2012 Chevrolet Tahoe vs 2012 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe | 2012 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 178 | 822 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,727 | 88 |
| Investigations | 1 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 70,050 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Tahoe | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 4 | 357 |
| Structure | 37 | 142 |
| Air Bags | 61 | 27 |
| Engine | 9 | 79 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 63 |
| Power Train | 7 | 55 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 74 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 53 |
| Stalling | 0 | 41 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 22 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 15 |
| Water leaks | 0 | 13 |
2012 Chevrolet Tahoe
2012 Ford Explorer
Compare all Chevrolet Tahoe vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.