NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to a chemical breakdown of its propellant after prolonged exposure to high heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has 5 recalls, the most serious being a Takata-style passenger airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
Multiple filings cover this same airbag inflator defect across different model years, but the underlying danger is the same: the passenger-side inflator can rupture violently in a crash. These recalls apply to vehicles originally sold or registered in high-humidity states and territories, where moisture accelerates the risk. On the fuel system side, trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks have a low fuel level sensor in the front tank that can stick, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front. The excess pressure causes the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, which can punch a hole in the tank and create a fuel leak. There is also a recall covering certain fire extinguishers installed in the vehicle: the extinguisher may fail to discharge properly, leaving it useless in an actual fire.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to a chemical breakdown of its propellant after prolonged exposure to high heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
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Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may fail to deploy or deploy incorrectly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fire extinguisher may clog and fail to discharge, or require excessive force to use. In some models, the nozzle may detach forcefully, potentially causing injury and making the extinguisher inoperable.
What the fix does
GM will provide a free replacement fire extinguisher from Kidde. Contact your vehicle manufacturer's customer service to arrange the replacement.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front tank's low fuel level sensor can stick, causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank beyond its capacity.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, and inspect and replace the front tank if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.