2012 GMC Sierra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 22nd of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Sierra. That ranks 22nd out of 23 Sierra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (7 complaints, 24%), typically at around 25,072 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 2 fires. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 29owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 GMC Sierra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 | 24% | 25,072 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 21% | 21,725 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 17% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 14% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 10% | 54,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 10% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 10% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 7% | 32,250 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 7% | 54,586 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 7% | 21,935 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 7% | 6,273 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% | 1,200 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | 25,371 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 3% | 420 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | 25,371 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | 2,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 GMC Sierra recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
Fuel system, diesel
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, equipped with 6.6L diesel engines and dual fuel tanks. In the affected vehicles, the transfer pump which moves fuel from the rear tank to the front tank could malfunction and cause the fuel gauge to indicate an inaccurate reading.
Risk: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: General Motors will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel transfer pump, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13420.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
2012 gmc sierra. Consumer writes in regards to passenger side airbag safety recall. The consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair.
While driving at normal highway speed, truck shut off except for the lights. Lost powers steering, brakes etc. Once i got the truck pulled over and stopped, attempted to restart. Was unable to do so until the 4th attempt during a 5 minutes time span. Once started, appeared to be running fine except…
Dashboard is cracked near the passenger side airbag close to the windshield. Vehicle has never been in an accident or had the airbags deployed. Crack occurred just before 50,000 miles.
Dashboard cracking above instrument panel.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra 1500. The contact stated that the dashboard near the passenger side air bag was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
Other GMC Sierra years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Sierra | 61 | 0 |
| 2016 Sierra | 6 | 2 |
| 2015 Sierra | 53 | 6 |
| 2014 Sierra | 101 | 11 |
| 2013 Sierra | 39 | 3 |
| 2012 | 29 | 2 |
| 2011 Sierra | 43 | 2 |
| 2010 Sierra | 34 | 0 |
| 2009 Sierra | 37 | 1 |
| 2008 Sierra | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 Sierra | 59 | 2 |
| 2006 Sierra | 53 | 4 |
| 2005 Sierra | 117 | 9 |
| 2004 Sierra | 188 | 7 |
| 2003 Sierra | 206 | 6 |
| 2002 Sierra | 249 | 4 |
| 2001 Sierra | 264 | 4 |
| 2000 Sierra | 443 | 8 |
| 1999 Sierra | 600 | 5 |
| 1998 Sierra | 190 | 0 |
| 1997 Sierra | 238 | 0 |
| 1996 Sierra | 246 | 2 |
| 1995 Sierra | 261 | 6 |
See all GMC Sierra problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Sierra?
Owners most often report electrical system, structure, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 GMC Sierra?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 GMC Sierra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra model years, the 2012 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.