Chevy has won the place in the hearts of many Americans, to the point that it has more fans than many major league teams, and the Chevy Silverado has a lot to do with that. The full-size pickup is the go-to truck for many consumers, and will likely continue to be so for many years to come. Now, if you’re looking for a used Silverado of your own, according to Consumer Reports, the 2012 is the most reliable Silverado on the market.

Why the 2012 Chevy Silverado is so reliable

According to Consumer Reports, there’s a lot to love about the 2012 Silverado. For one thing, it has a comfortable ride and is easy on the eyes. It comes equipped with a 315-hp, 5.3-liter V8 engine, which is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. 

The fuel economy isn’t exactly great, as it only gets 14 mpg, but it’s great for towing heavy loads. One concern that Consumer Reports had was that shorter drivers may have a hard time seeing around the hood. 

Recalls on the 2012 Chevy Silverado

There are only two recalls on the 2012 Chevy Silverado. The ignition may become stuck in the ‘Start’ position, and may suddenly snap back into the ‘accessory’ position. This can lead to a wreck. The other recall revolves around the fuel gauge, which may show an inaccurate reading. 

What critics think 

Edmunds thought that the 2012 Silverado is great for long-distance road trips, but did have a few complaints. The base model interior is less than comfortable, especially if you’re doing more than just driving around town. The V6 engine doesn’t provide much power to the truck, and maneuvering the massive truck is hard.

U.S. News had a bit of a different take on the 2012 Silverado, and ranked it #1 in the full-size truck division. It recommends skipping the V6 engine that Edmunds took such issue with, and upgrade to the V8 engine. One thing that everyone agreed on is that the interior on the base model leaves a lot to be desired.

Are other Chevy Silverado years reliable?

With all the hype surrounding the Chevy Silverado, you might think it always has high-reliability scores, but most do not. In fact, the 2017, 2019, and the 2020 have a score of one out of five from Consumer Reports. So why did three recent models score so low?

The 2017 model has 6 recalls from the NHTSA. The driveline-protection system can become activated, causing the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor to activate, which will cause the truck to jerk to the side unexpectedly. The brakes fail to activate when you press them, and require longer distances to stop. Other recalls include frontal airbags that won’t deploy, a poor weld job that allows the control arm to separate from the bushing, and there are no instructions for the child seat anchoring system.

The in-car electronics lowered the score on the 2019 model. The screen on the Infotainment system tends to freeze up, which is sure to frustrate even the mildest natured of drivers.

It also had four recalls on it. A problem with the battery cables could cause the truck to stall, the ABS warning light may not come on, the carpet can catch on fire due to gas released by the seat belt pre-tensioner, and the passenger side airbag may not inflate properly.

There’s not much information about why the 2020 model has such a low reliability score, but it has three recalls from the NHTSA. Like the 2019, there is a problem with the battery cables that can cause it to stall, as well as a chance of the carpets catching on fire. The third recall has to do with a potential crack in the fuel pump, which can also lead to a fire. 

If you’re looking for a new Chevy Silverado, you may want to hold off on getting one until Chevy can fix some of the problems that cause the truck to unexpectedly go up in flames. In the meanwhile, the 2012 Chevy Silverado remains one of the most reliable options out there.