2012 GMC Sierra Denali Problems
- Complaints
- 10filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 50,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali. The part named most often is steering, with 4 complaints (40% of the total), followed by other or unknown (3) and brakes (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 44% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1,702 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 30 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 56 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Steering4 40%
- Other or unknown3 30%
- Brakes2 20%
- Body and structure2 20%
- Equipment1 10%
- Fuel system1 10%
- Tires1 10%
- Wheels1 10%
Example complaints
Steering: “I have goodyear wrangler sr-a 265 60r20 tires on my Sierra Denali hd 2500. I was on the way back from nc via I-95 and pulled over so my wife could nurse our 3 week old. Me and the boys went in k-mart for a few minutes. Upon returning and getting back on the road, I noticed my car was pulling bad right and the steering wheel was shaking very badly. I managed to drive it the additional 30 miles back home. When I started the truck the next morning, the steering wheel shake was too bad to continue anywhere but the dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #10662321, filed 2014-12, 28,987 milesOther or unknown: “This morning when I got in my truck, I noticed the dashboard by the passenger side airbag had cracked overnight. The weather hasn't been too hot or cold. Days in lower 90s and lows in upper 70s. I have read this is a common issue and I am afraid an airbag deployment will launch plastic pieces through the cabin.”
NHTSA complaint #10762739, filed 2015-09, 64,000 milesBrakes: “After exiting interstate lost steering and brakes briefly in parking lot. Pumped brake and both returned after a hissing sound. Recurred a few times in next 6 months or so. Then, in the fall of 2013, lost steering and brakes on I-49/us71b heading south from joplin, missouri. You could pump the brakes and briefly regain, but for the most part all steering and brakes were out. Took truck to Gmc dealer where purchased new in bentonville. Dealer confirmed no steering and brakes and damaged bumper while vehicle in its possession by bumping into parking lot barrier. …”
NHTSA complaint #10567717, filed 2014-03, 36,000 milesBody and structure: “Our Gmc has experienced 3 exterior door handle failures. We paid to have the 1st broken handle repaired as it was not operable from the outside. This makes for a dangerous evacuation experience in the event of an emergency. We chose a non-dealer repair facility due to the cost of using a dealer. This repair has held up well. Since that initial repair 2 more exterior handles have become inoperable. It's only a matter of time before the 4th and final handle fails. This vehicle is no longer under warranty. However, it's only very lightly used and has less than 60k miles on it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11234863, filed 2019-07, 55,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
44% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 64,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,702 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037253Sep 4, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11030974Apr 1, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
- 11030092Mar 9, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- 11030091Mar 9, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11027601Jan 8, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11025755Nov 20, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit…
- 11023091Sep 9, 2025Other or unknown. New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- 11022084Aug 14, 2025Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11021792Aug 7, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
- 11019693Jun 9, 2025Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
Other model years of the GMC Sierra Denali
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 11 | 20,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 26 | 5,269 | 0 | — | — | 77 · More | Falling |
| 2018 | 17 | 28,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2017 | 15 | 60,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2016 | 30 | 48,000 | 0 | — | — | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 22 | 47,800 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2014 | 14 | 59,496 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 8 | 70,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 10 | 50,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2011 | 28 | 65,000 | 0 | — | — | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 10 | 45,284 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 7 | 94,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 18 | 58,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2006 | 5 | 61,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 11 | 44,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 13 | 79,315 | 0 | — | 12 | — | Not enough data |
All GMC Sierra Denali model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali have?
NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 4 complaints (40% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 3.
Has the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2012 GMC Sierra Denali reported?
Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,000 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 64,000 miles; 44% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.