YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 27 brake complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 10% of its 284 total complaints, with 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure was 49,000. No related recalls are on file for this brake issue.

Brakes complaints
27
10% of 284
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
49,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal being depressed but failing to respond, sometimes at low speeds like 20 or 30 mph, leading to crashes.
  • Some describe spongy brakes that require pumping before the truck stops.
  • ABS, traction control, and StabiliTrak warning lights turn on together, with owners feeling the ABS lock up during normal, non-hard braking.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling away in reverse while parked with the emergency brake engaged, resulting in injury.
  • Owners describe chattering, hopping, and vibration along with repeated replacement of pads, rotors, calipers, and drums.
  • A used-vehicle buyer reported the ABS light, traction control sensor, and brake warning light illuminating together, with the ABS sensor replaced multiple times.

When 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 20, 2012, latest Aug 26, 2024.

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2012Jul 2013Sep 2015Aug 2017Jun 2018Apr 2019Jul 2020Jun 2023
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2012 to Aug 2024; peak May 2013 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201034 (8%)
  2. 201147 (7%)
  3. 201227 (10%)
  4. 20139 (2%)
  5. 2014447 (29%)
  6. 2015400 (34%)
  7. 2016280 (35%)
  8. 2017226 (27%)
  9. 2018111 (21%)
  10. 2019210 (19%)
  11. 2020119 (16%)
  12. 202146 (6%)
  13. 202259 (9%)
  14. 202325 (7%)
  15. 202411 (4%)
  16. 20255 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA lists 27 brake complaints for the 2012 Silverado 1500, which is 10% of its 284 total complaints for the model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Silverado 1500 brakes?
No related recalls are listed in the data for this brake issue.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 49,000 miles, though some owners reported issues as early as a few hundred to a few thousand miles.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these brake complaints?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries associated with the 27 brake complaints for this year.
How does the 2012 model compare to other Silverado 1500 years for brake complaints?
The 2012 model's 10% share is lower than 2014 (29%), 2015 (34%), and 2016 (35%), but higher than 2013 (2%) and 2021 (6%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.