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2012 Chevrolet Suburban Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban, most often about the other or unspecified (38% of complaints, typically around 90,500 miles). It is 19th of 25 Suburban model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2012 Chevrolet Suburban problems
Other or unspecified
38 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 90,500 miles.
Cracked dashboard........I have contacted gm about this issue. I have researched to find out that this is not an isolated problem. There are literally thousands of customers with this issue. The issue is even in the same place as well. Gm has declined to replace my dashboard or even declined assist me in any form with…
The dashboard on the passenger side next to the airbag has cracked and appears to be separating. This defect in the dashboard is directly in contact with the airbag deployment location for the front passenger.
Air bags
25 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window.
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 times. I'm very…
My dash on my 2012 Suburban started cracking over the passenger airbag a little over a year ago. Within the past month I have noticed 2 more cracks in my dash, one behind my steering wheel on the left side of the dash and the other is to the right of the steering wheel on the dash. I have called the local dealership…
Body and structure
23 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
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 manufacturer was made aware of…
I got in my car saturday morning, october 1 and noticed 2 cracks on the driver's side of my dash board. Upon research I have discovered this is not an isolated incident. I am concerned about the safety of having this get larger and exposing electrical/mechnical components and the sharp edges of the cracked plastic…
Engine
12 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles.
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 times. I'm very…
While just starting to accelerate, the radio shut off, the automatic locks started to go up and down, then the engine light came on and the engine stopped running. I put the truck in park, shut of the engine and restarted without issue 5 minutes later. Two days later, the same thing happened, only this time, when we…
Electrical
10 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles.
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 off. The vehicle was…
While just starting to accelerate, the radio shut off, the automatic locks started to go up and down, then the engine light came on and the engine stopped running. I put the truck in park, shut of the engine and restarted without issue 5 minutes later. Two days later, the same thing happened, only this time, when we…
Wheels and tires
6 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: rim.
On 9/23/12 while changing a flat, it was discovered that the spare tire has rubbing on the side walls. The spare tire has never been used as we just bought the vehicle new. Brought this to the attention of the dealership on 9/24/12 as to how we should secure the spare without causing rubbing again. They advised they…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the tires constantly became flat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer stated that the aluminum wheels were corroded and would not hold the bead that held pressure in the tire. The dealer stated the rims would need to be replaced. The…
Transmission
5 complaints · 5%While driving the car when it was cold, and running for about 10 to 15 minutes, went on the freeway and while de accelerating, the transmission jerked and lock for a brief second, and felt like someone hit you in the back with a baseball bat. It only does this when the car is started first thing in the morning or…
When the car is cold and went on the freeway and after about 20 to 30 minutes of driving when exiting the freeway, the transmission, makes a clunk sound and downshifts and jerks the whole car and it feels like you are going through the windshield and causes whiplash like effects. Like someone hit you in the back with…
Brakes
3 complaints · 3%The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving 45 MPH, the radio and dashboard lights blinked off and on and the doors locked and unlocked continuously. The contact also stated that the engine was acting like it was stalling. The contact stated that the ABS worked intermittently. The contact was able to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Chevrolet Suburban recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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'
Full defect summary
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, sub
Electrical: ignition
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Steering: shaft pitman
Risk: If this condition occurs, a loss of steering could result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: other or unspecified (38 complaints, typically around 90,500 miles); air bags (25 complaints, typically around 67,000 miles); body and structure (23 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 5, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Chevrolet Suburban?
- It is 19th of 25 Suburban model years by number of complaints, with 101 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.