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
180 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2017
MY TAHOE HAS DASH CRACKS FROM POORLY CONSTRUCTED DASH RISKING DASH COLLAPSE AND CRACKS AT THE AIRBAG WITH RISK OF FLYING DEBRIS UPON RELEASE OF AIRBAG RESULTING IN INJURING OCCUPANTS. CHEVROLET NOT INTERESTED IN REPLACING. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS AT 75000 MILES AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN ALL THE CHEVROLET AND GM VEHICLES FROM YEARS 2007-2014.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Sep 14, 2017
DASH IS DEVELOPING CRACKS , MOST CONCERNING IS THE CRACK LEADING TO THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2017
MY DASH BOARD BEGAN TO CRACK IN SEVERAL PLACES. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT BUT IT ONLY WENT TO YEAR MODELS UP TO 2011
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2017
THERE ARE CRACKS ALONG THE DASHBOARD THAT SEEM AS IF THEY WOULD CAUSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LAUNCHING PIECES OF THE DASH IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY.
Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2017
THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED CRACKING AND IT IS AT DEALER NOW AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THIS IS ONLY ONE THEY EVER HEARD OF AND THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT BUT IT IS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE THAT I'VE ONLY PUT 20 SOME THOUSAND MILES ON AND IT WAS SOLD TO ME WITH FULL WARRANTY AS A NEW ONE AND AFTER LOOKING ON SEVERAL WEBSITES IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AFRAID IF IT KEEPS CRACKING IT MAY GET RIGHT INTO MY INSTRUMENTS AND ELECTRICAL OR WORSE CONTINUE INTO MY AIRBAG , SURELY THERE IS SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND THE DISTRACTION FROM THE DASHBOARD FLOPPING UP AND DOWN CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN. PLEASE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO INFLUENCE A DECISION ABOUT THIS, DO SO IT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE IN A LIFE MAYBE
Structure, Aug 14, 2017
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED RIGHT BESIDE THE AIRBAG. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY EYES.
Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2017
MY DASH IS CRACKED RIGHT BY AIRBAG LIKE OTHER 1000'S OF GM TRUCKS YEARS 07-14. I HAVE 75,000 MILES ON MY TAHOE CURRENTLY AND THE CRACK APPEARED AT 70,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I BELONG TO A GROUP ON FACEBOOK CALLED 07-13 GM CRACKED DASH AND SAFETY HAZARD AND EVERYDAY THERE'S NEW PEOPLE WHO JOIN THE GROUP WITH THEIR CRACKED DASHES MOST OF THEM IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT RIGHT BY THE AIRBAG AND OTHERS HAVE WHERE THE ENTIRE DASH HAS CRACKED AND MOST SEEM TO HAPPEN BETWEEN 60,000 AND 75,000 MILES. THIS HAZARD COULD BE DEVASTATING IF AN ACCIDENT WAS TO HAPPEN. MY TAHOE IS IN GREAT CONDITION GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS HAZARD.
Air bags, Jun 19, 2017
DASHBOARD IS CRACKED BY THE AIRBAG
Structure, Jun 16, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD PREMATURELY CRACKED AND WAS DETERIORATED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES TO THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE COULD AFFECT ANY COMPONENTS NEAR THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER (LAKESIDE CHEVROLET, 2005 S GOLIAD ST, ROCKWALL, TX 75087, (972) 961-7103) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THERE WAS NO CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FROM THE MANUFACTURER THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/27/17*LJ *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 13, 2017, fire
I BOUGHT TRUCK CERTIFIED BY CARL'S BUICK GMC. JAN 30TH 2014 WITH 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND MILES, ALSO PAID 5K FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALTERNATOR WENT BAD, SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUCKS, AND ALSO HAD THEM CHECK MY DASH BC CRACKS STARTED, AND DEEMED DEFECTIVE BY SERVICE MANAGER BC TRUCK KEPT LIKE NEW, I ONLY DRIVE ON TRIP TO FAMILY AND DR'S, I'M HANDICAPPED, I PD CASH. AND CHARGED ME THRU EXTENDED WARRANTY, IF THE AIR BAGS GO OFF PC OF DASH GOING EVERYWHERE. NO WAY EVERYONE HAS SAME EXACT CRACKS AND TROUBLE WITH MY MOTOR BURNING OIL WHICH IS CHANGED BEFORE REALLY DUE, CALIPERS LOCKED UP, AND BURNT UP ABS WIRING, AND I FORGOT I WENT THROUGH 3 ALTERNATOR BEFORE FIXED AN HAVING ISSUES AGAIN. I PAY THIS MUCH AS A GOOD GM CUSTOMER AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE TREATED. I'M NOT O.K. WITH THIS.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 13, 2017
AFTER 5 YEARS OF GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE, PURCHASED A NEW CAR TO BE KEPT IN GARAGE, ONLY 2 DAYS OF HAVING THIS SUV OUTSIDE THE DASH CRACKS,VERY DISAPPOINTED ON GM CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE 6 YR 100000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I WORRY ABOUT WHERE THE CRACK IS RIGHT BY THE PASSENGER IN DASH AIRBAG
Other or unspecified, Jun 13, 2017
THE DASH HAS CRACKED AND I FEAR THAT IN AN ACCIDENT PARTS OF THE DASH TO DEFLATE AIRBAG AND OR CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2017
DASH CONTINUES TO CRACK AND RATTLE. MAKES WIFE NERVOUS WHEN DRIVING, MAKES HER FEEL IT MAY COME APART.
Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2017
SEVERE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD
Air bags, Other or unspecified, May 17, 2017
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN THE FIRST CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD APPEARED BUT I NOTICED IT ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEN ON 05/16/17, I CRANKED THE CAR, PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND STARTED DOWN THE PARKING GARAGE RAMP. THAT'S WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. SO I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. AFTER I PULLED OUT AND STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT I LOOKED AND THE DRIVER SIDE DASH ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD A LARGE V SHAPED CRACK IN IT. BECAUSE THE DASH IS BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES IT BOUNCES UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS TAKEN PICTURES AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES. AT LEAST 10 CRACKS. IT LOOKS AS IF THE DASHBOARD WAS HIT BY AN EARTHQUAKE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF GM CARS. IT DEFINITELY IS A DEFECTIVE PART BUT EVEN MORE I'M CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH WOULD EXPLODE.
Structure, Apr 23, 2017
CRACKING DASH BOARD, PASSENGER SIDE ABOVE AIR BAG ON UPPER LEFT SIDE. NOTICED IT WAS CRACKED AFTER MAKING SEVERAL TRIPS IN VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Apr 18, 2017
DASHBOARD CRACKED OVER INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AT AIRBAG PANEL. CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD! THOUGH PROTECTED BY WINDSHIELD DEFLECTOR ALL THE TIME DURING SUMMER WHEN PARKED.
Other or unspecified, Apr 13, 2017
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING MORE AND MORE EACH DAY
Engine, Mar 19, 2017
PURCHASE THE TAHOE JANUARY 2017 AND THE ENGINE WENT OUT IN FEBRUARY 2017
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 14, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE MECHANIC ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP, ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIRING, SEAL, WIRING HARNESS, AND FUEL SYSTEM, WAS NOT GETTING POWER. THE SPARE TIRE WAS LET DOWN TO FURTHER INSPECT THE AREA AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE PINS WERE DISCONNECTED, AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CORROSION TO THE SEALS AND WIRING NEAR THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL AND SEVEN OF THE WIRES, ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, WERE PREMATURELY CORRODED. IT WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V145000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Other or unspecified, Mar 3, 2017
DASHBOARD CRACK NEAR PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE CRACK APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. THERE WASN'T ANY FORCE TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE. THE CRACK WAS NOTICED WHILE I WAS PARKED, I HEARD CRACKLING SOUNDS AND THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED IT. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR A RECALL AND CHEVROLET HASN'T RECALLED IT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THEIR DEFECT.
Air bags, Structure, Feb 27, 2017
CRACKED DASH NEAR AIRBAG. CRACKS APPEARING ALONG DASHBOARD. IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS, SHARP PLASTIC SHARDS WILL BE PROPELLED AT HIGH SPEEDS.
Other or unspecified, Feb 20, 2017
EXPLODING SUNROOF WHILE DRIVING IN 34 DEGREE WEATHER AT 60 MPH, NO VEHICLES AROUND ME AND I WAS NOT GOING UNDER AN OVERPASS.
Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2017
A HUGE CRACK ON DRIVERS SIDE AND A SMALLER CRACK ON PASSENGERS SIDE DASHBOARD
Air bags, Jan 10, 2017
CRACK RIGHT WHERE THE AIR BAG IS ON THE DASH BOARD. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHILE IT WAS IN THE GARAGE SITTING STILL.