IllustrationTHE DASH IS CRACKED BY THE AIR BAG HOUSING THE DOOR HANDLES ARE DISCOLORED AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS ALSO DISCOLORED.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado years →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
310–25K
1625–50K
750–75K
475–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
5 reportsCRACKS IN THE DASH AT THE AIRBAG MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.
TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN I GOT BACK INTO IT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED
WAS DRIVING AND HEARD LOUD POP. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED DASH AND FOUND CRACK AROUND AIRBAG AREA PASSENGER SIDE OF TRUCK.
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 WH…
Read full complaint
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
Official recalls
214V827000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.