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2012 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 76.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

61 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine complaints

6 reports
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135 miles · May 24, 2014
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

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 MA…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10593816

8,000 miles · Feb 28, 2014
Engine

EFM ISSUE: LIFE-TIME CHEVY SILVERADO OWNER, CURRENTLY OWN 2003 & 2012 1500 SILVERADO 1/2 TONS. EVER SINCE GM STARTED USING EFM CHIPS, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE ENGINE WILL LOSE SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL FOR NO REASON. WITHOUT WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. PULL-OVER & CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. ON EVERY OCCASION, (SEVERAL INCI…

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EFM ISSUE: LIFE-TIME CHEVY SILVERADO OWNER, CURRENTLY OWN 2003 & 2012 1500 SILVERADO 1/2 TONS. EVER SINCE GM STARTED USING EFM CHIPS, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE ENGINE WILL LOSE SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL FOR NO REASON. WITHOUT WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. PULL-OVER & CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. ON EVERY OCCASION, (SEVERAL INCIDENTS NOW), MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE OIL LEVEL BARELY REGISTERS ON THE DIP STICK. WHERE DID 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL GO? YESTERDAY THE OIL LEVEL WAS FULL, TODAY THE OIL LEVEL IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT - WITHOUT A DROP OF OIL LEAKING ANYWHERE? I NOW HAVE TO CARRY 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO JUST IN CASE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. GM SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL. WARNING: IF YOU DRIVE A CHEVY YOU BETTER KEEP 4 QUARTS OF OIL WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES IN THE EVENT THIS HAPPENS TO YOU. NOT IMMEDIATELY PULLING-OVER & FILLING THE OIL LEVEL BACK TO PROPER LEVEL MAY DESTROY YOUR ENGINE. FIX THIS EFM ISSUE > LOSS OF OIL, AS IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND STILL PERSISTS AFTER 2 COMPLETE MODEL CHANGEOVERS. THIS MAJOR MALFUNCTION IS THE RESULT OF THE EFM SYSTEM DUMPING THE OIL INTO THE EXHAUST & THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BURNING IT AWAY. THAT IS THE ONLY PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR LOSING SO MUCH OIL WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT A DROP OF OIL BEING FOUND ANYWHERE OUTSIDE THE ENGINE OR UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR CHASSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566536

37,500 miles · Apr 11, 2013
EngineFire

DRIVING SLOW ON WET GRAVEL ROAD AND A LARGE CLOUD ORF WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM DRIVERS SIDE OF HOOD. STOPPED AND GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM BEHIND DRIVERS SEAT AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN HOOD WITH HOOD RELEASE BUT HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN. ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT FIRE THRU DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL…

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DRIVING SLOW ON WET GRAVEL ROAD AND A LARGE CLOUD ORF WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM DRIVERS SIDE OF HOOD. STOPPED AND GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM BEHIND DRIVERS SEAT AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN HOOD WITH HOOD RELEASE BUT HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN. ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT FIRE THRU DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. CALLED 911. ENTIRE CAB AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CONSUMED BY THE TIME 911 ARRIVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10506038

7,496 miles · Mar 11, 2013
Engine

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10502363

12,000 miles · Mar 5, 2013
EngineCrashInjury

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.…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10501382

3,000 miles · Jun 7, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10460912

Official recalls

2

14V827000 · Electrical System:ignition

Dec 30, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

13V615000 · Fuel System, Diesel

Dec 11, 2013

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, equipped with 6.6L diesel engines and dual fuel tanks. In the affected vehicles, the transfer pump which moves fuel from the rear tank to the front tank could malfunction and cause the fuel gauge to indicate an inaccurate reading.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel transfer pump, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13420.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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