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2012 GMC Yukon problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 GMC Yukon has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 140owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 1fire report
- 0injuries reported
140 complaints, against an average of 239 for the other 14 GMC Yukon model years.
Every GMC Yukon model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 GMC Yukon?
The components named most often in the 140 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 GMC Yukon owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 140 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2012 GMC Yukon been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module 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 vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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's number for this recall is N212328770.
Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module 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 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
Electrical System: Ignition 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.
Is the 2012 GMC Yukon recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
EU Safety GateThe propellant used in the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation…The propellant used in the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high-temperature cycling. In the event of an airbag being deployed, the excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to rupture and metal fragments may pass through the cushion material causing injury to the occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
What do 2012 GMC Yukon owners report?
12 of the 140 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 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 mechanic, and it was discovered that an engine bearing had failed, and the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately…
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 critical and unsafe situation wherein I was about to be rear collision by the vehicle behind me. This event happened on October 17th, 2025 . I brought the vehicle to Powell Watson Motors who is the GMC dealership in Laredo Texas for inspection but they…
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…
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…
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.
DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPS LOOSES POWER
2012 GMC Yukon: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 GMC Yukon reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 140 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Yukon; the most common categories were air bags (41, 29.3%), structure (36, 25.7%), electrical system (11, 7.9%). There are 3 safety recalls. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 1 mentions a fire.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Yukon?
Across 140 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (29.3% of complaints), structure (25.7% of complaints), electrical system (7.9% of complaints), engine (6.4% of complaints), vehicle speed control (3.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 GMC Yukon have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 GMC Yukon; the most recent (campaign 21V051000, 2021-02-05) concerns Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2012 GMC Yukon idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
6 of the 140 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 GMC Yukon (4.3%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "Extreme hesitation when accelerating from a stop sign or stop light. also my dashboard had several crack in it and it's getting more." (NHTSA complaint 11230929, July 2019). 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 does my 2012 GMC Yukon stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
5 of the 140 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 GMC Yukon (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?
5 of the 140 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 GMC Yukon (3.6%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. 2 related recalls exist: campaign 21V051000 (air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module). The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. 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). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own Yukon
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), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only; combines NHTSA's entries for YUKON, YUKON DENALI, YUKON DENALI XL 1500, YUKON DENALI XL 2500 and YUKON HYBRID.