2006 Chevrolet Avalanche problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (3) · Service Brakes (2) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Avalanche model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (95)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2016-03-01 · PIT5484A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication advises the technician that if onstar is unable to configure the vehicle after the onstar 15-08-44-001 upgrade and onstar receives a 118 error code when attempting to configure the vehicle. dealers should receive a sheet with the kit that provides steps to
Wheels 2016-02-23 · 12-03-10-001C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin provides information on the proper mounting paste to apply to tires when mounting and balancing them to prevent conditions like vibration shortly after tires are mounted/preventing vibration from wheel slip (tire sliding on wheel)
Equipment:electrical 2016-02-23 · PIC5953A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using bluetooth voice recognition with an iphone. technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any emojis loaded to any contact.
Equipment 2016-02-11 · PIP5226A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about finding needle bearings during an oil change. technician will gain access to the roller rockers to inspect them. only replace the roller rocker that is missing needle bearings. be sure to clean the oil drains to
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2016-01-27 · 03-08-46-004R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin provides information on part restriction and ordering process information for onstar vehicle communication interface modules (vcim) (gmna only)
Engine 2016-01-14 · 06-06-01-010C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin provides information on close coupled converters and there affect on newly installed engines or engines during there break in period.
Showing the 6 most recent of 95 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2016-01-04 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 165,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet avalanche. the contact stated that there was a fuel odor and that fuel was noticed leaking from under the vehicle. the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician informed that the hose was rubbing in the fuel tank causing a hole on the fuel line. the vehicle was not …”
2015-07-21 · Vehicle Speed Control“driving 35mph on dry road. 2wd jump out of gear acted like went into neutral i had no drive or any of my gears came to a complete stop with no warning. went to put in park it grind with loud noise. only way to get truck to move was to put in 4wd …”
2015-07-05 · Power Train · 105,538 mi“i made a stop, up on taking off my truck made it to second gear and i hear a loud broken noise, transmission went out on second gear. …”
2015-05-12 · Service Brakes · 152,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet avalanche. while driving approximately 25 mph and coming to a stop, the brake line detached from the vehicle. the failure recurred twice. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 152,000. …”
2014-12-12 · Structure:body · 142,000 mi · 💥 crash“i hit someone in the back of his car and did a lot of damage on my truck and my air bags did not open. the repair shop also ? why. the front of my truck was pushed back approx. 6 to 10 inches. *tr…”
2013-10-01 · Exterior Lighting · 24,862 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet avalanche. the contact stated that the headlights failed to operate properly. the contact personally diagnosed the vehicle and found that the automatic headlight control switch had failed. the vehicle was repaired by the contact. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 24,862. …”
2012-12-12 · Service Brakes · 44,000 mi“tl* the contact owns 2006 chevrolet avalanche. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, she attempted to apply the brakes to avoid crashing into another vehicle but the brakes failed. the contact shifted into a lower gear in order to stop the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the brake lines ne…”
2012-05-10 · Power Train · 75,200 mi“when taking off from a stop it feels like i am being bumped from behind, or like the engine just dropped out of the vehicle. very hard shifting between 1st, 2nd and 3rd when vehicle has been driven about 50 miles consecutive. check engine light is on but will go off intermittently. *tr…”
2012-01-01 · Power Train · 78,000 mi“i was driving along at 60 mph and lightly accelerated and heard a clunk. i continued to drive along and slowed down to exit off the interstate. then when got off the interstate and came up to a green arrow and turned left. then as soon as i accelerated at 25 mph, i felt the transmission go out and heard a high pitch whine and some grinding. the…”
2011-11-25 · Air Bags · 51,778 mi“airbag light came on, dashboard says service airbag, after vehicle sat for an hour after having been driven for over 250 miles that day. when the vehicle is started the light blinks as it's supposed to and goes out, then after a few seconds comes back on and stays on. *tr …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.