This technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Chevrolet Silverado suspension problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the suspension at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Silverado | 19 |
| 2009 Silverado | 8 |
| 2010 Silverado | 10 |
| 2011 Silverado | 20 |
| 2012 Silverado (this page) | 13 |
| 2013 Silverado | 18 |
| 2014 Silverado | 44 |
| 2015 Silverado | 20 |
| 2016 Silverado | 22 |
1crash
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
CHEVROLET/GMC: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ON SOME 2011-2012 TRUCKS, A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION WOULD BE NOTICEABLE DUE TO THE REAR AXLE RIGHT HAND SIDE BEARING ADJUSTER CLIP AND BOLT MAY COME LOOSE INSIDE OF REAR AXLE. UPDATED 9/6/12. UPDATED 7/18/14. UPDATED 11/6/15.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides repair information for the re-torque of leaf spring bolts to correct a customer concern for a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides repair information for the re-torque of leaf spring bolts to correct a customer concern for a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2012 Silverados describe suspension and chassis problems that show up within the first few years. Ball joints develop excessive play and pop during low-speed turns; one vehicle failed a safety inspection because of a defective ball joint. Rear leaf springs are failing catastrophically—one owner had both the left and right rear springs snap in half under no load, with the truck dropping at the rear both times, a hazard at highway speeds.
Frame and chassis corrosion is widespread and severe. Multiple owners report rust penetrating completely through frame rails, rear shock mounts, and wheel wells. The rust appears to corrode from inside the steel outward, and one owner says the frame is "more rust than metal." This happens even on lightly used, well-maintained trucks, and one complaint references a frame recall tied to GM not treating the chassis during manufacturing.
Transmission hard shifting with clunking and a rear-bumping sensation affects at least one truck at 23,800 miles. The dealership replaced the upper control valve body, spacer plate, clutch regulator valve, springs, U-joints, and yoke, but the problem returned. One truck parked on a slope rolled backward out of park, hit the owner, and struck a tree hard enough to be totaled.
Same Chevrolet Silverado suspension reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Lower ball joint wear and play
Lower ball joints develop excessive wear and play, producing popping noises during low-speed turns. At least one owner reported a failed inspection due to a defective ball joint.
When: Started around 2014 on one vehicle; at 125,600 miles on another
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noises from ball joints at low-speed turns; Vehicle fails safety inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed lower ball joints worn with play; ball joint replacement required
Rear leaf spring fracture
Rear leaf springs break in half under light or no-load conditions. One owner experienced two separate failures—left spring around 2016 (~3 years of ownership) and right spring in 2018. Vehicle rear drops when spring fails, creating a safety hazard at highway speeds.
When: Around 2016 (~3 years); 2018 (~6 years); no payload in bed both times
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden spring fracture under no load; Rear of vehicle drops; Safety risk at high speed
Repairs/costs cited: Leaf spring replacement
Extensive frame and chassis corrosion
Frame and suspension components suffer severe corrosion, with multiple owners reporting rust penetrating through the frame itself, creating structural integrity and safety concerns. Rust appears throughout the frame rails, rear shock mounts, wheel wells, and box frame—often corroding from the inside out. One owner notes this occurs even with light use and regular maintenance.
When: Begins appearing within first 2–3 years of ownership; progressively worsens
Symptoms owners cite: Visible rust all over frame and suspension components; Holes in frame rails and box frame; Rust in rear shock mounts and wheel wells; Frame weakening and potential collapse; Interior corrosion of frame
Repairs/costs cited: Full frame replacement may be required; owners cite extensive body repair costs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner references a frame recall due to GM not treating the chassis frame during manufacturing
Transmission hard shifting with clunking and vibration
Transmission exhibits hard shifting between gears accompanied by clunking noises and a sensation of the truck being bumped from behind. Issue persists after multiple service visits and component replacements, suggesting deeper systemic problem. One owner reports suspension involvement in diagnosis.
When: At 23,800 miles on one vehicle; occurs during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise during gear shifts; Feeling of being bumped from rear; Hard shifting 2–3 times per drive cycle
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs include transmission upper control valve body replacement, spacer plate replacement, transmission reset, clutch regulator valve repair, spring replacement, U-joints and yoke replacement; issue recurs
Transmission stuck in park / vehicle unintended rollback
Vehicle parked on an upslope slipped out of park gear and rolled backward downhill, striking and knocking over the owner before hitting a tree. Insurer totaled the vehicle.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slips out of park without driver input; Uncontrolled rollback on slope
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; no repair attempted
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The frame has rusted out and is unsafe to drive. Left tire is almost snapped and you can put your hand through the rust in frame. Has been inspected by 2 mechanics. I am the second owner and have babied this truck since the first day I got it in 2014. Additional defect is the tailgate wont state shut, must close 3-4 times for it to remain closed.
Had suspension trouble with your 2012 Chevrolet Silverado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 57,416 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.