2012 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet SUBURBAN has 139 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: dashboard has cracked. vehicle was stationary. i'm concerned that in the event of an accident, sharp plastic pieces could be dangerous.. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 2 crash reports 2 injuries

139

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

38 complaints

27%

• DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I'M CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, SHARP PLASTIC PIECES COULD BE DANGEROUS.
• THE TOP DASH BOARD IN FRONT OF DRIVER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS CRACKED AND I HAVE READ THE IT COULD POSSIBLE AFFECT THE AIRBAG. THE CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS ABOUT 12 INCHES AND THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ABOUT 6 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARK AT MY HOUSE WHEN I NOTICES THESE CRACKS.
• THE FRONT HAS A LARGE CRACK WHICH IS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY. CAUSING THE DASH TO RATTLE CONSTANTLY EVENT AT SLOW SPEEDS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I'M CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, SHARP PLASTIC PIECES COULD BE DANGEROUS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

26 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AN UNKNOWN PLUG WAS LOOSE UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MAN
• HAVING ISSUES WITH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON IN THE DASH (SEAT BELT, TRACTION CONTROL, AIR BAGS), THE RADIO WILL GO DEAD AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER, AND IT LOSES POWER AND STEERING FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I'M APPLYING BRAKES OR TURNING CORNERS AND JUST AT RANDOM TIM
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AN UNKNOWN PLUG WAS LOOSE UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

24 complaints

17%

• WENT TO PUT MY SHOES ON AND I SAW THAT MY FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE .IT HAD BEEN 15 HOURS SINCE I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK . THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSAGNER SIDE ON THE GRILL. AND ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. *TR
• POWER LIFT GATE DROPPED SUDDENLY ;
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POP THAT CAME FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD NEAR THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WENT TO PUT MY SHOES ON AND I SAW THAT MY FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE .IT HAD BEEN 15 HOURS SINCE I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK . THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSAGNER SIDE ON THE GRILL. AND ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

12 complaints

• WENT TO PUT MY SHOES ON AND I SAW THAT MY FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE .IT HAD BEEN 15 HOURS SINCE I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK . THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSAGNER SIDE ON THE GRILL. AND ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
• HAVING ISSUES WITH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON IN THE DASH (SEAT BELT, TRACTION CONTROL, AIR BAGS), THE RADIO WILL GO DEAD AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER, AND IT LOSES POWER AND STEERING FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I'M APPLYING BRAKES OR TURNING CORNERS AND JUST AT RANDOM TIM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

• WENT TO PUT MY SHOES ON AND I SAW THAT MY FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE .IT HAD BEEN 15 HOURS SINCE I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK . THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSAGNER SIDE ON THE GRILL. AND ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. *TR
• TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS CONTINUOUSLY BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK AS THE RADIO SHUT
• ON TWO RECENT OCCASIONS MY SUBURBAN HAS FAILED TO START (BATTERY DEAD). I WENT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE, THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS GOOD. WHY IS MY BATTERY GOING DEAD? BOTH INSTANCES ARE THE VEHICLE IS SET ON ACCESSORIES AND THE RADIO WAS WORKING. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE BATTERY WOULD N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 139 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I'M CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, SHARP PLASTIC PIECES COULD BE DANGEROUS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AN UNKNOWN PLUG WAS LOOSE UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: WENT TO PUT MY SHOES ON AND I SAW THAT MY FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE .IT HAD BEEN 15 HOURS SINCE I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK . THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSAGNER SIDE ON THE GRILL. AND ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WENT TO PUT MY SHOES ON AND I SAW THAT MY FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE .IT HAD BEEN 15 HOURS SINCE I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK . THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSAGNER SIDE ON THE GRILL. AND ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)