YearToAvoid

2012 GMC Denali Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#3 most-complained of 6 Denali years

The 2012 GMC Denali has 6 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 60 out of 100 — #3 highest of 6 Denali model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is airbags (2 complaints, 33% of the total).

Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2012 GMC Denali problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other3 (50%)
  2. Airbags2 (33%)
  3. Structure & Body2 (33%)
  4. Electrical System1 (17%)
  5. Engine1 (17%)
  6. Fuel System1 (17%)
2012 GMC Denali complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2017Sep 2017Apr 2018Sep 2018Feb 2019Feb 2021
10 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2017 to Feb 2021; peak Sep 2017 (3).

2012 GMC Denali recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 compared with other Denali years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best050—
2011Avoid80110—
2012Caution6060—
2013Best2050—
2014Good4050—

All GMC Denali years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 GMC Denali a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 GMC Denali ranks #3 of 6 among Denali model years (Complaint Index 60/100, verdict: Caution). It has 6 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Denali?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (2 complaints), structure & body (2 complaints), and electrical system (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 82,000 miles.
Does the 2012 GMC Denali have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2012 GMC Denali in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.