2012 Chevrolet Tahoe

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Air bags is the leading concern among 180 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Tahoe model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 180

Of the 2012 reports, 8 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags63 reports · 35% of complaints
Owner complaints180Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Other or unspecified101
  2. Air bags63
  3. Structure37
  4. Electrical system13
  5. Engine9
  6. Power train7
  7. Service brakes6
  8. Electronic stability control (ESC)5

Recalls and investigations

  1. Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    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 were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.

    Campaign 21V054000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    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 were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328770.

    Campaign 21V051000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Electrical system, ignitionDec 30, 2014

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

    If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

    Campaign 14V827000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: electronic stability control (esc)

5 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 2, 2020

    WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN ON OCCASION. INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO, DASH PANEL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ALSO DOOR LOCKS, LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED AFTER I WAS NEARLY HIT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THIS HAS RECENTLY THIS WEEK OCCURRED AGAIN 2 TIMES.

  2. Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 29, 2018

    THE STABLITRACK OFF LIGHT CAME ON. THE DOOR LOCKS RAPIDLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE ENGINE WAS SURGING WITH LOSS OF POWER. THE RADIO WAS GOING OFF AND ON.

  3. Wheels, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 14, 2018

    THE TRACTION AND STABILITRAK CONTROLS ARE COMING ON AND STAYING WE HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM YET BUT I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL ON BOTH AT ONE POINT

  4. Air bags, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 19, 2016

    TWO ISSUES: 1. DASHBOARD CRACKED AT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE AND ON DRIVERS SIDE. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT APPEARS UNSAFE DUE TO CRACKING. 2. IN HOT AND HUMID WEATHER TO, THE TRACTION AND STABILITY SYSTEMS BECOME INOPERABLE AND THE MESSAGE SYSTEM REQUESTS THAT MAINTENANCE BE PERFORMED. THIS MESSAGE CAN COME UP A FEW MINUTES AFTER DRIVING OR CAN COME ON RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE.

  5. Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 28, 2014

    THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS SHOWING THEY HAD BEEN TURNED OFF CAME ON, AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAY SAID SERVICE THE SAME. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED FOR ERRORS AND RESET COMPUTER. IT HAS KEPT GOING IN AND OUT OF OPERATION SPORADICALLY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. REALLY NO EXPLANATION. HAVE TRIED TO FIND SIMILARITIES IN THE SITUATIONS WHEN IT IS A PROBLEM. THE INCIDENTS SEEM RANDOM. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I HIT BUMP OR DIP IN A ROAD, IT HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH EVERY BUMP OR DIP. IT ALSO OCCURS WITHOUT HITTING A BUMP OR DIP. *TR