2012 Chevrolet Avalanche problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (3) · Wheels (2) · Vehicle Speed Control (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Avalanche model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
25 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V051000 · 284,645 vehicles
Defect: 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
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
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V054000 · 1,778,128 vehicles
Defect: 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
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 1-8
Electrical System:ignition 2014-12-30 · campaign 14V827000 · 84,192 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (1,543)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-16 · PIT6400A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-na-255: wax coating on frame peeling, metal shows corrosion/rusting due to issue with getting product from current supplier listed in the bulletin.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,543 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-05-05 · Unknown Or Other“rear control arms were rusted out and fell off the frame. additionally with that happening the rear drive shaft was pulled out from transmission and could cause a vehicle to flip. upon further investigation body frame was extremely rusted for a truck this age. 85450 mes on it.…”
2022-09-11 · Vehicle Speed Control“the vehicle is displaying error messages reduced engine power, service stabilitrak, service traction control. it also has the related service indicator lights for the stabilitrak, the traction control, and the check engine light is on. there is a service bulletin for this issue that only addresses the 2008-2011 model years, my vehicle is a 2012 and…”
2022-03-29 · Unknown Or Other“there is a problem with gm vehicles developing cracked dashboards including my own. the cracks are happening around/above the instrument cluster and more importantly, around the airbag. i am concerned that the defected dashboard would cause some sort of airbag puncture if it were deployed causing serious injury. should someone get killed or serio…”
2021-08-18 · Air Bags · 171,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet avalanche. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v054000 (air bags) however, the vin was updated and now displayed that there was no recall associated with the vin. the contact mentioned that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. the failure recurred. the vehicle then wa…”
2020-08-26 · Electrical System“trailer brake warning is showing on dash. noted there is a recall bulletin #14515b issued relating to this issue and not sure why my serial number is not found in this recall?…”
2020-06-30 · Unknown Or Other · 50,000 mi“severely cracked dashboard. this happened both when stationary and moving. purchased this truck just a few weeks ago. had cracked dashboard. previous owner said it had been that way for years. figured it would not cost much to fix/replace. took it to body shop this morning. no way their price is within my budget. crack causes constant rattli…”
2020-03-11 · Exterior Lighting · 80,000 mi“i have been told that one of my daytime running lights is burned out. i have been unable to inspect the lights because they only come on if the transmission is not in park. i called dealer to find out if there is any way to have them come on without the transmission in gear. the dealer said to set the parking brake, put the transmission in gear,…”
2020-03-05 · Engine“my 2012 chevrolet avalanche 5.3l engine has started a oil consumption loss. there was a service bulletin issued oct. 30th 2013 to correct this problem. it does not fix the problem! what i've read is that where the cylinders deactivate to help fuel economy after time those pistons get damaged from not having fuel or fire on them and itdamages piston…”
2020-02-11 · Unknown Or Other · 39,000 mi“multilple cracks in dashboard, kept in garage…”
2019-11-25 · Unknown Or Other · 55,000 mi“multiple cracks in dash (instrument panel). had one crack when purchased the avalanche used. 2nd crack appeared one month ago. first one is the front left corner of the airbag. 2nd one is over the gauge cluster.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.