2012 Chevrolet Avalanche Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche, and owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags)
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. Second…
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Inflator module (air bags)
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."…
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. Second…
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Ignition (electrical system)
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…
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. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006…
36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 50,980 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Rear control arms were rusted out and fell off the frame. Additionally with that happening the rear drive shaft was pulled out from transmission and could cause a vehicle to flip. Upon further investi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 5, 2024 · Suspension
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 11, 2022 · Vehicle speed control
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche (Avalanche 1500 2WD, Avalanche 1500 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15 / 21 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85 |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 5.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Avalanche model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Avalanche model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Chevrolet Avalanche | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 Chevrolet Avalanche | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche | 2 | 444 |
| 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche | 4 | 204 |
| 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche | 5 | 165 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 71 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche | 1 | 11 |
| 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche | 4 | 377 |
| 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche | 4 | 258 |
| 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche | 5 | 76 |
| 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 111 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 127 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche | 3 | 36 |
| 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche | 2 | 82 |
Checking a specific 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche
How do I know if my 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 14V827000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.