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: service brakes
18 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Structure, Aug 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, her husband observed corrosion and holes in front of the gas tank and the frame of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the ABS, traction control, and steering stabilizer warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
Service brakes, Air, May 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated without the brake pedal being depressed. In addition, the vehicle veered to the left independently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact self-diagnosed the vehicle using a scanner the vehicle and it was determined that the front passenger’s side wheel speed sensor had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Service brakes, Jun 9, 2023, crash
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 different occasions and had the anti-lock braking systems (ABS) sensor replaced and inspected the brakes. The dealer stated no failure was found when inspecting the vehicle. The contact stated while approaching an intersection another vehicle made a left turn and intercepted in his lane on the right side, he depressed the brake pedal but failed to stop or slow down the vehicle, causing it to crash into the other vehicle. The contact stated the vehicle continued moving forward while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a building and stopped the vehicle. The contact states the front driver side air bag deployed. The contact sustained leisure on his back muscles, had whiplash and leisure on the left side of his head and arm due to the air bag deployment. The contact stated he was taken to the hospital by ambulance to seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 192,000.
Power train, Service brakes, Oct 20, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 30 MPH AND FAILED TO EXCEED 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE RELATED TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR. THE DEALER STEVE SMITH COUNTRY (6372 W SUNSET SPRINGDALE, AR 72762, (479)361-4654 STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL BUT ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER MODELS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Service brakes, Sep 3, 2020
ABS TRACTION CONTROL & STABILITY TRACK LIGHTS UP ON MY DASH. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS & POSSIBLY SAFETY ISSUE.I HAVE 30,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK.
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jul 31, 2020
REAR WHEELS LOCK UP WHEN DOWN SHIFTING WHEN DRIVING SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR MORE
Service brakes, Jul 11, 2020
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY THEN ACCELERATION, ABS & TRACTION CONTROL WARNING CAME ON DASHBOARD.
Suspension, Service brakes, Jun 10, 2020
TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERED 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES CEASED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSPECTION STATION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT FRIENDSHIP HONDO OF BOONE LOCATED AT 1440 BLOWING ROCK RD, BOONE, NC 28607, SOLD THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 125,600. *BF CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE DID NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION TEST.*JB
Service brakes, Sep 11, 2019
GM IS RECALLING CHEVROLET TRUCKS BECAUSE OF BRAKING PROBLEMS. BUT, THEIR STATING IT DOES NOT EFFECT EARLY MODELS. I'M TELLING YOU THEIR WRONG BECAUSE MY 2012 SILVERADO HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO SOMETIMES STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE BACK.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 15, 2017
JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY AND THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STABLITRAK TURNED OFF. LIGHTS CAME ON, ON THE DASH SAYING SERVICE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. TURNED TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE, BUT WITHIN 30 MINUTES IT COMES BACK ON. USUALLY COMES ON WHEN NORMAL BRAKING (NOT HARD) YOU CAN FEEL THE ABS LOCK UP AND THE LIGHTS COME ON SAYING TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF AND ABS IS OFF. SOME DAYS THE LIGHTS COME ON AS SOON AS YOU START THE TRUCK IN THE MORNING AND SOME DAYS IT DOESN'T COME ON AT ALL. NEVER HAD THE TRUCK OFF ROAD, ON ROAD USE ONLY, TRUCK IS STOCK AND HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED YET. I WASH THE TRUCK EVERY 2 WEEKS, AND THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 38XXX MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND STILL IS HAPPENING. THE DATE REPORTED WAS AN ESTIMATE SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE TRUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE MONTHS
Service brakes, Sep 30, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO TWO, TWO-TON ROCKS. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Steering, Service brakes, Sep 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND BRAKE BOOST PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Service brakes, Jan 15, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,597. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN UPDATED 9/18/2017*CN
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, May 24, 2014
I BOUGHT MY 2012 TEXAS EDITION SILVERADO AUGUST 4, 2012 THE TRANSMISSION STARTED RESPONDING ABNORMAL IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP IT HAD 135 MILES ON IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT I HAVE 32K MILES NOW AND NOTHING HAS CHANGE ALL THE SAME ISSUES BUT THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING WORST. MY TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING NO MATTER WHAT, UP, DOWN, TURN, FORWARD ALL NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS. WHEN IT DOES TRY AND SHIFT THE ENGINE CLATTERS WHICH IS EXTREMELY RIDICULOUS I'VE HAD SEVERAL SILVERADO'S AND THE LAST ONE THAT CLATTER THIS WAY WAS A 1978 WITH PROBABLY OVER 300,000(EXPECTED). MY TRANSMISSION DOES AS STATED BY OTHERS THE COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE TRUCK WILL LAUNCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD THIS IS THE FIRST NEW VEHICLE I'VE EVER BOUGHT THE LAST 4 WERE ALL SILVERADO FROM 78-94 AND THEY DIDN'T DO THIS. THIS TRUCK ALSO WEARS THE OUTER EDGE OF MY TRES NO MATTER HOW MANY ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCE AND ROTATING I GET DONE. YOU MAY SAY YOUR TIRE YOUR FAULT BUT I'VE LOOKED AT OVER 40 2012 SILVERADO'S IN PARKING LOTS AND SAW THE EXACT SAME WEAR PATTERN THE OWNERS ARE PROBABLY NOT THE TYPE TO CHECK OR CARE. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE $30,000 I PAID FOR THIS THING AND EXPECTED IT TO RUN FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS BUT I'M AT LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ARE GOING TO JUMP OUT AND FLY THROUGH AN INTERSECTION LEAVING ME AT A GREEN LIGHT. IF I WERE TO LET ANY CHEVY "BIG SHOT" DRIVE THIS FOR 1 WEEK AS THEIR DAILY DRIVER (IT'S MY DAILY) THEY WOULD PROBABLY STOP DRIVING IT ON DAY 1 AND ASK ME HOW I'VE DONE IT FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. MY REPLY WOULD BE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET ANOTHER ONE AND YOU "BIG SHOT" NEED TO GET THIS FIXED. ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY (NO MONEY) OVER WORKED UNDER PAID. TOOK MY SAVINGS BOUGHT A TRUCK THAT I WAITED 23 YEARS TO BUY AND THEN THE THING IS IN WORST SHAPE THAN THE 1994 EXTENDEDCAB I HAD. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Jul 30, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE CONTACT REACHED IN FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRAGGED SEVERAL FEET BEFORE THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR BRUISING AND SCRATCHES TO SEVERAL PARTS OF THE BODY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.
Service brakes, May 29, 2013
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, CALIPERS, DRUMS. & IT STILL VIBRATES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS EVEN PUT ANOTHER TRUCKS TIRES & RIMS ON THE TRUCK & IT STILL VIBRATES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED THE GM DISTRICT SPECIALIST ON 5/29/13 SHE TOLD ME THAT THE VIBRATION & HIT & MISS ACCELERATION WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TRUCK. $40,000 TRUCK & IT IS NOT A VERY GOOD RIDE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, May 24, 2013
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 THURSDAY GOT A CALL FROM GM THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY PROBLEMS. *TR
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Mar 20, 2012
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. ALL BRAKE LIGHTS WORK FINE WHEN THE FOOT BRAKE IS APPLIED BUT NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CONTROLLER OVERIDE IS APPLIED TO OPERATE THE TRAILER BRAKES INDEPENDENTLY. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TRAILERING THAT ONE ONLY WISHES TO USE THE TRAILER BRAKES TO SETTLE DOWN SWAYING OR ON LONG DOWN HILL GRADES. 2012 VEHICLES ARE NOT WIRED SO THAT BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO WORK OFF THE CONTROLLER OVERRIDE SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN TOWING FOR OVER 26 YEARS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS WORKED BOTH ON THE FOOT BRAKE AND CONTROLLER OVERRIDE BRAKE SWITCH. THIS IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IF ONE APPLIES THE TRAILER BRAKES ALONE WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING, THIS COULD CAUSE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO THE BACK OF THE TRAILER AND TOW VEHICLE CAUSING A CRASH. CHEVROLET STATES THEY CANNOT CONNECT THE TRAILER CONTROLLERS TO OPERATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS AS IT WOULD BACK FEED POWER INTO THE ELECTRONICS OF THE VEHICLE VOIDING ANY WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. TRAILER BRAKES LIGHTS ONLY WORK AS CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE WIRING WHEN STEPPING ON THE FOOT BRAKE. *KB