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2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Avalanche 2WD.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 2WD is an SUV paired with an automatic 4-speed transmission to deliver an EPA-estimated 13 city, 16 highway, and 14 combined mpg, with its engine requiring 6 quarts of 5W-30 API oil for proper maintenance. Reliability data shows this specific year has accumulated 96 owner complaints alongside 5 recalls, with air bags standing out as the top complaint area. When contextualized within the Avalanche's 2000-2013 complaint history—which saw a low of just 2 complaints in 2000 and a problematic peak of 673 in 2002—the 2009 model sits firmly in the lower range of reported issues, meaning it represents a substantially stabilized and less problematic chapter in the vehicle's lifespan.

Model year201220092005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy13/16/14 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 615 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 615 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP265-70R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12690386
Engine air filter22845992 alt 15908916
Spark plug12621258
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt19210691 alt 12626222
Thermostat89018168 alt 12587397

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length218.1 in
Overall width79.1 in
Overall height73.2 in
Wheelbase130.3 in
Curb weight5437 lb
Track (front / rear)68.5 / 67.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined13 / 16 / 14 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SAE 75W · Synthetic in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.75 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6 qt

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket125.0 plus 90 degrees ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket70.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub177 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance615 cca
Optional BCI Group Number48
Optional BCI Cranking Performance730 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-60
RPM43-45 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Oil Pressure22

Brakes

Other2500 SERIES
Brake ApplicationWITH RPO JD9 / WITH RPO JH6
Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle221 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Other2500 SERIES
Brake ApplicationWITH RPO JD9 / WITH RPO JH6
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in / 0.0001 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses · M11 Bolts:

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3bolts 1-890 degrees
4Bolts 9and1050 degrees
111.0-15.0 ft. lbs.11–15 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1811 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1811 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1811 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1811 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche 2WD dominate in one area — the air bags, 33 of 96 reports (34%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the air bags are also the target of recalls 21V-050 and 21V-053 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming they were actually performed. 4 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1317
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
96
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 96 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags33
Unknown Or Other24
Air Bags,Unknown Or Other8
Structure6
Air Bags,Structure4
Power Train3
Air Bags,Unknown Or Other,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V050000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 05/02/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk…

21V053000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 05/02/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1317 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
135982025-09-09Unknown Or OtherNew Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M2025-08-06Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Avalanche 2WD. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 batteryVehicles taking 6 qtEngine oil filter 12690386Engine air filter 22845992Spark plug 12621258Front wiper blades 15214346

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 Avalanche 2WD take?

6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 Avalanche 2WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Avalanche 2WD get?

EPA figures are 13 city / 16 highway / 14 combined mpg.