2005 Chevrolet Avalanche recalls and problems

The 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche has 3 safety recalls and 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
71
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2005 Chevrolet Avalanche recalls

Recall 05V-163: Seat Belts

Reported Apr 22, 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (With child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.

Risk: A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.

Fix: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

Recall 05V-055: Power Train

Reported Feb 14, 2005 · 7,194 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate. If the shift lever position indicator does not illuminate, the driver may not know which gear the vehicle is in.

Risk: The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.

Fix: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, and gmc at 1-866-996-9463.

Recall 05V-043: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Feb 8, 2005 · 77,411 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.

Risk: If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.

Fix: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc trucks at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

2005 Chevrolet Avalanche problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System21
Air Bags11
Power Train9
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Engine and Engine Cooling5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Steering4
Structure3
Visibility3
Engine3
Unknown or Other3
Tires2

Most reported parts

  • Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel — 12
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 1
  • Suspension › Rear — 1
  • Air Bags › Frontal — 1
  • Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module — 1
  • Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System — 1
  • Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Fan/Motor — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 75,370 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · at 16,900 miles · reported Aug 6, 2021
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the passenger’s side air bag was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,900.
Service Brakes · at 220,000 miles · reported Dec 14, 2015
Catastrophic brake failure because of four corroded brake lines. All four lines corroded in the bracket holding the lines to the driver side frame rail. I was driving the vehicle and when I attempted to apply the brakes there was initial resistance and then the brake pedal went straight to the floor. I attempted to apply the brakes again but the vehicle would not stop. I had to apply the parking brake to stop.
Fuel/Propulsion System · at 215,000 miles · reported Dec 8, 2015
The fuel lines rubbing together causing fuel to dump every where right next to the cat on the driver side of the truck n this is not a recall. Then I say its attepmed murder charge agaisnt chevy....
Unknown or Other · at 203,000 miles · reported Nov 23, 2015
The instrument panel cluster does not light up. Cannot tell what gear I AM shifting in and out of. The dic buttons on my steering wheel do not light up, cannot tell if I have a malfunction when driving during the dark. I did check for a recall on this and saw that there was an older one issued in 2005 and that it closed in 2011. I was not aware of any recalls but none the less I feel that with both components failing and not working properly can cause a potential problem when in operation (Driving)
Engine · at 124,000 miles · reported Oct 19, 2015
Cylinder heads cracked due to poor casting (Known issue by GM). This LED to coolant in the engine causing damage to lifters. Expected cost to fix is approximately $1,500 in parts up to $4,000 in labor.

Other Chevrolet Avalanche years

Compare all Chevrolet Avalanche years · All Chevrolet models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche: 05V-163 (seat belts), 05V-055 (power train), 05V-043 (service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (21 reports), followed by air bags (11). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 75,370 miles.

Are Chevrolet recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Chevrolet dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.