2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500: common problems

Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 53
involving a crash: 2

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
2 Air bags 17% of all complaints
3 Engine 15% of all complaints
4 Fuel/propulsion system 13% of all complaints
5 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
6 Steering 8% of all complaints
7 Structure 8% of all complaints
8 Fuel system 6% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Electrical system: 11 complaints (21% of all).
Air bags: 9 complaints (17% of all).
Engine: 8 complaints (15% of all).
Fuel/propulsion system: 7 complaints (13% of all).
Powertrain: 5 complaints (9% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 53 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine8 · 15%
loss of power / limp mode6 · 11%
fuel system, fuel smell5 · 9%
steering or power steering problems4 · 8%
rust, corrosion3 · 6%
stalls while driving3 · 6%
won't start2 · 4%
windows, sunroof2 · 4%
airbag warning light1 · 2%
brake failure1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	11	0
Air bags	9	0
Engine	8	0
Fuel/propulsion system	7	0
Powertrain	5	0
Steering	4	1
Structure	4	0
Fuel system	3	0
Tires	3	1
Wheels	3	0
Service brakes	2	0
Electronic stability control	1	0
Seats	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, the front driver side tire blew out. The contact dragged 9 of the poles that hold the medium retaining cables until it came to a complete stop. The left side of the truck was damaged.
Tires · crash · 2017-04-17 · NHTSA complaint #10978768
The vehicle's TCM has apparently failed as evidenced by CEL code "U0101", low power ("limp mode"), hard shifting, no gear selection indicator, and extremely slow acceleration. Vehicle is currently available for inspection, but will be receiving a replacement TCM soon.
Electrical system · 2025-04-15 · NHTSA complaint #11654876
The next day I started the vehicle and the light was on again with the check engine light. And stuck in limp mode. There are forums I've read with thousands of people with the same problem. The vehicle is available for inspection.
Electrical system · 2025-02-17 · NHTSA complaint #11643267
Additionally, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and gradually decelerated. The contact was able to drive to the nearest independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the DEF system, fuel pump, and oxygen sensor had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was concerned that the repair was temporary.
Fuel system · 2023-10-31 · NHTSA complaint #11552896
My TCM went out in my truck while towing which made the vehicle not be able to move putting my family in jeopardy while on the road.
Powertrain · 2023-09-02 · NHTSA complaint #11542321
TransmisiÃ³n control module stopped working while driving on the highway. It went from going 70 miles per hour on the highway to 15 miles per hour. Very scary and dangerous.
Powertrain · 2023-08-04 · NHTSA complaint #11536536
The Transmission Control Module failed causing the vehicle to loose power and operate only in "limp mode". General Motors does not have a replacement module available, leaving the vehicle inoperable. GM has no reliable information as to when a module will be available.
Electrical system · 2023-04-07 · NHTSA complaint #11516029
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
Air bags · 2022-04-13 · NHTSA complaint #11460683

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20131
20144
20155
201610
20176
20185
20203
20213
20223
20237
20241
20253
20262

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 5,181 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Silverado 2500 has 121 complaints (34 years in the data). This year has 53, below average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, air bags, engine. Total complaints: 53. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (15%), loss of power / limp mode (11%), fuel system, fuel smell (9%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2012 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.