2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 has 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 34. The most common issue is tires problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle tires manufacture date 2811, on 01-05-12 found to be dry rotted, defective. vehicle is a 2012 truck with 26000 miles. chevrolet dealer is offering replacement at a cost to the owner of $1220.00. tires are potentially dangerous and should be replaced free of charge since they were defective. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year.
31
Total Complaints
4
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TIRES
6 complaints- • VEHICLE TIRES MANUFACTURE DATE 2811, ON 01-05-12 FOUND TO BE DRY ROTTED, DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS A 2012 TRUCK WITH 26000 MILES. CHEVROLET DEALER IS OFFERING REPLACEMENT AT A COST TO THE OWNER OF $1220.00. TIRES ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE
- • GENERAL GRABBER AT2. TRUCK PARKED IN LOT WHEN TIRE BLEW AT BEGINNING OF WORK DAY BEFORE USE. EMPLOYEES HEARD NOISE AND CAME OUT OF DISPATCH TO CHECK WHAT HAPPENED. RT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN.
- • I DRIVE 116 MOSTLY HWY MILES A DAY COMMUTING TO WORK. ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO THE 1ST OF MY TIRES STARTED TO VIBRATE. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE BELT HAD SEPARATED. THEN 2 WEEKS LATER THE 2ND TIRE DID THE SAME. (BOTH FRONT END OF THE VEH) THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK (DATE OF INCIDENT.) THE OTHER TIRE BELT S
“VEHICLE TIRES MANUFACTURE DATE 2811, ON 01-05-12 FOUND TO BE DRY ROTTED, DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS A 2012 TRUCK WITH 26000 MILES. CHEVROLET DEALER IS OFFERING REPLACEMENT AT A COST TO THE OWNER OF $1220.00. TIRES ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500
Based on 21 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 51K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
FUEL SYSTEM
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 (4)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 Service Intervals
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
These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2012 SILVERADO 3500, 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
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 31 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TIRES: VEHICLE TIRES MANUFACTURE DATE 2811, ON 01-05-12 FOUND TO BE DRY ROTTED, DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS A 2012 TRUCK WITH 26000 MILES. CHEVROLET DEALER IS OFFERING REPLACEMENT AT A COST TO THE OWNER OF $1220.00. TIRES ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: TRUCK STALLED WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD TRANSFER SWITCH AND TWO SENSORS REPLACED. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE EXHAUST FUMES WOULD ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE DOWN TUBE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: I AM WITH THE NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH FIRE DEPARTMENT I MAINTAIN 8 AMBULANCES WITH THE SAME RECALL I CONTACTED BUD CLARY CHEVROLET WITH NO RESOLVE THIS RECALL IS FROM OCTOBER 2016, I SAVED ALL OF MY E-MAILS AND HAD NO RESOLUTION AS OF YET PLEASE ASSIST AS I HAVE JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE ON 05/07/201
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 31
- Recalls
- 4
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 34
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500