YearToAvoid

2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 ranks 21st out of 21 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 0 and a Best verdict. It has 146 complaints and 5 recalls, led by airbag issues, making it one of the lowest-risk years in the lineup.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
0/100
#21 of 21 Sierra 1500 years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
146
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
8
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
—
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags46 (32%)
  2. Other44 (30%)
  3. Structure & Body30 (21%)
  4. Engine16 (11%)
  5. Brakes15 (10%)
  6. Electrical System15 (10%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (8%)
  8. Steering10 (7%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain8 (5%)
  10. Fuel System4 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Passenger front airbags have deployed unexpectedly during normal driving, sometimes causing drivers to crash from the shock, at a median mileage of 55,500.
  • Some trucks experienced sudden loss of electrical power and engine shutdown while underway, in one case followed by an underhood fire.
  • Steering problems have been reported, including a steering shaft disengaging from the axle and causing loss of front-wheel control, around 36,000 miles median.
  • Brake and ABS problems have occurred at low speed in parking situations, with the truck continuing to move despite the driver pressing the brake, at a median of 50,750 miles.
  • New trucks showed alignment and steering wander issues along with ABS and brake warning lights appearing shortly after purchase.
  • Underhood fires have started while the vehicle was parked and running, with smoke appearing near the engine bay.
2012 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints: complaints filed per quarter112012 Q12014 Q22016 Q22018 Q12020 Q12021 Q42023 Q42026 Q3
146 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (11).

2012 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V051000Feb 5, 2021Airbags284,645 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 21V054000Feb 5, 2021Airbags1,778,128 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." 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.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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's number for this recall is N212328800.

  3. NHTSA 18V267000Apr 26, 2018Other6,154 vehicles

    Equipment

    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

    Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 →

2012 compared with other Sierra 1500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best202124—
2011Good403557—
2012Best01465—
2013Best101626—
2014Avoid8085420 !—

All GMC Sierra 1500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Sierra 1500 has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any year for this model, and carries a Best verdict relative to other Sierra 1500 years.
What are the most common complaints for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500?
Airbags lead with 46 complaints (32% share), followed by Structure & Body issues with 30 complaints (21%), and Engine problems with 16 complaints (11%).
Does the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Sierra 1500, covering airbag inflators, a fire extinguisher replacement, an ignition lock housing inspection, and a fuel transfer pump issue on diesel models.
How does the 2012 Sierra 1500 compare to other years?
The 2012 model ranks 21st out of 21 years by complaint index, tying with 2013 and 2010 as Best-rated years, while years like 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 carry Avoid verdicts with much higher complaint indexes.
Were there any injuries or deaths reported for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA data shows 1 injury and 0 deaths reported for the 2012 Sierra 1500, along with 8 crashes and 2 fires across 146 complaints.

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.