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Chevrolet Avalanche 1500Model year report

2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Problems

Complaints
16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
62,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
17 mpgcombined, 5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel RWD · 15 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 15 complaints (94% of the total), followed by air bags (3) and electronic stability control (1). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 45% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 62,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 335 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 47 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “My dashboard cracked like many others have done. Driving down the road it just started cracking and a week later it had created a large crack over the instrument panel about 9 inches in length”

NHTSA complaint #10981224, filed 2017-04, 70,000 miles

Air bags: “The dashboard cracked over the instrument panel and over the passenger side airbag. This is the second avalanche that I have owned that cracked in the same location; previous year was a 2007.”

NHTSA complaint #10911027, filed 2016-10, 62,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet AVALANCHE 1500. The contact stated that the stability track warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the steering wheel position sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was recall elated to the failure but that the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10937543, filed 2016-12, 65,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

45% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

0%0–109%10–2536%25–5055%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 62,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20162017102018
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Avalanche 1500 2WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic152117$3,950
Avalanche 1500 4WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic152117$3,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 335 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 335 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20132949,6881—1750 · TypicalFalling
20121662,0000—17—Stable
20112850,0002—1756 · TypicalStable
20106112,5000—17—Not enough data
20092072,5000—16—Stable
20083750,0000—1640 · TypicalFalling
200711373,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20063984,0001—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200512962,4501—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200414479,5000—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200318289,0000—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200215497,5000—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 15 complaints (94% of the total), followed by air bags with 3.

Has the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 (Avalanche 1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 62,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 70,000 miles; 45% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.