All cars · GMC Sierra · 2012
2012 GMC Sierra. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 10
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | Auto 4-spd | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 | Regular | $3,650 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | Auto 4-spd | 4WD | 14 / 18 / 16 | Regular | $3,900 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | Auto 4-spd | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 | Regular | $3,900 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | Auto 4-spd | 4WD | 13 / 18 / 15 | Regular | $4,150 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | Auto 6-spd | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 | Regular | $3,450 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | Auto 6-spd | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 | Regular | $3,650 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 | Regular | $2,950 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | 4WD | 20 / 23 / 21 | Regular | $2,950 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | Auto 6-spd | RWD | 13 / 18 / 14 | Regular | $4,450 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | Auto 6-spd | 4WD | 12 / 18 / 14 | Regular | $4,450 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 33,200 and 84,800 miles. Median 55,000, from 132 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 58,500 | 34,000–112,600 | 32 |
| Body structure | 58,500 | 30,400–80,000 | 24 |
| Electrical | 60,000 | 22,800–117,300 | 16 |
| Engine | 70,000 | 14,200–108,100 | 13 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 43,700 | 22,800–126,300 | 12 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical | 20% |
| Engine | 20% |
| Steering | 17% |
| Body structure | 17% |
| Airbags | 12% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
21V054000 Feb 2021 Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module
Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was m
21V051000 Feb 2021 Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module
Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized am
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458
18V267000 Apr 2018 Equipment
Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could ca
Risk. In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Desiccated air bag inflator rupture | 2021 | – |
| Closed | Pedestrian alert sounds | 2023 | 2023 |
Manufacturer communications 2184
GMC filed 2184 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Power Steering Noise or Fluid Leak from Power Steering Pump, Gear or High Pressure Pressure Hose
- Hydraulic Power Steering Leak at Hose Connection to Steering Rack
- Power Steering Noise or Fluid Leak from Power Steering Pump, Gear or High Pressure Hose During…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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