Vehicle Speed Control Related Problems of the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche

Table 1 shows one common vehicle speed control related problems of the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche.

Table 1. Vehicle Speed Control related problems of Chevrolet Avalanche

Problem Category Number of Problems
Vehicle Speed Control problems
21

Vehicle Speed Control problem #1

Instrument panel has stopped working. None of the gauges work. Start vehicle no gauges move. Drive and no gauges move, including speedometer.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #2

Engine light and reduce engine power and start loosing speed. After turned off for a few minutes work fine. This year in an hour ride have to stop at least 20 times. Computer codes stated need to change throttle body. Last week I change it and again the same problem.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #3

I purchased a used as-is 2003 chevy Avalanche 1500 and I didn't notice until a couple of hours later that the speedometer wasn't working. I don't when it failed.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #4

I was driving my truck and the speedometer was reading 60 and when I look down again it was reading 120. I stop and started again then I realize that it was not reading now. My fuel, rpm, oil pressure gauges stop also. I had a mechanic look at it and they said it was the cluster. I research and I notice that all these vehicle is having the same problems. I think that chevy should be responsible for this defective item. I brought this truck new and I did'nt think that I would be having any problems like this. I replaced the part but guess what, its doing the same thing after six months. Now the door chime will not stop when the door is close and while im driving so I dont drive it.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #5

I believe the same problem with the gm key/ignition switch is more common then what is being reported. The Avalanche 2003 has had the same loose ignition switch for years. Our key system has to be jiggled and forced to the start position 80 percent of the time. The ignition switch will also move the off position while the vehicle is moving and the key will fall out.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #6

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact was driving 25 miles per hour when a crash occurred. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle when it accelerated and crashed into a telephone pole. The vehicle was towed to the dealership who advised him they would not touch the vehicle until general motors advised them to do so. The insurance company stated that there was a manufacturers defect; however, they didn't provide what part of the vehicle was defective. The current and failure miles were 117,000.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #7

Last year in my 2003 Avalanche I was cruising on an interstate highway and I noticed my speedometer start to move backwards until it read about 25 mph, however, I wasn't slowing down. It was very concerning to me, so I first pulled over to look under the hood, but I found nothing. Currently the speedo does not operate at all, but I went through a few months where it would start to work partially after about an hour of driving. This is unacceptable that so many people are experiencing the exact same problem. Obviously this part was supplied by gm in large numbers of faulty parts, and regardless of mileage I believe I should be compensated to fix the speedo. I had no maintenance control over the life of the electronics, and it's not like if I had changed the oil more regularly I wouldn't have had this problem. Chevy's are too good of trucks to have this kind of problem on so many of their trucks. I'm seriously considering moving back to a Ford truck because I owned a '95 bronco that had 248k miles and never had an electronic problem.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #8

Speedometer malfunction. The problem affects the speedometer giving erratic readings. Regardless of the speed, the speedometer reads 80 -120 mph. Or doesn't register at all. When the vehicle is in park or completely stopped the speedometer reads 60 mph. I have to turn the truck on and off several times until it goes down to 0.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #9

I have a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche that was purchased new in January 2003. It currently has 110,000 miles on it, but since about 40,000 miles the speedometer has been acting up. It is real jerky when moving and sticks on speeds. Currently, it is parked and on 100. You never know when it will work correctly - sometimes it does.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #10

I have a 2003 Avalanche and out of the blue one day the tachometer started shooting up to 6000 rpms, and then the speedometer started ticking instead of moving smoothly, and now it stays at 0 once I am driving for 5 - 10 minutes. (1) not sure what lead to it. . It just started happening out of the blue (2) I can not tell how fast I am going (3) nothing has been done I have spoken with 3 people in my office and looked at forums and many people are having this issue and nothing is being done by gm I will never purchase another chevy if this isnt resolved and I am only 25.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #11

Started to notice a twitch in the speedometer reading about a month ago. Progressively became worse to the point that it reads faster and faster and does not go back down to zero. Now it is presently stuck past 140 mph.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #12

- the contact called regarding the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that the speedometer was faulty. He was traveling at 70 mph and without accelerating the vehicle the speedometer went to 120 mph. The contact stated that when he turned the vehicle off the speedometer remained at 40 mph. The contact took the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealer , and the vehicle was diagnosed as needing a new speedometer cluster. The failure mileage was 40000 and the current mileage was 45000.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #13

I have been having erroneous speedometer problems with my vehicle for about 2 years now. The speedometer has a mind of its own. It will be working fine, and then go erroneous. It will get stuck at 60 mph or higher. Sometimes it is even 120! this seems to occur more when it is raining. I have found that if I remove the negative terminal from the battery and reset the computer, it begins working again. I never know how fast I am going which can be very dangerous.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #14

Key ignition switch is loose and car will shut off while operating, key can be pulled out of ignition while running. If vehicle shuts off while operating then you loose control of brakes, steering, and electrical systems. Gm is denying there is a problem. My vehicle is proof that the problem exists and the chevy Avalanche 2003 has a problem.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #15

Multiple failures of speedometer. Sometimes sticks, reports incorrect speed, or jumps about. Periodically works fine. No rhyme or reason to problem. Dealer - moritz Chevrolet fort worth says instrument cluster will have to be replaced ($500), that they have seen multiple failures, and that the item is not covered as a manufacturer defect.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #16

: the contact states the speedometer reflects an inaccurate reading intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer who determined the speedometer cluster needed to be replaced.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #17

The contact had two problems with vehicle. The first one affected the speedometer giving false readings. Regardless of the speed, the speedometer reads 120 mph. When the vehicle is in park, or completely stopped,the speedometer reads 90 mph. The second problem deals the windshield wipers not turning off intermittently. When this happens she pulls the fuse to get the windshield wipers to turn off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but repairs have not been made.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #18

Speedometer needle sticks and only lowers the needle 5 mph for each time the engine is turned off and then on again. I have contacted the dealership and have not taken this in yet. I will be taking this in next week. The dealer said when I called that they have seen this before and they would need to look at to verify that it is the same problem they are having with the Avalanche and the silverado pickups.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #19

Speedometer needle sticks and only lowers the needle 5 mph for each time the engine is turned off and then on again. Dealer has seen several in the past 2 months. Needle moves with a jumping motion and does not move smoothly as it did before. Dealer quoted a cost of $500-$600 to replace electronic speedometer. This is not a usual item that is expected to be replaced in vehicles. As several have been identified by one dealer (reliable Chevrolet) in the past 2 months, not only with the Avalanche, but other silverado model trucks, requesting research on manufacturer defect for recall.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #20

The contact had two problems with vehicle. The first problem affected the speedometer giving false readings. Regardless of the speed, the speedometer reads 120 mph. When the vehicle is in park or completely stopped the speedometer reads 60 mph. The second problem involved the windshield wipers. They wipe in different directions. One wiper goes left and the other goes right. When this happens the windshield wipers hit each other in the middle of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but repairs have not been made.

Vehicle Speed Control problem #21

Consumer complained about vehicle dropping speed and losing power while being driven. If vehicle is going uphill 25 mph is the maximum speed. On the level roads 40 mph is the maximum speed. This vehicle was serviced 3 times for the same defect, but problem was not resolved.


Vehicle Speed Control related problems in other Chevrolet Avalanche model year vehicles:



Safety Ratings of Avalanche Cars
Fuel Economy of Avalanche Vehicles
Avalanche Service Bulletins
Avalanche Safety Recalls
Avalanche Defect Investigations