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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,411 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

Sep 272022

Silverado 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Oil consumption on 2011 to 2014 Chevy Silverado engine related issues on the 5.3 liter v8 flex fuel engine. Vehicle produced a service engine soon light on 9/27/2022 so I took it to the local Chevy dealer mechanic. They inspect it and determine that it was a misfire in cylinder 7. They went to run it through my warranty that I purchased when I baught the vehicle 2 years ago. They advised that it would not be covered so to it being an oil consumption issue. They advised that to fix the issue permanently it would cost $3,600 to fix. Being that this is a known issue GM should be issuing a recall to correct this. I only have 60000 miles on the vehicle and the engine is basically junk without the fix. I do not have the repair invoice at the this time as it is currently in the shop with the local Chevy dealer The mechanic advised that this is a known issue with all Silverado-€™s between 2011 and 2014 and that GM knew this was an issue and that eventually the engine will sieze if you don-€™t have the pistons and rings replaced. This is a country wide problem and appears there is a possible class action lawsuit due to GM knowing this was an issue and in 2014 GM re-engineered the 5.3 vortec to correct this issue. In addition it is a known issue another problem is the rear wheel wells rusting on all Silverado-€™s. This should also be looked into Thank you for your time and consideration!

- Kaukauna, WI, USA

problem #27

Jul 202022

Silverado 1500

  • miles
While driving the motor completely cut off. Yes, the vehicle can be inspected. The vehicle just shut down without warning, causing the vehicle to rapidly slow down with no warning to other motorists behind me. Yes, a dealer has confirmed the problem and could not definitively determine what the problem is. they said it could be: A shielded wire, service dept. said its not available from GM and would have to purchase the entire wiring harness and install to see if it fixed the issue. They said it could be a bad power inverter, again had to install to see if it fixed the issue. Finally said it could be a bad transmission(??) The only people who has attempted to diagnose is at the GM dealer service department. Their was no warning that the vehicle was about to turn completely off prior to it doing so.

- Glen Allen, VA, USA

problem #26

Jul 012020

Silverado 1500

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The oil indicator warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the oil dipstick and notice no indication of oil on the dipstick. The vehicle was taken to burns Chevrolet (2515 cherry rd, rock hill, SC 29732, (803) 392-4180) where an oil consumption test was provided and diagnosed that the engine needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- York, SC, USA

problem #25

Oct 222020

Silverado 1500

  • 138,319 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine using 1 to 2 quarts of oil each oil change (I do check level at time of each gas refueling) this problem was documented at the service department, tom tepe auto center, Chevrolet dealer in Milan, Indiana dennis murphy manager812-654-3001 milage in at the time was 13831, issue still exists!

- Rising Sun, IN, USA

problem #24

Sep 302020

Silverado 1500

  • 143,000 miles
I have had several issues with engine oil pressure sensors and now the lifter dropped and damaged cam, simmons rockwell says I need a new motor. It has 143,000 miles on

- Bath, NY, USA

problem #23

May 132020

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 127,500 miles
Was driving vehicle on highway and engine service light came on. When scanned code came up for low oil pressure. Checked oil levels and there was no oil present on the oil dipstick. I had to add 3 quarts of oil to return it to the proper oil level. I now check oil level regularly and have to add an excessive amount of oil on a regular basis.

- Davie, FL, USA

problem #22

Feb 232020

Silverado 1500

  • 74,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Oil pressure warning indicator alarmed, stating shut engine off immediately! went repair shop close to home, a diagnosing test showed no codes at all. A check of bulletins for possible issue with codes that should be present, were not there? shop has recommended I take vehicle to a dealership for further analysis.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #21

Sep 072019

Silverado 1500

  • 95,000 miles
I was driving on a curvy road running 45 miles an hour and suddenly my motor started knocking has 95,000 miles on it.

- Lane, OK, USA

problem #20

Jun 202019

Silverado 1500

  • 93,353 miles
While driving in heavy traffic the engine just quit and would not restart. It left me stranded and impeding traffic at rush hour, in charlotte N C.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #19

Apr 152019

Silverado 1500

  • 130,000 miles
My truck has been having issue after issue with sensors going bad and check enginge light always coming on. Now I have a transmission issue with a solenoid going bad. The transmission has had the "clunk" as people discribe it since I purchased it. Nothing was wrong with it so I was told and that was normal. There are so many complaints on this year and make Silverado its pretty sad that nothing has been done. Now my truck sits and still paying the note because of this transmission issue that a ton of people have reported. How many thigs do I have to change before the check engine light stops coming on. Please help all of us who own a Chevy and have GM make this right.

- Belle Rose, LA, USA

problem #18

Jan 042019

Silverado 1500

  • 56,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Took wife in city traffic uptown..PCV value got clogged causing oil to get on spark plugs and foul them out causing the intake manifold to have to be taken off and cleaned and all spark plugs and covers replaced.. manifold gasket replaced.. cost me almost $800 and there is only 56,000 miles on it! fortunate that I was able to only have to drive about 3 miles to dealership!

- Waycross, GA, USA

problem #17

Aug 312018

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,056 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of engine power and the service traction control, stabilitrak, and engine power reduced warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to freeland Chevrolet (located at 5333 hickory hollow pkwy, antioch, tn) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed a new battery. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal position sensor was defective and needed to be replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power train control module was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 35,056. Consumer stated power train control module was defective.

- Smyrna, TN, USA

problem #16

Jun 062017

Silverado 1500

  • 76,000 miles
Got truck 1-25-16 with 49066 miles now 9-12-2018 has 94000 use's oil between changes. I always change when oil life monitor says 10% life left use ac delco dexos oil doesn't leak or smoke. I traded in a 1999 Silverado with 201000 miles it used no oil.GM needs to take care of this problem as I hear it happens to far to many trucks with the 5.3 engine

- Champaign, IL, USA

problem #15

Jan 222018

Silverado 1500

  • 7,700 miles
I entered the intersection after stopping at the stop sign. I was halfway through the divided intersection that had a road closed sign for the exit side of the intersection and a do not enter sign for the entrance side. The median was over grown with vegetation so that visibility was poor. I started across the intersection and about half way through a car entering at fast rate of speed hit the front of my truck knocking to the left. The airbag deployed and I was thrown to the right and the engine went to full speed. The truck hit a palm tree.

- Standish, MI, USA

problem #14

Apr 102018

Silverado 1500

  • miles
Excessive oil comsumption. I change oil and 1000 miles later my check engine lighr comes on. I check oil and it isn't even on the stick.

- Pickford, MI, USA

problem #13

Jan 292018

Silverado 1500

  • 88,000 miles
In motion on highway, motor looses oil pressure. Oil pressure sensor and related filter already changed once, failing again.

- Leavenworth, KS, USA

problem #12

Jun 022017

Silverado 1500

  • 52,099 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle idled roughly and stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (punente hills Chevrolet located at 17300 E gale ave city of industry, ca 91748 888-202-3593) where it was diagnosed that the valve cover needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 52,099.

- La Puenta, CA, USA

problem #11

Oct 062012

Silverado 1500

  • miles
Engine light would come on and engine would not be operating properly.apeared to be misfiring. It was taken in to the dealership four different times and diagnosed with cylinder misfire oil fouled spark plug each time. Problem persisted until we were informed by the dealership after the warranty expired it would need a new engine. Manufacture and dealership were unhelpful and did not accept responsibility for a defective engine. There is a class action lawsuit pending for this model and type engine with others experiencing the same problems.

- Snohomish, WA, USA

problem #10

Mar 192016

Silverado 1500

  • 95,352 miles
Oil consumption issue with 5.3 L V8 engine. Uses 4 qts of oil between 5000 mile oil change. Started at 95352 miles when warning light came on saying oil pressure was extremely low. Found out truck only had 2 qts of oil left in it. Oil life reading was still at 7%. then engine started fouling cylinder one spark plug noticed by engine code and sluggish driving. Dealer replaced, fouled again. Dealer replaced left valve cover to fix, fouled plug again. Dealer suggested piston ring job. Not done due to cost. Now has fouled plug two more times and is still using 4 qts oil between 5000 mile oil changes. Only 119816 miles currenly.

- Elkhorn, WI, USA

problem #9

Dec 072016

Silverado 1500

  • 69,000 miles
My truck should have no issues as I follow the maintenance schedule and take good care of my vehicle but it has happened twice where I was in the middle of the interstate when my vehicle displayed the check engine light, traction off, stabiltrac off, the airvents stopped blowing cool air and released humidity, brakes were not functioning properly (hard to actually break), steering wheel/power steering was malfunctioning making it almost impossible to turn or get out of traffic and it seems the vehicle just decided to suddenly stall while in motion. I was very lucky due to sudden high risk of a vehicle crash and was able to pull over without getting anyone hurt. I turned the vehicle off once I got in park and looked under the hood, everything was fine showing no issues but I went to start the vehicle and it did not crank or try to turn over but all electronics/lights were still working. I check all fluid levels, all was fine and then I went to try one more time to start the vehicle. To my surprise, it started up just fine and with only the check engine light on and not reading any other messages. All functions were working properly but I was too scared to go anywhere without having an idea what just happened. I went to the closest trusted auto place that would be able to use a scanner to find the trouble codes of my check engine light. The code was for a malfunction with the internal control module (code: P0601). This has happened to me twice in the last week and its very scary to feel at risk for a sudden malfunction to cause a crash. After researching, I noticed that there was a recall bulletin no: 14515B, that had covered pretty much the same issues and for my vehicle's year/model. My VIN didn't register for any recalls, I don't understand how other vehicles are getting qualified in order to prevent the same issues I'm experiencing.

- Conroe, TX, USA

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