2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    interior trim

    42 unsafe, 10 broken, 21 annoyance

    73
    incidents
    Typical range: 47,500–82,000 mi

    Median 60,000 mi, based on 72 reports (19% had no usable mileage)

    • "THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2012 TAHOE STARTED CRACKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE AIRBAG. AS A FEW WEEKS HAVE GONE BY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS STARTED CRACKING TOO. THE DASH LOOKS HORRIBLE AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 1 MONTH. I AM WORRIED THAT IF I WERE IN A WRE…"~12,000 mi, complaint #1305267
    • "DASH CRACK.AS I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT ABOVE THE AIRBAG"~43,396 mi, complaint #1333072
    • "MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASH AND AROUND AIR BAGS. MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE STATED THE DASH IS A PROBLEM IN THE AVALANCHE, SILVERADO AND TAHOE YET THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT TO REPLACE THE DASH."~60,000 mi, complaint #1460982
    • "DASH BOARD CRACKED IN 2 PLACES OVER THE LAST WEEK. FIRST CRACK OCCURRED OVER THE GAUGE CLUSTERS, AND THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG."~82,600 mi, complaint #1340338
    • "DASHBOARD CRACKING ON DRIVER SIDE IN TWO PLACES AND PASSENGER SIDE ON AIRBAG WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE."~135,581 mi, complaint #1491521
  2. #2

    airbag system

    41 unsafe

    41
    incidents
    Typical range: 63,500–76,000 mi

    Median 74,000 mi, based on 56 reports (29% had no usable mileage)

    • "VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE DASH BOARD RIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THRU SOME RESEARCH I CAME ACROSS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS ISSUE AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF GM CUSTOMERS. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT."~35,000 mi, complaint #1314337
    • "DASH CRACKING NEAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND NEAR AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. I'VE CALLED GM AND DEALERSHIPS. THEY SAID THERE'S NO RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I DON'T WANT THE AIRBAG EXPLODING WHILE MY 1 YEAR OLD GRANDBABY IS IN…"~69,000 mi, complaint #1310468
    • "DASHBOARD BROKE INTO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG APERTURE WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE AND HAD LESS THAN 75,000 MILES. I WENT TO CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER IN DALLAS, TX ON EAST I-35 CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL INJURY IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1323907
    • "THERE IS A CRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH, AT THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNED OF THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION SINCE I PURCHASED IT NOR DO I DO ANY KIND OF OFFROADING ON ROUGH TERRAIN. VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WOKE UP ONE…"~83,678 mi, complaint #1283653
    • "WE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FOR UNSAFE AIRBAGS, BUT NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL BE FIXED. SO MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING IN A VEHICLE WITH A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US A REPAIR DATE. THE DEALER JUST SAID TO TRY AND DRIVE SAF…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1743171
  3. #3

    other

    6 unsafe, 6 annoyance

    12
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A MONTH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WAR…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1483238
    • "APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTED TO CRACK IN MY 2012 CHEVY TAHOE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN A HEATED GARAGE AND OUT OF THE SUNLIGHT. ON DECEMBER 1, 2015 IS THE DATE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER TALKED ME INTO PUTTING A…"~116,000 mi, complaint #1644926
    • "COMPLAINT #11400396 --- A MISTAKE WAS MADE ON TAHOE MILAGE. INSTEAD OF 15000 MILES, IT WAS 150,000 MILES INSTEAD. PLEASE EXCUSE ME."~150,000 mi, complaint #1732963
  4. #4

    instrument cluster

    4 unsafe, 1 broken

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "DASHBOARD KEEPS CRACKING BY AIR BAG COMPARTMENT AND OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER"~63,000 mi, complaint #1685171
    • "2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. BROKEN DASH NEAR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DRIVERS ODOMETER. "~69,000 mi, complaint #1195755
  5. #5

    stability and traction control

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "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…"~40,500 mi, complaint #1080471
    • "THE TRACTION AND STABILITRAK CONTROLS ARE COMING ON AND STAYING WE HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM YET BUT I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL ON BOTH AT ONE POINT"~111,231 mi, complaint #1468427
    • "THE STABLITRACK OFF LIGHT CAME ON. THE DOOR LOCKS RAPIDLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE ENGINE WAS SURGING WITH LOSS OF POWER. THE RADIO WAS GOING OFF AND ON."~123,000 mi, complaint #1511045
  6. #6

    control module

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "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 RE…"~40,030 mi, complaint #1075999
    • "WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN ON OCCASION. INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO, DASH PANEL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ALSO DOOR LOCKS, LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RE…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1697010
  7. #7

    door latch and hinge

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "REAR DOOR ARE NOT DRAINING. THE DRAIN HOLES ARE PLUGGED DUE TO THE OUTSIDE. THE REAR DOORS FILL UP WITH WATER."~69,000 mi, complaint #1309687
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHEN ENTERING THROUGH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, THE HANDLE LATCHES FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET ([REDACTED ADDRESS] 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, [REDACTED PHONE]) WHE…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1612566
  8. #8

    engine stall or no start

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "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…"~17,000 mi, complaint #1099404
    • "PURCHASE THE TAHOE JANUARY 2017 AND THE ENGINE WENT OUT IN FEBRUARY 2017"~108,000 mi, complaint #1364264
  9. #9

    glass and windshield

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "DASHBOARD CRACKING FROM PASSENGER AIR BAG DOOR TO WINDSHIELD DEFROST VENT. CONTACTED DEALER - BUTCH DAVIS CHEVROLET IN RIPLEY, MS SALESPERSON ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND ADVISED FILING A…"~130,000 mi, complaint #1327183
  10. #10

    suspension struts shocks

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WHILE A ACCELERATING ONTO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AROUND 50MPH SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. READ LATER ONLINE THAT THIS ANOMALY IS CALLED THE CHEVY SHAKE. CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME TO…"~82,000 mi, complaint #1563037
  11. #11

    throttle and pedal

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "WHEN IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR CONTINUE TO PULL AHEAD AS IF I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PETAL. 2ND ITEM: DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE DASH BOARD CLOSE TO THE AIR BAG COVER. BOTH ITEMS RATTLE WHEN I'M DRIVING."complaint #1299007
    • "CPM MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO BECOME STUCK IN FULL OPEN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND WOULD NOT STOP. COMPUTER WAS STUCK IN 100% MODE. BRAKES INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. TAHOE CONTINUED TO GA…"complaint #1547508
  12. #12

    wiring harness

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "PERIODICLY, WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE RADIO WILL TURN OFF, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL BLINK, THE DOOR LOCKS WILL REPEATEDLY LOCK/UNLOCK, TRANSMISSION WILL FEEL LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL OR THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY TURN OFF."~99,000 mi, complaint #1624728
  13. #13

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The AC in the front stopped working on and off but the AC in the back continues to work that's one warning a situation. The second is the oil light constantly shows low oil even when you get an oil change. The park tire pressure always moves back and forth to…"complaint #2182315
  14. #14

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT CONTINUED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHWEST CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADI…"~107,058 mi, complaint #1577184
  15. #15

    brake hydraulics

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "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 REPO…"~27,000 mi, complaint #1016383
  16. #16

    climate control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "THE HVAC ACTUATORS OF ALL SIDES ARE VERY REGULARLY DAMAGED AND MUST BE RECALLED, EVEN NEWER VERSION LIKE 2012 ARE FACING SUCH ISSUES."complaint #1228789
  17. #17

    differential

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "METAL SHAVINGS IN FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, MILEAGE IS 54991. TOLD WARRANTY EXPIRED 9/5/19"~54,991 mi, complaint #1605494
  18. #18

    engine internal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that…"~81,000 mi, complaint #2087091
  19. #19

    fuel pump

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "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…"~82,000 mi, complaint #1362992
  20. #20

    infotainment head unit

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "THE REAR AUDIO CONTROLLER HAS A HUM. WHEN IT IS OFF THE HUM STOPS. IT WILL ALSO STARE HUMMING/BUZZING WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON. IT DOES IT RANDOMLY WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR NOT. *TR"~80,000 mi, complaint #1669304
  21. #21

    paint and clearcoat

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "DASH CRACKED FROM CORNER OF PASSENGER SIDE DEFROST VENT TO AIRBAG, AND AGAIN FROM THE DEFROST VENT TO OVER DOME OVER DRIVER CLUSTER AND ANY THING WET CAN GET INTO COMPONENTS OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND REST OF STUFF IN THERE. TRUCKS NEVER BEEN KEPT IN SUN, AND HAD…"complaint #1316807
  22. #22

    power windows and locks

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side and passenger’s side doors failed to open manually or while using the power door lock button. The contact was concerned because rear-seat occupants could be trapped and inj…"~85,000 mi, complaint #2200274
  23. #23

    steering rack mechanical

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "While barely moving, (about 2 mph), in a parking lot & preparing to make a sharp left turn, knuckle of driver's side wheel assembly suddenly broke, causing the wheel assembly to collapse, wheel top tilted inward and bottom tilted outward, causing major damage…"complaint #1891665
  24. #24

    sunroof

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "EXPLODING SUNROOF WHILE DRIVING IN 34 DEGREE WEATHER AT 60 MPH, NO VEHICLES AROUND ME AND I WAS NOT GOING UNDER AN OVERPASS."~87,000 mi, complaint #1357303
  25. #25

    tire failure

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "AFTER 15 DAYS OF PURCHASING SUV REALIZE THE TWO REAR TIRES WERE RIPPED FROM THE SIDES, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES, ALSO BRAKES ARE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE, THEY SAID BRAKES WERE DIRTY AND THEY CLEANED, NOISE NEVER W…"~94,134 mi, complaint #1592694
  26. #26

    transmission automatic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed to slow for a traffic light and the vehicle jerked while shifting into low gear. The contact stated that while depressing the accel…"~86,000 mi, complaint #2047614

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for CHEVROLET TAHOE directly.