2012 GMC Yukon XL Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
13/100
#14 most-complained of 16 Yukon XL years
The 2012 GMC Yukon XL ranks 14th out of 16 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 13 and a "Best" verdict. It has 41 complaints, 4 recalls, and no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported to NHTSA.
- Complaints
- 41
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 13.5 city / 18 hwy
Top 2012 GMC Yukon XL problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other20 (49%)
- Airbags13 (32%)
- Structure & Body11 (27%)
- Engine4 (10%)
- Electrical System3 (7%)
- Brakes2 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (5%)
- Steering1 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (2%)
What owners report
- Dashboards crack above the instrument cluster and around the passenger airbag, sometimes spreading 6-8 inches across the dash.
- Cracks appear suddenly while the vehicle is parked and not in use, with no prior accident or impact.
- Windshield wipers move slowly or stop mid-windshield during rain or snow, even with the control set to high.
- One owner reported repeated tire tread separations and flats within a short period, unrelated to road debris.
- A brake-related incident involved noises, a shaking sensation, and a stabilitrak warning light before the vehicle caught fire underneath.
2012 GMC Yukon XL recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 14V827000Dec 30, 2014Electrical System84,192 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
2012 GMC Yukon XL fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13.5 MPG
- Highway
- 18 MPG
- Combined
- 15 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,350
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Yukon XL years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
- Among 16 model years of the Yukon XL, 2012 ranks 14th worst, meaning it has fewer reported problems than most other years. Its complaint index is 13, and NHTSA lists 41 complaints and 4 recalls.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Yukon XL?
- Airbags account for 32% of complaints, mostly related to cracked dashboards near the airbag housing, at a median mileage of 70,000. Structure & Body issues make up 27% of complaints, with a median mileage of 62,000.
- Does the 2012 GMC Yukon XL have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2012 Yukon XL, covering airbag inflators, an ignition lock housing issue, and a steering gear pitman shaft problem. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2012 Yukon XL compare to other years?
- The 2012 model has a complaint index of 13 and a "Best" verdict, much lower than 2015 (87), 2021 (93), and 2023 (100), which are rated "Avoid."
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 GMC Yukon XL?
- The 2012 Yukon XL gets an EPA-rated 15 mpg combined (13.5 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350.