2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Complaints

MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THAT I TRAVELED TO TEXAS IN DECEMBER AND I HAD JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE. DURING THE TRIP I CHECKED THE OIL AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS DOWN ABOUT 2 QUARTS OR MORE. WHEN I RETURNED I TOOK IT TO A GMC DEALER WHERE I HAD THE OIL CHANGED BEFORE I WENT ON THE TRIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD BURNED 3 QUARTS ON THE TRIP. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT BACK TO A CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS "NORMAL" FOR IT TO HAVE AN OIL CONSUMPTION OF UP TO A QUART OR MORE IN 1,000 MILES OR 2 QUARTS UP TO 2,000 MILES. IS THIS "NORMAL?" I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE AND I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING A CONCUMPTION TEST ON IT. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PURCHASE WITH ALIGNMENT, LEAKING IN THE BOX FROM THE RUBBER AROUND IT, THE RADIO NOT WORKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, PEELING ON THE FRONT DASHBOARD, AND NOW THE OIL. WE TOOK IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ALIGNMENT WAS FIXED AND THERE WAS A SQUEEKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BROKEN IN THE FRONT END, ESPECIALLY PULLING IN AND OUT OF PARKING SPACES, AND WHEN TURNING OR ON THE CURVES. WE ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK RIGHT PASSENGER SEATBELT. THE PERSON SITTING IN THAT SPACE CANNOT PUT THE SEATBELT ON WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. WE FINALLY CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OF GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING THE SOUND AFTER WE HAD TAKEN IT BACK AROUND 5 TIMES AND HAD TO RENT A CAR, AND ALSO NOW WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION. WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY AS THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW CAR, YET IT'S LIKE AN OLD RUNNED DOWN JALOPY. THEY HAVE FIXED IT SO MUCH, WE JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE ANYMORE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO? *AK

PULLING OUT FROM A STOP, THE TAILGATE DROPPED OPEN AND AS A RESULT OF THE CABLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BREAKING, THE TAILGATE FELL OFF AND WAS DRAGGED ALONG BY THE LEFT SIDE CABLE SCRAPING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAILGATE BADLY. *AK

THE REAR WINDOW FRAME IS BREAKING OFF OF THE GLASS. THE FRAME AND/OR GLASS COULD BECOME A PROJECTILE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THESE STRESS FRACTURES IN THE WINDOW FRAME OCCURRED WITH THE WINDOW IN THE INSTALLED POSITION AND I FIRST NOTICED THEM ON SUNDAY MARCH 21, 2004. I HAVE ONLY REMOVED THE WINDOW ONCE AND THAT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I NOTICED THE FRACTURES. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD THE SAME THING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. *NM

WHILE DRIVING TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE. TWO WEEKS LATER, TAILGATE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL VEHICLES HIT THE TAILGATE THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NO CRASHES OR INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK

THE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE BROKE WHILE I WAS UNLOADING A FREEZER FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. *AK

PARKING BRAKE WORN OUT AND ROTOR RUSTED AT 36OOO MILES. I DON'T USE THE PARKING BRAKE AT ALL. WHY WAS IT WORN OUT? REAR BRAKE PADS ALSO WORE OUT BEFORE FRONT PADS. DESIGN OF PARKING BRAKE MAKES ADJUSTMENT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AT THE WHEEL. THE CABLE CANNOT BE ADJUSTED ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE. THE PARTS MAN AT THE DEALERSHIPJUST SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND INFORMED ME THAT THE ONLY POSSIBLE REMEDY IS TO REPLACE BOTH ROTORS, PADS AND PARKING BRAKE SHOES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

WHEN I BOUGHT MY CHEVROLET AVALANCHE NEW IN 2002, AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I HEARD A HORRIBLE CRASH AND FOUND THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT LATCHED THE REAR TAIL GATE. IT TAKES A GREAT AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO CLOSE IT PROPERLY. SINCE THEN , ON ABOUT 10 OCCASIONS, THE GATE HAS FALLEN DOWN WHILE DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AGO, I FOUND THAT THE LEFT SIDE CABLE HAD BROKEN. I WAS GOING TO CALL MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TODAY, BUT , ON MY WAY TO DROP MY BOYS OFF AT SCHOOL, THE GATE ONCE AGAIN FELL DOWN. I STOPPED AND ASKED MY 13 Y.O. TO SLAM THE GATE. WHEN HE TRIED TO DO THIS, THE GATE BOUNCED BACK INTO HIS FACE AND JAMMED. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED, I SAW THAT THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE WAS DISLOCATED, THE RIGHT BOTTOM OF THE GATE WAS DAMAGED, THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT WAS BROKEN, THERE WAS A GOUGE ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE GATE, AND A MINOR PAINT SCRATCH ON THE GATE NEAR THE GOUGE. I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND DID A SEARCH & FOUND THIS SITE. I AM HOPING THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WILL STAND BEHIND THIS DEFECT AND PAY FOR MY REPAIRS. THANK YOU. GARY BOSCO. *JB

WHILE LETTING THE TAILGATE DOWN ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, THE TAILGATE CABLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BED DISINTERGRATED WITH NO LOAD OR UNDUE STRESS. *JB

THE WINDOWS ON MY 2002 CHEVOLET AVALANCHE ARE VERY DARK SHADED. I CALLED A DEALER IN MULLINS, SC AND HE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO LIGHTEN THEM. HE CLAIMED THEY CAME FROM THE FACTORY THAT DARK. AT NIGHT I CANNOT SEE WELL ENOUGH TO PROPERLY JUDGE TRAFFIC AND DISTANCE. WHEN I TURN AT NIGHT I HAVE TO LEAN FORWARD JUST TO SEE THE STREET I AM TURNING ON TO. I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW I CAN GET A LIGHTER SHADING ON MY WINDOWS BEFORE I HAVE OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHY CAN'T THEY BE LIGHTED OR TONED DOWN. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. *PH THE ILLUMINATION LASTED ALSO, UNTIL THE SPEED REDUCED TO 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE GAS MILEAGE INCREASED DURING THIS TIME. *SC