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2011-2013 Chevrolet Silverado

SOLID PICK
a known-good buy in our notes, still get it inspected

Why it’s a solid buy

The 4.8 V8 (work-truck trims) has no cylinder-deactivation hardware, which means it skips the AFM lifter/oil-consumption pattern that haunts the 5.3 of the same years. Less power, more certainty.

Federal record for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, pulled from NHTSA when this page was built:
0 owner complaints on file.
2 safety recalls listed.
Complaint volume tracks how many were sold as well as how they held up , read it as a pattern, not a score. Counts change; confirm live at nhtsa.gov or by running the free check below.
Rough cost: Normal maintenance only. Broad estimates , labor rates and parts vary widely by region and shop.

What to still check

Before you hand over cash: Confirm it’s actually the 4.8 (the VIN decode above shows the engine). The 5.3’s AFM note doesn’t apply to this engine.

Whatever you find, a $100-150 pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is the cheapest money you’ll spend on any used car , including this one.

Run the full free check on this Silverado →

Free · no signup · federal recall + complaint data included

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General reference information only , not a mechanical inspection, appraisal, or vehicle history report, and not specific to any individual car. Failure patterns describe documented tendencies across many vehicles; any single car may be better or worse. Cost figures are rough estimates , verify locally. The absence of a warning is not a statement that a car is safe or problem-free. Always verify recalls directly with NHTSA and get a pre-purchase inspection. Not affiliated with any manufacturer, dealer, or reporting service. No affiliate links, no commissions, no ads. © Used Car Informer, operated by MCC LLC · v6.6