RoadVitals

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Dec 12, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
2
Reports on file since Nov 15, 2012

What this page shows

Our database holds 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–23 of 23

Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 12, 2025

Tire - 265/70 r18 Cooper Could have been a very bad accident. Tire blew out. The tire was inspected by Goodyear PCA-Visual only -recvd below response after several requests. All Internal Goodyear visual Inspection procedures & methodologies are confidential and/or proprietary information of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Goodyear's findings in this claim are final, and we have closed our file with no further action.

NHTSA ID
11704782
Incident
Aug 7, 2025
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 7, 2025

TIRE - 265/70 R18 Failure: Tire caused vehicle damage - Tire is at Goodyear Tire - Akron, Ohio Pulled off the road to change tire - was helped by someone that saw incident and lived close by. Yes - Filed a claim with insurance -see attached-and Property Damage Claim Team - Goodyear Tire- PDCT re [email protected] - Claim # 000645055. Claim was denied. Provided proof that tires were maintained properly by periodic rotation and inspection and requested Goodyear findings twice and still have not received. Claim denied again. Last request to Goodyear was 10/2 requesting their documentation. Waiting for tire to be returned and response to our request. Warning -the vehicle started vibrating

NHTSA ID
11691934
Incident
Aug 7, 2025
Fuel system
Filed Sep 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that the vehicle would be low or completely out of fuel quicker than expected. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel, the contact was unable to fill the rear tank due to the tank being full of fuel. The vehicle had been taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the transfer pump had failed to transfer fuel from the rear tank to the front tank. The contact was informed that the transfer pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 197,000.

NHTSA ID
11612575
Incident
Aug 21, 2024
Mileage
197,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 29, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While the contact's sister was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk with the check engine warning light illuminated violently. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled in the middle of the highway. The contact called California Highway Patrol who assisted with getting the vehicle off the road. The vehicle was eventually towed to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective fuel pump. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA ID
11611607
Incident
Aug 16, 2024
Mileage
68,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 26, 2023

Cooper Discoverer HT3 265/70R18 Tread and sidewall separation. became very dangerous to drive. ALL 4 tires became defective.

NHTSA ID
11528860
Incident
Apr 10, 2023
Interior & seats
Filed May 13, 2023

Our dashboard is beyond cracked, repair cost $2100.00 plus. I was told that the dash needed to have a metal brace installed with repair. We used a sun reflector from day one. We have a little more than 25k miles on it and the vehicle is immaculate except for the 3rd brake light leaking which we have tried to repair over and over again another flaw design. We finally got our airbag replaced and now the dash is worse than ever. How are we expected to ever get anything even close to resale value for this vehicle. We paid 36,000.00 We did nothing wrong except be a loyal chevrolet customer for our entire lives. We loved chevy but unfortunately since chevrolet refuses to admit that there is a flaw in these dashboards we would not in clear conscience buy from the company again, it's too bad we wanted to trade it in for a 2023. David Shoemaker The starburst breakage is from airbag replacement the straight lines is chevy defect. I think you should meet us halfway on this at least.

NHTSA ID
11521797
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 10, 2022

Our diesel fuel pump failed unexpectedly and without any notice while pulling a fifth wheel camper on a state highway in Ohio. The engine stopped completely (we were coasting within seconds). We were in a one-lane construction zone, and had it not been for a paved median, I would have been unable to pull off in this construction zone. Fortunately, I had enough momentum to get off the road and was able to exert enough pressure on the brakes manually to stop. In reading about this issue, it is clear that there are known problems with this fuel pump. My cost to repair this defective part will be about $11,500 and will require a 12 hour round trip back to Ohio to pick-up the vehicle after a two-week repair.

NHTSA ID
11473264
Incident
Jun 29, 2022
Airbags
Filed Oct 28, 2021

It is amazing to me that a recall is issued in March 2021 and nothing has been done yet and they still are building vehicles probably with defective equipment if there isn't a fix for this recall. GM recall # N212328800

NHTSA ID
11438473
Incident
Feb 28, 2021
Airbags
Filed Sep 20, 2021

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number 21V051000 (Air Bags) however, upon contacting the dealer, he was informed that the repair might cause the dashboard to crack. The contact was then informed that he needed to sign a waiver to ensure that the dealer would not be held responsible for any damages to vehicle. The contact declined to sign the waiver and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11433572
Incident
Sep 13, 2021
Filed Dec 20, 2019

DASH IN CRACKING BOTH SIDES.

NHTSA ID
11290391
Incident
Feb 15, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 2019
Crash reported1 death reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COLLIDING INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT FIRM WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CASE-9-558-170-8379. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11268474
Incident
Mar 30, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 11, 2019

BOSH FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF IMMEDIATELY AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11230968
Incident
Jun 20, 2019
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 10, 2019

I AM WITH THE NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH FIRE DEPARTMENT I MAINTAIN 8 AMBULANCES WITH THE SAME RECALL I CONTACTED BUD CLARY CHEVROLET WITH NO RESOLVE THIS RECALL IS FROM OCTOBER 2016, I SAVED ALL OF MY E-MAILS AND HAD NO RESOLUTION AS OF YET PLEASE ASSIST AS I HAVE JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE ON 05/07/2019 3 YEARS LATER AND WILL NOT DEAL WITH THE DEALER THEY HAVE FAILED US.

NHTSA ID
11206910
Incident
Oct 11, 2016
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 22, 2018

I DRIVE 116 MOSTLY HWY MILES A DAY COMMUTING TO WORK. ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO THE 1ST OF MY TIRES STARTED TO VIBRATE. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE BELT HAD SEPARATED. THEN 2 WEEKS LATER THE 2ND TIRE DID THE SAME. (BOTH FRONT END OF THE VEH) THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK (DATE OF INCIDENT.) THE OTHER TIRE BELT SEPARATED BUT THIS TIME THE WHOLE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. (INDECENT NOT REPORTED TO THE POLICE) AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AT NORMAL SPEEDS. (BACK END OF VEH) (IF FRONT END I MIGHT HAVE CRASHED?) THE TIRES ARE A GOODYEAR WRANGLER ALL-TERRAIN ADVENTURE. TIRE SIZE LT265/70R18.

NHTSA ID
11112894
Incident
Jul 21, 2018
Mileage
177,367 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 18, 2017

WHILE TRAVELING THE STABILITRAK FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP, JERKING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED 2 YEARS AGO AND I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO MY COMPANY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11055395
Incident
May 26, 2015
Mileage
32,000 mi
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Mar 15, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10966092
Incident
Mar 10, 2017
Mileage
119,705 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 6, 2016

2012 SILVERADO 3500HD WITH DEALER INSTALLED DEJANA RUGBY DUMP BODY THE DUMP BODY HOIST MAKES CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRONIC TRAILER BRAKE/BODY CONTROL MODULE EVENTUALLY CRACKING OPEN OR DAMAGING THE TOP OF THE MODULE AND ALLOWING MOISTURE/WATER INSIDE DAMAGING THE MODULE. THIS CAUSES A NO START CONDITION AND OR ERRATIC GAUGES, DOOR LOCKS, ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON, DRIVABILITY ISSUES TRUCK CAN GO INTO A LIMP MODE WITH NO SHIFTING ETC. TEST EQUIPMENT SHOWS NO COMMUNICATION TO ECM ERRORS AND DRIVETRAIN- PROBLEM WILL OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL MODULE IS UNPLUGGED ALL SYMPTOMS WILL GO AWAY AND TRUCK WILL FUNCTION NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH A SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE WARNING FROM THE VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER IN THE DASH.

NHTSA ID
10853794
Incident
Mar 15, 2016
Mileage
29,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 26, 2016

GENERAL GRABBER AT2. TRUCK PARKED IN LOT WHEN TIRE BLEW AT BEGINNING OF WORK DAY BEFORE USE. EMPLOYEES HEARD NOISE AND CAME OUT OF DISPATCH TO CHECK WHAT HAPPENED. RT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN.

NHTSA ID
10838564
Incident
Feb 22, 2016
Mileage
42,575 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 19, 2015

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GIVES OUT AS IF THE ENGINE STALLED BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT STALL. IT GIVES OUT AND THE STEERING STICKS MAKING THE STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND ONLY LAST FOR SECONDS. WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS RETURNED WITHOUT ANY FIX STATING UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW HAS 21,000 MILES AND PROBLEM CONTINUES.

NHTSA ID
10794962
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
18,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 11, 2014

TRUCK STALLED WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD TRANSFER SWITCH AND TWO SENSORS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10644013
Incident
Aug 12, 2014
Mileage
51,350 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 7, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN SUDDENLY THE CONTACT LOST ALL CONTROL OF HIS POWER STEERING AND ALMOST DROVE INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 22,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10567778
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
22,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Jan 7, 2014

VEHICLE TIRES MANUFACTURE DATE 2811, ON 01-05-12 FOUND TO BE DRY ROTTED, DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS A 2012 TRUCK WITH 26000 MILES. CHEVROLET DEALER IS OFFERING REPLACEMENT AT A COST TO THE OWNER OF $1220.00. TIRES ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AT TIME OF INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. THIS PRICE IS NEARLY $500 MORE THAN THE MICHELIN DEALER IS OFFERING AS A PRORATED REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558948
Incident
Jan 5, 2014
Mileage
26,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 15, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE EXHAUST FUMES WOULD ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE DOWN TUBE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE ODOR WAS STILL PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10484840
Incident
Oct 17, 2012
Mileage
20,000 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .