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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,984 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 3500 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Comments

problem #10

Apr 172023

Silverado 3500

  • 192,006 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated he purchased the vehicle at a used dealer on March 13, 2023, and the anti-lock braking systems?(ABS), the traction control sensor, and the brake warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to the used dealer on 3 different occasions and had the anti-lock braking systems?(ABS) sensor replaced and inspected the brakes. The dealer stated no failure was found when inspecting the vehicle. The contact stated while approaching an intersection another vehicle made a left turn and intercepted in his lane on the right side, he depressed the brake pedal but failed to stop or slow down the vehicle, causing it to crash into the other vehicle. The contact stated the vehicle continued moving forward while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a building and stopped the vehicle. The contact states the front driver side air bag deployed. The contact sustained leisure on his back muscles, had whiplash and leisure on the left side of his head and arm due to the air bag deployment. The contact stated he was taken to the hospital by ambulance to seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 192,000.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #9

Mar 102017

Silverado 3500

  • 119,705 miles
While driving on a four-lane highway towing our 15,500 lb fifth wheel, suddenly, without any warning, we heard rattling, lost power, and the engine shut down. The noise and loss of propulsion, power steering and power brakes all occurred within about 2-3 seconds. Gratefully, the driver had the fortitude to immediately begin pulling onto the shoulder of the slight downward slope on which were were driving. Luckily, we were on a stretch of road that was not inclined, not in a construction zone with barriers, not in a snowy mountain pass or in other inclement weather, not in the left lane passing, etc. Had any of these factors prevented us from simply pulling onto the shoulder of the road, the potential for a life threatening accident would have been significant. The Chevrolet/GM service center confirmed the Bosch CP4 hpfp suffered a catastrophic failure, destroying the entire fuel system of the truck. GM is covering part of the repair costs (truck is at 119,705 miles), but our bill will remain substantial. Research of diesel, tdi, and other forums document this problem as well-known and broader than the existing 9 complaints in the nhsta public database and the investigation of VW/Audi. Some people are even reporting multiple failures. The most common believable cause of the failures seems to be a mismatch of lubricity specs between the Bosch CP4 and the diesel fuel in the U.S. please open an investigation, and order GM, Ford, VW, Bosch and others to recall these vehicles to provide the necessary repairs. Also please mandate, to the extent you're able, reimbursement to those of us paying for repairs today. I have read, but have not been able to confirm, that VW extended the warranty to 120K miles. This seems like a minimum (more is better) step, and it should be retroactive.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #8

Jul 222015

Silverado 3500

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond which caused the vehicle to crash into two, two-ton rocks. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact stated that a passenger suffered injuries to the lower back which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

- Castalian Springs, TN, USA

problem #7

Nov 012013

Silverado 3500

  • 1,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving at a low speed and making a right turn, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on numerous occasions who diagnosed that the power steering pump and brake boost pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,000.

- Moyock, NC, USA

problem #6

Jan 152015

Silverado 3500 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,597 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving 20 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,597. Updated 3/31/15 updated 9/18/2017

- Olanta , PA, USA

problem #5

Aug 042012

Silverado 3500

  • 135 miles
I bought my 2012 Texas edition Silverado August 4, 2012 the transmission started responding abnormal immediately after leaving the dealership it had 135 miles on it before I bought it I have 32K miles now and nothing has change all the same issues but they seem to be getting worst. My transmission has a hard time shifting no matter what, up, down, turn, forward all normal driving maneuvers. When it does try and shift the engine clatters which is extremely ridiculous I've had several Silverado's and the last one that clatter this way was a 1978 with probably over 300,000(expected). My transmission does as stated by others the coming to a stop sign and applying the brakes the truck will launch forward unexpectedly and shift extremely hard this is the first new vehicle I've ever bought the last 4 were all Silverado from 78-94 and they didn't do this. This truck also wears the outer edge of my tres no matter how many alignments and balance and rotating I get done. You may say your tire your fault but I've looked at over 40 2012 Silverado's in parking lots and saw the exact same wear pattern the owners are probably not the type to check or care. The biggest concern is the $30,000 I paid for this thing and expected it to run for the next 20 years but I'm at less than 2 years and it feels like the transmission and engine are going to jump out and fly through an intersection leaving me at a green light. If I were to let any Chevy "big shot" drive this for 1 week as their daily driver (it's my daily) they would probably stop driving it on day 1 and ask me how I've done it for almost 2 years. My reply would be I don't have the money to get another one and you "big shot" need to get this fixed. Active duty military (no money) over worked under paid. Took my savings bought a truck that I waited 23 years to buy and then the thing is in worst shape than the 1994 extendedcab I had.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #4

Jul 272013

Silverado 3500

  • 5,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the emergency brake engaged, the contact reached in from the passenger's side to shut the engine down and the vehicle rolled away in reverse. The contact was dragged several feet before the vehicle crashed into a bridge. The contact sustained major bruising and scratches to several parts of the body. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The vehicle was not repaired or inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #3

Dec 102012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 400 miles
This truck has chattered, hopped, and had bad brakes as soon as we drove the truck off of the lot. When we went with the dealer who sold us the truck, my husband said why is it vibrating & he told us that it was in the tires from "sitting". it has had 2 new wheels & numerous brakes, pads, rotors, calipers, drums. & it still vibrates. The dealership has even put another trucks tires & rims on the truck & it still vibrates. This is unacceptable for a new vehicle. When I called the GM district specialist on 5/29/13 she told me that the vibration & hit & miss acceleration was a characteristic of the truck. $40,000 truck & it is not a very good ride.

- Munising, MI, USA

problem #2

Apr 222013

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
Brakes are spongy does not stop truck until pumped, power train clunking noise when turning and shifting, electrical at times dash lights dim at any given time, many other complaints very rough ride, trans shifts very hard, when coming to a traffic light runs rough. Has been to dealer once and last Thursday got a call from GM the dealership has not responded to my problems.

- Lakewood, NJ, USA

problem #1

Mar 062012

Silverado 3500

  • miles
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.

- Enfield, CT, USA

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