2012 Chevrolet Tahoe — Known Issues & Recalls

You were hit from behind at high speed while stopped, but none of the airbags in your 2012 Chevy Tahoe deployed during the collision. The rear portions of the driver and passenger seats also detached, though it's unclear if this is related to the airbag failure. A complete inspection of the airbag system would be needed to determine why the safety systems didn't activate.

Your 2012 Tahoe was involved in a side-impact collision in January 2023, but none of the airbags deployed despite the severity of the crash with three passengers on board. You had the airbags serviced under recall in February 2022, and you also noticed dashboard cracking after that recall work was completed. The vehicle has not been inspected by GM, police, or insurance since the crash.

Your Tahoe has a defective airbag that needs to be replaced under a manufacturer recall at no cost to you. However, the dealer is refusing to complete the free recall unless you agree that they may damage your dashboard during the replacement work. You're concerned about having to choose between getting the safety recall done and protecting your vehicle's interior.

Your 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe is subject to a Takata airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 21V054000), but the replacement parts needed to complete the repair are currently unavailable. You were told the parts would be available within 3 months, but you believe the manufacturer has taken too long to make them accessible. The fix will involve replacing the defective airbag component once parts become available.

Your Tahoe has a Takata airbag recall that needs to be completed for your vehicle to pass inspection. The dealer gave you a quote for additional work but delayed ordering the recall parts, claiming they were on order, while trying to upsell you on other repairs to increase their commission. You've stopped the work and are concerned the dealer is overcharging and padding your service bill. Getting the recall completed free of charge through the manufacturer is the proper resolution, as recalls must be done at no cost to you.

Your 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe is subject to a Takata airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 21V054000), but the replacement parts needed to complete the repair have not yet been made available by Chevrolet. You've contacted multiple dealers and confirmed that parts remain unavailable despite an extended wait period. You haven't experienced any airbag failure yet, but the repair will likely involve replacing one or more airbag assemblies once parts become available.

Your 2012 Chevy Tahoe's dashboard has developed multiple cracks, which concerns you because the airbag is located behind the dashboard. While this complaint is categorized under airbags, the issue appears to be dashboard cracking rather than airbag failure. You're asking whether Chevrolet will replace the dashboard at no cost under warranty or recall.

Your dashboard has developed cracks that have gotten worse over time and rattle while driving. Your driver's door pull has broken in multiple places and has pinched your hand. The dealer says this is a known issue but wants to replace the entire door panel and dashboard at your expense. Your transmission also failed at 81,000 miles. Fixing these issues will likely require replacing the dashboard panel, door panel, and possibly the door pull handle.

Your dashboard has cracks in multiple locations. This issue was present when you purchased the vehicle from the dealer. While this doesn't affect how your car drives, it's a cosmetic concern that may worsen over time. Fixing this typically requires replacing the dashboard panel.

Your dashboard has developed cracks in multiple locations. This is primarily a cosmetic issue that doesn't affect your vehicle's operation, but it may worsen over time with temperature changes and sun exposure. Repair typically involves replacing the dashboard panel or having it professionally reupholstered.

Your dashboard has developed two cracks — one near the passenger-side airbag area and another near the steering column — without any obvious impact or accident. This happened at 162,000 miles, and your dealer said there's no recall available for this issue. The cracks are cosmetic but may indicate a structural weakness in the dashboard material.

Your dashboard has developed significant cracks despite using a protective cover. You've found that this is a widespread problem affecting many vehicles of your model year, and legal action was taken regarding it in 2018. You're concerned about the safety implications of a cracked dashboard.

Your dashboard has developed a 4-5 inch crack above the instrument panel, along with 1 inch cracks at the top corners near the passenger airbag area. You reported a similar issue two years ago. While this doesn't affect the car's immediate operation, you're concerned about potential safety implications with the airbag area and want documentation in case of a recall.

The plastic pull handle on the inside of your front door broke. To fix it, you need to replace the entire interior door panel rather than just the handle itself, which makes the repair more expensive than it should be.

While driving your Tahoe, the engine suddenly lost power and your check engine light came on. Mechanics at both an independent shop and the dealer determined that your engine had completely failed and needed to be replaced. The problem occurred at approximately 81,000 miles. The repair will require a complete engine replacement.

While turning slowly in a parking lot at about 2 mph, the driver's side wheel knuckle suddenly broke and the wheel assembly collapsed inward, causing major damage to the control arms, tie rod, and body panels. The mechanic found excessive play in the joint before it failed. At 86,000 miles, this is unusually early wear for a full-size SUV, and the owner is concerned the passenger side knuckle may be developing similar hidden damage. Repair will likely require replacement of the wheel knuckle assembly, control arms, and tie rod, plus body work at the wheel opening.

Your vehicle jerks and shudders when shifting gears and accelerating, especially when starting from a stop at traffic lights. The hesitation and jerking happen repeatedly when you press the accelerator pedal. A dealer diagnosed this as a transmission problem that requires replacement.

Your brake trailer system warning light is illuminated on your dashboard. This light indicates a potential issue with the brake system that controls your trailer connection. You should have the brake system inspected and any necessary repairs completed as soon as possible.

Your front air conditioning intermittently stops working while the rear AC continues to function normally. Your oil pressure warning light keeps indicating low oil even after you've had an oil change performed. Additionally, your tire pressure monitoring system for the parking tire fluctuates between 40% and 30% without explanation. These issues may require inspection of the AC blend door or front compressor, verification of oil pressure sensor accuracy, and checking the tire pressure sensor or tire condition.

Your dashboard is cracking, particularly around the airbag area, and the cracks are spreading to other locations. The sharp edges from these cracks have caused cuts and could potentially damage electrical wires underneath over time. Fixing this typically involves dashboard replacement or repair to smooth and seal the cracked areas.