Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that there were two cracks on the dashboard located near the passenger's side front air bag housing and near the steering column. There was no impact that could have caused the cracks. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall for the dashboard and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.
Developed cracks in dash starting in 2018 and progressively got worse. Rattles when you drive. Driver door pull has also broken in several places and has pinched my hand multiple times. Dealer is aware this is a common problem but will need to replace whole door panel and dash at my expense. Transmission went at 81,000. Chevy, you can do better. I was warned not to buy this, but I took my chances. It feels very lemony sour now.
The AC in the front stopped working on and off but the AC in the back continues to work that's one warning a situation. The second is the oil light constantly shows low oil even when you get an oil change. The park tire pressure always moves back and forth to 40% to all the way down to 30.
There was a wreck, where the opposing driver pulled out to take a left turn into oncoming traffic, 10 ft in front of [redacted] (owner of Tahoe). Impact was on front passenger side. Airbag did not deploy effectively resulting in [redacted] have a broken neck and bone fusion. Airbags were exploded open. These events might not have occurred if proper equipment was there.
While turning left (Tahoe) with a protected green arrow at an x-shaped intersection, vehicle (Kia sedan) at fault failed to yield and entered the intersection at speeds upwards of 40 MPH from the left of the Tahoe. Front-impact collision occurred; due to the shape of the intersection and the velocity of the impact, Tahoe struck passenger side of Kia sedan. Trajectory of impact caused directional changes in upwards of 90* for both vehicles; the force of the primary accident described above also caused mentioned vehicles to collide with left rear of another vehicle (Honda sedan), causing near 360* rotation of the Honda sedan. Due to the force of impact, front & side airbags deployed on both the Kia sedan and the Honda sedan, but failed to deploy on the Tahoe. …
Approximately 6 months ago the dash on the passenger side started to crack in my 2012 Chevy Tahoe. It has always been in a heated garage and out of the sunlight. On December 1, 2015 is the date I purchased the vehicle and the dealer talked me into putting a nano technology coating on the entire vehicle to keep it in like new condition, which cost me $899. I took it to the dealership and showed them and they were going to let me know if abra would fix it, however, after 2 months still no response from the dealership and I contacted them again yesterday. The other thing is the driver side door handle has cracked underneath and so when you close the door it feels like you are going to pull the door vinyl right off. I have never had anything like this happen before.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the dashboard prematurely cracked and was deteriorated from the instrument panel gauges to the center of the dashboard. The contact was unable to determine if the failure could affect any components near the front of the dashboard. The dealer (lakeside Chevrolet, 2005 s goliad st, rockwall, tx 75087, [phone]) was notified of the failure. The contact was waiting on the manufacturer to provide a solution. The dealer indicated that the dashboard needed to be replaced there was no campaign to provide a remedy from the manufacturer the failure mileage was not available. Updated 07/27/17
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the dashboard had started to crack on the driver's and passenger's side. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V054000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was 108,200.
This week the temperature fluctuated drastically. My Tahoe was in the garage for 2 solid days. I pulled it out the next two days and drove to work like any normal day but the temperatures were cold in the mornings and warmed up through the day. Today we pulled the Tahoe out of the garage, got in to go to church and noticed that the dash had cracked in the upper corner of the airbag compartment towards the air vent. I am very concerned that should I be in an accident and the airbag deploy, that shards of plastic would break and be impelled through the vehicle possible harming my family.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving at an unknown speed, an abnormal popping noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that he owned the vehicle for less than a month when the failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the frame of the vehicle was faulty and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was not availalble.
Body complaints in other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the body & structure of the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, 21% of the model year's 178 complaints. The component named most often is body (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.