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.
Of the 2012 reports, 8 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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: structure
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Nov 11, 2016
DASH CRACK.AS I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT ABOVE THE AIRBAG
Structure, Sep 29, 2016
MY DASH BOARD IS CRACKED IN TWO LOCATIONS, ONE ABOVE THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL CAUSE INJURY IF THE AIR BAG IS INFLATED. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS. THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS FAILED.
Structure, Sep 15, 2016
THERE IS A LARGE CRACK IN DASHBOARD ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND WE HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OUR MODEL. WE FEEL THAT IN A COLLISION THE DASH COULD SPLINTER AND SHARP EDGES COULD CAUSE INJURIES TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE MANUFACTURER BELIEVES THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. HOWEVER, HOW CAN THEY ACCOUNT FOR AN INFINITE NUMBER OF VARIABLES IN AN ACCIDENT? WE WERE OFFERED A DISCOUNT FOR A REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP, YET THE AMOUNT WAS STILL NEAR $600. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE SHOULDN'T INCUR ANY COSTS!
Air bags, Structure, Sep 4, 2016
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE DASH BOARD RIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THRU SOME RESEARCH I CAME ACROSS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS ISSUE AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF GM CUSTOMERS. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT.
Air bags, Structure, Aug 31, 2016
2 CRACKS AROUND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DASH BOARD. HAPPENED WITHIN THE PAST MONTH.
Structure, Aug 19, 2016
REAR DOOR ARE NOT DRAINING. THE DRAIN HOLES ARE PLUGGED DUE TO THE OUTSIDE. THE REAR DOORS FILL UP WITH WATER.
Structure, Jul 6, 2016
THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE ABOVE THE ODOMETER HAS CRACKED, AS WELL AS THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ON LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. I NOTICED THE CRACKS WHEN I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE ONE MORNING. THE CRACKS JUST SEEMED TO APPEAR OVERNIGHT.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2016
DASH BOARD ON DRIVE AND PASSENGERSIDE ARE CRACK
Structure, Apr 6, 2016
TWO CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD, ONE MAJOR CRACK ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE OTHER WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 42K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY TAKEN CARE OF. LARGER CRACK ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS SPREADING, CAN HEAR IT CRACKING WHEN DRIVING OR STARING UP THE CAR.
Structure, Mar 15, 2016
ONE MORNING I CAME OUT TO FIND A 1/4 INCH CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD IN FRONT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS IT GREW TO ABOUT AN INCH. I KEEP THE TRUCK IN SHOWROOM CONDITION AND AM SHOCKED TO FIND HOW COMMON THIS IS ON $64,000 TRUCKS WITHIN 1-3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. MY 1998 TAHOE INTERIOR WAS PERFECT AND IT HAD 300,000 MILES. THE CRACK APPEARED OVERNIGHT.
Air bags, Structure, Engine, Aug 13, 2014, crash
WHILE TURNING LEFT (TAHOE) WITH A PROTECTED GREEN ARROW AT AN X-SHAPED INTERSECTION, VEHICLE (KIA SEDAN) AT FAULT FAILED TO YIELD AND ENTERED THE INTERSECTION AT SPEEDS UPWARDS OF 40 MPH FROM THE LEFT OF THE TAHOE. FRONT-IMPACT COLLISION OCCURRED; DUE TO THE SHAPE OF THE INTERSECTION AND THE VELOCITY OF THE IMPACT, TAHOE STRUCK PASSENGER SIDE OF KIA SEDAN. TRAJECTORY OF IMPACT CAUSED DIRECTIONAL CHANGES IN UPWARDS OF 90* FOR BOTH VEHICLES; THE FORCE OF THE PRIMARY ACCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE ALSO CAUSED MENTIONED VEHICLES TO COLLIDE WITH LEFT REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE (HONDA SEDAN), CAUSING NEAR 360* ROTATION OF THE HONDA SEDAN. DUE TO THE FORCE OF IMPACT, FRONT & SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH THE KIA SEDAN AND THE HONDA SEDAN, BUT FAILED TO DEPLOY ON THE TAHOE. SCENE INDICATED THAT THE KIA SEDAN MADE NO ATTEMPT TO BRAKE OR DECREASE SPEED PRIOR TO COLLISION; POSTED SPEED LIMIT AT INTERSECTION IS 40 MPH. FORCE WAS SUCH THAT AFTER THE COLLISION, TAHOE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE, BUT REMAINED AT A COMPLETE STOP. DAMAGE SUSTAINED ON THE TAHOE INCLUDE FRONT-END BODY DAMAGE, ENGINE DAMAGE (VEHICLE REQUIRED TOWING AND WAS INOPERABLE), AND FRAME DAMAGE, AT A MINIMUM. IN ADDITION, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHTS AS WELL AS ONSTAR VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THE STABILITRAK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND REQUIRE ATTENTION. MULTIPLE FIRST-RESPONDERS COMMENTED ON THE ODDITY THAT, GIVEN THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE TAHOE AND THE VELOCITY AT IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON ALL VEHICLES BUT THE TAHOE. *TR
Structure, Jun 19, 2012, crash
2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRASH WHILE DRIVING SAFELY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ACROSS A PARKING LOT, WHEN SUDDENLY HE STRUCK A LIGHT POLE AND CAUSED OVER $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE DRIVER MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE VEHICLE HAVING A HUGE BLIND SPOT. *JB