Model year record
2012 GMC Sierra Denali recalls & problems
The 2012 GMC Sierra Denali has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 10 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is steering (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 4 | 29,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 50,000 mi |
| StructureBody | 2 | — |
| Equipment | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicPower assist | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK UP A 6% PERCENT GRADE WHEN THE CHANGE FUEL FILTER SOON WARNING POPPED UP, ABOUT A MINUTE LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, I KEPT DRIVING TO TRY AND GET OVER THE HILL SO I COULD MAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAKE IT ABOUT 2 MILES AFTER THE WARNING SHOWED UP BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. (THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON MY SIDE THE ROAD SO I TRIED TO TURN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY WHERE THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY PULL OUT AND AS I DID THE TRUCK DIED SIDEWAYS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, TAKING UP SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ENOUGH INCLINE THAT I WAS…
- Unknown or other
THE DASH BOARD IS CRACK I REPLACED 2 TIMES AND THE REPLACEMENTS ALSO CRACKS THE PARTS IS $1200 PLUS $1200 LABOR.
- Structure › Body
OUR GMC HAS EXPERIENCED 3 EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURES. WE PAID TO HAVE THE 1ST BROKEN HANDLE REPAIRED AS IT WAS NOT OPERABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS EVACUATION EXPERIENCE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. WE CHOSE A NON-DEALER REPAIR FACILITY DUE TO THE COST OF USING A DEALER. THIS REPAIR HAS HELD UP WELL. SINCE THAT INITIAL REPAIR 2 MORE EXTERIOR HANDLES HAVE BECOME INOPERABLE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE 4TH AND FINAL HANDLE FAILS. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IT'S ONLY VERY LIGHTLY USED AND HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT. A 75% DOOR HANDLE FAILURE RATE IS UNACCEPTABLE BY ANYONE'S STANDARD. DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WE HAVE NOT BEEN…
- Unknown or other
THE DASHBOARD IN OUR VEHICLE IS CRACKING AND GETTING WORSE IN TWO LOCATIONS ON THE DASH. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ALSO ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. BEGINNING TO GO INTO THE AIRBAG AREA
- Unknown or other
THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT IN MY TRUCK, I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THE WEATHER HASN'T BEEN TOO HOT OR COLD. DAYS IN LOWER 90S AND LOWS IN UPPER 70S. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND I AM AFRAID AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WILL LAUNCH PLASTIC PIECES THROUGH THE CABIN.
- Tires
I HAVE GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A 265 60R20 TIRES ON MY SIERRA DENALI HD 2500. I WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM NC VIA I-95 AND PULLED OVER SO MY WIFE COULD NURSE OUR 3 WEEK OLD. ME AND THE BOYS WENT IN K-MART FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING AND GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD, I NOTICED MY CAR WAS PULLING BAD RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING VERY BADLY. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT THE ADDITIONAL 30 MILES BACK HOME. WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK THE NEXT MORNING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WAS TOO BAD TO CONTINUE ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIRES WOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY EXISTING "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY AS THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HUGE BULGE…
- Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A RATTLING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ UPDATED 5/29/2015 *JS
- Service brakes
AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE LOST STEERING AND BRAKES BRIEFLY IN PARKING LOT. PUMPED BRAKE AND BOTH RETURNED AFTER A HISSING SOUND. RECURRED A FEW TIMES IN NEXT 6 MONTHS OR SO. THEN, IN THE FALL OF 2013, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES ON I-49/US71B HEADING SOUTH FROM JOPLIN, MISSOURI. YOU COULD PUMP THE BRAKES AND BRIEFLY REGAIN, BUT FOR THE MOST PART ALL STEERING AND BRAKES WERE OUT. TOOK TRUCK TO GMC DEALER WHERE PURCHASED NEW IN BENTONVILLE. DEALER CONFIRMED NO STEERING AND BRAKES AND DAMAGED BUMPER WHILE VEHICLE IN ITS POSSESSION BY BUMPING INTO PARKING LOT BARRIER. DEALER DIAGNOSED POWER STEERING PUMP PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ARE TIED TO SAME PUMP/SYSTEM. DEALER…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.