This page covers 3 recalls, 179 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe.
21 mpg combined
11.2 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2012 Tahoe, the two dominant complaint themes are structural issues and airbags. The structural complaints center almost entirely on dashboard cracking, owners across multiple reports describe the dash splitting and cracking in several places, often extensively, which they flag as a safety concern given the proximity to the airbag system. The airbag complaints are closely linked: owners report that the passenger seat occupant sensor malfunctions, causing the airbag warning light to stay on or the front passenger airbag to be suppressed even with an adult in the seat. Some also report rear door latch failures where the back doors won't open from inside or outside, raising concerns about occupant egress. Engine complaints are a distant third, with a handful of owners describing sudden loss of power and complete engine failure requiring replacement. The cracked dashboard pattern is the most consistently repeated structural complaint across this model year's filings.
179
Total Complaints
8
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe has 3 recalls, all involving the front passenger airbag inflator, which can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
All three recalls address the same defect in the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator. These recalls apply to vehicles originally sold or registered in high-humidity states and territories, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and several U.S. territories, where moisture exposure accelerates the risk of inflator rupture. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue across all affected vehicles, which is why multiple recall campaigns exist for this defect.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to a chemical breakdown of its propellant after prolonged exposure to high heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may fail to deploy or deploy incorrectly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
