2012 Chevrolet Silverado Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Silverado years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 20th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. That ranks 20th out of 23 Silverado model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (15 complaints, 22%), typically at around 48,000 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 4 fires, 8 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 68owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Chevrolet Silverado problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 15 | 22% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 14 | 21% | 30,763 | — | — |
| Power Train | 11 | 16% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 13% | 7,299 | — | — |
| Engine | 6 | 9% | 7,748 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 7% | 19,423 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 7% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 6% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 6% | 20,482 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 6% | 1,750 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 6% | 17,462 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 4% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 3% | 39,923 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 17,581 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 75,859 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Chevrolet Silverado recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
Fuel system, diesel
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, equipped with 6.6L diesel engines and dual fuel tanks. In the affected vehicles, the transfer pump which moves fuel from the rear tank to the front tank could malfunction and cause the fuel gauge to indicate an inaccurate reading.
Risk: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: General Motors will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel transfer pump, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13420.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated he purchased the vehicle at a used dealer on March 13, 2023, and the anti-lock braking systems (ABS), the traction control sensor, and the brake warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to the used dealer on 3…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V054000(AIR BAGS); however, the parts for the repair were unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that the parts were not yet…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle the air bag warning indicator light illuminated The contact called OnStar who completed diagnostic testing. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Dash cracked at corner dash above left side of passenger side airbag only 35k on vehicle 3.5 years old with use of sunshade half the time
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet silverado. The contact stated that the passenger side of the dashboard was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
Other Chevrolet Silverado years
← 2011 Silverado · 2013 Silverado →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Silverado | 125 | 0 |
| 2016 Silverado | 5 | 2 |
| 2015 Silverado | 76 | 7 |
| 2014 Silverado | 124 | 13 |
| 2013 Silverado | 64 | 3 |
| 2012 | 68 | 2 |
| 2011 Silverado | 75 | 2 |
| 2010 Silverado | 62 | 0 |
| 2009 Silverado | 76 | 0 |
| 2008 Silverado | 162 | 1 |
| 2007 Silverado | 183 | 1 |
| 2006 Silverado | 182 | 4 |
| 2005 Silverado | 316 | 8 |
| 2004 Silverado | 622 | 8 |
| 2003 Silverado | 695 | 6 |
| 2002 Silverado | 710 | 4 |
| 2001 Silverado | 877 | 4 |
| 2000 Silverado | 1,305 | 8 |
| 1999 Silverado | 1,660 | 5 |
| 1998 Silverado | 279 | 0 |
| 1997 Silverado | 272 | 0 |
| 1996 Silverado | 186 | 0 |
| 1995 Silverado | 263 | 0 |
See all Chevrolet Silverado problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners most often report air bags, structure, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 15 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Silverado model years, the 2012 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.