2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 56,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, she lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, the contact discovered that the vehicle had crashed into two vehicles and that the driver's side air bag had deployed. The police and paramedics arrived at the scene; however, no one involved in the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 312,000 miles

manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner and recall could cause great bodily injury or death to driver and passenger .Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 58,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (22).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Major major frame and wheel well rust , ever one I see is exactly the same , I live in upstate ny and yes we use salt but I've done a lot of research and the problem is country wide , please do some things this isn't right , I'm not trying to get a new free truck , just not get screwed out of the one I have cause it will fail inspection…Owner complaint, filed 2023

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that during a vehicle inspection, the contact was informed that the sub frame was severely corroded with holes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 100,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 56,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 111,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 243,000. The Carfax Report indicated that…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 243,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 70-75 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost electrical power for 30 seconds. The traction warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 60,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 58,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Lifter Failure: I was traveling to a State Park in Northern Michigan when my engine starting running very rough with major power loss. My check engine light activated, and I pulled over as soon as I could. It was dangerous because I was pulling a camper and I had to drive well under the speed limit. The Certified Chevy Dealership…Owner complaint, filed 2023

My engine has a tick,,brought it to a shop he told me lifters and its expensive...went to dealer,,, told me I need lifters 2600.00 to fix it and apparently my lifter isn't getting oil in it , "from active fuel management" with I have read all over internet that its a huge problem and people have to pay to fix,,,but wont fix the issue do…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 82,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 54,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

On cold morning starts, front brake pads will engage rotor, and release very slowly. Then on a turn, front pads will engage, lock for a short time, and then slowly release. Seems like engine has to warm up before brakes act normal. After cold morning startup, before moving vehicle, if brake pedal is pumped repeatedly for 30 seconds…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 47,000 miles

The stability track control came on and I took it back to a gmc dealer to have it checked. I had extended warranty and they covered it. The problem was they took 9 days to find out what was wrong. I was out 9 days without my vehicle.the light continues to come back on and now I have to take it back. It occurs when I am on the street…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 80,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 44,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, especially between second and third gears. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the engine felt as though the engine mounts were…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 20,000 miles

Transmission surges when gas pedal is pushed hard as in trying to engage kickdown or "passing gear". Speed is not a factor, it happens at low speed and higher speeds. Depending on speed, truck jerks suddenly and almost stalls out. Sometimes rear tires chirp.seems similar to the 8 speed transmission problems later years have experienced.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 40,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 58,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra 1500. While driving in reverse and exiting a parking space, the power steering malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting the engine, the power steering operated normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 36,000 miles

While driving the truck on a country road, it started to pull towards the right. I tried to correct by steering to the left. My steering wheel just spun and had no control of the front wheels. Ithe steering shaft became disengage from the axel. I crashed into trees and my truck was declared a total loss. This happened on 9/27/2020. I am…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 110,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra 1500. The contact stated that the rear of the vehicle was tilting to one side. The contact stated that one of the rear springs detached from the vehicle. The dealer (baglier buick gmc, 248 pittsburgh rd, butler, pa 16001) stated that the vehicle did not have a recall. The dealer did not diagnose or…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 43,000 miles

They should be responsible for repairs or replacement of the cheap made frames that rust away so fast so u ain’t gotta worry about your truck fallling apart going down the rd and the lower control arms made of cast that rust from inside out and you don’t know until breaks while driving along with camber adjustments where they can throw…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to activate the windshield wipers, the windshield wipers only went up a couple of inches before they stopped working and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the windshield wiper transmission was faulty. The…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 110,000 miles

Purchase a new 2012 gmc sierra sle on 07/26/12. As I leave for work in the early hours, it requires that I use the defog/defrost. On the morning of the 28th I selected the defog/defrost and only the driver's side cleared. Thinking it may be isolated, I received the same result on the 29th. I called the selling dealer about another matter…Owner complaint, filed 2012

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

I purchased this truck with all 4 tires goodyear wrangler at/s 265/70 r17 dot number 4bt6 fder 3411 on august 19,2016. I have had a shaky/bumpy sensation since I bought the truck & the tires always wore uneven. The mileage on the vehicle was 47,541 at the time of purchase. On february 15, 2016 at a mileage of roughly 60,440 two of the…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 60,440 miles

$17,000 worth of damage on my gmc all airbags went off minus the driver side steering wheel airbag. Was on cruise control at 75 miles per hour fell asleep at wheel ran into the barrier wires. Damage all over the truck [VIN] the truck luckily nobody was injured except for my own body. I lost consciousness the onstar woke me up and I…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 1,600 miles

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have been smelling a strong odor of gas coming thru my air vents while my vehicle is running, particularly while I am idling and just after acceleration. My mechanic stated he has repaired several of these issues on other gmc's. The problem is the top of the fuel tank is rusted where the fuel pump is located and gas sprays upwards onto…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 100,000 miles

P0521 has been addressed/replaced almost nine (9) times. “Low Oil Pressure-Stop Engine” is another one that is not completely functional. The truck is using oil but we cant find evidence of leakage. Services performed at dealership or certified shop. Troubleshooting was performed, Im told. I cant vouch for the quality of the workmanship.…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra k-1500. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle began to decelerate as the warning lights in the instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle would not accelerate beyond 35 MPH. The failure was resolved momentarily after the vehicle was restarted but soon recurred. The vehicle was taken…Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 7,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra. The contact stated that while driving uphill and attempting to decelerate. The vehicle [VIN] abnormally. In order to stop the vehicle, the contact abruptly applied the brakes as the engine exhibited a loud thump. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure.…Owner complaint, filed 2012, at 5,545 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra 1500. The contact stated that driver's and passenger's side front seat belts webbing were shredded. The contact stated that the shredding started on waist band portion of both seat belts and progressively worsened over time. Neither the dealer nor the [VIN] were notified of the failure. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2021

The contact owns a 2012 gmc sierra 1500. While attempting to connect the driver's seat belt to the connector, the seat belt failed to connect. In addition, the passenger seat belt failed to disconnect from the connector. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 52,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

June 29, 2025, Driving on the St. Francis loop in Amarillo, TX, brake lights start flashing, the warning sounds happening, no brakes. I had already slowed down to 35-45 mph due to road construction ahead. I weaved through the cones and as soon as possible, hit the ditch and then coasted to a stop. (I didn’t think about the emergency…Owner complaint, filed 2026