2012 Gmc SIERRA 2500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Gmc SIERRA 2500 has 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: 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 l.

1 crash report 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

8 complaints

21%

• 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 L
• TL* 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
• 1 DAY GOT IN TRUCK AND NOTICED THE DASH WAS CRACKED ON DRIVER SIDE BEHIND THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND AS I LOOKED I NOTICED IT WAS ALSO CRACKED AT THE 2 UPPER CORNERS OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 25000 MILE ON IT. GM WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND I'M WORRIED THAT IT CAN AFFECT THE SAFE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 L”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

18%

• CRACKS IN THE DASH ON DRIVERS SIDE ABOVE STEERING WHEEL BY THE DOMED AREA
• 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.
• CRACK IN DASHBOARD PASSENGER SIDE NEAR CORNER OF AIRBAG AND DRIVERS SIDE. CRACKED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CRACKS IN THE DASH ON DRIVERS SIDE ABOVE STEERING WHEEL BY THE DOMED AREA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

13%

• TL* 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 APPEARE
• 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 INVEST
• FUEL FILTER HOUSING CONTAINS A PRIMER PUMP. NEEDED FOR A DIESEL. SEALS WITHIN THAT PUMP FAILED ALLOWING AIR INTO THE SYSTEM. VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 67K MILES ON IT. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO QUIT WHILE IN MOTION. IN YELLOWSTONE PARK.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* 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 APPEARE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

4 complaints

10%

• 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. *TR
• CRACK IN DASHBOARD PASSENGER SIDE NEAR CORNER OF AIRBAG AND DRIVERS SIDE. CRACKED WHILE DRIVING. *TR
• 1 DAY GOT IN TRUCK AND NOTICED THE DASH WAS CRACKED ON DRIVER SIDE BEHIND THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND AS I LOOKED I NOTICED IT WAS ALSO CRACKED AT THE 2 UPPER CORNERS OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 25000 MILE ON IT. GM WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND I'M WORRIED THAT IT CAN AFFECT THE SAFE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

10%

• TL*THE 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.
• TL* 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 T
• Failed TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (24256861). While driving in the early morning hours (darkness) taking my child to school, I was navigating through a busy intersection when the vehicle surged and then made a loud metal on metal sound, feeling as if someone had struck me from behind. At that poin

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL*THE 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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 39 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: 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 L
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CRACKS IN THE DASH ON DRIVERS SIDE ABOVE STEERING WHEEL BY THE DOMED AREA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* 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 APPEARE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)