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: suspension
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Structure, Other or unspecified, May 7, 2025
I have been shopping for a truck for a little over a year now specifically a 2012 Chevy Silverado. To date everyone I found has frame and body rust but the frame rust is so bad that most aren’t safe to drive.
Suspension, Structure, Dec 5, 2023
THE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LEFT TIRE IS ALMOST SNAPPED AND YOU CAN PUT YOUR HAND THROUGH THE RUST IN FRAME. HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY 2 MECHANICS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND HAVE BABIED THIS TRUCK SINCE THE FIRST DAY I GOT IT IN 2014. ADDITIONAL DEFECT IS THE TAILGATE WONT STATE SHUT, MUST CLOSE 3-4 TIMES FOR IT TO REMAIN CLOSED.
Suspension, Structure, Sep 12, 2023
Frame and suspension components are complete rusted and rotting off of frame. I am afraid to drive the truck in fear of it falling apart on me while on the road.
Suspension, Jul 2, 2023
The main chassis frame rusted through on both sides in the rear just ahead of the rear axle
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2023
THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT IS RUSTED ON BOTHE SHOCKS. THE MAIN FRAME RAIL IS RUSTED AND HAS HOLES IN THE FRAME. BEFORE LONG THIS WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM IF THE FRAME GIVES WAY. THE REAR WHEEL WELLS ARE ALSO RUSTED ABOVE THE TIRES ON BOTH SIDE. IT WAS INSPECTED BY A BODY REPAIR AND SAID FRAME WILL NEED REPLACED ALONG WITH TWO BED PANELS
Suspension, Jan 10, 2023
extensive frame corrosion, on the box frame, all the way through the frame. The Box frame corroded from the inside out.
Suspension, Oct 13, 2022
EXCESSIVE CORROSION TO CHASSIS FRAME. INTERNET LINKS STATE THERE WAS A FRAME RECALL FOR THE 2012 CHEVY SILVERADO PICKUP BECAUSE GM DID NOT TREAT THE CHASSIS FRAME DURING MANUFACTURING.
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
Suspension, Feb 7, 2018
THE STEEL IN THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS SUDDENLY BROKE IN HALF (UNDER NO LOAD). IT HAPPENED TWICE - IN THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRINGS IN ~2016 (~3 YEARS OF AGE), AND AGAIN IN THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRINGS LAST WEEK (2018). THIS IS NOT EVEN A MECHANICAL DEVICE - JUST A PASSIVE HEAVY GAUGE PIECE OF STEEL. THE VEHICLE IS VERY LIGHT USE, AND IN BOTH CASES THERE WAS NO PAYLOAD IN THE FLATBED. GM APPEARS TO BE USING A SUBSTANDARD GRADE OF STEEL IN CRITICAL AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED WHEN THE SPRINGS BROKE, AND I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM IF DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE STEEL ROD THAT CONNECTS THE INNER DRIVER DOOR HANDLE TO THE DOOR LOCK, ALSO SNAPPED (SO YOU CAN NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE CONTROLS). IT APPEARS THAT GM IS USING A CHEAP SUBSTANDARD GRADE OF STEEL IN THEIR VEHICLES. ESTIMATED DATE OF FIRST EVENT BELOW. *JS
Suspension, Structure, Mar 14, 2016
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.
Suspension, Electrical system, Structure, Sep 20, 2015
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.
Suspension, Power train, Structure, May 16, 2014, crash
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
Suspension, Power train, Jul 28, 2013
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