NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Chevrolet Suburban Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 101 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2012 Chevrolet Suburban owner complaints

Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban, describing incidents dated March 26, 2012 to July 28, 2024.

Most-cited components

Unknown or Other 38 complaints
Air Bags 25 complaints
Structure 23 complaints
Engine 12 complaints
Electrical System 10 complaints
Power Train 5 complaints

Of the 101 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 101 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11608097 · Filed August 12, 2024
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…
ODI #11531720 · Filed July 11, 2023
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…
ODI #11480228 · Filed August 19, 2022
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…

Read all 101 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

NHTSA #21V054000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 5, 2021 · General Motors, LLC

Potentially affected: 1,778,128 vehicles

Repair completion: 63.26% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign N212328800 · Owners notified May 11, 2021 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

NHTSA #21V051000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 5, 2021 · General Motors, LLC

Potentially affected: 284,645 vehicles

Repair completion: 54.46% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign N212328770 · Owners notified May 11, 2021 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328770.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Ignition Lock Actuator may Bind

NHTSA #14V827000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice

Reported December 30, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 84,192 vehicles

Repair completion: 63.29% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14696 and 14912 · Owners notified February 12, 2015 · Vehicles built May 9, 2011 – March 8, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

Safety consequence

If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT

NHTSA #12V112000 · Steering — Gear Box — Shaft Pitman · NHTSA notice

Reported March 22, 2012 · GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Potentially affected: 6,159 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 12055 · Owners notified April 4, 2012 · Vehicles built February 7, 2012 – February 22, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND SUBURBAN VEHICLES, AND GMC SAVANA AND YUKON XL HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES. THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY HARDENED AND COULD FRACTURE.

Safety consequence

IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, A LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING GEAR AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 4, 2012.

Notes

GMS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 12055. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

101 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban.

Power Train

ODI #11608097

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 28, 2024 · Filed: August 12, 2024

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11531720

Incident: May 1, 2023 · Filed: July 11, 2023

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

ODI #11480228

Incident: August 19, 2022 · Filed: August 19, 2022

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.

Structure

ODI #11431178

Incident: July 1, 2020 · Filed: August 31, 2021

Dashboard is cracking. I understand the class action was dismissed. But this is so unfair that the customers have to pay to fix for problem caused by material problem.

Air Bags

ODI #11419491

Incident: June 3, 2021 · Filed: June 3, 2021

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V051000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Air Bags

ODI #11414352

Incident: February 21, 2021 · Filed: April 28, 2021

I WAS SENT A SAFETY RECALL FORM & STILL HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I AM WORRIED BECAUSE WE USE OUR FAMILY CAR A LOT. THANK YOU!

Structure

ODI #11405648

Incident: January 5, 2021 · Filed: March 30, 2021

CRACKED DASHBOARD IN SEVERAL AREAS

Structure

ODI #11405178

Incident: June 12, 2017 · Filed: March 27, 2021

SEVERELY CRACKED DASH

Air Bags; Structure; Unknown or Other

ODI #11399899

Incident: March 9, 2021 · Filed: March 9, 2021

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

Power Train; Unknown or Other; Engine

ODI #11398592

Incident: July 30, 2020 · Filed: March 1, 2021

TRANSMISSION FAILURE< 150,000 MILES!! WELL MAINTAINED. LEFT US STRANDED ON OFF RAMP I-78.!!! CRACKED DASH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

Other Chevrolet Suburban model years

Check your 2012 Chevrolet Suburban VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Suburban at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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