WHEN I BOUGHT MY CHEVROLET AVALANCHE NEW IN 2002, AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I HEARD A HORRIBLE CRASH AND FOUND THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT LATCHED THE REAR TAIL GATE. IT TAKES A GREAT AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO CLOSE IT PROPERLY. SINCE THEN , ON ABOUT 10 OCCASIONS, THE GATE HAS FALLEN DOWN WHILE DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AGO, I FOUND THAT THE LEFT SIDE CABLE HAD BROKEN. I WAS GOING TO CALL MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TODAY, BUT , ON MY WAY TO DROP MY BOYS OFF AT SCHOOL, THE GATE ONCE AGAIN FELL DOWN. I STOPPED AND ASKED MY 13 Y.O. TO SLAM THE GATE. WHEN HE TRIED TO DO THIS, THE GATE BOUNCED BACK INTO HIS FACE AND JAMMED. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED, I SAW THAT THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE WAS DISLOCATED, THE RIGHT BOTTOM OF THE GATE WAS DAMAGED, THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT WAS BROKEN, THERE WAS A GOUGE ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE GATE, AND A MINOR PAINT SCRATCH ON THE GATE NEAR THE GOUGE. I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND DID A SEARCH & FOUND THIS SITE. I AM HOPING THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WILL STAND BEHIND THIS DEFECT AND PAY FOR MY REPAIRS. THANK YOU. GARY BOSCO. *JB
2005
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AND UPON INSPECTION FOUND A SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAK UNDER THE DRIVER'S DOOR. A CLOSER LOOK REVEALS THAT THERE ARE 2 RUBBER FUEL LINES THAT TOUCH AND HAVE WORN THROUGH EACH OTHER, CAUSING THEM TO LEAK FUEL. THIS IS ALL WITHIN INCHES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD ASSUME THAT THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD! THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD EASILY BE AVOIDED. *TR