Three problems related to transmission noise have been reported for the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
At approx 47000 mi traveling at 65mph a heavy thud in the engine compartment that sounded like the whole engine block had dropped out, was able to coast off road to a vacant lot. Transmission toast with damage to ring and pinion gears,never towed anything, city driving to work and home mostly. (47k) miles. Really? 3500$ repair. Next speedometer failure at about 53k miles, im either going 0mph or 120mph. Also have lost alot of backlighting on my dashboard instrumentation along with cd player. Seems the cd player cannot eject a non existant cd, just makes clicking noise and says check disc. Now at 59k miles im experiencing the popping front end sound when turning sharply in reverse, possibly suspension or a-arm related have not looked into yet.
On January 8th 2012, while pulling out of the church lot we heard a clunk noise. The "transmission hot" display came on. We made it home at a slower rate of speed and eventually the light went out. I called gm customer service when I got home. They didn't have any suggestions, but just asked if I was towing something at the time and other questions to which the answer was no. I took my Avalanche to the dealer the next day to get it checked. On the 9th, the service manager told me that 2nd and 4th gears were out. He said they would have to tear into it to find out if it could be repaired. I asked how much that was going to be and he said around $580. 00. I let them tear into it starting on the 10th. Didn't hear anything on the 10th or 11th but on the 12th, the service manager said that the transmission was "pretty well cooked" and it would need replaced with a remanufactured transmission for $3200. 00. He said the remanufactured one would come with a 3yr/100,000 mile warranty. I called back gm customer service back and left a message for them to call me. Based on everything I've read on the internet, it appears that this transmission is well known for failing and I don't believe a 2005 Avalanche with only 88,000 miles on should have failed. I've use my vehicle for mostly going to and from work and on long trips. Hopefully, gm will accept responsibility for their failed defective equipment and provide me with a remanufactured transmission. I understand that this transmission is really not a "truck" transmission but is also used in some of gm's other sedans which weigh twice as less and are not used for the same types of things a truck is meant for. It's no wonder it failed. . Read more...
7/13/03 - purchased new 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche vehicle from pierre Chevrolet in lake city, washington 7/28/03 - reported sporadic loud clunk noises coming from transmission to service center of same dealer. Service center could not find problem and stated clunk noises were normal in this type vehicle. Noise problem continued and was reported but nothing was done and same service center normal clunk noise explanation was provided. 1/12/04 - took vehicle to todayschevrolet service center in bremerton, washington and insisted that clunk noise be thoroughly checked out. Received same "normal clunk noise explanation" and a manufacturer's bulletin numbered 01-07-30-42a stating the same. Could not complain no more. 4/12/05 - 21 months after the purchased of this new vehicle it had a total transmission breakdown in the middle of an intersection on a rural road. All gears except low gear went kaput. Because the breakdown occurred on a rural road where traffic is light, the breakdown did not caused a fire, property damage, deaths etc. , but it had placed us in continual jeopardy. Although the transmission was totally rebuild, sporadic clunk noises do continue.