2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 284 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 19 Silverado 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 16 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Campaign 21V054000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328770.
Campaign 21V051000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
74 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Oct 28, 2016
CRACK IN THE DASH AT THE CORNER OF AIRBAG AND ANOTHER AT THE STEERING CONCOLE
Air bags, Oct 20, 2016
MY DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEVERAL OTHER CRACKS HAVE FORMED.
Air bags, Sep 12, 2016
THE DASH IS CRACKING NEAR THE AIR BAG. THERE IS A CONCERN OF A SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE OF FAULTY DASH.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 27, 2016
DASH CRACKED AT RIGHT UPPER CORNER BY PASSENGER AIRBAG WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RIP AIR BAG UPON DEPLOYMENT
Air bags, Aug 25, 2016
THE DASH IN MY 2012 SILVERADO TRUCK HAS CRACKED ON IT'S OWN IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO CONSUMERS(JUST DO A GOOGLE SEARCH) WITH A SAFETY CONCERN THAT IF THE AIR IS DEPLOYED, THE CRACKED PLASTIC COULD GET BLOWN OFF AND BECOME A DEADLY PROJECTILE.THERE IS NO ASPECT OF THIS THAT CAN OR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SAFE.
Air bags, Jul 26, 2016
THE DASH HAS A CRACK ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE CRACK IS COMPLETELY THROUGH THE ENTIRE PIECE OF PLASTIC SO IT MAKES ME CONCERNED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IF IT WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE PLASTIC FLYING THROUGHOUT THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 60000 MILES AND WE WERE TOLD IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEREFORE THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $1004
Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 15, 2016
I NOTICED YESTERDAY THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING CAME ON. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. GOT IN THERE THIS MORNING 7/15 AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WENT OUT FOR A MINUTE INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. COULDNT EVEN TURN MY AC ON OR OFF. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WE GOT IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS LOOKING AT A 2 WEEK WAIT BUT I COULD DROP IT OFF ON 7/18 AND THEY WOULD GET TO IT.
Air bags, Jun 24, 2016
CRACKS IN DASHBOARD AROUND AIR BAG.
Air bags, Jun 23, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS KNEES, ELBOW AND RIBS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ UPDATED 08/09/16.*JB
Air bags, Jun 17, 2016
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DEVELOPED A SHORT WITH THE CONNECTION.
Air bags, Jun 9, 2016
DEVELOPED CRACK ON DASH WHERE AIRBAG IS ON PASSENGER SIDE, CRACK IS ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG, WILL THIS EFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT?
Air bags, Apr 17, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL", I HAVE A CRACK IN MY DASH THAT IS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE MY DASH WILL CONTINUE TO CRACK THAT WILL CAUSE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO FAIL WHEN IT WILL BE NEEDED TO PROTECT PASSENGERS THAT RIDE IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC AND GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AND THEY WON'T DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE WHICH I NOTICE THAT MY DASH HAD CRACKED.
Air bags, Mar 17, 2016
FRONT SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WENT BAD
Air bags, Mar 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER ROUGH PATCHES IN ROAD, THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE CLEAN OFF AND REINSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000. UPDATED 05/20/16*LJ *TR
Air bags, Mar 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Air bags, Mar 4, 2016
DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE AIR BAG AREA CONCERNED THIS MIGHT AFFECT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. EVEN THOUGH GM STATES IT WILL NOT AFFECT IT, THE CRACK IS IN A CORNER OF THE DEPLOYMENT ZONE. THE DASH IS ALSO CRACKED IN A AREA ABOVE THE GAUGES. EVERYONE I KNOW THAT HAS THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. A PERSON I KNOW HAS ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IS ALREADY CRACKED AS WELL.
Air bags, Feb 10, 2016
THERE'S CRACKS SURROUNDING MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IN MY 2012 SILVERADO. THESE CRACKS ARE NOT ONLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN DESIGN BUT ARE ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING TOO WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK/SUV.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2016
THE DASH IS CRACKED BY THE AIR BAG HOUSING THE DOOR HANDLES ARE DISCOLORED AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS ALSO DISCOLORED.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2016
CRACKS IN THE DASH AT THE AIRBAG MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.
Air bags, Seat belts, Nov 13, 2015, crash
RECENTLY I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS A DIRECT IMPACT. AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK NOR DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. THE SPEED FROM THIS ACCIDENT WAS BETWEEN 50-55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AT THE RATE OF SPEED I WAS GOING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND THE FACT THAT I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE LOCKED BUT IT DID NOT AND AT THE POINT OF IMPACT I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT YET THE SYSTEM INDICATED THAT IT DID AND NEEDED TO BE RESET. HOWEVER NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE DRIVER SEAT BELT.
Air bags, Oct 8, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE AN INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BY GENERAL MOTORS, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A ROLL OVER CRASH BUT THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE INVESTIGATION WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS EXPERIENCED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Air bags, Jan 16, 2015
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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. DJR
Air bags, Sep 4, 2014
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
Air bags, Jul 3, 2014, crash
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 WITH A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND MANY OTHER AILMENTS, BALANCE DYSFUNCTION, MEMORY LOSS, PARASYMPATHETIC ANOMALIES, ETC. IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED SUCH SIGNIFICANT INJURY CONSIDERING THE LOW SPEED OF THE CRASH CORRELATED WITH PROPER SEAT BELT UTILIZATION. *TR