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.
Exterior lighting, Apr 3, 2019
THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GOES OUT. I HAVE TO SHAKE OR WIGGLE THEM TO GET THEM TO WORK SOMETIMES. FINALLY, THEY WILL STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER AFTER A FEW DAYS. THE LIGHTS MOST OF THE TIME WILL NOT COME ON AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF AND I START IT UP AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOT COME BACK ON.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Feb 9, 2019
DASHBOARD CRACK ABOVE PASSENGER AIRBAG.
Other or unspecified, Jan 19, 2019
TIRE MOUNTED UNDER VEHICLE IS NOT SAME SIZE AS TIRES IN USE, SAFETY QUESTION.
Exterior lighting, Jan 14, 2019
BOTH HEAD LIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, HIGHWAY, COUNTRY ROAD, TURNING, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. . SOMETIMES ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT OTHER TIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. YELLOW FOG LIGHTS STAY ON . BRIGHT LIGHTS WILL WORK AND TURN ON. I HAVE TO PULL OVER EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS, OPEN THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK AND MOVE THE WIRES AROUNF THAT ATTACHES TO THE HEADLIGHT THAT WENT OUT. IT WILL WORK MOMENTARILY AND THEN GO OUT AGAIN. THIS IS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. FROM NOVEMBER UNTIL CURRENT. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT AND NOW BOTH GO OUT. THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 7, 2019
TOOK WIFE IN CITY TRAFFIC UPTOWN..PCV VALUE GOT CLOGGED CAUSING OIL TO GET ON SPARK PLUGS AND FOUL THEM OUT CAUSING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF AND CLEANED AND ALL SPARK PLUGS AND COVERS REPLACED.. MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED.. COST ME ALMOST $800 AND THERE IS ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT! FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO ONLY HAVE TO DRIVE ABOUT 3 MILES TO DEALERSHIP!
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 26, 2018
TAKA RECALL IGNITION IS HARD TO TURN AND START
Other or unspecified, Dec 21, 2018
THE COMMON DASH CRACKS. ONE TO THE TOP LEFT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE OTHER ALONG THE TOP OF THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 11, 2018
DASH IS CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. VEHICLE HAS 113K MILES WAS BOUGHT THAT WAY IN MAY OF 17 WITH DASH CRACKED AT 104K MILES
Other or unspecified, Nov 16, 2018
CRACKED DASH
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 20, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITRAK, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREELAND CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 5333 HICKORY HOLLOW PKWY, ANTIOCH, TN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,056. *TT CONSUMER STATED POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 14, 2018
USUALLY IN THE MORNINGS BUT ALSO OTHER TIMES WHEN I START MY TRUCK UP. THE STEERING STABILIZER AND STABILITY ACT LIGHTS COME ON. SOMETIMES IT TURNS OFF AND OTHER TIMES IT STAYS ON. I SEE THAT THE 2015 CHEVY SILVERADO HAS A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE BUT MINE IS A 2012. THANK YOU
Engine, Sep 12, 2018
GOT TRUCK 1-25-16 WITH 49066 MILES NOW 9-12-2018 HAS 94000 USE'S OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. I ALWAYS CHANGE WHEN OIL LIFE MONITOR SAYS 10% LIFE LEFT USE AC DELCO DEXOS OIL DOESN'T LEAK OR SMOKE . I TRADED IN A 1999 SILVERADO WITH 201000 MILES IT USED NO OIL.GM NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS I HEAR IT HAPPENS TO FAR TO MANY TRUCKS WITH THE 5.3 ENGINE
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 8, 2018
RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS IN-OPERABLE. LIGHT BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OE BULB, LIGHT STILL DOES NOT WORK. DEALER STATED THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. DEALER ALSO STATED I WOULD NEED MULTIPLE HOURS OF DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE. NO ACCIDENTS, NO COLLISIONS. VEHICLE AT THIS TIME IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. MULTIPLE DEALERS IN MY AREA HAVE NOTED THIS AS AN ISSUE FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL. RIGHT LOW BEAM IS COMPLETELY IN-OPERABLE.
Structure, Aug 31, 2018
DASH BOARD IS CRACKING, WITHOUT INCIDENT, IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS, DECREASING VALUE AND PRESENTING SAFETY HAZARD IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS OR IF COLLISION CAUSES IT TO SPLINTER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 14, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAFONTAINE CHEVROLET (7120 DEXTER ANN ARBOR RD, DEXTER, MI 48130, (734) 680-8850) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MOISTURE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. *TT *JB
Structure, Jul 28, 2018
DASHBOARD SEVERLY CRACKED GM WILL NOT FIX
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 6, 2018
THERE HAS BEEN VARIOUS OCCASIONS WHERE WE ARE DRIVING AND THE TRUCK STOPS WITH NO WARNING OR REASON, THE FIRST TIME WAS ON I-95 HIGHWAY IN PHILADELPHIA MID TRAFFIC THE TRUCK TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 5MINUTES WE WEEE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BLOCKING TRAFFIC, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE SECOND TIME WAS JUST THIS WEEK ON THE WAY TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO GET THE COMPUTER READ IT TURNED OFF YET AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BOTH MECHANICS SAID NOTHING CAN UP ON THE SCANNER WHEN CONNECTED AND THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS TURNED ON.
Tires, Jun 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (TIRES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE TIRES TO THE LOCAL HARBOR FREIGHT STORE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 3, 2018
GAS GAUGE JUMPS UP AND DOWN. WILL READ ALMOST EMPTY JUST AFTER FILLING UP OR AFTER ONLY A FEW MILES.
Electrical system, May 21, 2018
REVIEWED RECALL 18V295 AND MY VEHICLE HAS 1 BAD POWER WINDOW SWITCH WHICH DOES NOT WORK. COULD LIQUID HAVE CAUSED THIS SAME PROBLEM UNDER THIS RECALL? DOES NOT WORK IN ANY VEHICLE MOTION.
Electrical system, May 11, 2018
IGNITION SWITCH IS BAD. IT LOCKS UP TO WHERE THE KEY WILL NEED TO BE TURNED AROUND AND TRIED AGAIN. WHEN TAKING KEY OUT THE KEY HOLE (AT TIMES) STAYS IN THE ON POSITION AND DINGS AS I LEAVE MAKING THE ASSESSORIES FUNCTION STAY ON. IF KEY IS BUMPED THE KEY CAN TURN OFF TRUCK MAKING ALL POWER TURN OFF.
Engine, Apr 27, 2018, crash
I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION AFTER STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN. I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH THE DIVIDED INTERSECTION THAT HAD A ROAD CLOSED SIGN FOR THE EXIT SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION AND A DO NOT ENTER SIGN FOR THE ENTRANCE SIDE. THE MEDIAN WAS OVER GROWN WITH VEGETATION SO THAT VISIBILITY WAS POOR. I STARTED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH A CAR ENTERING AT FAST RATE OF SPEED HIT THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK KNOCKING TO THE LEFT. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND I WAS THROWN TO THE RIGHT AND THE ENGINE WENT TO FULL SPEED. THE TRUCK HIT A PALM TREE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 19, 2018, fire
DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. THE LIGHTBULB IS IN GOOD ORDER. THE PIGTAIL SHOWS SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT/SMALL FIRE, PLASTIC MELTING, CARBON IN THE METAL CONTACT ON THE LIGHTBULB AND SOCKET. THE PIGTAIL WAS REPLACED AND LASTED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH TO SHOW THE SAME ISSUES. I AM AFRAID OF A VEHICLE FIRE. THE VEHICLE'S STABILITRACK IS UNUSABLE, THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. THE ISSUES HAPPENED SUDDENLY DURING NORMAL CITY/HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE ISSUES ARE ONGOING AND STARTED SIX MONTHS AGO.
Engine, Apr 10, 2018
EXCESSIVE OIL COMSUMPTION. I CHANGE OIL AND 1000 MILES LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHR COMES ON . I CHECK OIL AND IT ISN'T EVEN ON THE STICK.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Mar 27, 2018
CRACKED DASH ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND AT IT BAG. STARTED AT 48000 MILES. IF IN A WRECK AND AIR BAG DEPLOYS SHARDS OF DASH CAN FLY THROUGH THE AIR. THINGS CAN GET DOWN IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND CAUSE A SHORT WHICH CAN LEAD TO A FIRE. VEHICLE CAN BE SITTING IN A HEATED GARAGE AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE