2012 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
66,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 101 complaints (37.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 6.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.0% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 38 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Structure:Body | 21 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Unknown Or Other: 38; Air Bags: 25; Structure:Body: 21; Engine: 12; Electrical System: 10; Power Train: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Service Brakes: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10650534 · 2014-10-27 (October 27, 2014)
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 NOT TURN OVER THE ENGINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680347 · 2015-02-01 (February 1, 2015)
LOW MILES OWNER, GARAGE KEPT, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NON-USE, IE-PARKED IN GARAGE, VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. BAYTOWN (CRAFT) DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. CURRENT MILEAGE 24K, STILL DOES SAME THING, IF VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN ALMOST DAILY, THE BATTERY WILL GO DEAD FOR ZERO REASON AND NO ONE A CHEVY KNOW WHY OR WHAT. HAVE HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING EVER FIXED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734128 · 2015-07-15 (July 15, 2015)
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 WORRIED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME, ESPECIALLY ON HARD CURVES WHEN YOU LOSE POWER. THE DEALER IS REPORTING THAT IT IS A GROUND CABLE ISSUE AND WANT US TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST OF REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10915781 · 2016-10-13 (October 13, 2016)
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 AND QUESTIONED IF A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT SINCE THERE ARE HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DON'T FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE DASH BOARD COVER AND SHELLING OUT OVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10555677 · 2013-12-11 (December 11, 2013)
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 EVENING. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. THIS GIVES A FALSE SENSE OF BREAKING WHILE EXITING A FREEWAY AS THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO LOCK ALL THE GEARS AND THROW YOU INTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10555679 · 2013-12-11 (December 11, 2013)
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 A BASEBALL BAT. TOOK CAR IN TO SUBARU DEALER THEY TRIED REPROGRAMMING BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND SUBARU DOES NOT HAVE ANY ANSWERS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10628229 · 2014-08-25 (August 25, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10628229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809223 · 2015-12-09 (December 9, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10822637 · 2016-01-27 (January 27, 2016)
TL* 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 PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGHLY AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. UPON TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10780568 · 2015-10-07 (October 7, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL PUMP SEIZED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11109744 · 2018-07-05 (July 5, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER (FINDLAY CHEVROLET, 6800 S TORREY PINES DR, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118) STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11109744 at NHTSA ↗