2012 Gmc Yukon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (8) · Vehicle Speed Control (4) · Air Bags (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Yukon model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
39 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
Electrical System:ignition 2014-12-30 · campaign 14V827000 · 84,192 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (1,667)
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 2026-01-16 · 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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,667 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-24 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 175,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 gmc yukon. the contact stated that the radiator and the water pump were previously replaced due to an overheating failure. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine made a knocking sound. no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to autozone, where it was diagnosed with engine lifter f…”
2026-02-10 · Engine · 47,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 gmc yukon. the contact stated that years ago, the engine was replaced with a rebuilt engine. recently, after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the engine. the banging sound continued, and the vehicle shut off without warning. due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mech…”
2025-10-28 · Vehicle Speed Control“driving on loop 20 overpass on hwy 59 in laredo texas suddenly the engine lost power and started to skip and miss fire while a loud tapping noise was generated, due to the loss of power and skipping, alarms showed in the main console requiring immediate service to the engine, traction and braking sys, the lack of engine power place me in a very cri…”
2024-08-19 · Unknown Or Other“yesterday while unloading the rear of our 2021 gmc yukon denali the tailgate came down on me without warning and with force. i googled to see what might have caused this to happen and it stated that the struts might be worn out. (i am having that checked out today) fortunately, i am a 6 foot 220 pound man and was not hurt but just the day before my…”
2024-01-17 · Unknown Or Other“dashboard cracked, afraid that if airbag deploys shards of dashboard will come flying at both driver and passenger. it started as a little crack, than expanded across the entire dashboard…”
2023-12-11 · Structure:body“the problem started a couple of years ago as a small crack in the dashboard at the upper left corner of the airbag. the crack widened and lengthened after replacement of the air bag last year. then the dash cracked earlier this year at the crown above the instrument cluster. it has completely separated and is nearly 12” in length. not only does it …”
2023-11-09 · Air Bags“the contact's son owned a 2012 gmc yukon. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v051000 (air bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list as her son no longer owns the vehicle. the local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.…”
2023-04-17 · Unknown Or Other“dash panel cracked via design defect. damage has spread and poses a safety risk if airbags are deployed.…”
2023-03-30 · Power Train“i have a 2012 gmc yukon denali xl that started having transmission "6l80" issues at 120,000 miles.(03/20/2019) beaman gmc stated the transmission was out and needed to be replaced. of course just out of warranty. so on i spent $6031.19 to have it replaced/rebuilt, now 80,000 miles later on 3/24/2023 i just had to have it replaced/rebuilt again f…”
2022-04-25 · Unknown Or Other“for no apparent reason the dashboard is cracking. it started on driver side now there is another one near airbag and by speaker. this vehicle is well maintained and there should be no excuse for this…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.