2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500.

20112013
Complaints
69
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#19 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:77,249 mi
#28 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:34,576 mi
#38 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:43,143 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500.

Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
77,249
Electrical Faults
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
34,576
Engine Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,143
Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
118,167
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
12,000
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Diesel Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,068,927 vehicles.

21V051000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~284,645 affected

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.

21V054000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~1,778,128 affected

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.

18V267000Other Equipment
~6,154 affected

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

Other Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Years

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has 69 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
Top reported problems: Airbags (9 complaints, avg 77,249 mi); Electrical Faults (8 complaints, avg 34,576 mi); Engine Problems (8 complaints, avg 43,143 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 59,572 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 include 2 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,068,927 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Silverado 2500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

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