Problems · by component

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe air bags problems

63 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe cite air bags, 35% of all 180 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
63
35% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My 2012 Chevy Tahoe Dashboard is completely cracked up. This seems to be a very common issue as I read online. I am very concerned about the Safety with the Dashboard being cracked in multiple areas. What do I need to do to get Chevy to replace this at no cost to me?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2024Air bagsODI 11585169
“I was rear ended while stopped by another truck that was going 60+ mph. None of the airbags in my 2012 Chevy Tahoe deployed. The backside of the driver and passenger seats fell off - unsure if that is airbag related but nothing deployed. My car was totaled my insurance.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11546716
“The vehicle was involved in a "T-Bone" collision where two vehicles drove into the driver side of my vehicle. I was not at fault and yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. In February of 2022 I took the vehicle to Felix Chevrolet to have the airbag recall repaired. In late January 2023, the "T-Bone" collision occurred. My elderly mother (front passenger) and my two sons (13 and 14 rear passengers) were also in the vehicle. ZERO airbags deployed in my vehicle. The vehicle has been parked at my residence since the incident. The vehicle or component has NOT been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others since the incident. I noticed the dash cracking after the recall was performed in 2022. I contacted Felix Chevrolet and spoke the Asst Manager Sergio who told me that GM is NOT replacing the cracked dash boards and if I could take a photo and text it to him--which I did.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11514629
“We took our vehicle to the Chevrolet dealer: Don Mealey Chevrolet 17185 State Road 50 Clermont, Fl. 34711 (352)394-6176. They said they would not replace the defective air bag part unless we agreed that they would destroy our dash by completing the recalled part replacement. We purchased the vehicle brand new and have taken excellent care of it and the dash is in excellent condition, how can they refuse to do the required FREE recall unless we agree that if they destroy our dash. Please help us get this important safety recall completed. My name is [XXX]. I’m sure if Chevrolet is doing this to us there are other Consumers that they are doing this to that will not speak up. My family’s safety depends on the safety equipment that they placed in the vehicle that we purchased in good faith. I wanted to try this option prior to engagement of a Consumer Attorney. Thank you in advance of your assistance.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2022Air bagsODI 11457555
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair would be available within 3 months. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2021Air bagsODI 11440606
“took car to dealer for nys inspection* {recall must be done to pass} service advisors work on commision, so i get a $5500 quote on "" seriously needed work"" yet my concerns were overlooked. & unauthorized work yet Recalls are to be done free so there no commison, so they upsale you and put off the takata airbags as"" on order""= profit over safety. now im on the hook for $6000 or they keep the car then sell as "certified pre- owned" this is part of a serious flaw within the automotive industry. my car is a decommisioned nj police k9 car. so it was a fleet car + very well maintained. the service advisor is grossly over billing and padding the work order. i had to put a stop work order as a disabled person who needs his car to be mobile and i bought a used car to avoid financing and large financial obligations that i can not afford. i even got corperate involved { but they are all chevy team leaders}”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2021Air bagsODI 11423309

Showing 6 of 63 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported Feb 5, 2021NHTSA 21V051000

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." 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.

Air bagsReported Feb 5, 2021NHTSA 21V054000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2012 Tahoe problem areas