2012 GMC Yukon Denali 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 Yukon Denali, 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
- Airbags838.1%
- Body & structure838.1%
- Electrical29.5%
- Engine29.5%
- Powertrain (other)14.8%
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
DASH IS CRACKED AND COMPROMISED IN 2 PLACES:. MIDDLE CLIP IS BROKEN BEHIND CENTER SPEAKER, AND DASH IS CRACKED AT THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. CONCERNED ABOUT FLYING SHARDS OF BROKEN DASH PLASTIC IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (LAROCHE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC, 900 US-290, BRENHAM, TX 77833, (979) 836-6666) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CRACKED DASHBOARD ON TOP OF THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LOCATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR, THE HANDLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (JIM MURPHY, 3000 WALDEN AVE, DEPEW, NY 17043, (716)-684-8900) AND THE HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AT SOME POINT SINCE 2013. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME. THE TRUCK GOES INTO COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. I CAN'T EVEN CALL ON THE BLUE ON STAR BUTTON. I TOOK IT TO WALKER GMC IN ALEXANDRIA, LA ON JANUARY 15, 2018 BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT IS NO LONGER COMING ON, THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO GO INTO COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN EVERY FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO TEST THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR BUT THEY REPORTED THE BATTERY WAS AT 100 PERCENT AND THE ALTERNATOR PASSED ALL THE CHECKS. I'M AT A LOST BUT I DO NOT WANT TO RISK TRAVELING WITH MY DAUGHTERS AND THE TRUCK JUST COMPLETELY STOPPING ON US ON THE HIGHWAY. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST I DO NEXT?
I HAVE A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE I'M DRIVING AND THE TRUCK TURNS OFF/OR EXPERIENCES A "SHORT" FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL CABLES AND HAVE EXCHANGED BATTERIES TWICE (AS THEY "DRAINED"). A FEW MONTHS BACK MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AS WELL, FIRST IT WAS A SMALL CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. LATER ANOTHER CRACK BY THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH HAD NOW FORMED A LARGE "V".
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
@ 97,000 MILES, GETTING CYLINDER #4 MISS FIRE CODES, REPLACED ALL PLUGS AND AFFECTED COILS PACKS. NOW MOTOR IS MAKING A TICKING SOUND FORM LIFTERS. DEALER SAID IT NEEDS NEW ENGINE DUE TO THE AFM SYSTEM PROBLEMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND LOSE POWER, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND LOSE POWER, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR
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 .