Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While the vehicle was being registered with the Department of Motor Vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was approximately 141,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was approximately 230,925.
I got the code p2138 and I’ve had it inspected and throttle body and accelerator pedal assembly replaced. The problem is still not fixed. I lost power driving to work and heavy vibration and shaking. If I pull out in a turn and someone is coming up fast and this happens again it reduces my engine power and could cause a crash. Problem has been confirmed by a licensed mechanic, AutoZone, oreillys, and an independent mechanic. There was absolutely no warning this was gonna happen. It happened and I’ve spent $3,000 on replacement and labor costs trying to figure this out.
Engine power reduced warning keeps coming on. As well as stabilitrak and traction control turns off. Code p2138 pops up. I’ve spent over $1,000 trying to get this fixed because it is unsafe to drive it like that. It will be fixed for 1 or 2 weeks and then it’s time to take it to the shop again. So many people have this issue.
December 2022, General Motors-Onstar system was deactivated in million of vehicles across America. This system was sold as a MAIN SAFETY and SECURITY system, integrated in millions of General Motor products was advertised as next generation Safety. This system allowed active subscribers the peace of mind that in the event of an emergency, they had us covered. motor vehicle collision detection for the event that you crashed, they could send first responders. If the vehicle was stolen, they had safe methods to locate and disable the vehicle. If you locked your keys in the vehicle with your child or pet, they could unlock it for you. In 2015 Canada "sunsetted" their 2G network which in turn would have disable Onstar for millions of Canadian vehicle owners across Canada. General Motors-Onstar offered FREE HARDWARE UPGRADES to keep Onstar active for whomever wanted and chose to keep the Onstar system working for them. Please refer to https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/SB-10089229-2280.pdf and https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10166666-9999.pdf. What about the vehicles sold in America? What about the people who purchased General Motor products for the specific reason of Onstar peace of mind? The people who want the system to function as it should? What if I do not have my cell phone with me in a remote location and I crash my truck at 70 mph? No Onstar to alert first responders. What if I accidentally lock my grandchild and keys in my car? Must i now break a window instead of calling Onstar and asking for an emergency unlock? And a very important one for me as many others. What if my vehicle gets stolen. Now there is no way to locate it. There is no way for Onstar to SAFELY shut it down so it could be recovered. I paid yearly for Onstar services for that exact peace of mind as did MANY OTHERS. There is even a petition where people are saying that if given the choice, they, like myself, would gladly pay to have the system upgraded like they did for Canada.
MOVING ON HIGHWAY 60MPH AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN TO SEVERAL LOCATIONS PREVIOUSLY AND SHOWED NO DIFFICULTIES IN STARTING OR UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS WHILE RUNNING. AAA TOWING SERVICE GOT TRUCK TO MY HOME. WILL NOT CRANK OR START. IT WOULD NOT TAKE A JUMP FROM AAA TOWING BEFORE THEY LOADED IT ONTO THEIR TRUCK. INCIDENT OCCURED ON 04/08/2021 ON U.S. HWY 98 NORTH, LAKELAND, FL.33810. FORTUNATELY NO TRAFFIC WAS BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. VEHICLE SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY UNREPAIRED. 89,775 MILES ON ODOMETER.
TTHIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN 3 SEPARATE ACCIDENTS, 1ST ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK CAUSING THE ACCIDENT; 2ND A DRIVER FELL ASLEEP WITH HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND REAR ENDED ME AT ABOUT 90 MPH; 3RD AN OUT STATE DRIVER REAR ENDED MY SON'S CAR WHICH WAS FORCED INTO THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. THE 3 ACCIDENTS WERE SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME TYPE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BUT THERE WAS NOT. I NOTIFIED GM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE 1ST ACCIDENT ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. I SHOULD MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE DUE THE HARSHNESS OF THE ACCIDENT. ALL THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT GM NEVER ANSWERED ME NOR TOOK ANY ACTION TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. TODAY, 4 MARCH, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS TAKATA HAS ADMITTED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BAGS, EXCEPT THEY SAY IT IS ONLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I DIDN'T EVEN THINK I HAD AIR BAGS BECAUSE THEY NEVER WORKED. THE ID NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 21V051. I AM HOPEFUL THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE ACCIDENTS TOOK PLACE YEARS AGO, I DON'T HAVE ACTUAL DATES BECAUSE I DIDN'T THEY WERE IMPORTANT, THAT YOU, AS THE FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE SAFETY OF CARS USING OUR HIGHWAYS, WILL INQUIRE AS TO WHY GM FAILED TO INVESTIGATE A SAFETY COMPLAINT SUBMITTED TO THEIR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. HAVING SOME ADMINISTRATION KNOWLEDGE I AM SURE THERE HAS TO BE A FILE FOLDER WITH MY COMPLAINT IN IT. THANK YOU AND PLEASE HELP ME? * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
TRACTION GOES OFF. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF AFTER ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. YOUR NO LONGER ABLE TO PICK UP SPEED OR STEER THE TRUCK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SEIZED FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE RESUMED BACK TO NORMAL AS THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL CRASHING INTO A TELEPHONE POLE KNOCKING IT COMPLETELY DOWN. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO YOUNG VW MAZDA 191 COMMERCE PARK DR, EASTON, PA 18045 (610) 991-9100 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, HOWEVER, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT BUMPER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V827000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS TURNED ON PLUS THE LOCKS STARTED UNLOCKING AND LOCKING AND THE TRUCK TURNED OFF.
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.
HEADLAMP MELTING PIGTAIL HARNESS
CHEVROLET USED EXTREMELY THIN WIRES AND THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES THROUGH THE DOOR HING BREAK APART INSIDE THE INSULATOR CAUSING THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE DRIVER DOOR NOT TO WORK. OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME TRUCK HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGUROUS ISSUE AND A VERY EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO HAVE FIXED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WIRE YOU NOT BREAK INSIDE THE INSULATOR.
TAKA RECALL IGNITION IS HARD TO TURN AND START
TL* 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. *TT CONSUMER STATED POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS IN-OPERABLE. LIGHT BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OE BULB, LIGHT STILL DOES NOT WORK. DEALER STATED THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. DEALER ALSO STATED I WOULD NEED MULTIPLE HOURS OF DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE. NO ACCIDENTS, NO COLLISIONS. VEHICLE AT THIS TIME IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. MULTIPLE DEALERS IN MY AREA HAVE NOTED THIS AS AN ISSUE FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL. RIGHT LOW BEAM IS COMPLETELY IN-OPERABLE.
REVIEWED RECALL 18V295 AND MY VEHICLE HAS 1 BAD POWER WINDOW SWITCH WHICH DOES NOT WORK. COULD LIQUID HAVE CAUSED THIS SAME PROBLEM UNDER THIS RECALL? DOES NOT WORK IN ANY VEHICLE MOTION.
IGNITION SWITCH IS BAD. IT LOCKS UP TO WHERE THE KEY WILL NEED TO BE TURNED AROUND AND TRIED AGAIN. WHEN TAKING KEY OUT THE KEY HOLE (AT TIMES) STAYS IN THE ON POSITION AND DINGS AS I LEAVE MAKING THE ASSESSORIES FUNCTION STAY ON. IF KEY IS BUMPED THE KEY CAN TURN OFF TRUCK MAKING ALL POWER TURN OFF.
DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. THE LIGHTBULB IS IN GOOD ORDER. THE PIGTAIL SHOWS SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT/SMALL FIRE, PLASTIC MELTING, CARBON IN THE METAL CONTACT ON THE LIGHTBULB AND SOCKET. THE PIGTAIL WAS REPLACED AND LASTED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH TO SHOW THE SAME ISSUES. I AM AFRAID OF A VEHICLE FIRE. THE VEHICLE'S STABILITRACK IS UNUSABLE, THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. THE ISSUES HAPPENED SUDDENLY DURING NORMAL CITY/HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE ISSUES ARE ONGOING AND STARTED SIX MONTHS AGO.
LIGHTS GO DIM ON IT ALL THE TIME AND THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IN IT IS BAD SOMETIMES THE AIR CONDITION WORKS MOST OF THE TIME IT DON'T AND THE CRUISE QUIT WORKING IN IT
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. *TR
I NOTICED YESTERDAY THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING CAME ON. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. GOT IN THERE THIS MORNING 7/15 AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WENT OUT FOR A MINUTE INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. COULDNT EVEN TURN MY AC ON OR OFF. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WE GOT IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS LOOKING AT A 2 WEEK WAIT BUT I COULD DROP IT OFF ON 7/18 AND THEY WOULD GET TO IT.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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