2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, and owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2003 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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Seat belts: rear/other
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…
Remedy: 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…
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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…
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Service brakes, hydraulic
Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
Remedy: Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on june 18, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463; or hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, vehicles, during a 30 degree left angle frontal impact of sufficient severity, a tear could develop in the mid-frame cross member at its attachment to the left frame rail. If the mid-frame cross member tears during frontal impact and produces a sharp edge, contact of the sharp edge…
Remedy: Dealers will install a fuel tank shield. Owner notification began february 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
204 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 7 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,921 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 32 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My 17 year old son was on the freeway and the brake pedal travelled all the way to the floor while attempting to stop. The service brake system light came on at the same time. Stopping distance was in”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 14, 2016 · Service brakes
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the instrument panel failed. In addition, the driver side headlight failed. The failure recurred numerous times. Th”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 19, 2016 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche (Avalanche 1500 2WD, Avalanche 1500 4WD, Avalanche 1500 AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–14 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–13 / 16–17 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, 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 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
How do I know if my 2003 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2003 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 03V019000).
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.