Avalanche disappointments

bshef · August 31, 2001

After reading the "Tire" related post I wrote the general and told them of my recent frustrations and disappointments I've experienced with my ?K+ Avalanche purchase......(letter follows).....

We just purchased a new Chevrolet Avalanche, 1500 Z66 This is our “first ever” new-vehicle. I recently read a discussion of a tire failure incident involving a new Avalanche. This is being discussed in a few of the Chevy related newsgroups I frequent. It is my hope that this is an “isolated” incident and not a pre-cursor to another tire “debacle”. I was rather “shocked” to look under my new Avalanche and see a Firestone Wilderness A/T as my spare. Below is the “post” about the tire-failure….

Posted by fpmike:

I recently had a tire blow-out while driving on a freeway trip (at midnight, of course). This occurred with 2200 miles on the truck. I replaced the tire with the spare, continued to my destination and went to a local Chevy dealer the next morning. Inspection of the tire by the service manager indicated no road hazard damage and an area which indicated tread separation. Further inspection of the remaining tires revealed a steel wire sticking out of the sidewall of another tire. Approval for warranty replacement of all 4 tires was obtained and I am awaiting the return of my truck with a different lot number of the same tire. I would advise owners to inspect their tires.

The failed/defective tires in question are: Goodyear Wrangler AT/S P265/70R17 - 113S

All tires had the same lot number (found on the back sidewall) DOT MK16 BYDR 1901

I would also like to report to you my displeasure with my removable “hard-top” covers. As I attempted (for the first time) to remove panel number 3, the weather-stripping was completely separating from the panel. Each panel shared this same defect. When I got to my dealer with this panel complaint, we agreed to simply “swap” these panels for another set from another Avalanche. Turns out, we found the same problem with 3 other vehicles on their lot. We did, however find a set that appeared firmly in place and I was on my way.

We also need to return our new truck to the dealer "again" because the heated passenger-side seat is not heating up. We had the truck in service the 1st night (Thursday, August 23rd) we signed docs because of this problem. The service manager reported that in order for the seat to heat up the seat belt needed to be engaged. We took the truck home and tested this theory and the seat is still not heating up. We also read the manual and found no mention of this procedure relating to the heated seats.

Overall, We love the ride, appearance and the concept of our new Chevy Avalanche. We are however, frustrated and disappointed with the inconvenience of the above-mentioned problems. It is my hope that you will look into these issues. I would like to trust that I spent my ?K on a worthy product and could confidently boast about my most excellent Chevy truck?

I know this is long, but I hope Chevy listens and gets things right or makes em right!

Now tonight I was noticing my truck is lower on the drivers side by 3/4" (I measured it from the ground to the tops of the wheel wells). What is possibly up with that?

Sorry this was soooooo long!

Brad in SoCal

Shaners · August 31, 2001

It xseems alot of peoples pickups sit lower on the drivers side for some reason. The best place to take an acurate measure would be off the frame.

This can be corrected by tightening the torsion bar up on that side. I would have the dealer do that for you and then have him run it through the alignment machine.

It is frustrating when you have these annoying problems with a brand new truck. I hope and believe that GM will fix it right for you. Good Luck

NewbieZ71 · August 31, 2001

I don't know guys....gotta pay to play...I feel your pain but if you want to be first on the block with the latest, greatest, brand spanking new model you gotta expect a few bugs. Don't know of many products that don't have any first time out of the gate. Nothing major right? Get 'em fixed and ENJOY!

Stepside Z · September 1, 2001

I took 4 turns on my torsion bars on one side and 4 1/4 turns on the other to get the front of my truck level. I still have about half an inch adjustment left in both bars. I got 3/4 of an inch lift from the front end which was all I needed for my new tires. I can say this, the 265s looked really small after I lifted the front end. The BFG 285s are the right tire for my truck and I will never go back.

(Edited by Stepside Z at 12:57 am on Sep. 1, 2001)

(Edited by Stepside Z at 11:10 pm on Sep. 1, 2001)