CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 · model year

2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500

43 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011CHEVROLETAVALANCHE 1500 carries 43 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 AVALANCHE 1500 is air bags with 11 filings, followed by unknown or other (11) and electrical system (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2011 AVALANCHE 1500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

43
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

43 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
POWER TRAIN3
ENGINE3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE1

Recalls (2)

10V64300017/12/2010

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT CO

11V00700006/01/2011

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRAC

Recent Complaints

20190218ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

SERVICE STABILITRAC SYSTEM INDICATION COMES ON, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. HAPPENS RANDOMLY, CANNOT FIND A "COMMON CAUSE" SPENT LOTS OF MONEY ON PCM, BCM, MEMORY SEAT MODULE, BATTERY CABLES, BATTERY, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, ETC. ETC. DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN VEHICLE DROPS INTO POWER REDUCTION MODE.

Mileage: 65,000

20190218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE STABILITRAC SYSTEM INDICATION COMES ON, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. HAPPENS RANDOMLY, CANNOT FIND A "COMMON CAUSE" SPENT LOTS OF MONEY ON PCM, BCM, MEMORY SEAT MODULE, BATTERY CABLES, BATTERY, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, ETC. ETC. DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN VEHICLE DROPS INTO POWER REDUCTION MODE.

Mileage: 65,000

20190218ENGINE

SERVICE STABILITRAC SYSTEM INDICATION COMES ON, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. HAPPENS RANDOMLY, CANNOT FIND A "COMMON CAUSE" SPENT LOTS OF MONEY ON PCM, BCM, MEMORY SEAT MODULE, BATTERY CABLES, BATTERY, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, ETC. ETC. DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN VEHICLE DROPS INTO POWER REDUCTION MODE.

Mileage: 65,000

20181203AIR BAGS

SAFETY ISSUE. DASH IS CRACKING NEAR AIRBAG. THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG OR SHRAPNEL FROM DASH CAUSING HARM DURING DEPLOYMENT. DASH IS ALSO CRACKING OVER STEERING WHEEL AREA.

Mileage: 80,000

20181203STRUCTURE:BODY

SAFETY ISSUE. DASH IS CRACKING NEAR AIRBAG. THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG OR SHRAPNEL FROM DASH CAUSING HARM DURING DEPLOYMENT. DASH IS ALSO CRACKING OVER STEERING WHEEL AREA.

Mileage: 80,000

20180414AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL; NO GM REMEDY FROM TN CHEVROLET DEALERS. LIVE IN MARTIN, TN. 38237 NOTR: BELOW DATE FIELD WILL NOT ALLOW PRIOR YEAR DATE; RECALL +2 YEARS OUTSTANDING WITH NO REMEDY VIA GM TO DATE.

20171024AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - MY AIRBAG IS UNDER RECALL AND I CONTACTED MY DEALER WHO DOES NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT OR KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT HOW I CAN GET A NEW PART. I AM FEARFUL TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TAKATA

20171017UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH IS CRACKED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE.

Mileage: 90,000

20170907AIR BAGS

2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS DASHBOARD CRACKING ALL AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. MY CONCERN IS IF THE AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED FOR ANY REASON THE HARD PLASTIC DASHBOARD MATERIAL WILL SHATTER A SCATTER ALL THROUGH THE CABIN INJURING MYSELF, OR WORSE MY FAMILY. MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER READING ALL THE REVIEWS THIS IS NOT A CONCERN OF GM EVEN THOUGH MOST VEHICLES HAVE THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS THEY ARE SIMPLY WAITING FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GET INJURED BEFORE THEY HAVE TO DO A RECALL DUE TO USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS. THIS WAS MY FIRST CHEVROLET AND WILL BE MY LAST, WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT.

Mileage: 110,000

20170614AIR BAGS

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON THE TRUCK WILL SURGE WITH NO WARNING CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT TO BLACK OUT AND WOULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO STOP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WITH NO KEY AND CONTROL ON THE STEERING NOT FUNCTIONAL

20170614ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON THE TRUCK WILL SURGE WITH NO WARNING CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT TO BLACK OUT AND WOULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO STOP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WITH NO KEY AND CONTROL ON THE STEERING NOT FUNCTIONAL

20170303AIR BAGS

GENERAL MOTORS DASH CRACKS ON VARIOUS AVALANCHE MODEL YEARS. MY RESEARCH SUGGEST OTHER GM VEHICLES SIMILAR TOO THE AVALANCHE. MY METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AVALANCHE IS TYPICAL. COMPARING TOO OTHER GM VEHICLES OF OTHER OWNERS. CRACK ARE NEAR IDENTICAL IN LOCATION. PRESENTLY ONE AT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. SECOND CRACK ON THE INSTRUMENT DASH HUMP. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF A DESIGN FLAW. CRACK PICTURE ARE THE BEST I CAN DO. AIRBAG CRACK IS NEAR THE QUARTER. TWO PICTURES SHOW THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABUSED. GENERAL MOTORS CONTACT HAVE PROVED USELESS. "IF I WANT THE CRACK REPAIRED, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FROM MY OWN POCKET."

20170303UNKNOWN OR OTHER

GENERAL MOTORS DASH CRACKS ON VARIOUS AVALANCHE MODEL YEARS. MY RESEARCH SUGGEST OTHER GM VEHICLES SIMILAR TOO THE AVALANCHE. MY METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AVALANCHE IS TYPICAL. COMPARING TOO OTHER GM VEHICLES OF OTHER OWNERS. CRACK ARE NEAR IDENTICAL IN LOCATION. PRESENTLY ONE AT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. SECOND CRACK ON THE INSTRUMENT DASH HUMP. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF A DESIGN FLAW. CRACK PICTURE ARE THE BEST I CAN DO. AIRBAG CRACK IS NEAR THE QUARTER. TWO PICTURES SHOW THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABUSED. GENERAL MOTORS CONTACT HAVE PROVED USELESS. "IF I WANT THE CRACK REPAIRED, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FROM MY OWN POCKET."

20161029UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY DASHBOARD RIGHT ABOVE THE DRIVE SEAT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS A LARGE CRACK AND GETTING BIGGER. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRAVELING THE VIBRATION OF THE ROAD INCREASE CRACKING

Mileage: 83,000

20160811STRUCTURE:BODY

DASH CRACKED RIGHT ABOVE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AREA. NO DISCOLORATION IN THE AREA OR ANY WARNING. ONE DAY FINE, THE NEXT DAY A CRACK APPEARED. TRUCK WAS PARKED MOST OF THE DAY AND MY WORK COMMUTE IS 6 MILES ROUND TRIP. I DON'T OFF ROAD AND I HAVE NORMAL SIZED TIRES SO NO VIBRATION OCCURRED.

Mileage: 33,028

20160515UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS CRACKED.

Mileage: 55,000

20160512AIR BAGS

DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE AIR BAG AREA

Mileage: 95,000

20160512UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE AIR BAG AREA

Mileage: 95,000

20160512UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKING (MAJOR) NEXT TO AIRBAG AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

20160504AIR BAGS

CRACKED DASHED BOARD PART GM #19331336 PANEL. CRACKED DRIVER SIDE AND ON PASSENGER SIDE NEAR AIRBAG. LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE FOR PARTS AND LABOR FEE. UNKOWN CAUSE OF CRACK.

Mileage: 50,000

Compare 2011CHEVROLETAVALANCHE 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 have?
The 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 has 43 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500?
Yes, the 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 is AIR BAGS with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.