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2012 Chevrolet Avalanche Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche, most often about the other or unspecified (47% of complaints, typically around 48,000 miles). It is 11th of 14 Avalanche model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche problems
Other or unspecified
17 complaints · 47%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles.
My dashboard has been getting cracks in it for years and I am afraid that it will effect the airbag deployment if I ever have an accident. This is something that gm needs to address. Also I have had problems with the outside door handles breaking and coming off. As of this moment I will never buy another gm vehicle…
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.…
Air bags
6 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles.
Dashboard around passenger side airbag is cracked. In my opinion this could affect the operation of the airbag, or even tear it upon activation.
The steering wheel is difficult to turn or control, went to dealership to fix the problem. After the dealership allegedly fix the problem, we had continued problems with the steering (controlling the steering wheel) and then the transmission caused the vehicle to jump or skip gears, causing the vehicle to be difficult…
Transmission
3 complaints · 8%The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that while standing at the rear driver's side door with the vehicle parked and the engine running, the vehicle rolled away at approximately 20 MPH. The contact was knocked over and sustained several injuries including a concussion and soft tissue…
The steering wheel is difficult to turn or control, went to dealership to fix the problem. After the dealership allegedly fix the problem, we had continued problems with the steering (controlling the steering wheel) and then the transmission caused the vehicle to jump or skip gears, causing the vehicle to be difficult…
Engine
3 complaints · 8%The engine fails to start some times, this happen 2 to 3 time a month the engine crank ok volt on battery drops to 10.5 volts, installed new battery, no help. After setting for 15 to 20 min. It will start, no check eng. Lite no code set in computer. Chev dealer said cannot help unless it happen at the dealership.I…
Wheels and tires
3 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: tread/belt.
I've had a problem with wheel corrosion. I reported this to gm in november 2013. They wouldn't do anything about it. On april 24, while traveling out of state, my wheel sensor went off indicating low tire pressure. I pulled into a garage. They informed me the problem was that the wheel was corroding around the valve…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche equipped with goodyear wrangler tires, size: p265/70/r17 (na). While the vehicle was being serviced by an independent mechanic, it was observed that all four tires had blisters and the tread was separated. The tires were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Chevrolet Avalanche recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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 1-800-222-1020; cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm'
Full defect summary
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 3500, yukon, yukon xl and 2011-2013 cadillac escalade ext, chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of az, ar, de, dc, il, in, ks, ky, md, mo, ne, nv, nj, nm, nc, oh, ok, pa, tn, va, and wv or "zone b." additionally, gm is recalling certain 2010-2014 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, chevrolet silverado 2500, silverado 3500, sub
Air bags: inflator module
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's number for this recall is n212328770.
Full defect summary
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 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.
Electrical: ignition
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: other or unspecified (17 complaints, typically around 48,000 miles); air bags (6 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles); transmission (3 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 5, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Chevrolet Avalanche?
- It is 11th of 14 Avalanche model years by number of complaints, with 36 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.