Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION
- Summary
- 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, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.
- Consequence
- THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- 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 SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
GM/TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.
- 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 SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (658)
658 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 658 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 272 | 41.3% |
| Structure | 78 | 11.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 66 | 10% |
| Parking brake | 52 | 7.9% |
| Tires | 39 | 5.9% |
| Electrical system | 33 | 5% |
| Power train | 32 | 4.9% |
| Air bags | 31 | 4.7% |
| Visibility | 25 | 3.8% |
| Suspension | 24 | 3.6% |
How 2002 compares with other Avalanche years
Best and worst Avalanche years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 658 | 2 |
| 2003 | 395 | 4 |
| 2004 | 319 | 5 |
| 2005 | 206 | 4 |
| 2006 | 53 | 2 |
| 2007 | 493 | 5 |
| 2008 | 295 | 4 |
| 2009 | 96 | 5 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 14 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 635 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 14 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 / 15 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2002 Avalanche for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche FAQ
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 05V379000 (brake), 04V129000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche problems?
Owners filed 658 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (272), Structure (78), Engine and engine cooling (66) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche get?
EPA rates the 5.3 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 13 city, 17 highway and 14 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2002 Avalanche compare with other years?
Among the 2000–2009 Chevrolet Avalanche model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2002 the most (658). The 2002 drew 658. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.