It’s rare for a vehicle to get a five out of five in any category from Consumer Reports. The well-known consumer agency has notoriously high standards and doesn’t cut corners for anyone. That’s why it’s so surprising that the 2012 Chevy Tahoe got a five out of five in reliability from Consumer Reports. Let’s take a look at why the 2012 Tahoe scored so high.

Why Consumer Reports loves the 2012 Chevy Tahoe

The 2012 Chevy Tahoe steers better than many of its competitors, and the ride is smooth. You don’t have to worry about feeling every bump you pass over as you travel to your favorite hiking trails. The interior has been improved compared to previous generations, and the ride is quiet. 

While the third-row leaves a lot to be desired, the second-row is spacious, meaning your adult passengers won’t have to attend an advanced yoga class before hopping in your Tahoe.

Another perk about the 2012 Tahoe that Consumer Reports likes is the fact that you can tow heavy loads. According to Car Max, you can tow up to 5,500 lbs, so if you’ve been dreaming of towing your boat to the lake, here’s your chance. 

What Consumer Reports didn’t like

No vehicle is perfect, although some die-hard Chevy fans may disagree. That being said, Consumer Reports really didn’t have much to complain about. The third-row seat was a big turn off. In fact, Consumer Reports stated, “The third-row seats lack thigh support and don’t fold into the floor, eating up cargo room.”

Other things Consumer Reports didn’t like was the poor fuel economy. The 2012 Chevy Tahoe only gets 15 mpg. It was an improvement over previous generations, however, so Consumer Reports wasn’t too hard on Chevy for this.

What other critics think of the 2012 Chevy Tahoe

Edmunds is a big fan of the Tahoe and recommends it if you’re looking for an SUV to tow heavy loads. On the flip side, Edmunds dislikes the fact that the third-row seats don’t fold down into the floor, and there is no telescoping steering wheel. 

Like Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book had a problem with the third-row seats. What KBB did like was the fact that the 2012 Tahoe is easy to maneuver in spite of its large size, and the safety features.

KBB stated,

“We also give high marks to the standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control system because it is potentially life-saving technology that can significantly reduce single-vehicle accidents.”

U.S. News was impressed with the Tahoe’s acceleration, and the great interior. But like everyone else, U.S. News hates the third-row seats which have to be removed to increase the cargo room. The 2012 Chevy Tahoe was ranked #2 in the Large SUV division. 

What other drivers have to say

According to Car Complaints, there really aren’t that many problems. The biggest complaint revolved around a dashboard that cracks, and only seven people reported it. The second biggest complaint was about a faulty speedometer, and the third had to do with a timing chain failure. Both had only a single complaint.

If you check out any other reviews from Car Complaints, you’ll quickly see how extremely rare this is. Most vehicles have hundreds of complaints for a single problem, and most of those have to do with engines and transmissions. The fact that the 2012’s worst problem is a cracked dashboard is a rarity in the auto world.

If you’re looking for a used SUV, and you don’t mind the notoriously bad third-row, then the 2012 Chevy Tahoe might be exactly what you’re looking for. If you need something to haul a lot of cargo in the back, however, you might need to look elsewhere.