2005 Chevrolet Avalanche: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche: 3 recalls, 71 owner complaints and up to 15 mpg combined.

Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #05V043000 · 2005 · 77,411 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator May crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
Why it matters: If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss…
The fix: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2005.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #05V055000 · 2005 · 7,194 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster May not illuminate. If the shift lever position…
Why it matters: The vehicle May move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2005.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #05V163000 · 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing May make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to…
Why it matters: A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
The fix: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2005.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 4 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (21): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2).
- Airbags (11): the most common themes are warning light on (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (9): the most common themes are noise or vibration (4), hard / delayed shifting (3), stalls / loses power (2).
- Fuel & propulsion (8): the most common themes are leaks (3), fire / smoke (2).
The 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche has 71 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 14 Avalanche model years for complaints (well below the 140 average). Complaints peaked in 2014 (11 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 71,685 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (165 complaints, 5 recalls), 2006 (11 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche problems?
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (21), airbags (11), transmission & drivetrain (9).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche get?
EPA ratings run up to 15 mpg combined (5.3 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.