Most common 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche problems
Share of the 36 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Avalanche complaints by model year
Best Avalanche years: 2006, 2012, 2009. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
2012 Chevrolet Avalanche recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
What 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche owners say
Air bags
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 was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that a senior adviser would reach out him for further assistance however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000
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 to control. Took it back to the dealership and they were to busy to help us. All of the aforementioned defects caused my husband to lose control of the truck and ultimately flew off the road and vehicle flipped over (roll over).
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* 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 injuries. The vehicle halted to a stop after crashing against a tree. A police report was not filed of the incident. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer, who stated that the frame was damaged however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 34,000.
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 to control. Took it back to the dealership and they were to busy to help us. All of the aforementioned defects caused my husband to lose control of the truck and ultimately flew off the road and vehicle flipped over (roll over).
Engine & cooling
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 thus not included in the current bulletin and should be added to the covered vehicle list. #11-06-04-007B : Diagnosis and Repair - Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated, Reduced Power Message Displayed, DTC P2135 Set - (April 16, 2012)
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 pistons and causes oil consumption. In the past few days I have found out that there are 5 people I know with the same issue. Looking on line there appears to be class action law suits all across the country on this issue. GM/Chevrolet know they have a problem but refuse to take care of this problem. There is no recall on this and I'm sure never will be because it happens when the engines reach higher mileage. I have all my maintenance records on my truck and had no intention of trading it, but now the motor will have to be rebuilt or replace.
2012 Chevrolet Avalanche engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche a good car?
Based on 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Avalanche rates better than average: 69% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Avalanche at the same age. It is one of the best Avalanche years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche?
The air bags — 6 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Avalanche?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2012 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002, 2003 and 2004. See the full Chevrolet Avalanche years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 44,000 miles; 56% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.