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2012 GMC Yukon XL problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 GMC Yukon XL has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 84owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
84 complaints, against an average of 185 for the other 14 GMC Yukon XL model years.
Every GMC Yukon XL model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 GMC Yukon XL?
The components named most often in the 84 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 GMC Yukon XL owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 84 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2012 GMC Yukon XL been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
What do 2012 GMC Yukon XL owners report?
12 of the 84 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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 rattle to the point of driver distraction, but I would think there is a high risk of shattering during a collision potentially causing facial lacerations, blindness and the like. I really don’t want to wait to find out. According to [XXX] , this is a…
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while in a parking lot, the contact attempted to shift the vehicle into drive however, the transmission failed to shift into gear. The contact stated that the gear shifter cable had detached. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 248,000.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS BATTERY RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED IN THREE PLACES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V051000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED ALLEN GMC (28332 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677, (949) 391-9094) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000…
DASH CRACKS EVERYWHERE, ALL ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE CRACKING. NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN USING A UN U.V PROTECTED PLASTIC.
WHEN DRIVING IT SOMETIMES BEGINS TO HESITATE REDUCE POWER THE TRACTION AND STABILITY AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE RPM GAUGE AS WELL STOPS WORKING. IF I PULL OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD AND TURN OFF AND RESTART MOST TIMES THE IGNITION WILL HANG AND KEEP TRYING CRANK THE VEHICLE. IT'S HESITANT TO CRANK WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND SOMETIMES CRANKS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DIES. IT WILL SHIFT HARD JUST BEFORE POWERING INTO A REDUCED POWER MODE. IF YOU TURN OFF RESTART TURN YOUR WHEEL ALL THE WAY LEFT AND THEN ALL THE WAY RIGHT AND CRANK IT WILL SOMETIMES MAKE THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND YOU THINK…
WHILE WORKING ON AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT I ENCOUNTERED 2 DISTINCT PROBLEMS WITH MY AIRBAG AND VEHICLE SYSTEM. 1. THE MAIN UNDERHOOD FUSE PANEL ON MY VEHICLE HAS PORTION OF OXIDATION ON THE FUSES THEMSELVES. THIS OXIDATION IS CAUSING FUSES TO APPEAR INTACT BUT ARE CAUSING THE CIRCUIT TO OPEN. THIS WAS THE ROOT CAUSE OF MY AIRBAG SYSTEM TO NOT BE OPERATING PROPERLY. 2. WHILE DIAGNOSING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, I WAS CAUTIOUS ABOUT UNPLUGGIN THE BATTERY DURING ANY TROUBLESHOOTING THAT I WAS PERFORMING. BUT, AT THE END OF THE DIAGNOSIS PERIOD AND ALL MODULES/SYSTEM WERE RECONNECTED TO ELECTRICAL MATING…
I WAS LEAVING A STORE AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND LOST OF ALL ELECTRIC IN VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY ON COMING VEHICLES! WOULD GO DEAD AND START AGAIN BY ITSELF BUT AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL AS IF IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN! I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE! ONCE I PULLED OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED VEHICLE START TO FLICKERING SO I SAT FOR A BIT AND WHEN IT STOP FLICKERING I TRIED CONTINUING HOME! CUT THE VEHICLE OFF IN PARK TRIED TO START IT BACK WITH NO RESPONSE BUT AS I SAT I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT FINALLY STARTED BUT STILL FLICKERING!! PLEASE HELP I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A…
THE MOTOR THAT OPENS AND CLOSES THE TRUNK HAS BURNED OUT TWICE ALREADY. THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE SYSTEM THAT WILL MAKE THE MOTOR GET STUCK AND BURN OUT UNTIL IT STOPS WORKING. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING IT TWICE, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS. OUR TRUNK WON'T CLOSE NOW AND IT REMAINS OPEN AND UNLOCKED.
LIFTER FAILURE. HOPING NO CAMSHAFT DAMAGE. 3 WEEKS WAITING ON PARTS THAT APPARENTLY CAN'T BE FOUND. WAS DRIVING APPROX 35 MPH WHEN HORRIBLE TICKING NOISE OCCURRED. QUICKLY ASSESSED NOTHING IN WHEEL WELL. NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. LIMPED CAR DIRECTLY TO MECHANIC AS FEARED MORE DAMAGE OR COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IF DRIVEN MORE MILES. SINCE BECOME AWARE OF ISSUES WITH THIS ENGINE AND THAT CHANGES WERE MADE IN 2014. LESS THAN 90K MILES ON THE CAR.
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT 50 60 OR ANY SPEED - THE TACHOMETER JUMPS AND THE CAR SURGES FEELS LIKE IT GOING TO STOP
2012 GMC Yukon XL: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Yukon XL; the most common categories were air bags (25, 29.8%), structure (20, 23.8%), electrical system (9, 10.7%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 complaint mentions a crash.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Yukon XL?
Across 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (29.8% of complaints), structure (23.8% of complaints), electrical system (10.7% of complaints), engine (4.8% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (3.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 GMC Yukon XL have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2012 GMC Yukon XL stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
3 of the 84 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL (3.6%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Tl* the contact owns a 2012 gmc yukon xl. the contact stated while driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled. additionally, the brakes failed to engage when the brake pedal was depressed. there was no warning light illuminated." (NHTSA complaint 11414353, April 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 GMC Yukon XL?
3 of the 84 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL (3.6%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. One owner wrote: "The dashboard is cracked on driver side with plastic pieces falling down into dash, dashboard is also cracked on passenger side on the corner of the airbag. this is a known issue and i want it fixed." (NHTSA complaint 11297854, January 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Yukon XL
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only; combines NHTSA's entries for YUKON XL 1500 and YUKON XL 2500.