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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Chevrolet AVALANCHE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

36 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

44,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 36 complaints (47.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior411.1%
Transmission and shifting38.3%
Steering behavior25.6%
Electrical and battery issues12.8%
Fuel system concerns12.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Unknown Or Other
17
Air Bags
6
Engine
3
Power Train
3
Steering
2
Structure:Body
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Wheels
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other17
Air Bags6
Engine3
Power Train3
Steering2
Structure:Body2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Wheels2

Unknown Or Other: 17; Air Bags: 6; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3; Steering: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Wheels: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
1
2013
3
2014
3
2015
5
2016
1
2017
7
2018
3
2019
4
2020
5
2021
1
2022
2
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20133
20143
20155
20161
20177
20183
20194
20205
20211
20222
20241

2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 7; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10809418 · 2015-12-10 (December 10, 2015)

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHILE ON A HILL, TE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 21,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST ABOUT $1,000 TO REPLACE THE SDM DUE TO A FAILED CURRENT IN THE SDM, THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT BUT STILL WELL BELOW THE ALLOTTED MILEAGE. THE DEALER SAYS THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809418 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10967914 · 2017-03-23 (March 23, 2017)

WHEN NEARING A STOP LIGHT AT EST. 15 MPH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND IT WAS LIKE STEPPING ON A ROCK. THE PEDAL DID NOT MOVE. I POUNDED ON THE PEDAL AND FINALLY HAD ENOUGH BRAKE TO STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE BRAKES WERE GOOD. THIS WAS REPEATED TWICE MORE. I TOOK IT TO A BRAKE SHOP WHERE THEY CHECKED ALL MECHANICAL FUNCTION AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY HOOKED UP THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES. DURING A TEST DRIVE THE MECHANIC UNHOOKED THE VACUU…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,857 miles reported. Look up ODI 10967914 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10604372 · 2014-06-18 (June 18, 2014)

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). …

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10604372 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11317492 · 2020-03-11 (March 11, 2020)

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 THE PARKING BRAKE, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR, AND GET OUT TO LOOK AT THE LIGHTS (OR HAVE A SECOND PERSON LOOK AT THEM, WHICH IS NOT PRACTICAL FOR ME). THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS. MY OLD 2007…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11317492 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10522096 · 2013-06-27 (June 27, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A VERY LOUD POP EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522096 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10564580 · 2014-02-16 (February 16, 2014)

THE ENGINE FAILS TO START SOME TIMES, THIS HAPPEN 2 TO 3 TIME A MONTH THE ENGINE CRANK OK VOLT ON BATTERY DROPS TO 10.5 VOLTS, INSTALLED NEW BATTERY, NO HELP. AFTER SETTING FOR 15 TO 20 MIN. IT WILL START, NO CHECK ENG. LITE NO CODE SET IN COMPUTER. CHEV DEALER SAID CANNOT HELP UNLESS IT HAPPEN AT THE DEALERSHIP.I CANNOT CHECK FOR SPARK BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUG ARE OUT OF SIGHT, THE FUEL PUMP RUNS OK. I NEED HELP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564580 at NHTSA ↗