2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, and owners have filed 444 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes)
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles may experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas. This recall will be launched in the "salt belt" states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maryland, massachusetts, maine, michigan,…
Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel…
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Hinge and attachments (structure)
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position may corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on april 7, 20004. The recall began on september 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through october 29, 2004. Owners…
444 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche have filed 444 complaints with NHTSA; 38 describe a crash. Reports cite 31 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 61,987 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 99 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was firm, and vehicle kept accelerating unintendedly. Several warning lights were”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 9, 2023 · Service brakes
“The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and oil warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer, the 4-wheel drive”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 14, 2022 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche (Avalanche 1500 2WD, Avalanche 1500 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–14 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–13 / 15–17 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 5.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Avalanche model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Avalanche model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Chevrolet Avalanche | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 Chevrolet Avalanche | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche | 2 | 444 |
| 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche | 4 | 204 |
| 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche | 5 | 165 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 71 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche | 1 | 11 |
| 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche | 4 | 377 |
| 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche | 4 | 258 |
| 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche | 5 | 76 |
| 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 111 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 127 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 36 |
| 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche | 2 | 82 |
Checking a specific 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
How do I know if my 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V129000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.