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.
Engine, Mar 11, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE IDLED IRREGULARLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PISTON NUMBER 7 WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,496 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 03/28/13*LJ ON 01/11/13, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CLOSER A DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND CODE P0300 MISFIRE #7 CYLINDER (0322-6579). THEY INSTALLED A NEW PLUG IN # 7 CYLINDER AND INSTALLED A NEW VALVE COVER AND PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE TRUCK STARED RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN, SO THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 01/23/13. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED A PISTON, AND REPLACED THE VALVE STEM SEALS. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON 01/30/13
Engine, Mar 5, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 05/21/2013 *JS
Power train, Feb 25, 2013
WAS DRIVING UP TO THE STOP SIGN. IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD. SORTA LIKE JERKING. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Oct 10, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
Power train, Jun 22, 2012
HAPPENED DRIVING HOME AFTER BUYING VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP AS 1ST GEAR WAS BEING ENGAGED. DROVE IT UNTIL BREAK IN PERIOD WAS OVER AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WERE THE TRANSMISSION BODY AND VALVES WERE REPLACED. NOW GETTING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AT A SPEED OF 35-45 MPH. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AND I HAVE NO POWER GOING TO THE WHEELS, LIKE IT SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL FOR A 5-10 SECONDS. THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF TRANSMISSION DOES NOT REENGAGE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. YOU WILL GET REAR ENDED. *TT
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 7, 2012
I HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY NEW 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 LT (5.3 LITER ENGINE) GOING INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE" WHICH ALSO RESULTS IN THE DISABLING OF STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION IN THAT IT RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE UPON THE ROADWAY. AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY HAS REPLACED THE NUMBER ONE AND TWO THROTTLE SENSORS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, THE THROTTLE BODY, THE ALTERNATOR, THE COMPUTER, AND A LARGE GROUND WIRE BEHIND THE DASH. A GM ENGINEER WAS FLOWN IN AND NOW THE REPAIR CENTER IS REPLACING THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE (WHICH WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AGO) HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. IN RESEARCHING THIS MATTER I HAVE FOUND THAT CHEVY HAS HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS IN VARIOUS VEHICLES IN ITS PRODUCT LINE SINCE 2003. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A CONSENSUS REGARDING THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALL OF THE PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH TROUBLE CODES C0242, P2127, AND P2138 HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT RESULT. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES BEING REARENDED, OR, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF STABILITY AND TRACTION CONTROL, RESULT IN A ROLL OVER. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. *JS
Electrical system, Structure, May 12, 2012
THERE IS A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE THE IS EMITTED FROM BEHIND THE DASH. THIS NOISE IS DISTRACTING TO THE POINT THAT MY WIFE CAN NOT RIDE IN THE TRUCK LET ALONE DRIVE IT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS NOISE AND IT IS ACCEPTABLE. *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
Tires, Jan 13, 2012
THIS IS ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH A SET OF GOODYEAR EAGLES LS-2 TIRES. WITH ONLY 1300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I HAVE ALREADY SLID THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, INCLUDING SLIDING INTO THE MEDIAN TWICE. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THESE TIRES TO STAY ON THE ROAD OR WHEN PULLING OUT OR GOING AROUND A CURVE. THESE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD. *TR