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2012 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500, most often about the air bags (26% of complaints). It is 23rd of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Air bags
8 complaints · 26%A multi-car collision had occurred at a considerable speed. (sadly a driver had lost a life in this accident) this collision entailed a very large commercial truck being hit head on, by a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.( this 2nd vehicle being a van) after this severe impact with the large commercial…
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the front passenger's side air bag module. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
Other or unspecified
7 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles.
The dashboard cracked at the passenger side airbag @ 34,000 miles I had the dashboard replaced. Now the replaced dash has cracked once again this time on the driver side 70,000 miles.
Dash is cracked near passenger side air bag, if deployment were to happen shrapnel will fly throughout the cab. Ive seen the same issue on numerous other vehicles of the same generation.
Fuel system
5 complaints · 16%The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The following day, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the "service exhaust fluid system", "see owners manual now", and "97 miles before 65 MPH nax speed" messages appeared. The contact drove…
Driving east bound on i70 coming into denver. Truck shut off with no warning at 80mph on steep downhill grade causing loss of all power facilities in the truck. No brakes, no power steering. I endangered the lives of every single person on the road thanks to this failed fuel pump. Further investigation shows bosch…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: body.
Chrome interior door handle. Chrome plating is coming off and is sharp. Cut my finger opening the door. Resembles a paper cut. Took vehicle to dealer and they are replacing handle.
Electrical
4 complaints · 13%Tl contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled when turning the key in the ignition switch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500. When using the snow plow, the headlights dimmed and the heat decreased as if it were turned off. The contact mentioned that the volts decreased when using the plow, which may have caused the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be…
Transmission
4 complaints · 13%The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle jerked, stalled, and lost power. The transmission warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to courtesy buick GMC lafayette (4750 johnston st, lafayette, la 70506 ([phone]) where it was diagnosed that the torque…
Driving on the expressway around 60 MPH when the truck went into limp mode slowing me down to 40 and then would not shift gears TCM went out gm told me that there is a big problem
Wheels and tires
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: tread/belt, sidewall.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 equipped with pathfinder lt24575r16 tires, size: 265/70r17 (na). While driving 70 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle began to vibrate and the rear driver side tire blew out and damaged the wheel panel. The contact replaced the tire with the spare tire. The vehicle was taken to an…
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 equipped with armstrong tires, tire line: tru trac ht, tire size: 245/75/17, dot number: [VIN]. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine tire rotation but was informed there were massive bubbles on the tires, and on one tire, there…
Engine
3 complaints · 10%Emissions failure. Nox sensor, DEF system. Driving, display states, poor DEF quality. Took in for repair, still DEF quality. Truck has slowed to 55mph, will slow to 4 MPH in 39 miles. They are trowing parts at it at my expense. Can't properly diagnose. This problem is from 2010- current models of these diesels.
While traveling on the interstate at speed and passing slower traffic; engine power fell off, change fuel filter now, engine derate, and check engine lite, occured. I had to maneuver with no power through the traffic to get out of the travel lanes. I was then stranded on the interstate as the truck would not start. I…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on february 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on may 11, 2021. Owners may contact cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n212328770.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2012 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext, chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, silverado 2500/3500, suburban, tahoe, gmc sierra 1500, sierra 2500/3500, yukon, and yukon xl originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." these vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on february 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on may 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on january 24, 2022. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm'
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2014 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, chevrolet silverado 2500, silverado 3500, suburban, tahoe, gmc sierra 2500, sierra 3500, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, pr, as, gu, the mp, and vi or "zone a." additionally gm is recalling certain 2011-2014 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, chevrolet silverado 2500, silverado 3500, suburban, tahoe, gmc sierra 2500, sierra 3500, yukon, yukon xl and 2011-2013 cadillac escalade ext, chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of az, ar, de, dc, il, in, ks, ky, md, mo, ne, nv, nj, nm, nc, oh, ok, pa, tn, va, and wv or "zone b." additionally, gm is recalling certain 2010-2014 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, chevrolet silverado 2500, silverado 3500, sub
Equipment
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, instructing them to contact kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began june 11, 2018. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. Gm's number for this recall is 18146.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2009-2014 chevrolet silverado hd and gmc sierra hd, 2009 gmc topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 series and isuzu f series, and 2009-2018 chevrolet express, and gmc savana vehicles, equipped with certain plastic-handle fire extinguishers or push button 'pindicator' fire extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17e062-5427.pdf
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (8 complaints); other or unspecified (7 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); fuel system (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 5, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the GMC Sierra 2500?
- It is 23rd of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints, with 31 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.