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GMC Yukon XLModel year report

2012 GMC Yukon XL Problems

Complaints
13filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
95,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
12 mpgcombined, 6.0L 8-cyl RWD · 10 city / 16 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL. The part named most often is air bags, with 5 complaints (38% of the total), followed by other or unknown (5) and electrical system (3). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 9% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 95,000 miles. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 1,554 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 62 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.

Example complaints

Air bags: “About one year ago we noticed a small crack at the corner of the 'lid' to the passenger seat air bag. Now we have a crack at the hump of the steering wheel this is a huge safety concern to us as it could result in terrible injury in any number of ways. …”

NHTSA complaint #11119259, filed 2018-08, 78,000 miles

Other or unknown: “At some point near 65000 miles, a very large crack appeared over the instrument panel, as well as a small crack extending into the passenger side airbag area. I worry about my children's safety if we were in an accident and plastic pieces go flying.”

NHTSA complaint #11055971, filed 2017-12, 65,000 miles

Electrical system: “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, filed 2017-08, 101,600 miles

Body and structure: “Dash has cracked above instrument panel. Crack is approximately 6-8-inches in length. Dash is also cracked in two locations on the passenger side. I feel these cracks could be a safety concern when the airbags are deployed. These cracks occurred under normal driving conditions are not the result of a previous accident or being struck by an object.”

NHTSA complaint #10850717, filed 2016-03, 70,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

9% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,000 and 116,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–259%25–5018%50–7536%75–10027%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 95,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20152016201742018201920212023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 GMC Yukon XL version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Yukon XL 2500 2WD6.0L 8-cyl6-speed automatic101612$5,600
Yukon XL 2500 4WD6.0L 8-cyl6-speed automatic101612$5,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL → · Check a 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. 1,554 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,554 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Yukon XL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026402,6503517Too new to compareToo new
20252833,5001517Too new to compareToo new
20247524,0002417Too new to compareToo new
202322646,7304417100 · MoreToo new
202217460,995441784 · MoreRising
202123065,00012417100 · MoreRising
20204786,00024—17 · FewerRising
201968102,19424—28 · FewerRising
20185638,71424—35 · FewerRising
201714754,49814—61 · TypicalStable
201620255,30034—93 · MoreFalling
201530870,00024—74 · MoreFalling
20141152,0003417—Not enough data
20132265,0004416—Rising
20121395,0004—12—Not enough data
20114772,2003——0 · FewerFalling
201028108,4613——0 · FewerFalling
20092353,5005———Falling
200869110,1654——2 · FewerFalling
200797100,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200617103,8842———Falling
20054268,5005——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20048745,5003——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200310270,0003——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20029563,3501——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200112062,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20006969,0006——Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All GMC Yukon XL model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 GMC Yukon XL have?

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 GMC Yukon XL is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 5 complaints (38% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 5.

Has the 2012 GMC Yukon XL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 GMC Yukon XL get?

The EPA rates the 2012 GMC Yukon XL (Yukon XL 2500 2WD, 6.0L 8-cyl) at 12 mpg combined, 10 city and 16 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 GMC Yukon XL reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 95,000 miles and the middle half falls between 70,000 and 116,000 miles; 9% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.