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
284 reports, newest first.
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.
Structure, Feb 2, 2016
DOOR HANDLE COMES OFF ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE
Structure, Jan 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IN THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD HAD A CRACK FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE AIR BAG COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2016
CRACKS IN THE DASH AT THE AIRBAG MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.
Tires, Nov 27, 2015
COOPER ZEON LTZ 275/60R20 M + S DOT # UTW0 CN9 TIRES DEVELOPED CRACKS WHERE TREAD MEETS SIDEWALL AND LEAKS AIR TIRE IS NOT LISTED IN THE AVAILABLE NAMES SECTION ON THIS WEBSITE
Structure, Nov 19, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,580. UPDATED 1/15/16 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 01/25/16..*JB
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.
Power train, Oct 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,361.
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.
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.
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.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2015
TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN I GOT BACK INTO IT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED
Other or unspecified, Sep 10, 2015
WAS DRIVING AND HEARD LOUD POP. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED DASH AND FOUND CRACK AROUND AIRBAG AREA PASSENGER SIDE OF TRUCK.
Structure, Wheels, Seats, Sep 9, 2015, fire
I HAD DRIVEN BACK HOME FROM TAHOE AROUND 6:00PM AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 HOURS WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE SLIDE ON THE 5TH WHEEL. I FOUND THE SLIDE ON THE TRAILER WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO A LACK OF POWER ON THE 5TH WHEEL. AT THIS TIME THE PIGTAIL WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE TRUCK. I DISCONNECTED THE PIGTAIL FROM THE TRUCK AND PLUGGED THE TRAILER INTO A 50 AMP PLUG AND THE SLIDE OPENED NORMALLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT THE BATTERY HAD DISCHARGED AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME. AROUND 10:45PM MY GIRLFRIEND SCREAMED THE TRAILER WAS ON FIRE AND WHEN I REACHED THE BACKDOOR THE ENTIRE TRAILER WAS ENGULFED AND THE REAR OF THE TRUCK WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. BOTH THE VEHICLES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED ALONG WITH A BARN THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY10 FEET AWAY SUFFERING MAJOR DAMAGE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 8, 2015
I WAS PULLED OVER TWICE WITH IN 30 MINS FOR HAVING A MY RIGHT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT OUT. I'VE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT, CHECKED FUSES, RELAY AND TESTED THE SOCKET POWER AND ALL WERE FINE
Tires, Aug 18, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL COURAGIA A/T MUD TRAIN TIRES, SIZE: ST 516-333/12.50 R20LP (NA). WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BAND OF THE TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY AS THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 60,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Exterior lighting, May 21, 2015
WORKING IN THE YARD, I NOTICED OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE MOISTURE IN MY PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHT. AN INSPECTION OF THE TAILLIGHT SHOWED MULTIPLE FRACTURES IN THE HOUSING ACROSS THE REAR PORTION. THESE FRACTURES ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE UNIT. A FRACTURE ROUGHLY A QUARTER INCH UP LIMITS THE WATER ACCUMULATION. I THEN CHECKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNIT & NOTICED THE SAME FAILURE IS STARTING. AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY I HAD JUST OVER 1000 ENGINE HOURS ON THE VEHICLE AND JUST OVER 126K MILES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW & I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE ROUGHLY 38.5 MONTHS. BULBS HAVE A GREATER LIFE EXPECTANCY THAN THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT THEM AND PROMOTE SAFETY. THE DEALER SAYS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ASSEMBLIES ARE MY ISSUE. THESE ITEMS ARE REQUIRED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW TO MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS. DEPENDING ON FRACTURE PLACEMENT THE BULBS MAY SHORT OUT OR FAIL DUE TO CORROSION. FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY CAN LEAD TO SOMEONE MISSING A TURN SIGNAL, A STOP OR NOTICE THAT YOU ARE BACKING UP. I BELIEVE THESE FAILURES INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT. BASED PRIOR EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER VEHICLES I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I'M THEORIZING THAT BECAUSE THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE CATCHES THE EVENING SUN IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THESE WERE DESIGNED USING CHEAPER MATERIALS THAT POTENTIALLY DID NOT PROVIDE FOR THE ABILITY TO HOLDUP TO THE UV RAYS OF NATURAL SUNLIGHT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THIRD LIGHT ON THE CAB RECEIVED MORE SHADE DUE TO A NEIGHBOR'S TREE THAT WAS REMOVED LAST YEAR SO THE SUN IMPACT WOULD BE LESS. I NOTICE THERE IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT FOR THIS MODEL YEAR ABOUT A CAB PLACED REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY ECHOING THE SAME ISSUE.
Structure, Apr 22, 2015
THERE ARE MULTIPLE CRACKS SURROUNDING MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IN MY 2012 SILVERADO. I BELIEVE 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. *TR
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
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