repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2012 GMC Sierra 1500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 107 owner complaints about the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-267 the manufacturer reports only 14% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 11, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 has problems
107 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
42Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
21Structure2 crash/fire/injury
8Electrical system
6Engine
6Power train
5Service brakes
4Suspension
3Wheels
3Electronic stability control (ESC)
149 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 42 | 3 |
| Structure | 21 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 0 |
| Power train | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 3 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 14 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2012 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Equipment
Risk. In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with GMC.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
73kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 25 air bags complaints. 68% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles17under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Sierra 1500 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sierra 1500 median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 GMC Sierra 1500 safety ratings
2012 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
- Rollover: 4 stars (18.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What Sierra 1500 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, she lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, the contact discovered that the vehicle had crashed into two vehicles and that the driver's side air bag had deployed. The police and paramedics arrived at the…
Cracked interior plastic dash, multiple places, potential safety hazard if airbag deploys and shatters it even more, also will be exposed wires once the cracks breaks all the way
manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner and recall could cause great bodily injury or death to driver and passenger.
Own a 2012 Sierra 1500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.