2012 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags825.0%
- Fuel system515.6%
- Electrical412.5%
- Powertrain (other)412.5%
- Body & structure412.5%
- Engine39.4%
- Tires & wheels13.1%
- Other / unspecified13.1%
- Suspension13.1%
- Driver assistance13.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. .
I received notice of a defective front airbag in February, 2021. As of now (about 7 months later) no action by GM to repair.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Truck is a diesel. Fuel pump blew up and died in the middle of the street. Now I'm being told the Fuel system needs completely re done and will cost me 10g. I also found a lawsuit for this issue as well.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED AND PASSING SLOWER TRAFFIC; ENGINE POWER FELL OFF, CHANGE FUEL FILTER NOW, ENGINE DERATE, AND CHECK ENGINE LITE, OCCURED. I HAD TO MANEUVER WITH NO POWER THROUGH THE TRAFFIC TO GET OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANES. I WAS THEN STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE AS THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. I WAS ABLE TO GET A MECHANIC TO COME AND CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, BUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. THE TRUCK WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP (DIESEL MOTOR DRIVEN PUMP).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driving on the expressway around 60 mph when the truck went into limp mode slowing me down to 40 and then would not shift gears Tcm went out gm told me that there is a big problem
Failed TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (24256861). While driving in the early morning hours (darkness) taking my child to school, I was navigating through a busy intersection when the vehicle surged and then made a loud metal on metal sound, feeling as if someone had struck me from behind. At that point the power train became inoperable, stranding us and coming very close to being first, struck from behind and then from cross traffic. The vehicle was/has been inspected by a GM technician at Starling Chevrolet, St Cloud, FL and the TCM was found to have failed (trouble code U0101, lost communication with TCM). It has been at the dealership for going on four months awaiting the production of a replacement part(TCM). There was no prior indication that the TCM was about to fail. Upon failure, all lights on the vehicle display flashed and the indicator for the vehicle drive position was lost (P, R, N, D), no longer visible.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driving on the expressway around 60 mph when the truck went into limp mode slowing me down to 40 and then would not shift gears Tcm went out gm told me that there is a big problem
Failed TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (24256861). While driving in the early morning hours (darkness) taking my child to school, I was navigating through a busy intersection when the vehicle surged and then made a loud metal on metal sound, feeling as if someone had struck me from behind. At that point the power train became inoperable, stranding us and coming very close to being first, struck from behind and then from cross traffic. The vehicle was/has been inspected by a GM technician at Starling Chevrolet, St Cloud, FL and the TCM was found to have failed (trouble code U0101, lost communication with TCM). It has been at the dealership for going on four months awaiting the production of a replacement part(TCM). There was no prior indication that the TCM was about to fail. Upon failure, all lights on the vehicle display flashed and the indicator for the vehicle drive position was lost (P, R, N, D), no longer visible.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
MULTIPLE CRACKS IN DASHBOARD WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY FLY OFF DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
1 DAY GOT IN TRUCK AND NOTICED THE DASH WAS CRACKED ON DRIVER SIDE BEHIND THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND AS I LOOKED I NOTICED IT WAS ALSO CRACKED AT THE 2 UPPER CORNERS OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 25000 MILE ON IT. GM WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND I'M WORRIED THAT IT CAN AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE AIR BAGS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Truck is a diesel. Fuel pump blew up and died in the middle of the street. Now I'm being told the Fuel system needs completely re done and will cost me 10g. I also found a lawsuit for this issue as well.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED AND PASSING SLOWER TRAFFIC; ENGINE POWER FELL OFF, CHANGE FUEL FILTER NOW, ENGINE DERATE, AND CHECK ENGINE LITE, OCCURED. I HAD TO MANEUVER WITH NO POWER THROUGH THE TRAFFIC TO GET OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANES. I WAS THEN STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE AS THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. I WAS ABLE TO GET A MECHANIC TO COME AND CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, BUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. THE TRUCK WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP (DIESEL MOTOR DRIVEN PUMP).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA 2500 EQUIPPED WITH PATHFINDER LT24575R16 TIRES, SIZE: 265/70R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL PANEL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,391. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ UPDATED 12/4/2017*CN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A NEW GMC SIERRA HD2500 SLE IN JUNE, IT CAME WITH 20" ALLOY WHEELS AND GOODYEAR WRANGLER SRA TIRES (LT265-60R20), LOAD RANGE E. WITHIN 3 DAYS, I HAD A SIDEWALL PUNCTURE ON ONE TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON OUR RANCH. THE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, JUST YESTERDAY, SEP. 15, I HAD ANOTHER SIDEWALL PUNCTURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE RANCH. I JUST LEFT THE LOCAL DISCOUNT TIRE, WHERE THEY ARE WAITING FOR A NEW TIRE TO ARRIVE SO THEY CAN REPLACE THE OLD TIRE. I'VE BEEN LIVING ON THIS RANCH FOR 47 YEARS NOW, AND HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 10 TRUCKS AND 2 SUBURBANS OVER THE YEARS. THERE IS A 3.5 MILE LOOP ROAD THAT RUNS AROUND THE RANCH, AND I DRIVE IT REGULARLY. THESE TWO FLATS ARE THE ONLY TWO I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN DRIVING THIS LOOP ROAD, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF CALICHE AND LIMESTONE. THE ROAD IS NOT GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT TERRIBLE EITHER; AND I FIND IT VERY ODD TO HAVE TWO FAILURES WITHIN 4 MONTHS. (TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK IS NOW 9250.) I'M THINKING IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT THESE WRANGLERS HAVE A WEAKER THAN NORMAL SIDEWALL; THE WORKER AT DISCOUNT TIRE TOLD ME THAT MY "NORMAL" TRUCK TIRE, A GOODRICH DUELER AT, DID IN FACT HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SIDEWALL LAYER COMPARED TO THE GOODYEAR. IN ANY RESPECT, I'M CALLING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IN CASE THERE ACTUALLY IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. I WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WELL I KEEP DRIVING MY TRUCK. AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. SO THERE FOR IF I GET HIT THEY NOT GOING TO COME OUT AND PROTECT ME. AND I'M HAVING BAD ISSUES WITH MY BALL JOINTS. ON MY 2012 GMC 2500 HD. I'VE PUT 2 SETS ON THEM. AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT A YEAR. YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Failed TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (24256861). While driving in the early morning hours (darkness) taking my child to school, I was navigating through a busy intersection when the vehicle surged and then made a loud metal on metal sound, feeling as if someone had struck me from behind. At that point the power train became inoperable, stranding us and coming very close to being first, struck from behind and then from cross traffic. The vehicle was/has been inspected by a GM technician at Starling Chevrolet, St Cloud, FL and the TCM was found to have failed (trouble code U0101, lost communication with TCM). It has been at the dealership for going on four months awaiting the production of a replacement part(TCM). There was no prior indication that the TCM was about to fail. Upon failure, all lights on the vehicle display flashed and the indicator for the vehicle drive position was lost (P, R, N, D), no longer visible.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .