RoadVitals

2012 Chevrolet Silverado Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Jun 9, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 68 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11526178
Incident
Apr 17, 2023
Mileage
192,006 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 30, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID
10778704
Incident
Jul 22, 2015
Mileage
42,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 29, 2015

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID
10778449
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
1,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 2015

TL* 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*CN UPDATED 9/18/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10672668
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Mileage
9,597 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 24, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593816
Incident
Aug 4, 2012
Mileage
135 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 30, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID
10532622
Incident
Jul 27, 2013
Mileage
5,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 29, 2013

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10514177
Incident
Dec 10, 2012
Mileage
400 mi
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 24, 2013

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513436
Incident
Apr 22, 2013
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 20, 2012

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. *KB

NHTSA ID
10452358
Incident
Mar 6, 2012

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .