The crowd-favorite fullsize SUV, the Chevrolet Tahoe has been more or less the benchmark of its segment for quite some time now. Managing almost twice the sales figure as the second best-selling SUV in its class, the popularity of this SUV is ever-growing. It does not come in as a surprise as there have not been many things going wrong with this truck apart from the cabin plastic quality and fuel economy numbers. A well-built chassis, a strong motor, and robust mechanicals have made it an easy 200,000-mile SUV for many across the states. The low number of user complaints and recalls is a testament to that claim. This section primarily goes in detail through those aforementioned niggles expected on this SUV, which should make you get prepared when getting one brand new or used. With a base asking price of $38,755, the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe will be going against the like of the Ford Expedition, the GMC Yukon, the Nissan Armada, and the Toyota Sequoia.
2012 Chevrolet Tahoe User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Transmission Problems- Transmission issues are something to watch out for on the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. Though the NHTSA has limited reports on this, several users have been pointing out experiencing occasional judder, excessive vibration, grinding noises, hard shifts, and slipping. TCM programming errors, excessive friction material in fluid, wiring issues, cracked clutch housing, and valve body issues are the most common causes. The average rebuilt costs are just under $3,000 and the failure mileage is around 130,000 miles.
- Rear differential problems- Faulty carrier bearing on the rear differential of the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe can result in excessive rear-end noise and vibration or in extreme cases, even a seizure of the internal components. Differential rebuilds are usually cheap ($300-$500) and an inspection is recommended if any symptoms are noticed.
Electric System complaints
- Ignition switch issues- Intermittent vehicle stall coupled with a multitude of warning signs has been a problem reported on the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. Though this issue was left unresolved initially by the dealer, it was later traced to be with the ignition lock which can get stuck in the “On” position or even snap back into accessory mode while driving causing the vehicle to lose complete electrical power and stall. A recall (ID-14V827000) was initiated later down to inspect and replace all affected units.
- A/C issues- The air delivery mode door actuator on the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe is known to fail. This results in limited or complete blockage of air through the vents limiting cabin cooling. Replacement of the door actuator situated under the dashboard aside from the steering shaft is the only known remedy. Faulty compressor cycling switch and low gas levels can also reduce the performance of the HVAC unit.
Structural Complaints
- Cracked dashboard- Cracking of the dashboard has been the most common problem reported on the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe as reported by the NHTSA contributing to over 25% of the complaints. Though a Class action lawsuit was filed against GM for not responding to this issue, the Court has ruled in favor of the manufacturer, and users are left to replace the affected item at their own expense or find a (cheaper) workaround.
Safety Complaints
- Airbags Issues- The 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, inadvertently, is a part of a critical airbag issue that can be traced to a vendor fault and is widespread in several other vehicles built in the same time frame. The faulty manufacturing process on the airbag module has been reported to explode without any cause and can result in critical occupant injury. As stated, this issue does not throw any sort of warning signs in most cases and should be rectified under the recall as soon as possible at the user's own will on receiving the notification to prevent physical injury.
2012 Chevrolet Tahoe Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
5th February 2021 |
21V054000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Affected 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, increasing the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash. |
The dealers will replace the front passenger airbag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. |
|
2 |
5th February 2021 |
21V051000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
Affected 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, increasing the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash. |
The dealers will replace the front passenger airbag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. |
|
3 |
2nd December 2016 |
16V868000 |
Cooling fan corrosion may cause an electrical short |
The corrosion of the under-hood cooling fan assembly due to fluid intrusion may result in an electrical short circuit which increases the risk of fire. |
The 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. |
|
4 |
30th December 2014
|
14V827000 |
The ignition lock actuator may bind |
The ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position. If the key snaps back to accessory posting while on the move, the will be a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a crash and the non-deployment of the airbag can increase the chances of injury. |
The dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. |
Should you buy a used 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Though the common word out there might suggest the Chevrolet Tahoe of having a low-reliability rating than an average car that’s on sale, competent authorities like JD Power have something different to say. Their reports suggest that the ‘reliability’ and ‘quality’ levels have been rated “great” by most owners and the average running mileages on one of these easily extends past the 250,000-mile marker. The low number of complaints and recalls also suggest the same with few or negligible flaws that might render this fullsize SUV a deal breaker. The maintenance expenses are a bit on the higher side, but that is not to be mistaken with reliability as the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe is as dependable as any other SUV in its class. As a premium SUV that always finds its spot in the top five, we have no problem recommending one brand new or used.
