2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 vs 2002 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 | 2002 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 154 | 3,294 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 331 | 258 |
| Investigations | 1 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 144 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 57 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–14 | 14–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 98,000 mi | 79,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 | 1,502 |
| Structure | 11 | 486 |
| Suspension | 5 | 421 |
| Air Bags | 8 | 162 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 163 |
| Steering | 7 | 155 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 148 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 152 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 52 | 47 |
| Brake problems | 21 | 0 |
| Stalling | 12 | 138 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 111 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 98 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 77 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 74 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 66 |
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
2002 Ford Explorer
Compare all Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.