2012 Gmc SIERRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
31,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 29 complaints (20.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 24.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 13.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
Electrical System: 6; Engine: 5; Structure:Body: 5; Air Bags: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2012: 5; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 10; 2016: 5; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10451290 · 2012-03-12 (March 12, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,200. ..UPDATED 04/16/12 *BF UPDATED 05/07/12
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451590 · 2012-03-14 (March 14, 2012)
JUST PURCHASES NEW 2012 GMC SIERRA 3500 , 400 MILES , HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT / STEERING PROBLEMS WITH A DRIFT TO LEFT AND A WONDERING STEERING WHEEL, ALSO BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ON, WENT TO DEALER THEY LOOKED AT IT FOR 2 HRS, AND SAID IT NEEDED A PART ORDERED AND THERE WAS A TSB ON IT, THE TECH SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES, ALSO HE WOULD CHECK ALIGNMENT AGAIN AT TIME WHEN PART CAME IN 4 DAYS EST, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT REMAINED ON, VEHICLE DROVE FINE THE NEXT DAY UNTIL A ACCIDENT, WENT AROUND CURVEAT 55 MPH, APPLIED BRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472081 · 2012-08-23 (August 23, 2012)
PURCHASE A NEW 2012 GMC SIERRA SLE ON 07/26/12. AS I LEAVE FOR WORK IN THE EARLY HOURS, IT REQUIRES THAT I USE THE DEFOG/DEFROST. ON THE MORNING OF THE 28TH I SELECTED THE DEFOG/DEFROST AND ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE CLEARED. THINKING IT MAY BE ISOLATED, I RECEIVED THE SAME RESULT ON THE 29TH. I CALLED THE SELLING DEALER ABOUT ANOTHER MATTER AND MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM. ON AUGUST 9TH THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AND TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WAS TOLD THAT IT IS OPERATING AS NORMAL AND THE DEALER TESTED TWO OTHER NEW TRUCKS. STILL NOT HAPPY WITH THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10472081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480914 · 2012-10-17 (October 17, 2012)
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GMC DEALER FOR HEADLIGHT DEFECT AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS. DROVE TRUCK BACK TO SITE AND WHILE TRUCK WAS RUNNING BUT STATIONARY SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE HOOD WAS RAISED THE ENTIRE TRUCK BECAME ENGULFED AND COMPLETELY BURNED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10481134 · 2012-10-19 (October 19, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AS THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD THUMP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,545. UPDATED 13/13/12 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 5,545 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491437 · 2013-01-04 (January 4, 2013)
APPARENTLY GM USES PEANUT OIL TO LUBRICATE WIRING SO THEY CAN MORE EASILY INSULATE, ETC (ACCORGING TO THE GM DEALER). THIS ATTRACTS RATS AND MICE WHICH CHEW UP THE WIRING - POTENTIALLY IMPACTING SENSORS AND OTHER ITEMS CONTROLLING CRUISE, STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, AND ANY NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THAT THE DRIVER MAY BE RELYING UPON FOR SAFETY. I ACTUALLY HAD MAP SENSOR WIRES CHEWED UP THAT DISABLED MY STABILITY/TRACTION SYSTEMS AND INHIBITED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. LUCKILY FOR ME IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY RATHER THAN ON THE HIGHWAY. DEAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502079 · 2013-03-08 (March 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10521476 · 2013-06-24 (June 24, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA K-1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AS THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 35 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS RESOLVED MOMENTARILY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT SOON RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WHERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. KMJ
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521476 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V615000 · Fuel System, Diesel
Reported: 2013-12-11 (December 11, 2013)
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.
Consequence: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V827000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗