RecallRepo

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,146,965 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 21V054000 2021-02-05 1,778,128 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

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 notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were…

AIR BAGS 21V051000 2021-02-05 284,645 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

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 notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V827000 2014-12-30 84,192 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

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 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696…

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
17
AIR BAGS
6
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE
3
POWER TRAIN
3
2crashes2injuries
STEERING
2
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
WHEELS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
Total complaints43

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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 investigation body frame was extremely rusted for a truck this age. 85450 mes on it.”

SUSPENSION · reported 2024-05-04

“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 investigation body frame was extremely rusted for a truck this age. 85450 mes on it.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2024-05-04

“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…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2022-09-10

“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…”

ENGINE · reported 2022-09-10

“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…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2022-09-10

“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…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2021-08-02

“Trailer brake warning is showing on dash. Noted there is a recall bulletin #14515b issued relating to this issue and not sure why my serial number is not found in this recall?”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2020-08-21

“I have been told that one of my daytime running lights is burned out. I have been unable to inspect the lights because they only come on if the transmission is not in park. I called dealer to find out if there is any way to have them come on without the transmission in gear. The dealer said to set…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2020-03-11

Defect investigations

Investigation EA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open

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…

Investigation EA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.