Every 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Air Bags · NHTSA 21V051000
May 2, 2021Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 21V051000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 21V054000
May 2, 2021Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 21V054000 →Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA 16V868000
Feb 12, 2016Engine and Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
- Problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit vehicles manufactured August 24, 2009, to December 1, 2013. The affected vehicles, equipped with special equipment options for police or government service, may experience corrosion of the under-hood cooling fan assembly due to fluid intrusion, which may result in an electrical short circuit.
- Risk
- A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fan motor and shroud, extend the wiring and re-orient the fan motor to reduce the risk of corrosion, free of charge. The recall began on September 7, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16145.
Full recall details for 16V868000 →Electrical System · NHTSA 14V827000
Dec 30, 2014Electrical System:Ignition
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 14V827000 →
2012 Chevrolet Tahoe complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, reporting 8 crashes, 1 fires, 10 injuries. Chevrolet has issued at least 1,728 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Unknown Or Other101
- Air Bags63
- Structure37
- Electrical System13
- Engine9
- Power Train7
Service bulletins by component
- Equipment (900)
- Electrical System (472)
- Engine and Engine Cooling (273)
- Power Train (225)
- Engine (186)
- Unknown Or Other (140)
Read Chevrolet Tahoe owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 2 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
What people reported
Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Crash
“I was rear ended while stopped by another truck that was going 60+ mph. None of the airbags in my 2012 Chevy Tahoe deployed. The backside of the driver and passenger seats fell off - unsure if that is airbag related but nothing deployed. My car was totaled my insurance.”
2012 CHEVROLET TAHOESep 26, 2023
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11546716
“VEHICLE HAS KNOWN DEFECT WITH DASHBOARD CRACKING. IF AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED SHARDS OF PLASTIC WOULD BE IN MY PASSENGERS FACE. ESPECIALLY IF IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE.”
2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE POLICE PURSUITNov 16, 2018
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11152080
“THE DASH IS CRACKED RIGHT ABOVE THE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. PRESENTS A POSSIBLE ISSUE IF EVER IN AN ACCIDENT.”
2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRIDFeb 27, 2016
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 10838791
Injury reportedCrash
“The vehicle was involved in a "T-Bone" collision where two vehicles drove into the driver side of my vehicle. I was not at fault and yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. In February of 2022 I took the vehicle to Felix Chevrolet to have the airbag recall repaired.”
2012 CHEVROLET TAHOEMar 30, 2023
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11514629
Injury reported
“DASH CRACKING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND GM NEEDS TO FIX IT. EVERY ONE I HAVE SEEN DOES THIS. THEY CRACK NEAR THE AIRBAG ORIGINALLY, WHICH MINE IS. IT IS BEGINNING TO CRACK IN OTHER PLACES. THE SHARP EDGES HAVE CUT MY FINGER BEFORE WHILE JUST WIPING THE DASH.”
2012 CHEVROLET TAHOEMay 12, 2021
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11416315
Check your Tahoe by VIN
Not every 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Chevrolet dealer.
Run a free VIN recall check →