2012 Chevrolet Suburban reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 139
- 10 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- 38 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 3 reported crashes · 2 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#3,376
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
-169
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2010-2014
-153
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
27%
Unknown Or Other: 38 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 38
- AIR BAGS 25
- STRUCTURE:BODY 21
- ENGINE 12
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10
4 recalls on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
- NHTSA 21V054000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious i
- NHTSA 21V051000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious i
- NHTSA 14V827000 · 2015 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of e
- NHTSA 12V112000 · 2012 · STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, A LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Suburban units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
NHTSA has 139 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (38 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Suburban units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners most often report problems with: unknown or other (38), air bags (25), structure:body (21), engine (12). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.