Has anyone out there had a problem with the Avalanche Tailgate falling off while driving?

Sounds serious...better ask the Avalanche owners...

Yes there is a known problem and there was a recall issued. see your dealer

Also check this excellent web site

http://www.alldata.com/TSB/yr.html

scares the h*ll outa me....I've had this problem a couple of times...and don't it could stand to many more.

Happened to my first Avalanche.Dealer simply made a tailgate handle adjustment.Problem solved.

I have heard of this problem. Whenever I have something in the tailgate I worry it will open but it has not. I guess some of them open and some don't. I always lock it before I start driving.

Did you say fall off or fall open? The tailgate is suspended by two steel cables. It takes a manual release to unhook the attachments between the truck and tailgate. First one must open the gate and unhook both cables, position the gate so the left side of the gate can be lifted off its hinge, pull out and then shift right to seperate it from the left side. As you can see four operations are needed to remove the gate. However if both cables rusted through (there was a dealer recall to change them to stainless steel for that reason) and the latch fail open or if one were driving with the gate down and both rusted cables seperated from their connections the gate could be lifted enough to fall off while on the road.

See your Chevrolet dealer for a free cable replacement with stainless steel cables and your insurance company about who should pay for your new tailgate.