← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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

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

What owners actually said

68 reports
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.…

Read full complaint

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

15,000 miles · Feb 25, 2013
Power Train

WAS DRIVING UP TO THE STOP SIGN. IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD. SORTA LIKE JERKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499894

2,500 miles · Oct 10, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

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…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10479648

144 miles · Jun 22, 2012
Power Train

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10462796

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…

Read full complaint

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

360 miles · May 12, 2012
Electrical SystemStructure

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

NHTSA ODI #10458219

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2012
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #10452358

1,300 miles · Jan 13, 2012
Tires

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 …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10443762

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems