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2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, most often about the electrical (21% of complaints). It is 20th of 27 Silverado 2500 model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems
Electrical
11 complaints · 21%Parts named most often: instrument panel.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. While driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the redundant pressure sensor circuit was shorted and inoperative. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of…
When temperatures drop below 30 degrees the tire pressure warning light and the low coolant light comes on. Took to dealership and they advised that both warning lights do that below 28 degrees. This has occurred since 2013 winter. Glow plugs going out one at time gm will only replace as they go out up to 120000 not…
Fuel system
10 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 117,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
I was driving down a highway road when my vehicle abruptly lost power, I received a warning from my dashboard saying fuel filter needs replacing and subsequently lost engine power which resulted in no power steering and no brakes. I was able to keep the vehicle under control and got it to the side of the road before…
Vehicle would not start. When they put it on scope they found that the fuel rail pressure was to low. They found metal shavings throughout the fuel system as if a part was coming apart from the inside. They had to replace entire fuel system from pump to injectors plus all the lines and injection pump. This vehicle is…
Air bags
9 complaints · 17%The dash board on my silverado is cracked in 4 different places. Two on the air bag side and two on the drivers side. They have been getting worse with time. They seem to just keep growing.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that he had the vehicle repaired under NHTSA campaign 21v051000 (air bags) however when he retrieved the vehicle the air bag warning light was illuminated and a warning message to the service air bag soon was displayed. The contact stated that before…
Engine
8 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet silverado 2500hd. While driving 55 MPH, the check engine indicator illuminated and remained lit. The vehicle was taken to john l sullivan Chevrolet (350 automall dr, roseville, ca 95661, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the nitrogen oxide sensors failed. The manufacturer was…
Cracked front dash between airbag and window defrost vent, possible airbag deploy issue. Check engine light illuminates when first engine start or during use on my lml engine: repeat failing glow plugs, repeat nox sensor and DEF issues. There have been failing oat sensors, failed driver seat cooling fan(s), defective…
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 93,500 miles.
The dash board on my silverado is cracked in 4 different places. Two on the air bag side and two on the drivers side. They have been getting worse with time. They seem to just keep growing.
The top of the dash is cracked above the instrument panel. Not sure when or how it happened. This is the same thing I've seen happen to many other gm trucks and suvs.
Wheels and tires
6 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 equipped with federal couragia a/t tires, size: lt245/75r16 120/116q 10pr. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to wobble. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that all four tire shoulders separated. The four tires were…
When temperatures drop below 30 degrees the tire pressure warning light and the low coolant light comes on. Took to dealership and they advised that both warning lights do that below 28 degrees. This has occurred since 2013 winter. Glow plugs going out one at time gm will only replace as they go out up to 120000 not…
Transmission
5 complaints · 9%Several problems.. Multiple failures of "glow plugs" (known gm problem) and nox exhaust sensors, high DEF use, unusual "buildup" in the exhaust filter requiring many dealer visits, downtime, repair costs and extremely poor fuel mileage. Glow plugs often fail at initial start when system is "cold".. Oat has been from…
Steering
4 complaints · 8%This has occurred twice now. Going at slow speed, such as 5 to 10 MPH making a turn and the steering goes out making the truck difficult to turn. It is like the ignition switches off and then 5 to 10 seconds later the switch comes back on. Very scary when this occurs!
When making a turn at low speed, the power steering goes off. It is then almost impossible to turn. It did this several times. I took it to a dealer, and they replaced the power steering pump. They said it was putting out 1150 psi and it should be 1700-1800 psi. The problem came back the next day. I will take back to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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'
Full defect summary
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, sub
Equipment
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, instructing them to contact kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began june 11, 2018. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. Gm's number for this recall is 18146.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2009-2014 chevrolet silverado hd and gmc sierra hd, 2009 gmc topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 series and isuzu f series, and 2009-2018 chevrolet express, and gmc savana vehicles, equipped with certain plastic-handle fire extinguishers or push button 'pindicator' fire extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17e062-5427.pdf
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (11 complaints); fuel system (10 complaints, typically around 117,000 miles); air bags (9 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 5, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
- It is 20th of 27 Silverado 2500 model years by number of complaints, with 53 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.