2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Airbags Problems
Owners filed 46 airbag complaints for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500, 32% of all complaints for the year, with 4 crashes and 1 injury reported. Two related recalls (21V051000 and 21V054000) cover front passenger airbag inflator replacement. Median mileage at failure was 55,500.
- Airbags complaints
- 46
- 32% of 146
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 55,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Front or passenger airbags deploy unexpectedly during normal driving, sometimes with a loud noise and no warning lights.
- Unexpected airbag deployment has led to loss of vehicle control and collisions, including one case that destroyed the truck.
- Dashboard plastic near the passenger airbag cracks over time, with owners worried the cracks could puncture the airbag bag or send plastic shrapnel during deployment.
- Cracking is reported starting at low mileage and worsening with more cracks appearing in multiple spots on the dash, including near the driver-side instrument panel.
- Some owners describe the driver airbag deploying during a crash after losing consciousness at highway speed.
When 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 8, 2013, latest Jun 4, 2024.
Airbags recalls for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500
- 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.
- 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.
Airbags complaints by Sierra 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does NHTSA list for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500?
- NHTSA lists 46 airbag complaints for the 2012 Sierra 1500, which is 32% of all 146 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500?
- Yes. Recall 21V051000 covers the 2012 Sierra 1500 and calls for replacing the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one at no charge. A related recall, 21V054000, covers other GM trucks including later Sierra models.
- What airbag problems do owners report most on the 2012 Sierra 1500?
- Owners most often report unexpected airbag deployment while driving and cracking dashboard plastic near the passenger airbag that could interfere with proper inflation.
- Were there any injuries linked to airbag complaints on this truck?
- NHTSA data shows 1 injury and 4 crashes among the 46 airbag complaints for the 2012 Sierra 1500.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure among reported airbag complaints for the 2012 Sierra 1500 is 55,500 miles.