2012 Chevrolet Tahoe problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe have any safety recalls?

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

Q: What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe at about 19 mpg combined (18 city / 22 highway).

Q: How much is a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe worth?

Comparable 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe listings run roughly $16,995–$38,500, typically around $26,458 (from 111 vehicles).

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe at a glance

Safety recalls3

Owner complaints180

Combined19 mpg

Typical price$26,458

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

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls 3

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…

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…

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…

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 Tahoe common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

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.

Structure

Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

Latches/locks/linkages

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

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.

Power Train

Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Service Brakes

Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe MPG & running costs

Combined19 mpg

City18 mpg

Highway22 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,275

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

What's a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe worth?

Low

$16,995

Typical price

$26,458

High

$38,500

From 111 comparable 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

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

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,375

Depreciation (5 yrs)$13,350

Total$29,725

Per mile$0.40

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 ($26,458) with the same model 5 model-years older ($13,132), 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 Tahoe trims & engines on record

Trims

LT · LTZ · LS · Police Vehicle

Engines

5.3L 8-cyl

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles on record

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE09CR315992

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LS1GNSKAE05CR284637 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE08CR245448 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSCBE01CR153076 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE05CR253877 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE07CR151125

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE0XCR262543 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ1GNSCCE0XCR111589

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE05CR209359

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE08CR246051

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LS1GNSCAE06CR227828

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSCBE01CR172470

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ1GNSKCE04CR260082

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE06CR114261 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LS1GNSKAE08CR179316

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ1GNSKCE04CR213117

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LS1GNSCAE08CR162108

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ1GNSCCE00CR249237 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ1GNSKCE03CR237599

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LT1GNSKBE05CR229207 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ1GNSKCE04CR238146

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ1GNSKCE07CR274817

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LS1GNSKAE01CR239274

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LS1GNSCAE0XCR223698

Other Chevrolet Tahoe model years

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. 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 Tahoe?

Based on 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, structure, latches/locks/linkages.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe at about 19 mpg combined (18 city / 22 highway).

How much is a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe worth?

Comparable 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe listings run roughly $16,995–$38,500, typically around $26,458 (from 111 vehicles).

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