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Air bagsPart report

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Air bags Problems

Complaints
22about this part
Share
5%of 444 total for the year
Median mileage
65,450miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, 5% of the 444 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,450 miles. 21 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I went off road at 45 MPH airborn struck a very large tree which caused vehicle to roll over violently landing on its top. No air bags deployed, both my wife and I were ejected from the seat belts onstar was not notified. I noticed brakes acting strange just before leaving the road, they didn't slow the vehicle and didn't click like antilock breaks should. …”

NHTSA complaint #10147182, filed 2006-01, 85,689 miles

“While driving on highway, consumer's vehicle skidded from the right to the left lane. Without warning the driver's side air bag fully deployed while the passenger side air bag partially deployed. Consumer's visibility was completely blocked resulting in car crashing into the guardrail. Both air bags deployed and were fully deflated before impact.”

NHTSA complaint #10004499, filed 2003-01, 5,000 miles

“The vehicle was involved in a rollover accident in which the vehicle rolled over three times yet neither air bag deployed. The dealer was notified. The consumer's wife applied the brakes but nothing happened, and steered to the right of the road to avoid hitting other vehicles. Scc”

NHTSA complaint #10012335, filed 2003-03, 18,334 miles

“I had an accident on the hwy in georgia, the steering was hard to control/lock, the tire sled, was rust and corrode on structure, brake area, wheel area, frame, tire broke off, almost flipped and was hit from the back, and twice in the front after slamming into a cement divider and the air bags didn't deploy at all, I injured my left side, neck, back, and hip. Blessed that my pregnant daughter in her 8th month wasn't in the truck with me. …”

NHTSA complaint #10497946, filed 2013-02

“In this collision where I was a passenger we flipped over 2 and slid on passenger side of vehicle and no air bags deployed .unconscious during first 2 seconds of collision after I regained consciousness I felt my head dragging on pavement and grabbed my head and lifted it up from being dragged as truck slid at the end of the collision. I was taken to nearby e.r. And got staples in my head . And numerous other injuries road rash, chest pains, whip lash, back pains excetra .”

NHTSA complaint #10637134, filed 2014-09

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20132227%
2012617%
20115543%
20105348%
20094154%
200813251%
200722560%
200619%
20051115%
200495%
2003147%
2002225%

Other parts of the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

Brakes
200 complaints
Body and structure
67 complaints
Engine cooling
35 complaints
Tires
34 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
25 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaints
Suspension
19 complaints
Electrical system
17 complaints
Fuel system
15 complaints
Steering
14 complaints
Exterior lighting
8 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology