2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet SILVERADO has 91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: while driving, a driver cut in front of me and literally slammed on their brakes. i was not at fault in the accident. my airbags deployed and caused significant injury to my head. the injury was not consistent with an airbag deployment in conjunction with me wearing my seatbelt. i was diagnosed . ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 11 crash reports 10 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

15 complaints

16%

• WHILE DRIVING, A DRIVER CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND LITERALLY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I WAS NOT AT FAULT IN THE ACCIDENT. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO MY HEAD. THE INJURY WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ME WEARING MY SEATBELT. I WAS DIAGNOSED
• FRONT WINDOW SAFETY ADHESION FROM FACTORY INSTALL BAD ON ALL BLACK TRUCKS.BODYS AND AIR BAGS HAVE NO RESISTANCE THROUGH FRONT WINDOW(REPLACED MINE AND FOUND OUT MAJOR FLAW).ALL ADHESION CONNECTIONS NOT STICKING.NO RESISTANCE FROM WINDOW IN FACTORY INSTALLS///ALL.FIXING TO TWEET THIS INFO. *TR
• TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 37 MPH, ALL FOUR SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS CYCLED OVER 5,000 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING, A DRIVER CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND LITERALLY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I WAS NOT AT FAULT IN THE ACCIDENT. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO MY HEAD. THE INJURY WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ME WEARING MY SEATBELT. I WAS DIAGNOSED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

14 complaints

15%

• THERE IS A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE THE IS EMITTED FROM BEHIND THE DASH. THIS NOISE IS DISTRACTING TO THE POINT THAT MY WIFE CAN NOT RIDE IN THE TRUCK LET ALONE DRIVE IT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS NOISE AND IT IS ACC
• I BOUGHT MY 2012 CHEVY OCTOF 2013. NOW AFTER 11000 MILES MY FRAME LOOKS LIKE A TRUCK OUT OF THE 80'S. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THERE FIX IS TO SCRAPE OFF THE RUST AND PUT THE SAME CRAP BACK ON THE FRAME. SO I KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE WILL ONLY LAST A VERY SHORT TIME. *TR
• PARKED FACING UPSLOPE. THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT OF PARK GEAR AND ROLLED DOWNHILL BACKWARDS, KNOCKING OVER OWNER. FINALLY HIT A TREE AND STOPPED. INSURANCE DECLARED IT TOTALED. *TR

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

“THERE IS A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE THE IS EMITTED FROM BEHIND THE DASH. THIS NOISE IS DISTRACTING TO THE POINT THAT MY WIFE CAN NOT RIDE IN THE TRUCK LET ALONE DRIVE IT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS NOISE AND IT IS ACC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

11 complaints

12%

• HAPPENED DRIVING HOME AFTER BUYING VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP AS 1ST GEAR WAS BEING ENGAGED. DROVE IT UNTIL BREAK IN PERIOD WAS OVER AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WERE THE TRANSMISSION BODY AND VALVES WERE REPLACED. NOW GETTING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTI
• WAS DRIVING UP TO THE STOP SIGN. IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD. SORTA LIKE JERKING. *TR
• BRAKES ARE SPONGY DOES NOT STOP TRUCK UNTIL PUMPED,POWER TRAIN CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND SHIFTING,ELECTRICAL AT TIMES DASH LIGHTS DIM AT ANY GIVEN TIME, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS VERY ROUGH RIDE, TRANS SHIFTS VERY HARD, WHEN COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT RUNS ROUGH. HAS BEEN TO DEALER ONCE AND LAST TH

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

“HAPPENED DRIVING HOME AFTER BUYING VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP AS 1ST GEAR WAS BEING ENGAGED. DROVE IT UNTIL BREAK IN PERIOD WAS OVER AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WERE THE TRANSMISSION BODY AND VALVES WERE REPLACED. NOW GETTING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

9 complaints

10%

• SAFETY CONCERN- POTENTIAL TRAILERING ACCIDENT!!! IT APPEARS THAT CHEVROLET/GM HAS CHANGED THE WIRING IN THEIR VEHICLES SO THAT ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLERS NO LONGER ILLUMINATE THE TRAILER BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THE ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER IS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE VEHICLE BRAKES. A
• BRAKES ARE SPONGY DOES NOT STOP TRUCK UNTIL PUMPED,POWER TRAIN CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND SHIFTING,ELECTRICAL AT TIMES DASH LIGHTS DIM AT ANY GIVEN TIME, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS VERY ROUGH RIDE, TRANS SHIFTS VERY HARD, WHEN COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT RUNS ROUGH. HAS BEEN TO DEALER ONCE AND LAST TH
• THIS TRUCK HAS CHATTERED, HOPPED, AND HAD BAD BRAKES AS SOON AS WE DROVE THE TRUCK OFF OF THE LOT. WHEN WE WENT WITH THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE TRUCK, MY HUSBAND SAID WHY IS IT VIBRATING & HE TOLD US THAT IT WAS IN THE TIRES FROM "SITTING". IT HAS HAD 2 NEW WHEELS & NUMEROUS BRAKES, PADS, ROTORS, CA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“SAFETY CONCERN- POTENTIAL TRAILERING ACCIDENT!!! IT APPEARS THAT CHEVROLET/GM HAS CHANGED THE WIRING IN THEIR VEHICLES SO THAT ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLERS NO LONGER ILLUMINATE THE TRAILER BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THE ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER IS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE VEHICLE BRAKES. A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

• I HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY NEW 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 LT (5.3 LITER ENGINE) GOING INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE" WHICH ALSO RESULTS IN THE DISABLING OF STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION IN THAT IT RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER WHILE OPERATING THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE IDLED IRREGULARLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PISTON NUMBER 7 WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE

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

“I HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY NEW 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 LT (5.3 LITER ENGINE) GOING INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE" WHICH ALSO RESULTS IN THE DISABLING OF STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION IN THAT IT RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER WHILE OPERATING THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 91 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: WHILE DRIVING, A DRIVER CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND LITERALLY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I WAS NOT AT FAULT IN THE ACCIDENT. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO MY HEAD. THE INJURY WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ME WEARING MY SEATBELT. I WAS DIAGNOSED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: THERE IS A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE THE IS EMITTED FROM BEHIND THE DASH. THIS NOISE IS DISTRACTING TO THE POINT THAT MY WIFE CAN NOT RIDE IN THE TRUCK LET ALONE DRIVE IT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS NOISE AND IT IS ACC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: HAPPENED DRIVING HOME AFTER BUYING VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP AS 1ST GEAR WAS BEING ENGAGED. DROVE IT UNTIL BREAK IN PERIOD WAS OVER AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WERE THE TRANSMISSION BODY AND VALVES WERE REPLACED. NOW GETTING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: SAFETY CONCERN- POTENTIAL TRAILERING ACCIDENT!!! IT APPEARS THAT CHEVROLET/GM HAS CHANGED THE WIRING IN THEIR VEHICLES SO THAT ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLERS NO LONGER ILLUMINATE THE TRAILER BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THE ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER IS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE VEHICLE BRAKES. A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)