2012 Gmc Sierra 3500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (3) · Fuel System, Diesel (2) · Service Brakes (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Sierra 3500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank 2017-10-19 · campaign 17V664000 · 35,292 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
Risk: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, as well as inspect the front tank, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service for Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 or for GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17399.
Service bulletins (773)
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 773 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-08 · Unknown Or Other“our dash board cracked very badly from the top next to the speaker to the passenger side air bag. we purposely use a dash board cover and never place heavy things on it. this is a safety issue as if getting in an accident wouldn’t be bad enough flying shrapnel would be worse. we just had it fixed at a dealership to the tune of $2500. this is not ok…”
2022-03-03 · Service Brakes“the service brakes lights has come on a d disabled my brake controller. this is a safety issue while towing and completely unacceptable. …”
2017-10-11 · Unknown Or Other · 35,900 mi“the gmc sierra 3500hd while in regeneration mode funnels exhaust directly into the cab through the vents. while gm recognized this as a flaw and came up with a fix for it, they will only repair it in a 5 year or 100,000 mile window. how is this not a safety issue without an expiration?…”
2017-02-07 · Power Train · 150 mi“the vehicle will not shift properly when towing a trailer. while going up a hill, the transmission will not downshift properly. while going downhill, the vehicle downshifts to 2nd gear while going 60 mph. i have contacted gm several times (they have it on file) that there is a problem with the transmission. they understand but said that they canno…”
2015-02-06 · Power Train · 31,200 mi“while driving on highway, transmission shifts hard to higher gear. this started all of a sudden will take to dealership. *js…”
2014-07-02 · Fuel System, Diesel · 140,000 mi“driving from gm dealer for two miles change fuel filter message appeared and engine died. towed to a dealer diagnosed as a high pressure injector pump failure with metal contamination to fuel system. i have found a bulletin dated 2009 from equipment manufacturers. this joint statement has information about the fuel used in the usa that i was not aw…”
2013-07-23 · Power Train · 16,400 mi“while pulling my fifth wheel trailer 12500# at highway speed 65 mph pulling a grade the check engine light came on and the reduced engine power message appeared on the dash. this reduced and limited the speed to 50 mph and steps the truck down from there until you can only do 20 mph on the interstate. this issue has happened three times in three mo…”
2013-06-20 · Fuel System, Diesel · 29,958 mi“this started just a few weeks after i purchased the truck, still under warranty. it has been in the shop twice for this. it has happened 3 times. while driving the truck will shut off like you turned the key off. very dangerous when driving in traffic. has been in shop twice for this problem, gmc has failed to find or fix the problem. i told them t…”
2013-02-27 · Engine · 90,200 mi“traveling at 60mph on turnpike pulling long heavy trailer in rain at night with moderate to heavy traffic. sudden shutdown of all systems. engine shut off and all electrical systems shut down. unable to restart or get electrical systems to work. worked vehicle to shoulder and had it towed to a dealership. waiting for them to open to diagnose an…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.