FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD
The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD has no open NHTSA safety recalls on file, 101 owner complaints, and gets about 17 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
SPECS
2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD at a glance
- Engine
- 8-cyl 5.3L
- Cylinders
- 8
- Displacement
- 5.3 L
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic 6-spd
- Body
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 13, 2026.
SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA
No safety recalls on file with NHTSA for this year and model. That's a good sign.
NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.
Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 13, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA
101 filed- 23
AIR BAGS
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
- 23
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASHBOARD HAS SLOWLY STARTED CRACKING. CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND NOT DRIVEN IN EXTREME CONDITIONS TO WARRANT SUCH DISTRESS ON THE DASHBOARD
- 19
STRUCTURE
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 othe
- 10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THIS MOSTLY OCCURS ON SURFACE STREETS, THE STABILITRAK LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOW COME ON AND THEN BLACK OUT THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR HAS EVEN COMPLET
- 6
ENGINE
ENGINE IS CONSUMING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL, REQUIRING IN EXCESS OF 5 QUARTS TO BE ADDED BETWEEN 3,000 MILE OIL CHANGES.
- 5
POWER TRAIN
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 F
Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 13, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.
CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP
- Overall
- ★★★★☆
- Frontal
- ★★★★★
- Side
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★☆☆
Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 13, 2026.
FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA
- Combined
- 17 mpg
- City / Hwy
- 15 / 21
- Est. fuel / yr
- $3,650
- CO₂ / mi
- 523 g
EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 13, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.
All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
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Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
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Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
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Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
Quick answers
Are there any recalls on the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD? +
No open NHTSA safety recalls are on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD. Recalls can be issued at any time, so confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD get? +
The EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD at 17 mpg combined (15 city / 21 highway), about $3,650 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD? +
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD, including 3 involving a crash. The most-reported area is air bags.
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