YearToAvoid

2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 15 brake complaints for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500, 10% of that year's 146 total complaints. There are no related recalls, 2 crashes, and no fires or injuries tied to this component, with a median failure mileage of 50,750.

Brakes complaints
15
10% of 146
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
50,750 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the ABS system slipping or failing to hold during slow-speed maneuvers, allowing the truck to keep rolling forward into obstacles.
  • Some describe front brake pads sticking to the rotor on cold mornings, engaging and releasing slowly until the engine warms up.
  • Others report the brake pedal feeling firm while RPM increased unexpectedly when trying to slow down, forcing a shift to neutral to stop.
  • A steering-and-brake interaction was reported where brakes seemed to activate on their own even with the accelerator pressed, along with a traction control warning light.
  • Stability/traction control warning lights were reported to trigger intermittently, sometimes requiring dealer visits that took several days to diagnose.

When 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 14, 2012, latest Aug 11, 2026.

2012 GMC Sierra 1500 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month1Mar 2012Oct 2013Jul 2014Sep 2015Dec 2017Mar 2018Jun 2020Aug 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2012 to Aug 2026; peak Mar 2012 (1).

Brakes recalls for the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Sierra 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20107 (3%)
  2. 201121 (6%)
  3. 201215 (10%)
  4. 20138 (5%)
  5. 2014201 (24%)
  6. 2015250 (32%)
  7. 2016118 (31%)
  8. 2017129 (30%)
  9. 201848 (15%)
  10. 2019124 (18%)
  11. 202060 (13%)
  12. 202124 (4%)
  13. 202231 (5%)
  14. 202317 (4%)
  15. 202412 (3%)
  16. 20256 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 15 brake-related complaints for the 2012 Sierra 1500, which is 10% of the 146 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2012 Sierra 1500 brakes?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the brake complaints on the 2012 Sierra 1500.
Have the brake issues caused crashes?
NHTSA data links 2 crashes to brake complaints on the 2012 Sierra 1500, with no reported fires or injuries.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2012 Sierra 1500 is 50,750 miles.
Is the 2012 Sierra 1500 worse for brakes than other years?
The 2012 model's 10% share of complaints tied to brakes is lower than several later years, such as 2015 at 32% and 2014 at 24%, based on NHTSA complaint data.

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.