Chevrolet Avalanche 1500Model year report

2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Problems

Complaints: 20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 72,500miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating: —overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy: 16 mpgcombined, 5.3L 8-cyl RWD · 14 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The part named most often is air bags, with 9 complaints (45% of the total), followed by other or unknown (7) and body and structure (3). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,500 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 223 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 22 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “My truck has 2 major cracks on the dash that just appeared within the last 6 months. I have owned the vehicle since july 2013. One is right in front of the drivers seat on the dash and cracks from my display behind my steering wheel all the way to the windshield. The second crack in the dash is in front of the passengers seat and runs into the airbag. All GM model SUV/trucks from 2007-2013 are having the same problem! I do not understand why GM will not recall this issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #10862212, filed 2016-04, 130,000 miles

Other or unknown: “My 2009 avalanche ltz has a dash that has cracked completely in half, plus is cracking on the airbag passenger surround. My concern other than shrapnel in the event the airbag deploys is loss of steering control when the dash pieces lodge themselves between the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion. The dash has never been abused or damaged by the owner in any way, and this is clearly a manufacturer defect. Almost without exception I have noticed this defect in every truck of this type. Please have an agent contact me if additional information is necessary. …”

NHTSA complaint #11194959, filed 2019-04, 180,000 miles

Body and structure: “Got in to my car that morning and heard a rattling noise coming from my dash and came to find out my dash was cracked. I do nothing but highway driving so there were no extenuating circumstances to cause it. I take great care of my vehicles and have never had this happen before. I researched the problem and have come to find out that it is a chevy issue that is not being disclosed or are they taking responsibility there are a number of websites with chevy truck owners who have the same problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #10538224, filed 2013-08, 110,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I was driving to a church function with my wife and about 30mph under acceleration, my truck started lugging like it was in 6th gear. It started shaking then the tachometer was fluctuating up and down about 500 RPM's. I checked the transmission fluid and looked good. I have a very important business trip tomorrow morning and now I am stuck. I took it for another drive to see if the problem occurred at a higher speed and it does. I put the cruise on about 60mph and the truck was bucking and the RPM's were going crazy. I drive mostly highway miles. …”

NHTSA complaint #10440346, filed 2011-12, 134,475 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

29% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 38,000 and 110,000 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 72,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
Avalanche 1500 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl	6-speed automatic	14	20	16	$4,200
Avalanche 1500 2WD	6.0L 8-cyl	6-speed automatic	14	19	16	$4,200
Avalanche 1500 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel	6-speed automatic	14	20	16	$4,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 223 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

11023091Sep 9, 2025Other or unknown. New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
11021792Aug 7, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
11020816Jul 18, 2025Other or unknown. This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
11019074May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
11019073May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
11019072May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
11014455Feb 20, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get…
11012907Dec 18, 2024Engine. This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
11011782Dec 7, 2024Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads. The J-35616-64B is…
11009156Oct 25, 2024Electrical system. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…

See all 223 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2013	29	49,688	1	—	17	50 · Typical	Falling
2012	16	62,000	0	—	17	—	Stable
2011	28	50,000	2	—	17	56 · Typical	Stable
2010	6	112,500	0	—	17	—	Not enough data
2009	20	72,500	0	—	16	—	Stable
2008	37	50,000	0	—	16	40 · Typical	Falling
2007	113	73,000	1	—	16	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2006	39	84,000	1	—	14	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2005	129	62,450	1	—	15	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2004	144	79,500	0	—	15	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2003	182	89,000	0	—	14	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2002	154	97,500	0	—	14	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling

All Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 9 complaints (45% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 7.

Has the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 (Avalanche 1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,500 miles and the middle half falls between 38,000 and 110,000 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.