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2012 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 76.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

61 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Suspension complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2016
StructureSuspension

MY 2012 SILVERADO LS HAS 22,000 MILES. IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TRUCK, BUT THE FRAME LOOKS TERRIBLE. IT IS NOT A LITTLE RUST HERE AND THERE. THE RUST IS LITERALLY ALL OVER THE FRAME. THERE IS MORE OF THE FRAME WITH RUST THAN WITHOUT. THE FRAME IS VERY EASY TO SEE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR GM, MY TRUCK IS A ROLLING BILLB…

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MY 2012 SILVERADO LS HAS 22,000 MILES. IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TRUCK, BUT THE FRAME LOOKS TERRIBLE. IT IS NOT A LITTLE RUST HERE AND THERE. THE RUST IS LITERALLY ALL OVER THE FRAME. THERE IS MORE OF THE FRAME WITH RUST THAN WITHOUT. THE FRAME IS VERY EASY TO SEE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR GM, MY TRUCK IS A ROLLING BILLBOARD AND THE RUST IS GETTING WORST EVERY YEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10846412

30,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015
Electrical SystemStructureSuspension

HERE IS A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ISSUES INVOLVING THE 1012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LT TEXAS EDITION AFTER THE PURCHASE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2012. FIRST, I NOTICED THAT IT HAS INCREASINGLY BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW FROM THE DRIVER SIDE MASTER CONTROL UNIT AROUND 2014. NOW, I HAVE TO PRESS HARD SEVERAL T…

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HERE IS A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ISSUES INVOLVING THE 1012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LT TEXAS EDITION AFTER THE PURCHASE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2012. FIRST, I NOTICED THAT IT HAS INCREASINGLY BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW FROM THE DRIVER SIDE MASTER CONTROL UNIT AROUND 2014. NOW, I HAVE TO PRESS HARD SEVERAL TIMES TO OPEN THE WINDOW. SECOND, THE OUTSIDE MOLDINGS OF THE DOOR PANELS ARE FALLING OFF STARTING IN MID-2014. THIRD, I HAVE STARTED TO HEAR POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE BALL JOINTS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AT A VERY LOW SPEED STARTING THE BEGINNING OF 2014. THESE ISSUES WERE REPORTED TO THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE GM HEADQUARTERS IN AUGUST 2015. ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2015, THE TRUCK WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED BY THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT SOLD THE PICKUP. THE INVOICE DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 INDICATES THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN WITH PLAY, DOOR MOLDINGS FALLING OFF, AND THE DRIVER'S MASTER SWITCH SHORTED.

NHTSA ODI #10765315

11,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Power TrainStructureSuspensionCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #10592034

20,482 miles · Jul 28, 2013
Power TrainSuspension

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK, TEXAS EDITION, IT HAS 23,800 MILES ON IT I PURCHASED IT WITH O MILES, I ADHERE TO OIL CHANGES AND ANY REPAIRS IN TIMELY MANNER. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SWITCHING GEARS, IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE DRI…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK, TEXAS EDITION, IT HAS 23,800 MILES ON IT I PURCHASED IT WITH O MILES, I ADHERE TO OIL CHANGES AND ANY REPAIRS IN TIMELY MANNER. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SWITCHING GEARS, IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING IT, IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS BUMPING THE REAR OF TRUCK. THE REPAIRS INCLUDE TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING 2 - 3 TIMES, RR UPPER CONTROL VALVE BODY AND SPACER PLATE REPLACED, RESET TRANSMISSION, 1 2 3 4 CLUTCH REGULATOR VALVE BINDING IN BORE. ALSO REPLACED SPRINGS, SECOND SERVICE THE U JOINTS ANITSD YOKE REPLACED, MY TRUCK CONTINUES WITH SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS ITS HORRIBLE & VERY DISAPPOINTING WHY CAN`T THEY FIX IT, MY TRUCK SOUNDS LIKE AN OLD VEHICLE I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH SUSPENSION. I`M DESPERATE TO FIND AN ANSWER. ITS AN EXPENSIVE TRUCK TO BE DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532238

Official recalls

2

14V827000 · Electrical System:ignition

Dec 30, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

13V615000 · Fuel System, Diesel

Dec 11, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems