The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado has its share of problems, but stands as one of the most reliable used trucks on the road today with just four recalls on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and just over 200 complaints total.
- The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado’s airbag issues persist a decade after launch, with two recalls and an open investigation.
- Diesel-fueled Silverados may suffer from fuel pump issues, but a recall seems to have resolved this.
- Excessive oil use is being reported in a handful of trucks.
- Some drivers are reporting premature rust with the frame seemingly ready to quit at under 100,000 miles.
- Despite mediocre crash test ratings and a few recalls, the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado is one of the most dependable used full-size trucks available today.
Recurring Airbag Issues Persist a Decade After Launch
The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado has only been recalled four times, but the vehicle’s recurring airbag issues are concerning. We saw two airbag recalls in 2021, there is an investigation still open as of the time of this writing, and there are airbag complaints being registered in late 2022.
Both of the Silverado’s recalls had to do with air bag inflators that were liable to explode in a couple million GM units. The investigation, still ongoing, is looking into degradation in the propellant used to inflate the airbags. At present, the aim is to determine whether the 2012 Silverado should be included in any such recalls.
Many of the more recent airbag complaints for the truck have to do with recall parts shortages. Over two million units were recalled in total, and it’s only been about a year since those recalls went into effect, meaning that there’s a lot of demand for these parts right now, and limited supply.
These recurring airbag issues might not be severe enough to qualify as a dealbreaker for anyone looking for a used truck. But, when you go to check out a 2012 Silverado, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check the VIN for pending recalls and make sure that the issue has been taken care of. You don’t want a full-size truck sitting in your driveway waiting on a replacement part.
Diesel Pump Issue May Lead to Engine Stall
An early recall for the 2012 Silverado had to do with engine stall thanks to a transfer pump failure. In around ten thousand GM units, specifically those equipped with 6.6L diesel engines and rear tanks, the pump tasked with transferring fuel from the rear tank to the front tank could malfunction and send the wrong reading to the fuel gauge.
There have been a handful of engine and powertrain complaints pointing to engine stall since then, but in all of these incidents, there is no certain proof that this has to do with the recall in question. In other words, the recall seems to have been complete in this instance, leaving few, if any, units uncovered for necessary repairs.
If you’re not buying a diesel-powered Silverado then you don’t have to worry about this at all, of course, and if you are, chances are the recall has already been addressed, given that it was issued almost a decade ago. All the same, it never hurts to check the VIN before buying any used vehicle.
Some Drivers Are Reporting Excessive Oil Use
At just 27 reports total, there aren’t a whole lot of engine complaints on file with the NHTSA for the 2012 Silverado, but the ones being registered are worth mention as they could affect the longevity of affected vehicles if left unchecked.
The big issue to look out for under the hood is excessive engine oil consumption. Most of the engine complaints point to the truck using up way too much oil, probably as a result of a broken piston ring, but that may not be the case in every single instance.
Besides the obvious cost of topping the oil off every single time you get behind the wheel, excessive oil use means overheating engines, extra wear and tear, engine stall, and rough shifting. Oil is to your car like water is to your body, it simply can’t function without it.
Rate of incidence is pretty low here, but you’ll want to feel the truck out for rough shifting and overheating when you take it for the test drive. Chances are slim that the Silverado you’re looking to buy will be affected, but that’s a chance you might as well not take, so don’t skip the test drive.
Be on the Lookout for Premature Rust
A problem that isn’t incredibly common, but is incredibly costly: premature rust on the frame of the vehicle. In a worst-case scenario, this means that the very frame of the truck might fall apart. In other instances, you’re at least looking at a suspension system that’ll probably need to be replaced very soon.
Some rust is to be expected in a decade old truck, but you shouldn’t be seeing heavy chunks of rust flaking right off if the vehicle has been reasonably well-kept.
Fortunately, all you need to do to avoid this problem is take a look under the truck and see for yourself. If you don’t feel like crawling under there with a flashlight, take a picture with your phone and see what you see.
Chances are you won’t spot a worrying degree of rust, but this basic inspection could save you from buying a clunker.
There’s Not Much to Complain About in a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado
There may be a handful of minor issues you can nitpick with this truck, but by and large it’s held up better than most 2012 vehicles have. Your biggest concern here isn’t going to be any inherent defect or common issue, it’s going to be the truck’s age and how it was used.
If you’re buying a ten year old farm truck that’s just spent a decade hauling tractors and trailers around, every mile on the odometer counts for two miles on a compact. So the most important thing is to test-drive and inspect and make sure you’re not buying a truck that’s better off being retired.
