Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 problems

Owners filed 101 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags25
  2. Structure23
  3. Engine12
  4. Electrical system10
  5. Power train5
  6. Wheels4
  7. Service brakes3
  8. Steering3
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  10. Tires3
  11. Visibility2
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Seat belts1
  14. 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 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20122
20134
20144
201512
201614
201723
20189
201912
202010
20218
20221
20231
20241

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.

03 —Owner reports

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???”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2023Air bagsODI 11531720

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2022StructureODI 11480228

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2017EngineODI 10969613

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2018Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11149739

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2024Power trainCrash reportedODI 11608097

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2016Suspension, Wheels, Service brakes, EngineODI 10919218
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.