2012 Chevrolet AVALANCHE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Chevrolet AVALANCHE has 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: dashboard on a 2012 chevrolet avalanche ltz cracked in the area of the passenger airbag. concerned that this defect may cause shrapnel in the event of an airbag deployment. *tr.
43
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
OTHER
17 complaints- • DASHBOARD ON A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LTZ CRACKED IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT MAY CAUSE SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
- • MY AVALANCHE IS A 2012 WITH 36500 MILES ON IT. I HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND FOUND MY DASH IS CRACKED ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
- • I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE DASH HAS CRACKED AND I AM WORRIED ON A SIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THAT THE BAG WILL BE TORN. LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE THERE ARE A LOT OF WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES.
“DASHBOARD ON A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LTZ CRACKED IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT MAY CAUSE SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
6 complaints- • THE STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OR CONTROL, WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP ALLEGEDLY FIX THE PROBLEM, WE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING (CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL) AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP OR SKIP GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHI
- • SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHILE ON A HILL, TE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 21,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST ABOUT $1,000 TO REPLACE THE SDM DUE TO A FAILED CURRENT IN THE SDM, THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, T
- • DASHBOARD AROUND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS CRACKED. IN MY OPINION THIS COULD AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE AIRBAG, OR EVEN TEAR IT UPON ACTIVATION.
“THE STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OR CONTROL, WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP ALLEGEDLY FIX THE PROBLEM, WE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING (CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL) AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP OR SKIP GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
3 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STANDING AT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED AND THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED OVER AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES INCLUDING A CONCUSSION A
- • THE STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OR CONTROL, WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP ALLEGEDLY FIX THE PROBLEM, WE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING (CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL) AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP OR SKIP GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHI
- • REAR END STARTED MAKING A CLUNK NOISE DURING THE TIME ONE STEPS ON GAS TO MOVE THE TRUCK. ALSO REAR END NOW MAKES A HOLLING NOISE WHEN MOVING.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STANDING AT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED AND THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED OVER AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES INCLUDING A CONCUSSION A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
3 complaints- • THE ENGINE FAILS TO START SOME TIMES, THIS HAPPEN 2 TO 3 TIME A MONTH THE ENGINE CRANK OK VOLT ON BATTERY DROPS TO 10.5 VOLTS, INSTALLED NEW BATTERY, NO HELP. AFTER SETTING FOR 15 TO 20 MIN. IT WILL START, NO CHECK ENG. LITE NO CODE SET IN COMPUTER. CHEV DEALER SAID CANNOT HELP UNLESS IT HAPPEN AT
- • MY 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 5.3L ENGINE HAS STARTED A OIL CONSUMPTION LOSS. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED OCT. 30TH 2013 TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM! WHAT I'VE READ IS THAT WHERE THE CYLINDERS DEACTIVATE TO HELP FUEL ECONOMY AFTER TIME THOSE PISTONS GET DAMAGED FROM NO
- • The vehicle is displaying error messages Reduced Engine Power, Service Stabilitrak, Service Traction Control. It also has the related service indicator lights for the Stabilitrak, the Traction Control, and the Check Engine Light is on. There is a service bulletin for this issue that only addresses t
“THE ENGINE FAILS TO START SOME TIMES, THIS HAPPEN 2 TO 3 TIME A MONTH THE ENGINE CRANK OK VOLT ON BATTERY DROPS TO 10.5 VOLTS, INSTALLED NEW BATTERY, NO HELP. AFTER SETTING FOR 15 TO 20 MIN. IT WILL START, NO CHECK ENG. LITE NO CODE SET IN COMPUTER. CHEV DEALER SAID CANNOT HELP UNLESS IT HAPPEN AT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED SPORADICALLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT A
- • The vehicle is displaying error messages Reduced Engine Power, Service Stabilitrak, Service Traction Control. It also has the related service indicator lights for the Stabilitrak, the Traction Control, and the Check Engine Light is on. There is a service bulletin for this issue that only addresses t
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED SPORADICALLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 43 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐OTHER: DASHBOARD ON A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LTZ CRACKED IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT MAY CAUSE SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: THE STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OR CONTROL, WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP ALLEGEDLY FIX THE PROBLEM, WE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING (CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL) AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP OR SKIP GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STANDING AT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED AND THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED OVER AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES INCLUDING A CONCUSSION A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: THE ENGINE FAILS TO START SOME TIMES, THIS HAPPEN 2 TO 3 TIME A MONTH THE ENGINE CRANK OK VOLT ON BATTERY DROPS TO 10.5 VOLTS, INSTALLED NEW BATTERY, NO HELP. AFTER SETTING FOR 15 TO 20 MIN. IT WILL START, NO CHECK ENG. LITE NO CODE SET IN COMPUTER. CHEV DEALER SAID CANNOT HELP UNLESS IT HAPPEN AT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet AVALANCHE — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 43
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Chevrolet AVALANCHE