2012 Gmc Sierra 2500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (5) · Air Bags (5) · Structure:body (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Sierra 2500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V051000 · 284,645 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V054000 · 1,778,128 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 1-8
Equipment 2018-04-26 · campaign 18V267000 · 6,154 vehicles
Defect: 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,
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (1,723)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-16 · PIT4506J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician that some owners of heavy duty trucks and utilities may ask if they can lower their tire pressures. tire pressures being set to the "tire and loading label" will ensure the safe handling and ride characteristics of the
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-16 · PIT6400A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-na-255: wax coating on frame peeling, metal shows corrosion/rusting due to issue with getting product from current supplier listed in the bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,723 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-19 · Tires:sidewall · 146,500 mi“the contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra 2500 equipped with armstrong tires, tire line: tru trac ht, tire size: 245/75/17, dot number: 1e6dae022625. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine tire rotation but was informed there were massive bubbles on the tires, and on one tire, there was a bulge the size of a…”
2025-02-24 · Unknown Or Other“i'm following up on tracking number 11642264 that was submitted on feb 12th for my 2012 gmc sierra 2500 hd ignition lock issue that fits the profile for a current recall . i haven't heard anything and am checking on the current status. thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)…”
2025-02-12 · Unknown Or Other“my 2012 gmc sierra falls under recall number 14v827000 ignition lock activator by year, make and model, but not by the vin number. i called the gmc 800 number and they indicated that the nhtsa issues the recalls not the manufacturer. i then called the nhtsa and they indicated that the manufacturer issues the recalls. i just need to have vin number …”
2024-11-12 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra 2500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v051000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer and an unknown dealer were contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. th…”
2023-09-05 · Power Train · 126,393 mi“driving on the expressway around 60 mph when the truck went into limp mode slowing me down to 40 and then would not shift gears tcm went out gm told me that there is a big problem …”
2023-08-28 · Fuel/Propulsion System“truck is a diesel. fuel pump blew up and died in the middle of the street. now i'm being told the fuel system needs completely re done and will cost me 10g. i also found a lawsuit for this issue as well.…”
2023-08-02 · Vehicle Speed Control“failed transmission control module (24256861). while driving in the early morning hours (darkness) taking my child to school, i was navigating through a busy intersection when the vehicle surged and then made a loud metal on metal sound, feeling as if someone had struck me from behind. at that point the power train became inoperable, stranding us …”
2023-05-02 · Power Train“transmission control module failed …”
2021-09-13 · Air Bags“i received notice of a defective front airbag in february, 2021. as of now (about 7 months later) no action by gm to repair.…”
2020-10-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 70,000 mi“while traveling on the interstate at speed and passing slower traffic; engine power fell off, change fuel filter now, engine derate, and check engine lite, occured. i had to maneuver with no power through the traffic to get out of the travel lanes. i was then stranded on the interstate as the truck would not start. i was able to get a mechanic to c…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.