2012 Gmc SIERRA DENALI

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Gmc SIERRA DENALI has 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: loss of steering control (three episodes) : 13 nov 2012, while exiting nb i-95 onto eb route 214 in landover, md, my steering wheel locked. my speed at the time was approximately 50 mph. i was able to brake rapidly as the ramp began to straighten from it's sweeping right curve. the locked steeri.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

4 complaints

27%

• LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL (THREE EPISODES) : 13 NOV 2012, WHILE EXITING NB I-95 ONTO EB ROUTE 214 IN LANDOVER, MD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. MY SPEED AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE RAPIDLY AS THE RAMP BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN FROM IT'S SWEEPING RIGHT CURVE. THE LOCKED STEERI
• 2012 GMC DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHENEVER HE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN, HE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE ABILITY TO TURN. THE WHEEL LOCKED DOWN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN AT THE SAME
• AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE LOST STEERING AND BRAKES BRIEFLY IN PARKING LOT. PUMPED BRAKE AND BOTH RETURNED AFTER A HISSING SOUND. RECURRED A FEW TIMES IN NEXT 6 MONTHS OR SO. THEN, IN THE FALL OF 2013, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES ON I-49/US71B HEADING SOUTH FROM JOPLIN, MISSOURI. YOU COULD PUMP THE BR

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

“LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL (THREE EPISODES) : 13 NOV 2012, WHILE EXITING NB I-95 ONTO EB ROUTE 214 IN LANDOVER, MD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. MY SPEED AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE RAPIDLY AS THE RAMP BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN FROM IT'S SWEEPING RIGHT CURVE. THE LOCKED STEERI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

27%

• 2012 GMC DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHENEVER HE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN, HE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE ABILITY TO TURN. THE WHEEL LOCKED DOWN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN AT THE SAME
• THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT IN MY TRUCK, I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THE WEATHER HASN'T BEEN TOO HOT OR COLD. DAYS IN LOWER 90S AND LOWS IN UPPER 70S. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND I AM AFRAID AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WILL LAUNCH PLASTIC PIECES THRO
• THE DASHBOARD IN OUR VEHICLE IS CRACKING AND GETTING WORSE IN TWO LOCATIONS ON THE DASH. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ALSO ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. BEGINNING TO GO INTO THE AIRBAG AREA

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

“2012 GMC DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHENEVER HE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN, HE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE ABILITY TO TURN. THE WHEEL LOCKED DOWN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN AT THE SAME ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

13%

• 2012 GMC DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHENEVER HE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN, HE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE ABILITY TO TURN. THE WHEEL LOCKED DOWN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN AT THE SAME
• AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE LOST STEERING AND BRAKES BRIEFLY IN PARKING LOT. PUMPED BRAKE AND BOTH RETURNED AFTER A HISSING SOUND. RECURRED A FEW TIMES IN NEXT 6 MONTHS OR SO. THEN, IN THE FALL OF 2013, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES ON I-49/US71B HEADING SOUTH FROM JOPLIN, MISSOURI. YOU COULD PUMP THE BR

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A RATTLING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH
• OUR GMC HAS EXPERIENCED 3 EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURES. WE PAID TO HAVE THE 1ST BROKEN HANDLE REPAIRED AS IT WAS NOT OPERABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS EVACUATION EXPERIENCE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. WE CHOSE A NON-DEALER REPAIR FACILITY DUE TO THE COST OF USING A DEALER. THI

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A RATTLING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

1 complaints

• I HAVE GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A 265 60R20 TIRES ON MY SIERRA DENALI HD 2500. I WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM NC VIA I-95 AND PULLED OVER SO MY WIFE COULD NURSE OUR 3 WEEK OLD. ME AND THE BOYS WENT IN K-MART FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING AND GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD, I NOTICED MY CAR WAS PULLING BAD

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

“I HAVE GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A 265 60R20 TIRES ON MY SIERRA DENALI HD 2500. I WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM NC VIA I-95 AND PULLED OVER SO MY WIFE COULD NURSE OUR 3 WEEK OLD. ME AND THE BOYS WENT IN K-MART FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING AND GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD, I NOTICED MY CAR WAS PULLING BAD ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 15 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL (THREE EPISODES) : 13 NOV 2012, WHILE EXITING NB I-95 ONTO EB ROUTE 214 IN LANDOVER, MD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. MY SPEED AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE RAPIDLY AS THE RAMP BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN FROM IT'S SWEEPING RIGHT CURVE. THE LOCKED STEERI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2012 GMC DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHENEVER HE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN, HE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE ABILITY TO TURN. THE WHEEL LOCKED DOWN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN AT THE SAME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 2012 GMC DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHENEVER HE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN, HE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE ABILITY TO TURN. THE WHEEL LOCKED DOWN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN AT THE SAME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A RATTLING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)