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 2500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 31 owner complaints about the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500, 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 19, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 has problems
31 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
8Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
5Fuel/propulsion system
4Structure1 crash/fire/injury
4Electrical system
4Power train
3Engine
2Tires
1Suspension
1Vehicle speed control
11 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 |
| Power train | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 |
| 1 other systems | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2012 GMC Sierra 2500 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.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Sierra 2500 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 2500 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 2500 safety ratings
2012 GMC Sierra 2500 PU/CC RWD W/ SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
- Rollover: 3 stars (20.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What Sierra 2500 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V051000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and an unknown dealer were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…
I received notice of a defective front airbag in February, 2021. As of now (about 7 months later) no action by GM to repair.
DASH IS CRACKED NEAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, IF DEPLOYMENT WERE TO HAPPEN SHRAPNEL WILL FLY THROUGHOUT THE CAB. IVE SEEN THE SAME ISSUE ON NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME GENERATION.
Own a 2012 Sierra 2500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.