2012 Chevrolet Suburban Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 5%of 101 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,662miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban, 5% of the 101 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,662 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The transmission struggles to switch gears properly. It is more noticeable in the city rather than the highway. However, the slight hills make it worse.”
NHTSA complaint #11113692, filed 2018-07, 138,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10555679, filed 2013-12, 13,240 miles“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 ride at end and throwing you forward. …”
NHTSA complaint #10555677, filed 2013-12, 13,325 miles“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 fell onto the ground when the car stopped by backing over the curb and hitting another tree. There is a bushing holding the cable to transmission lever and my auto transmission shop and local chevy dealer have both told me the faulty cable connector gets brittle and breaks. No way to safely drive as I cannot move.”
NHTSA complaint #11608097, filed 2024-08Related service bulletins
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- 11009756Sep 17, 2024This bulletin provides information on Policies Applicable to All U.S. Dealers for Engine and Transmission Assembly Replacement Under Warranty, Policy or Customer Enthusiasm and…
- 11009088Sep 16, 2024This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be…
- 11006421Jul 24, 2024GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or…
- 11005311Jul 9, 2024This service bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operation.
- 11001321May 16, 2024This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- 11000119Apr 26, 2024This service bulletin provides technicians with information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
- 10250347Feb 2, 2024This Warranty Admin service bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required to Contact the PQC for engine or transmission assembly replacement and…
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 16% |
| 2023 | 19 | 14% |
| 2022 | 32 | 26% |
| 2021 | 39 | 19% |
| 2020 | 10 | 23% |
| 2019 | 38 | 49% |
| 2018 | 19 | 23% |
| 2017 | 39 | 27% |
| 2016 | 45 | 20% |
| 2015 | 48 | 11% |
| 2014 | 5 | 8% |
| 2013 | 6 | 5% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 7 | 3% |
| 2007 | 9 | 3% |
| 2006 | 2 | 9% |
| 2005 | 15 | 12% |
| 2004 | 14 | 7% |
| 2003 | 21 | 7% |
| 2002 | 23 | 8% |
| 2001 | 33 | 8% |
| 2000 | 12 | 4% |
| 1999 | 47 | 7% |
| 1998 | 19 | 9% |
| 1997 | 47 | 11% |
| 1996 | 40 | 11% |
| 1995 | 25 | 5% |
| 1994 | 14 | 2% |
| 1993 | 11 | 2% |
| 1992 | 6 | 3% |
| 1991 | 9 | 17% |
| 1990 | 7 | 13% |
| 1989 | 5 | 8% |
| 1988 | 3 | 10% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
| 1985 | 2 | 22% |
Other parts of the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
38 complaintsAir bags
25 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaintsEngine
12 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology