Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIRES | |||||
| 030310002 | 06/01/2004 | 10012160 | Use of correct installation procedure for loose hubcap assembly. this service bulletin replaces 030310002. *eh | 02/16/2005 | |
| 020310001A | 01/01/2005 | 020310001B | 10012149 | Spare tire is different size than other tires. this service bulletin replaces 020310001. *eh update. *tt | 02/15/2005 |
| 11062002 | 11/06/2002 | 10008615 | Information when performing a four-wheel balance using labor code e0203 and/or tire replacing using labor code e0431 or e0437. *tt | 08/10/2004 | |
| TIRES - TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | |||||
| 020310001 | 02/01/2002 | 629394 | Information concerning the spare tire having a different size than other tires. *tt | 04/02/2002 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIRES | |||
| 12/20/2005 | 42290 | 2 | 11/11/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated on the left rear tire there is a small bulge on the sidewall. the vehicle was taken to the local dealership for inspection. upon inspection, the dealership determined the tires were defective and replaced all four tires. several months later the contact experienced a blow out with the left rear tire. the local dealership was notified and the tire was replaced. the tire line is goodyear p26570r17. | |||
| 06/06/2004 | 4000 | 3 | 08/15/2002 |
| In the past 60 days i have had two blowouts andf a flat tire on the original goodyear tires of 2002 avalance. near multicar collison last week. firestone said looks like tires rotten inside sears said we have had a quite a few avalances in lately.*ak | |||
| 05/28/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at any speed, consumer heard a loud noise coming from the steering wheel. vehicle was taken to an independent shop, and the technician found the left and right front tires as well as the left rear has bubble and inside wall are cracked. dealer was notified. *la | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 0 | ||
| I have not given permission to the dealership service department to start repairs. they told me it was the rear axle or rear end that was damaged beyond repair and must be replaced. i was quoted a repair cost of $2,400 for a used part and $3,000 for a new part. this truck has around 42,000 miles and was purchased june 1, 2003. i have had multiple problems ranging from replacement of cd's to a door window motor problem. i inquired/complained about a noise in the rear end at around 25,000 miles prior to the breakdown. however, they could not find the problem. the tailgate would fall open when locked occasionally, but this was adjusted after taking it back for repair. i have also replaced one hub assembly on the front of the truck at a cost of $250.00. there is an oil usage problem that requires an additional quart to be added between changes. i personally think that this truck is a lemon and needs to be researched to discern if it has had some previous mechanical problems. although it was purchased new there is a possibility that it could have had some malfunctions before it was delivered. i misplaced my receipts, and i'm not sure that the service department will give me another copy. however, i will search for them as verification that i took the truck in on several occasions for various and sundry complaints. | |||
| 04/06/2004 | 40000 | 1 | 05/16/2003 |
| The rear passenger and both front tires accumulated bubbles. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 08/13/2003 | 25330 | 1 | 01/05/2002 |
| Standard tires issued with vehicle were offroad wrangler hp which have very poor rain handling capabilities. i was not notified of this or given option of switching to highway tires with better rain capability. as a result of the poor control of vehicle in rain, front edge was damaged when entered parking lot and was trying to turn on wet pavement and slid into wall when steering was non-responsive due to tire sliding instead of turning. speed was less then 10 mph. i have found several articles on internet indicating should either replace those tires or have them siped to achieve better control in rain. since my avalanche is two wheel drive i never thought much if any about offroad use or that the standard tires would be so geared up for offroad use as to make them handle poorly in rain. capitol chevrolet service manager confirmed this information with me. i have 40 years experience driving in the north under all conditions with military and civilian vehicles and have never had this kind of problem before with any vehicle with any kind of tire. military vehicle tires are very offroad oriented but never had this kind of problem in rain. thanks. *ak | |||
| 04/05/2003 | 44000 | 1 | 10/16/2001 |
| Front passenger's side tire bubbled on the side. as a result, the consumer continued to rotate tires prematurely. *ak the rotation did not stop the tires from pushing outward in the thread and tire wear. tread wear was only 27%. *sc | |||
| 10/21/2003 | 38000 | 1 | |
| While driving vehicle at 72 mph front driver's side tire blew out, causing the consumer to pull off the road. *ak | |||
| 03/07/2003 | 1 | ||
| At 7,500 miles i had a blow out on the interstate and had to use my spare, then realized it was a smaller size. i drove to my dealership and they gave me a new tire, and said all of these trucks came with a 16 inch spare. i now have 30,000 miles and now need all new tires. i usually get new tires about every 60,000 miles. i went to the dealership to ask why my tires were wearing so bad and they were not willing to help or discuss this issue.*jb | |||
| 11/10/2002 | 1 | 12/01/2001 | |
| The incident on may 11, 2002. the driver side rear tire blew out while traveling on the freeway going 65 mph. the vehicle only had 8827 miles and had original wheels and tires. the incident on november 10, 2002: the left front wheel, including the disc brake mechanism, separated and bearing parts, etc. were scattered on the street. the exposed wheel well dug into the concrete and shock absorber and struts clearly visible with wheel separated. photos are available if needed. dt | |||
| 07/17/2002 | 4 | 02/01/2002 | |
| Passenger tires were supplied with z71 off-road package. i took these tires off-road, and tore a hole one. all4 tire dealers in montrose, co including the goodyear dealer, said that these are passenger tires, not off-road tires, and that they will be damaged by taking them off-road in the mountains. chevy's photos on their web page show the avalanche fording streams, driving over rocks, and driving in the mountains. the owner's manual discusses driving over rocks and logs, bouncing the car and having one or more wheels off the ground as things that might be encountered in off-road driving. still, they deliver the nearly 3-ton truck with passenger tires, not light truck tires. had i not punctured the dire, but only separated the ply, i could have had a serious accident driving the 400 miles back to my home. the off-road package includes skid plates, heavy duty shocks, a tow package, the all-important z71 decal, and upgraded tires. it turns out that the upgrade is not to a stronger tire, just a tire that's 1 inch bigger. still, the implication is that it is suitable for the off-road use described in the owner's manual and in their advertisements. the safety issue is that these tires are more susceptable to damage when used of-road, and subsequent to failure later at high speed when the driver returns to the highway than tires more appropriate to the task, such as a light truck tire.*ak | |||
| TIRES - SIDEWALL | |||
| 10/01/2004 | 51500 | 4 | |
| 2002 chevrolet avalanche 1500 4x4. goodyear at 17 tires. all 4 tires evenly worn 75% had sidewall deterioration where tread and sidewall connect at 51500 miles. wires were actually sticking out and had lumps where the wire was failing. definitely not normal wear pattern. failure would have been blow out and out of control and who knows what. caught the failure and presented it to a goodyear tire dealer and they would not do anything. still possess all 4 tires if i could only show them to an actual goodyear representative for review my mind would be at ease | |||
| 07/17/2004 | 2 | ||
| During vehicle inspection prior to a trip, two rips of about 3 1/2 - 4 were observed about 18 apart on the sidewall, about 4 1/2 above the tread on the sidewall. the side of the tire in both places was away from the carcass of the tire, revealing the tread cap and the inner carcass of the tire. it appeared that there was no adhesive binding the outer side of the tire to the carcass in either location. photos were taken of the damage. note: this damage could not be detected in a cursory check, except if the rip is almost on the bottom of the wheel rotation as it sits on the road under load. *la | |||
| 05/21/2004 | 31000 | 4 | 02/01/2002 |
| All four tires developed a knot on the sidewall next to the tread. dealership indicated that the knot developed because the belt turned lose due to a defect in the tire. a goodyear representative indicated that the tires still have half of the tread life remaining. *ak *nm | |||
| TIRES - TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving 40 mph consumer heard a loud noise coming from the rear. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. consumer inspected the vehicle, and noticed that the spare tire was not in place. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the cable assembly needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 02/21/2004 | 36818 | 1 | 05/08/2002 |
| Wrong size spare tire on avalanche. *jb | |||
| 08/06/2003 | 1 | ||
| While driving at normal city speed emergency spare tire fell off on the street. tire bounced twice and hit another vehicle. dealer stated this was unusual, never heard such thing. *ak | |||
| 03/07/2003 | 1 | ||
| At 7,500 miles i had a blow out on the interstate and had to use my spare, then realized it was a smaller size. i drove to my dealership and they gave me a new tire, and said all of these trucks came with a 16 inch spare. i now have 30,000 miles and now need all new tires. i usually get new tires about every 60,000 miles. i went to the dealership to ask why my tires were wearing so bad and they were not willing to help or discuss this issue.*jb | |||
| 06/20/2002 | 1 | 05/24/2002 | |
| Spare tire in the vehicle is a different size then the one on vehicle. tire on vehicle is 17 inches and spare tire is 16 inches. contacted dealer who is not willing to do anything.*ak consumer adds owners manual states that mixing tires could cause loss of control while driving. manufacturer is aware. *tt | |||
| 02/01/2002 | |||
| I have not experienced a tire failure yet, but i have concerns on the spare tire that came with my vehicle. the 4 main tires are goodyear wrangler hp 265/70r17 and the spare tire is a firestone wilderness at p265/75r16. the owner's manual specifically states to use same size tires & type of tires. the spare tire should be the same as the premium tire package i upgraded my package to... not a smaller size without any warning of what damage it could do to the vehicle if you used it for an extended period.... i think they should have the same size spare. if not, at least inform you of the potential damage one could do to their vehicle or person.*ak (tiresize: p265/75r16) | |||
| 02/01/2002 | |||
| I do not understand why the full size spare is firestone 265/75r16 vs the four goodyear tires size 265/70r17. using different size tires is not recommend in the owners manual so why would they give you a spare that is different from the other tires & do not mention any hazards. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2001 | |||
| Truck came through with 17wheels and 17 goodyear tires, the spare tire is a 16 wheel and 16 firestone tire. my truck is a 4 wheel drive, if i would have to use this spare, i feel it would be unsafe putting different size wheel and tire on my vehicle,. i have a complaint into the chevrolet customer service, but they said that they won't do anything about it, that this is the way this vehicle comes through, i was never told this by the dealership, i also complained to them, and they haven't done anything yet. my complaint no. with chevrolet is (05525998), the person i spoke to was named christine. the telephone no i called was 1-800-222-1020. *ak | |||
| 09/01/2001 | |||
| Four primary tires are 17 inches. however, emergency spare tire is 16 inches. a mechanic informed consumer it would be unsafe for him to operate vehicle using 16 spare tire in combination with a 17 spare tire on same axle. please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak | |||
| 07/20/2001 | 0 | 07/13/2001 | |
| Vehicle has four goodyear 17 inch tires, and for the spare tire there is a firestone 16 inch. consumer is concerned.*ak consumer states that gm will not solve the problem. *slc | |||
| TIRES - TREAD/BELT | |||
| 12/13/2004 | 27 | 1 | 10/16/2002 |
| 2002 chevrolet avalanche-27.000 miles. regular tire rotation and alignment. tires still wore in irregular pattern. on 12-13-04 noticed spot on right rear tire where a bubble had burst and the steel belts were coming through.(about 1 in dia.). vehicle still under warranty. took to local tire retailer who stated that tire was defective and should be taken to car dealer. called car dealer. sent to goodyear dealer. first tech examined tire and stated it was a defective tire. manager came out and said lack of maintenance was cause of problem. then stated that 265/70r17 ats was for offroad use and not intended for highway use only. said all 4 tires needed to be replaced with 265/70r17 rt. *ak | |||
| 08/28/2004 | 26955 | 1 | 03/23/2002 |
| While traveling north on interstate-15 through st. george, utah, i experienced a tire tread separation on my left rear firestone steeltex radial tire at approximately 65 mph while towing my 23 foot travel trailer. total tire mileage: 26,995 miles. the tire did not deflate, i was able to maintain control of my 2002 chevy avalanche 2500 truck and get stopped at the side of the road. after inspecting the vehicle for damage, i was able to drive off the i-15 within approximately 1.5 miles at 15 mph and install a spare tire.*ak | |||
| 09/07/2004 | 1 | ||
| On the highway left rear tire separated, the spare was placed on, and vehicle was driven to the tire dealer, where the remaining tires were also found to be defective. manufacturer stated tires were defective and was willingto replace them.*ak | |||
| 08/16/2004 | 34000 | 1 | |
| While driving 55 mph front driver's side tire tread separated. as a result, driver lost contro,l but managed to gain it back. *ak | |||
| 08/17/2004 | 44600 | 1 | 01/28/2004 |
| The rubber peeled off of my rear driver tire down to the steel causing considerable damage to my 02 avalanche.*jb | |||
| 01/06/2004 | 32000 | 1 | 01/01/2004 |
| While washing the tires, the consumer's hand was cut due to wires sticking from the sides. upon closer inspection the consumer found that all four tires had parts of the steel belt sticking from the side. the steel belts were at the junction were the sidewall and the tread meet on the tire. the dealer was willing to replace the tires at a prorated cost. *jb m | |||
| 11/19/2003 | 44000 | 1 | 11/27/2001 |
| The consumer was forced to replace all the tires due to excessive wear. the tires were beginning to separate at the treads and the steel belts were showing. at the time of purchase the consumer found that one tire had a plug in it. *ak the tires were buldging by the junction of the sidewalls and threads. *sc *jb | |||
| 02/21/2004 | 36818 | 6 | 05/08/2002 |
| Tire separation. nothing but trouble with the goodyear at's tires that came as standard on my avalanche. i had 6 flats in a 4 week period and finally had to replace all tires at 36,000 miles due to belt separation. *jb | |||
| 02/16/2004 | 36806 | 1 | 11/11/2001 |
| Total tread ply separation on a firestone lt 265 r75 16 steeltex at load range e tire. tire came as original equipment on my 2002 chevrolet avalanche 2500 4x4, with a 12,000 lb tow package. when i took delviery of this vehicle in 2001, firestone was in the process of recalling other tires that were failing the same way, i was assured by both chevrolet and firestone that this product far exceeded the specs for the purpose i selected this vehicle, and these were not part of the recall. now i see that this tire has had a limited production date recall. i am in the process of filing a claim with firestone to re-coup $1600.00 of body damage to the vehicle, but i thought i should make my voice heard to you. as a side note i was towing my travel trailer at somewhere between 55 to 60 mph on an overcast 60 degree day in florida, when i felt what i thought was a trailer tire going down. as i was in heavy traffic in the right lane with limited guard railed emergency shoulder space to pull off, i immediately begain to slow even more and put on my emergency flashers to warn following motorists of my future intentions. as my speed dropped to around 45 mph in the process of trying to find enough shoulder to stop on, the tread grenaded off. i have always been especially aware of proper infations of tires, checking by gauge both the tow vehicle and the trailer each day before hooking up and pulling, as i did this day before leaving the campsite. so under or over inflation is not an issue here. the trailer was balanced so perfectly that by the time i was able to safely get off the road, the tire casing was still inflated and the trailer was holding the truck up in the rear. this and the lack of speed were probably the only reason i did not lose control, because i am sure that under normal driving conditions the casing would have blown.*ak | |||
| 02/10/2004 | 26300 | 1 | |
| Tire belts separated. *ak | |||
| 11/01/2002 | 53800 | 3 | |
| The front passenger side tire experienced tread separation. this was the third separation failure out of the eight original tire supplied as original equipment with the consumers two vehicles. (goodyear wrangler, p265/70r171132, serial # t306731-grf88m4mp). *mr *scc *nlm | |||