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Chevrolet

2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 has 276 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 796. 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.. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 8 crash reports 7 injuries

276

Total Complaints

2

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

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

When Problems Appear on the 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500

Based on 165 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 75K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
10
30-60K
53
60-100K
50
100-150K
37
150-200K
13
200K+
2

AIR BAGS

In line with typicalmedian 68K mi · 25 reports
0-30K
0
30-60K
12
60-100K
9
100-150K
2
150-200K
1
200K+
1

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 50K mi · 23 reports
0-30K
4
30-60K
11
60-100K
3
100-150K
3
150-200K
2
200K+
0

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

In line with typicalmedian 69K mi · 9 reports
0-30K
0
30-60K
3
60-100K
3
100-150K
3
150-200K
0
200K+
0

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 87K mi · 8 reports
0-30K
0
30-60K
3
60-100K
2
100-150K
3
150-200K
0
200K+
0

OTHER

Later than typicalmedian 65K mi · 38 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
12
60-100K
13
100-150K
8
150-200K
2
200K+
0

ENGINE

Later than typicalmedian 93K mi · 19 reports
0-30K
2
30-60K
3
60-100K
7
100-150K
6
150-200K
1
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (2)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE05/02/2021

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.

Above-average theft risk

#6 most stolen in 2025

The Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 was the #6 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 12,400 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Full-size truck; catalytic converters + wheel theft

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,536
Full coverage / month
$128
Liability only / year
$598
vs US avg
-8%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x
× theft risk1.06x
× safety rating0.98x
× vehicle age0.92x
= Full coverage estimate$1536

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
45K mi
Engine coolant
150K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
23K mi
Engine air filter
45K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
45K mi

GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
6 yr / 100K mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2012 SILVERADO 1500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chevrolet dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

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

  • RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
276
Recalls
2
Fire reports
2
Crash reports
8
Injury reports
7
Segment avg
796

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500