Problems · NHTSA complaints
2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems
Owners filed 101 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 with NHTSA between May 2012 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (25).
Complaints
101
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags25
- Structure23
- Engine12
- Electrical system10
- Power train5
- Wheels4
- Service brakes3
- Steering3
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Tires3
- Visibility2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Seat belts1
- Suspension1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
4
4
12
14
23
9
12
10
8
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
25 reports1 crash
“This is a recall took my 2012 Surburban to dealership in leavenworth, KS they had vehicle for two weeks did not fix the airbag that is under recall they stated could not get parts for it. So what is the problem with our government system in place to fix these problems but the GM dealership is not fixing the air bag nor do they call and state they have the parts in stock now???”
Structure
23 reports1 fire
“My dash on my 2012 Suburban cracked within 4 years of its manufactured date and it just keeps getting worse. If there were an accident it is so dry and cracked it will through hard plastic into the driver and passengers. I know of many other same and similar year models that have the same issue. Now that there is a passenger-side airbag recall would be the perfect time for GM to step up and fix this obvious flaw.”
Engine
12 reports1 fire
“THE ENGINE IS BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. NO LEAKS VISIBLE, IN OR UNDER THE ENGINE. ON SATURDAY , I JUST ADDED 3.5 QUARTS OF OIL WITH 700 MILES LEFT BEFORE THE NEXT OIL CHANGE.”
Electrical system
10 reports1 fire
“WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THIS MOSTLY OCCURS ON SURFACE STREETS, THE STABILITRAK LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOW COME ON AND THEN BLACK OUT THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR HAS EVEN COMPLETELY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND THEN COME BACK ON. THIS IS QUITE TERRIFYING! THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IS BRAND NEW. THE ONLY TIME THE CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING AT A SLOWER RATE OF BETWEEN 30-50 MPH.”
Power train
5 reports1 crash
“MY AUTO GEAR SHIFT DISINGAGED FROM THE TRANSMISSION THE CAR STARTED MOVING AS I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO THE DRIVER SEAT WITH DRIVER DOOR CATCHING THE TREE LIMBS AND OPENING THE DOOR AND ME HOLDING ONTO THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROOKE AND I FELL ONTO THE GROUND WHEN THE CAR STOPPED BY BACKING OVER THE CURB AND HITTING ANOTHER TREE. THERE IS A BUSHING HOLDING THE CABLE TO TRANSMISSION LEVER AND MY AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND LOCAL CHEVY DEALER HAVE BOTH TOLD ME THE FAULTY CABLE CONNECTOR GETS BRITTLE AND BREAKS. NO WAY TO SAFELY DRIVE AS I CANNOT MOVE.”
Wheels
4 reports
“MY 2012 SUBURBAN HAS 90,000 MILES. I HAD THE LIFTERS AND OIL PUMP GO BAD IN OCTOBER. TWO WEEKS LATER I AM BACK IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THE WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE BAD. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO MY DASH IS CRACKING. I HAD A 1999 SUBURBAN AND NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.