2012 Chevrolet TAHOE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet TAHOE has 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: 2012 chevrolet tahoe. broken dash near the passenger air bag and drivers odometer.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 13 crash reports 15 injuries

253

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

101 complaints

40%

• 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. BROKEN DASH NEAR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DRIVERS ODOMETER.
• THERE IS A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD NEXT TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG.
• VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, CRACKS IN DASH DEVELOPED NEXT TO AIRBAG AND OVER INSTRUMENT PANEL, MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED REGARDING HAVING THE SAME CRACKS IN THE SAME AREA, CONCERN WITH CRACK NEAR AIRBAG - WILL AIRBAG DEPLOY PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED AND/OR WILL DASH SHATTER WHEN/IF AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. BROKEN DASH NEAR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DRIVERS ODOMETER.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

61 complaints

24%

• 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 VELOCI
• I NOTICED CRACK IN DASH ON JAN 2, 2016. TAHOE IS BARELY OVER 3 YEARS OLD. I AM CONCERNED CRACK IS NEXT TO AIRBAG AND COULD CAUSE SAFETY ISSUE IF AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED.
• VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, CRACKS IN DASH DEVELOPED NEXT TO AIRBAG AND OVER INSTRUMENT PANEL, MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED REGARDING HAVING THE SAME CRACKS IN THE SAME AREA, CONCERN WITH CRACK NEAR AIRBAG - WILL AIRBAG DEPLOY PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED AND/OR WILL DASH SHATTER WHEN/IF AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“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 VELOCI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

37 complaints

15%

• 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 HUG
• 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 VELOCI
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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 HUG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

• 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 INSTRUMEN
• 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 EQUIPMEN
• THE HVAC ACTUATORS OF ALL SIDES ARE VERY REGULARLY DAMAGED AND MUST BE RECALLED, EVEN NEWER VERSION LIKE 2012 ARE FACING SUCH ISSUES.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 INSTRUMEN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

9 complaints

• 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 EQUIPMEN
• 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 VELOCI
• I WAS PASSING ON A TWO LANE HIGH WAY AT AN ACCELERATED SPEED AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE DIES, NO LIGHTS NO NOTHING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. LUCKILY I HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM THAT I SAFELY GET AROUND THE SEMI AND CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO COAST UNTIL I FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. I CALL MY LOCAL DEALER WH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 EQUIPMEN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 253 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. BROKEN DASH NEAR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DRIVERS ODOMETER.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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 VELOCI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 HUG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 INSTRUMEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)