2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 has 276 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: dash is cracked at the upper left corner of the passenger air bag. i'm concerned that air bag deployment may be affected. also, pieces of the dash may become air born in the event of an air bag deployment.. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 8 crash reports 7 injuries

276

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

72 complaints

26%

• DASH IS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. ALSO, PIECES OF THE DASH MAY BECOME AIR BORN IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
• DASH IS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. ALSO, PIECES OF THE DASH MAY BECOME AIR BORN IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
• CRACKED DASH OCCURRED WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. THE FIRST IS AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND THE SECOND IS JUST TO THE LEFT MIDDLE OF THE DASH TOP. SEE PHOTOS. CONCERNED ABOUT LOOSE PLASTIC BREAKING AND PROPELLING IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS IN AN ACCIDENT. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DASH IS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. ALSO, PIECES OF THE DASH MAY BECOME AIR BORN IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

58 complaints

21%

• DEVELOPED CRACK ON DASH WHERE AIRBAG IS ON PASSENGER SIDE, CRACK IS ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG, WILL THIS EFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT?
• PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DEVELOPED A SHORT WITH THE CONNECTION.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS KNEES, ELBOW A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“DEVELOPED CRACK ON DASH WHERE AIRBAG IS ON PASSENGER SIDE, CRACK IS ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG, WILL THIS EFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT?”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

36 complaints

13%

• DASH IS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND ON TOP OF DASH. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. ALSO, PIECES OF THE DASH MAY BECOME AIR BORN IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
• MY VEHICLE IS JUST OVER THREE YEARS OLD, JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY AND ONLY HAS 26,500 MILES. THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS CRACKED, EVEN THOUGH THE WINDOWS ARE TINTED AND I HAVE USED A SUN SHIELD AT ALL TIMES SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THIS I CONSIDER A HAZARD AS IT IS DIRECTLY WHERE ALL MAJ
• DASHBOARD ON PASSENGERS SIDE HAS TWO CRACKS ABOVE THE AIRBAG.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“DASH IS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND ON TOP OF DASH. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. ALSO, PIECES OF THE DASH MAY BECOME AIR BORN IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

25 complaints

• AT 170208 MILES THE CAM WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IT ON A CITY STREET IT STARTED TAPPING LIFTERS, I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND A NEW MOTOR HAS TO BE PUT IN. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ONE YEAR AGO AT 139171 MILES WITH POWERTRAIN ASSURANCE WITH APG CORP. BUT NO ONE WANTS TO COVER IT N
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER EVERY 10,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON A CYL
• MY TRUCK SHOULD HAVE NO ISSUES AS I FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE BUT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHERE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION OFF, STABILTRAC OFF, THE AIRVENTS STOPPED BLOWING COOL AIR AND RELEASE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“AT 170208 MILES THE CAM WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IT ON A CITY STREET IT STARTED TAPPING LIFTERS, I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND A NEW MOTOR HAS TO BE PUT IN. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ONE YEAR AGO AT 139171 MILES WITH POWERTRAIN ASSURANCE WITH APG CORP. BUT NO ONE WANTS TO COVER IT N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

21 complaints

• I NOTICED YESTERDAY THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING CAME ON. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. GOT IN THERE THIS MORNING 7/15 AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WENT OUT FOR A MINUTE INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. COULDNT EVEN TURN MY AC ON OR OFF. CALLED THE
• MY TRUCK SHOULD HAVE NO ISSUES AS I FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE BUT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHERE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION OFF, STABILTRAC OFF, THE AIRVENTS STOPPED BLOWING COOL AIR AND RELEASE
• LIGHTS GO DIM ON IT ALL THE TIME AND THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IN IT IS BAD SOMETIMES THE AIR CONDITION WORKS MOST OF THE TIME IT DON'T AND THE CRUISE QUIT WORKING IN IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I NOTICED YESTERDAY THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING CAME ON. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. GOT IN THERE THIS MORNING 7/15 AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WENT OUT FOR A MINUTE INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. COULDNT EVEN TURN MY AC ON OR OFF. CALLED THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 276 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: DASH IS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. ALSO, PIECES OF THE DASH MAY BECOME AIR BORN IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: DEVELOPED CRACK ON DASH WHERE AIRBAG IS ON PASSENGER SIDE, CRACK IS ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG, WILL THIS EFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT?
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: DASH IS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND ON TOP OF DASH. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. ALSO, PIECES OF THE DASH MAY BECOME AIR BORN IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AT 170208 MILES THE CAM WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IT ON A CITY STREET IT STARTED TAPPING LIFTERS, I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND A NEW MOTOR HAS TO BE PUT IN. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ONE YEAR AGO AT 139171 MILES WITH POWERTRAIN ASSURANCE WITH APG CORP. BUT NO ONE WANTS TO COVER IT N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)