Every 2012 Chevrolet Suburban recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Air Bags · NHTSA 21V051000
May 2, 2021Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
- Problem
- 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.
- 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 recall details for 21V051000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 21V054000
May 2, 2021Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
- Problem
- 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.
- 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's number for this recall is N212328800.
Full recall details for 21V054000 →Electrical System · NHTSA 14V827000
Dec 30, 2014Electrical System:Ignition
- Problem
- 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.
- 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 recall details for 14V827000 →
2012 Chevrolet Suburban complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban, reporting 3 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries. Chevrolet has issued at least 1,699 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Unknown Or Other38
- Air Bags26
- Structure24
- Engine12
- Electrical System10
- Power Train5
Service bulletins by component
- Equipment (702)
- Electrical System (340)
- Engine and Engine Cooling (170)
- Power Train (145)
- Engine (127)
- Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (98)
Read Chevrolet Suburban owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in one investigation. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
What people reported
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Crash
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITHIN 2-5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED.”
2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBANJul 26, 2019
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11235122
Crash
“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 REPORTED.”
2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBANJul 17, 2015
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 10734767
Fire
“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.”
2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBANMay 29, 2012
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 10459983
“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.”
2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBANJul 11, 2023
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11531720
“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.”
2012 CHEVROLET SUBURBANAug 19, 2022
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11480228
Check your Suburban by VIN
Not every 2012 Chevrolet Suburban is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Chevrolet dealer.
Run a free VIN recall check →