Model year guide

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 75 on record.

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints52
Combined17 mpg
Typical price$27,723

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche recalls 3

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21V054000 · 05/02/2021

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, Ch…

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 notific…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21V051000 · 05/02/2021

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 Nort…

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 notific…

Electrical System:ignition NHTSA Campaign #14V827000 · 30/12/2014

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.

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 t…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche MPG & running costs

Combined17 mpg
City15 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,600

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche worth?

Low
$21,995
Typical price
$27,723
High
$34,000

From 73 comparable 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,000
Depreciation (5 yrs)$14,800
Total$32,800
Per mile$0.44

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($27,723) with the same model 5 model-years older ($12,928), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche trims & engines on record

Trims
LT · LTZ · LS
Engines
5.3L 8-cyl

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche vehicles on record

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNTKFE79CG162670 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNMCFE09CG245620 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNMCFE01CG133006 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LS3GNTKEE7XCG115544 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNTKGE7XCG234790 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNMCFE07CG266868 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNMCGE08CG257439 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LS3GNTKEE79CG124978 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNTKGE79CG120649 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNTKGE73CG170852 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LS3GNMCEE09CG233784 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNMCFE09CG300146 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNTKFE79CG117258 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNTKFE79CG160949 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNTKFE75CG115412 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNTKGE78CG157868 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNTKFE79CG295204 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNMCFE08CG186964 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNTKGE7XCG214930 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LS3GNMCEE08CG119338 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNTKFE72CG196112 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LT3GNTKFE72CG138520 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNTKGE71CG174706 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ3GNTKGE71CG164371

Other Chevrolet Avalanche model years

2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche?

Based on 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, air bags, suspension.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche at about 17 mpg combined (15 city / 21 highway).

How much is a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche worth?

Comparable 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche listings run roughly $21,995–$34,000, typically around $27,723 (from 73 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.