2012 GMC Yukon Problems & Owner Complaints

Unknown Or Other 69 1 crash

“Yesterday while unloading the rear of our 2021 GMC Yukon Denali the tailgate came down on me without warning and with force. I googled to see what might have caused this to happen and it stated that the struts might be worn out. (I am having that checked out today) Fortunately, I am a 6 foot 220 pound man and was not hurt but just the day before my 14 year old, 100 pound grand daughter was taking things things out of the rear of the vehicle. If the rear door would have come down on her it would have been a lot worse”
NHTSA complaint #11609310, 2024

“Cracks in the dash in two places. Next to the passenger air bag and on the curve above the instrucment panel on the drivers side.”
NHTSA complaint #11443404, 2021

“Dash is cracked on passenger side airbag”
NHTSA complaint #11430250, 2021

Air Bags 40

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11554375, 2023

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11559602, 2021

“I was driving and slowed down upon approaching speed bumps and going over speed bump my dashboard cover cracked. There was no warning after it cracked the more I drove the more it cracked I am currently buying a dashboard cover to go over the cracked dashboard.”
NHTSA complaint #11420662, 2021

Structure 35

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11559602, 2021

“DASH CRACKS EVERYWHERE, ALL ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE CRACKING. NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN USING A UN U.V PROTECTED PLASTIC.”
NHTSA complaint #11395692, 2021

“I BOUGHT THIS SUV USED AND WAS TOLDTHE DASHBOARD CRACKED ON ITS OWN AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ON THE DRIVER SIDE OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER! I TRIED FIXING WITH SUPER GLUE AND IT JUST LOOKS TERRIBLE & A COMPLETE EYESORE!! I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT BROKE SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR FORM EXCEPT FOR MY PURCHASE DATE.”
NHTSA complaint #11360091, 2020

Electrical System 11

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11414353, 2021

“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 RES…”
NHTSA complaint #11386117, 2020

“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 M…”
NHTSA complaint #11376110, 2020

Engine 9 1 fire

“2012 GMC YUKON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AFTER DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE, NOISES, SHAKING SENSATION, STABILI TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATES, HESITATES THEN STOPS. CONSUMER NOTICES FLAMES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE BEFORE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *SMD *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10926888, 2016 · fire

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11717094, 2026

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11696097, 2025

Vehicle Speed Control 5

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11696097, 2025

“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 RES…”
NHTSA complaint #11386117, 2020

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11316836, 2020

Fuel/Propulsion System 4

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11696097, 2025

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11316836, 2020

“WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT 50 60 OR ANY SPEED - THE TACHOMETER JUMPS AND THE CAR SURGES FEELS LIKE IT GOING TO STOP”
NHTSA complaint #11022752, 2017

Power Train 4

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11557861, 2023

“I HAVE A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI XL THAT STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION "6L80" ISSUES AT 120,000 MILES.(03/20/2019) BEAMAN GMC STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OF COURSE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. SO ON I SPENT $6031.19 TO HAVE IT REPLACED/REBUILT, NOW 80,000 MILES LATER ON 3/24/2023 I JUST HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED/REBUILT AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS TIME TO THE TUNE OF $9454.00. I DECIDED TO DO SOME INVESTIGATIVE WORK AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION THAT WAS DATED NOVEMBER OF 2022. BULLETIN # 16-NA-338 FOR A TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY REPL…”
NHTSA complaint #11514664, 2019

“OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS MY 2012 YUKON HAS BEEN HESITATING / STOPPING. I HAVE ACCELERATE INTO IN THE INTERSECTION AND VEHICLE HESITATED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON AND OFF NUMEROUS TIMES, FLASHING STABILIZATION AND TRACTION SWITCHING ON AND OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST FIVE TIMES EACH TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE SECOND TO THE LAST TIME THEY STATED I NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP WHICH THEY REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED WITH IN TWO DAYS AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY . THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY STATED THERE IS…”
NHTSA complaint #11005576, 2017

Seat Belts 2

“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 M…”
NHTSA complaint #11376110, 2020

“THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. THE FIRST CRACKED HAPPENED AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES RIGHT ABOVE THE STEERING WELL. THE SECOND CRACK IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEADING UP TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THAT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. THE THIRD CRACK IS IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL IT TRAVELS UPWARD TO MEET THE FIRST CRACK MAKING IT INTO A Y SHAPED. THIS HAPPENED AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. THE CAR IS PARKED IN A GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE MIDDLE ROW AND THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE THIRD ROW BOTH FELL APART MAKING THE BUCKLES…”
NHTSA complaint #11021637, 2014

Service Brakes 2

“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 RES…”
NHTSA complaint #11386117, 2020

“REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER SAYS ASSEMBLIES MUST BE REPLACED AT $2K. SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ENSURE GMC RECALLS AND REPAIRS THIS WIDESPREAD ISSUE.”
NHTSA complaint #11139924, 2018

Visibility/Wiper 2

“WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WIPERS WOULD SLOWLY MOVE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER GETTING THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE, I PURCHASED A NEW WIPER MOTOR. ONLY TO FIND THAT, DUE DO A DEFECT IN ENGINEERING, THE LINKAGE HAD SEIZED UP. HAD I NOT NOTICED THE LINKAGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, I COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AGAIN.”
NHTSA complaint #11255612, 2019

“DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER (SNOW AND RAIN) WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NECESSARY FOR VISIBILITY, THE WIPERS WOULD EITHER MOVE VERY SLOWLY OR INTERMITTENTLY AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD DESPITE THE WIPER CONTROL SET TO HIGH AND NOT ON THE INTERMITTENT SETTING. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE AND IN MOTION, ANY SPEED. THIS OCCURRED BETWEEN MARCH 2016 UNTIL A NEW WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY 2016. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE OF RECALL FROM GMC HOWEVER I DID DISCOVER A RECALL THROUGH WWW.AUTOZONE.COM (# 15789: SERVICE P…”
NHTSA complaint #10919369, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1 1 fire

“2012 GMC YUKON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AFTER DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE, NOISES, SHAKING SENSATION, STABILI TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATES, HESITATES THEN STOPS. CONSUMER NOTICES FLAMES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE BEFORE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *SMD *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10926888, 2016 · fire

Fuel System 1

“WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK WITH FUEL THE PUMP CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF DUE TO PRESSURE IN THE FUEL TANK NOT BEING RELEASED. TOOK THIS IN TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE FUEL TANK AND VARIOUS COMPONENT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT GAS STATION I FILL UP AT EITHER. IT CAN TAKE UP TO 20 MINUTES TO FILL UP THE FUEL TANK DUE TO THE PUMP CONSTANTLY SHUTTING OFF DUE TO THE PRESSURE IN THE FUEL TANK NOT BEING RELEASED. GM DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME AT THIS POINT. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS AS WELL AND NEEDS TO BE…”
NHTSA complaint #10668450, 2014

Seats 1

“TAKATA RECALL -I FOUND NO RECORD OF RECALL BUT PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD AROUND WHERE THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY. HEATED SEATS MALFUNCTION AND TURN ON AND ARE UNABLE TO BE TURNED OFF. FUEL TANK MILEAGE TO EMPTY UNRELIABLE. GAUGE CAN BE AT QUARTER TANK AND SAY 50 MILES TO EMPTY AND STALL DUE TO BEING OUT OF GAS. GAS GAUGE ISSUE CHANGES WHILE DRIVING...ON ROAD TRIPS THE GAS GAUGE WILL SUDDENLY CHANGE AND SAY THERE IS MORE GAS IN IT THAN THERE ACTUALLY IS. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10919274, 2016

Steering 1

“WHILE DRIVING CAR AT RANDOM TIMES IT WILL SHUTOFF AND YOU WILL LOOSE STEERING AND ALL ELECTRONICS MOMENTARILY AND THEN CAR WILL TURN BACK ON. IT ONLY DOES THIS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TURNING ON ROUGHER PAVEMENT. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE NEXT TIME YOU TURN OFF THE CAR AND TRY TO START THE CAR THE KEY WILL NOT TURN ON ANY OF THE ELECTRONICS AND WILL NOT START THE VEHICLE. IF YOU CONTINUOUSLY TAKE THE KEY OUT AND REINSERT UNTIL AND THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY START.”
NHTSA complaint #11020021, 2017

Tires 1

“5 TIRE FAILURES IN 24 MONTHS AND 26833 MILES. 2 WERE "BROKEN TREAD" FAILURES AND 3 WERE FLATS. OF THE FLATS 2 WERE IN THE SAME TIRE WITHIN 1 WEEK WITH NO OBVIOUS NAIL OR OTHER FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE TIRE. AS A RESULT I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE FIRST "BROKEN TIRE OCCURRED AT AROUND 7700 MILES, THE SECOND BROKEN TIRE AT 10700 MILES. FLATS OCCURRED AT AROUND 7800 MILES AND 26800 MILES. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10681531, 2014

Visibility 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING, THE SUN ROOF INADVERTENTLY EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT HEARD WIND BLOWING THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED A HOLE IN THE SUN ROOF GLASS. THE CONTACT CALLED BRIAN HARRIS CHEVROLET AT (225) 910-6907 (15015 FLORIDA BLVD, BATON ROUGE, LA 70819) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS CLOSED AND HE WOULD BE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11052503, 2017