Home · 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd · Complaints

What 59 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (59)Crash / fire / injury (8)Airbags (12)Electrical system (11)Body & structure (10)Engine (8)Transmission & drivetrain (6)Fuel system (5)Brakes (4)Speed control (3)Steering (3)Suspension (3)

Newest first · 59 complaints · page 3 of 3

Sep 16, 2013Wheels

I PURCHASED A NEW GMC SIERRA HD2500 SLE IN JUNE, IT CAME WITH 20" ALLOY WHEELS AND GOODYEAR WRANGLER SRA TIRES (LT265-60R20), LOAD RANGE E. WITHIN 3 DAYS, I HAD A SIDEWALL PUNCTURE ON ONE TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON OUR RANCH. THE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, JUST YESTERDAY, SEP. 15, I HAD ANOTHER SIDEWALL PUNCTURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE RANCH. I JUST LEFT THE LOCAL DISCOUNT TIRE, WHERE THEY ARE WAITING FOR A NEW TIRE TO ARRIVE SO THEY CAN REPLACE THE OLD TIRE. I'VE BEEN LIVING ON THIS RANCH FOR 47 YEARS NOW, AND HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 10 TRUCKS AND 2 SUBURBANS OVER THE YEARS. THERE IS A 3.5 MILE LOOP ROAD THAT RUNS AROUND THE RANCH, AND I DRIVE IT REGULARLY. THESE TWO FLATS ARE THE ONLY TWO I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN DRIVING THIS LOOP ROAD, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF CALICHE AND LIMESTONE. THE ROAD IS NOT GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT TERRIBLE EITHER; AND I FIND IT VERY ODD TO HAVE TWO FAILURES WITHIN 4 MONTHS. (TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK IS NOW 9250.) I'M THINKING IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT THESE WRANGLERS HAVE A WEAKER THAN NORMAL SIDEWALL; THE WORKER AT DISCOUNT TIRE TOLD ME THAT MY "NORMAL" TRUCK TIRE, A GOODRICH DUELER AT, DID IN FACT HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SIDEWALL LAYER COMPARED TO THE GOODYEAR. IN ANY RESPECT, I'M CALLING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IN CASE THERE ACTUALLY IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. I WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543945

Jun 24, 2013Speed control

TL* 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 TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WHERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. KMJ

NHTSA ODI 10521476

Mar 8, 2013AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10502079

Jan 4, 2013Electrical systemBody & structureElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

APPARENTLY GM USES PEANUT OIL TO LUBRICATE WIRING SO THEY CAN MORE EASILY INSULATE, ETC (ACCORGING TO THE GM DEALER). THIS ATTRACTS RATS AND MICE WHICH CHEW UP THE WIRING - POTENTIALLY IMPACTING SENSORS AND OTHER ITEMS CONTROLLING CRUISE, STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, AND ANY NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THAT THE DRIVER MAY BE RELYING UPON FOR SAFETY. I ACTUALLY HAD MAP SENSOR WIRES CHEWED UP THAT DISABLED MY STABILITY/TRACTION SYSTEMS AND INHIBITED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. LUCKILY FOR ME IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY RATHER THAN ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NOT WARRANTY ITEM EVEN THOUGH CAUSED BY A PROCESS THAT GM ELECTS TO USE IN BUILDING THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD IMPACT ANY/EVERY VEHICLE THAT GM BUILDS WITH USE OF PEANUT OIL (MAY INDEED BE ALL OF THEIR MODELS). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10491437

Oct 19, 2012Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED 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. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,545. UPDATED 13/13/12 *CN

NHTSA ODI 10481134

Oct 17, 2012Electrical systemLightsBody & structureEngineFire

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GMC DEALER FOR HEADLIGHT DEFECT AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS. DROVE TRUCK BACK TO SITE AND WHILE TRUCK WAS RUNNING BUT STATIONARY SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE HOOD WAS RAISED THE ENTIRE TRUCK BECAME ENGULFED AND COMPLETELY BURNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10480914

Aug 23, 2012Visibility & wipers

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 AND MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM. ON AUGUST 9TH THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AND TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WAS TOLD THAT IT IS OPERATING AS NORMAL AND THE DEALER TESTED TWO OTHER NEW TRUCKS. STILL NOT HAPPY WITH THE ANSWER, I CALLED GMC. THEY SETUP SERVICE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR THE 16TH. AGAIN, NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND PER THEIR TESTING, BUT WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE DUCT AS THE AIR FLOW WAS MUCH GREATER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THE DUCT CAME IN, THEY OPTED NOT TO CHANGE IT, AS IT REQUIRES TO STRIP THE DASH TO THE WINDSHIELD. ALL THIS TIME GMC WAS UPDATED OF THE PROGRESS. THE SYSTEM DOESN'T CLEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW. GMC STAND IS, THAT ENGINEERING DESIGN THE SYSTEM THIS WAY TO CLEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE QUICKER DURING POOR WEATHER, AS LIKE SNOW AND ICE. MY STAND IS THAT THIS IS NOT A PROPER ANSWER FOR A VEHICLE MAKER TO STATE. THIS ISSUE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE AND I DO NOT LIVE WITHIN AN AREA SEEING THIS TYPE OF WEATHER OFTEN. I HAVE READ MANY INTERNET ARTICLES RELATED TO THIS. OTHER OWNERS TRUCKS OPERATE PROPERLY CLEARING BOTH SIDES OR HAVE HAD THEM PROPERLY REPAIRED IF THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I NEED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED SO THAT IT CAN BE OPERATED SAFELY. GMC WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM REQUIRING REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10472081

Mar 14, 2012SteeringSuspensionBrakesCrash

JUST PURCHASES NEW 2012 GMC SIERRA 3500 , 400 MILES , HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT / STEERING PROBLEMS WITH A DRIFT TO LEFT AND A WONDERING STEERING WHEEL, ALSO BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ON, WENT TO DEALER THEY LOOKED AT IT FOR 2 HRS, AND SAID IT NEEDED A PART ORDERED AND THERE WAS A TSB ON IT, THE TECH SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES, ALSO HE WOULD CHECK ALIGNMENT AGAIN AT TIME WHEN PART CAME IN 4 DAYS EST, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT REMAINED ON, VEHICLE DROVE FINE THE NEXT DAY UNTIL A ACCIDENT, WENT AROUND CURVEAT 55 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW, BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR UN ABLE TO SLOW AT ALL WENT OFF THE ROAD LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO TREES, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED , WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM WITH ARM INJURY AND RIB INJURIES, BRAND NEW TRUCK VERY SCARRY I WILL NEVER BUY A GM PODUCT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10451590

Mar 12, 2012Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,200. ..UPDATED 04/16/12 *BF UPDATED 05/07/12

NHTSA ODI 10451290

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Working with the data? Download all 59 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd verdict →