2007 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a cracked dashboard, with cracks running across the top of the dash and often around the passenger air bag cover. Many also report open air bag recall notices that went unrepaired for long periods because parts were said to be unavailable, and a smaller group describes automatic transmissions that failed without warning. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard, often around the passenger air bag

   • 31 complaints (27%)
   • median 79,800 mi at 8.9 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2021

   Complaints describe cracks forming on top of the dashboard, frequently starting at the upper corner of the passenger air bag cover and spreading toward the vents or instrument cluster. In some cases sections of plastic break loose and rattle over bumps. Owners say dealers diagnosed the dash as needing replacement, and that repairs were generally not covered, with several reporting they paid out of pocket or left it unrepaired. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 200,000 miles, usually appearing after several years of use and worsening over time.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash carefully in good light, especially the seam around the passenger air bag cover, and press lightly for looseness or rattles. Ask whether the dash has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I noticed that my dash had 2 cracks, one on the driver side and one around the airbag on the passenger side. I believe the one around the air bag to be a safety concern, either the functionality of the airbag or the broken pieces of plastic if the airbag is deployed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10648522, filed 2014-10, 58,000 miles

   “I am having the same cracked dash issue every other owner is having with these GM models 2007-2014 GM trucks/suvs. I just noticed the three cracks I have, so I am not sure when exactly they started (within the last few months).”

   NHTSA complaint #10910963, filed 2016-10, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag recall notice with no remedy available

   • 41 complaints (36%)
   • median 88,500 mi at 9.5 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2019

   Many complaints center on recall notifications for the air bag inflator, with owners saying dealers told them parts were not yet available or gave no timeline, in some cases for a year or more. A few owners also describe the air bag warning light staying on, or air bags not deploying in a collision. Others report the opposite, with side air bags deploying without a crash. Reports cluster from about 50,000 to 200,000 miles, and are dated mainly from 2016 onward as recall notices arrived.

   What to check: Check the air bag warning light on start-up and ask for written confirmation of whether the open air bag recall has been completed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall on my air bag inflator is having a major effect on trading my vehicle in for a new vehicle and has reduced my value. This open recall with no GM solution is currently a real problem for me.”

   NHTSA complaint #10940335, filed 2017-01, 130,000 miles

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags) months ago. The dealer indicated several times that parts were unavailable. In addition, while driving approximately 20 MPH to make a left, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road. A police report was filed. The front of the vehicle was damaged. None of the air bags deployed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10925352, filed 2016-11, 54,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and electrical no-start

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2016

   Complaints describe the truck failing to start after sitting for a few hours or days, sometimes needing a jump start, with one owner reporting a failed body control module and a loss of communication with the dash. Others report a speedometer reading incorrectly by 20 to 30 mph and returning to normal on its own, and one describes a burning smell traced to the driver information center. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 75,000 miles, often after the vehicle sat unused for a period.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery goes flat when the truck sits, watch the speedometer and warning lights during the test drive, and have the charging system and battery drain checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The speedometer is sporadically malfunctioning. It has happened to me three times and sometime the speedometer will register as high as 30 MPH when I am stopped or show about 70 when I am doing about 40. Then after a day or two it will start to work again. I see where many others have filed a complaint.”

   NHTSA complaint #10200012, filed 2007-08, 48,000 miles

   “10/21/09- went out to start my 07 avalanche lt3 and there was no power to anything. Aaa service was called and check the battery and it had 4.6 amps. After attempting to charge battery it still would not start. The technician began checking fuses and removed and replaced the same starter relay switch and then it started.”

   NHTSA complaint #10290117, filed 2009-10, 55,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission fails or loses gears without warning

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 30,764 mi at 1.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2012

   Complaints describe the transmission acting as if in neutral under acceleration, losing fourth gear at highway speed, or failing to move in Drive while still working in reverse and lower gears. Owners report dealers installing rebuilt or replacement transmissions, sometimes more than once, and in one case internal first and second gear damage was diagnosed. Reported from about 16,000 to 120,000 miles, with several failures noted below 40,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive from a stop and at highway speed, checking for slipping, delayed engagement or a missing overdrive gear, and ask whether the transmission has been rebuilt or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission failed on acceleration from stop. Brought to Chevrolet dealer who told me the 1st and 2nd gear came apart internally and that a complete rebuild was necessary. No prior indications of transmission problems (I.e. Slipping, noise, etc...). Will cost me over $3000 to repair. Searching on line, I found several other owners complaining about the same problem with less that 90000 miles on their vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10447231, filed 2012-02, 68,000 miles

   “While driving on the highway about 70-75 miles a hour, passing another vehicle, the passing gear engaged, then there was a loss of power to the vehicle. Once the truck got under 40 MPH you have no drive gear only 1,2, or 3rd gear will get you moving. Vehicle lost 4th gear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10202316, filed 2007-09, 33,856 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   High oil consumption and low oil warnings

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe oil use that increased gradually over time, from about half a quart between changes to a quart every 1,000 to 1,500 miles. Some report the check engine and low oil lights coming on and dealers recommending engine replacement after a ticking noise or smoke from the exhaust. One owner said the dealer considered the consumption normal. Typically reported between about 60,000 and 170,000 miles, after a gradual increase in oil use.

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition, ask how often oil is added between changes, and listen for ticking at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle used way too much oil. Oil consumption was extreme. Began to hear a ticking sound, while driving on expressway the lite up like a christmas tree. And smoke began to billow out the exhaust. Took it to dealer said I needed a new engine. Reading posts on line everyone is complaining of same issue. This should be remedied by manufacturer. Now car is sitting waiting to get an engine”

   NHTSA complaint #10888865, filed 2016-07, 170,000 miles

   “The vehicle, from the time it was new, had usually consumed about 0.5 quarts of oil each oil change, which I would consider normal. This condition began to worsen at approximately 60,000 miles to about 1.0 quarts per oil change. This condition continued to worsen, and at approximately 85,000 miles began to consume 1 quart of oil each 1,500 miles in city driving, and closer to 1,000 miles with significant highway driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10908913, filed 2016-09, 137,500 miles

Buying note. Check the dashboard and the status of any open air bag recall first, since both come up repeatedly, and have a mechanic look at transmission behavior and oil consumption on a test drive. Records showing transmission or engine work already done are worth asking for.

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.