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.
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
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 16, 2014
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. VEHICLES ENGINE AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CYCLED ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. NOTING THAT ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE FINALLY SHUTDOWN. FURTHERMORE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE TRUCK ON ONLY RESULTED IN FLICKERING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THIS EVENT FORTUNATELY ENOUGH AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WE NOTICED THAT ELECTRIC FOLDING MIRRORS WEREN'T RESPONDING TO THE PUSH BUTTON ACTUATING THE FOLDING MIRRORS FEATURE. THIS EVENT WE WERE ABLE TO GET ON OUR CAMERA PHONE. SAME FLICKERING OF ELECTRONICS AND AGAIN THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESPOND, TURN OVER. IN BOTH OCCASION IT WAS ONLY AFTER SITTING APPROXIMATELY 30MIN. THAT VEHICLE FINALLY RESPONDED AND TURNED ON. *TR
Service brakes, Oct 18, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
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
Electrical system, Feb 9, 2012
2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH OIL GAUGE AND STATES INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL IS DEFECTIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SHOWED ZERO PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED HIM ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE COST WOULD BE $ 395.00 TO REPLACE IT. *JB