent whenever it was raining or wet outside but now it is on steady after a rainstorm on july 18/10. I have been doing some research online and found out that it is a very common problem with the chevy avalanche, GM as put out service bulletins about the wiring but they will not cover the repairs if your warranty is expired. I think this is a very important issue for the safety of all chevy avalanche + other model owners that should be taken care of by GM. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10344909, filed 2010-07, 111,716 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering shaft clunk or knock

   • 5 complaints (4%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2010

   Owners describe a clunk or knock felt and heard through the steering wheel, especially when turning or over uneven surfaces. According to the complaints, dealers greased or replaced the intermediate steering shaft, and some owners say the noise returned within a few thousand miles. A few report the noise being present from when the truck was new. Appears from very low mileage on some trucks up to around 60,000 miles in others; several owners say it recurs after a repair.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine running and the truck stationary, turn the wheel slowly and listen and feel for a clunk; ask whether the intermediate shaft has been greased or replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Gm has had an ongoing problem with intermediate steering shafts that loosen and rattle in their avalanche models. This may also apply to the 1500 series pickups as well but I'm not sure since I haven't kept in tune to those owners as I have avalanche owners. The dealer remedies the situation, based upon GM's service bulletins, by shooting the shaft full of grease to take out any play in the steering. However, this lasts anywhere from 5k - 15k miles. I have had two avalanche's and both have had the same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10177305, filed 2006-12, 15,000 miles

   “Clunking sound and clunking feel felt in steering wheel when turning it. It has happened on and off from truck new until recently when it is all the time at 58,000 miles. I went to dealership and they tested truck and new exactly what problem was. The service advisor told me that GM has known about a problem with the intermediate steering shaft since 2003 and has issued several fixes for it from greasing shaft, new types of grease, etc. And now has finally came up with a new type of shaft to replace the old one. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10202943, filed 2007-09, 500 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and fuel line leaks

   • 9 complaints (7%)
   • median 106,226 mi at 7.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2015

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline smell while driving or after parking, sometimes with fuel visible under the truck or pooling on top of the tank. Owners report mechanics finding factory fuel lines that had rubbed against each other until a hole wore through, or a corroded fitting or cracked sensor module at the tank; several say parts were on back order. Some complaints note no warning light came on before the leak. Mostly reported between about 54,000 and 113,000 miles, often noticed during or after a drive.

   Recall 06V2890001 related service bulletin

   What to check: After a test drive, smell around the fuel filler and under the truck, and look under the body for wet or heavily rusted lines; ask whether the fuel lines have been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “With no warning at all my fuel line began to leak profusely. No sensor warnings/lights at all. Fuel line was leaking a tremendous amount of gas - leaking to the point I was afraid to leave it parked in my driveway near my house or even out on the street (in case someone walked by with a cigarette). I feel this was an extremely dangerous situation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10275857, filed 2009-07, 57,000 miles

   “Driving home I started to smell gas in the cab of the truck. After the truck was parked I found gas on the ground under the engine. When I had a mechanic look at the problem he found that the factory installed fuel lines were touching and had rub a hole in the fuel lines and were leaking gas on the engine also the e85 sensor module was cracked and leaking gas. No fuel line parts were available for the repair. I was told not to use the truck as the leak could cause a fire. This to me is a big problem as their is no warning.”

   NHTSA complaint #10402272, filed 2011-05, 112,900 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Corroded steel brake lines

   • 8 complaints (6%)
   • median 79,360 mi at 10.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2012–2020

   Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor during a hard stop, with mechanics finding one or more rusted steel brake lines had burst or were severely corroded. Some say the ABS or service brake message had been on beforehand; others report no prior warning. Complaints mention replacing all the steel lines, sometimes with coated aftermarket parts, and note that the lines did not appear to be coated from the factory. Reported from around 15,000 to 178,000 miles, generally on trucks several years old and often in areas where road salt is used.

   What to check: Have the steel brake lines inspected underneath along the frame for rust or seepage before buying, and ask whether any lines or the hydro-boost unit have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “So the hydraboost is failing and my truck is pouring an insane amount of power steering fluid from hydraboost system. When researching this problem for my year make and model the hydraboost recall pops up but when calling Chevrolet they want to do nothing. When its apparent my truck is affected by trash parts. It only has 149000 miles on it and the hydraboost system is gone. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11316505, filed 2020-03, 134,000 miles

   “I was slowing down for a stop light. An animal ran in front of me. I stepped hard on the brakes. The brake pedal went to the floor. No prior problems. I had the truck towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic found the right front steel brake line ruptured. Upon further testing, the left front steel brake line also ruptured. Both lines were rusty. The lines did not appear to be coated. New brake lines from napa had a coating. When the front brakes failed to function, the rear brakes did very little to stop the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10609807, filed 2014-07, 54,000 miles

Buying note. Check the instrument cluster and gauge readings, listen for steering clunks, and have the fuel and brake lines inspected underneath before buying. Ask for service records showing what has already been repaired, since several of the reported items are recurring or age-related.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.