2012 Gmc Yukon
The Verdict
The 2012 Gmc Yukon has 137 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (77 complaints) and electrical (43 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 66/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Gmc Yukon, consider the 2020 model year which has 75% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2020 has 75% fewer complaints
View the 2020 Gmc Yukon dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 97 | 108 | 29 | 36 | 15 |
| 2001 | 109 | 200 | 41 | 62 | 16 |
| 2002 | 71 | 166 | 38 | 45 | 21 |
| 2003 | 115 | 135 | 163 | 85 | 18 |
| 2004 | 98 | 90 | 179 | 68 | 10 |
| 2005 | 20 | 12 | 28 | 18 | 7 |
| 2006 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 7 |
| 2007 | 230 | 19 | 401 | 91 | 29 |
| 2008 | 112 | 6 | 238 | 40 | 13 |
| 2009 | 82 | 4 | 100 | 19 | 7 |
| 2010 | 103 | 0 | 105 | 21 | 0 |
| 2011 | 190 | 7 | 170 | 25 | 5 |
| 2012 | 77 | 2 | 43 | 12 | 3 |
| 2013 | 94 | 2 | 68 | 15 | 3 |
| 2014 | 32 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 2 |
| 2015 | 85 | 81 | 291 | 46 | 43 |
| 2016 | 31 | 47 | 120 | 36 | 29 |
| 2017 | 27 | 40 | 52 | 36 | 39 |
| 2018 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 12 |
| 2019 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 11 |
| 2021 | 25 | 7 | 20 | 207 | 31 |
| 2022 | 26 | 2 | 17 | 106 | 11 |
| 2023 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 145 | 16 |
| 2024 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 115 | 9 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 30 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that years ago, the engine was replaced with a rebuilt engine. Recently, after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the engine. The banging sound continued, and the vehicle shut off without warning. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and it was discovered that an engine bearing had failed, and the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
Driving on loop 20 overpass on Hwy 59 in Laredo Texas suddenly the engine lost power and started to skip and miss fire while a loud tapping noise was generated, due to the loss of power and skipping, alarms showed in the main console requiring immediate service to the engine, traction and braking sys, the lack of engine power place me in a very critical and unsafe situation wherein I was about to be rear collision by the vehicle behind me. This event happened on October 17th, 2025 . I brought the vehicle to Powell Watson Motors who is the GMC dealership in Laredo Texas for inspection but they refused to accept the vehicle due to the age of the vehicle. I feel this safety issue must me corrected and resolved in order to avoid accidents and deaths.
Yesterday while unloading the rear of our 2021 GMC Yukon Denali the tailgate came down on me without warning and with force. I googled to see what might have caused this to happen and it stated that the struts might be worn out. (I am having that checked out today) Fortunately, I am a 6 foot 220 pound man and was not hurt but just the day before my 14 year old, 100 pound grand daughter was taking things things out of the rear of the vehicle. If the rear door would have come down on her it would have been a lot worse
Dashboard cracked, afraid that if airbag deploys shards of dashboard will come flying at both driver and passenger. It started as a little crack, than expanded across the entire dashboard
The problem started a couple of years ago as a small crack in the dashboard at the upper left corner of the airbag. The crack widened and lengthened after replacement of the air bag last year. Then the dash cracked earlier this year at the crown above the instrument cluster. It has completely separated and is nearly 12” in length. Not only does it rattle to the point of driver distraction, but I would think there is a high risk of shattering during a collision potentially causing facial lacerations, blindness and the like. I really don’t want to wait to find out. According to [XXX] , this is a well known issue with GM trucks, Suburbans and Yukons from 2007 to 2014 and GM has failed to make good on the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while in a parking lot, the contact attempted to shift the vehicle into drive however, the transmission failed to shift into gear. The contact stated that the gear shifter cable had detached. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 248,000.
The contact's son owned a 2012 GMC Yukon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V051000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list as her son no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
Dash panel cracked via design defect. Damage has spread and poses a safety risk if airbags are deployed.
I HAVE A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI XL THAT STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION "6L80" ISSUES AT 120,000 MILES.(03/20/2019) BEAMAN GMC STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OF COURSE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. SO ON I SPENT $6031.19 TO HAVE IT REPLACED/REBUILT, NOW 80,000 MILES LATER ON 3/24/2023 I JUST HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED/REBUILT AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS TIME TO THE TUNE OF $9454.00. I DECIDED TO DO SOME INVESTIGATIVE WORK AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION THAT WAS DATED NOVEMBER OF 2022. BULLETIN # 16-NA-338 FOR A TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. ALSO ANOTHER BULLETIN (PL0773)DATED JULY 2012 AND ONE DATED FEBRUARY 2012 BULLETIN PI0488A. I CAN EMAIL YOU COPIES OF THESE IF YOU WOULD LIKE. THERE WAS ALSO A PRELIMINARY REPORT/BULLETIN PUT OUT JUNE 6TH, 2020 BULLETIN # PIP5175D WITH ALL OF THESE BULLETINS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. REBUILDING WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH IS INSANE. PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING ME WITH THIS. I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DEALING WITH THE SAME THING AND JUST HAVEN'T DONE THEIR RESEARCH.
For no apparent reason the dashboard is cracking. It started on driver side now there is another one near airbag and by speaker. This vehicle is well maintained and there should be no excuse for this
Cracks in the dash in two places. Next to the passenger air bag and on the curve above the instrucment panel on the drivers side.
Dash is cracked on passenger side airbag
Several cracks have developed on the dashboard in front of the drivers position and by the passenger airbag location. The dashboard cover vibrates when going over rough roads and I am concerned that the vibration will initiate the passenger airbag which is also on recall with no date established to bring the car in for a replacement airbag.
Cracked dashboard
I was driving and slowed down upon approaching speed bumps and going over speed bump my dashboard cover cracked. There was no warning after it cracked the more I drove the more it cracked I am currently buying a dashboard cover to go over the cracked dashboard.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS BATTERY RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. DAVID WELCH AT NASHVILLE BEAMAN GMC TOLD ME IT WAS "UP TO ME" IF I DRIVE THE VEHICLE - I AM IN GROUP 10 FOR IT TO BE FIXED AND HE DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE. CASE WAS MADE WITH GMC - CASE # 9-6579504849 SPOKE WITH CORRINE - SHE QUOTED SEVERAL TIMES THAT GMC STANDS BEHIND THE SAFETY OF THE AIRBAGS AND THEY ARE DOING THE RECALL ONLY BECAUSE A JUDGE TOLD THEM TO. I REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THAT MY 16 YEAR OLD IS OFTEN IN THE FRONT SEAT. SHE AGAIN STRESSED GMC STANDS BEHIND THE SAFETY AND SHE DOES NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL BE FIXED. I FEEL THIS IS NOT A SAFE PRACTICE. OTHER DEALERS (FOR EXAMPLE LEXUS) HAVE GIVEN LOANER CARS - FOR UP TO A YEAR - AND HAVE DONE MUCH MORE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR DRIVERS. GMC LEAVING SAFETY "UP TO THE DRIVER" IS NOT SAFE PRACTICE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED IN THREE PLACES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V051000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED ALLEN GMC (28332 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677, (949) 391-9094) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
DASH CRACKS EVERYWHERE, ALL ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE CRACKING. NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN USING A UN U.V PROTECTED PLASTIC.
WHEN DRIVING IT SOMETIMES BEGINS TO HESITATE REDUCE POWER THE TRACTION AND STABILITY AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE RPM GAUGE AS WELL STOPS WORKING. IF I PULL OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD AND TURN OFF AND RESTART MOST TIMES THE IGNITION WILL HANG AND KEEP TRYING CRANK THE VEHICLE. IT'S HESITANT TO CRANK WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND SOMETIMES CRANKS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DIES. IT WILL SHIFT HARD JUST BEFORE POWERING INTO A REDUCED POWER MODE. IF YOU TURN OFF RESTART TURN YOUR WHEEL ALL THE WAY LEFT AND THEN ALL THE WAY RIGHT AND CRANK IT WILL SOMETIMES MAKE THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND YOU THINK RESET BUT AS SOON AS YOU START DRIVING IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM A LOT AND I MEAN A LOT ARE HAVING SO NOT SURE WHY THIS ISN'T BEING INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED. MOST SAY NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST SO THERE IS A ROOT THAT'S CREATING THE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FOUND AND ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS! FORGOT TO MENTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL GETS REALLY HARD! THIS A PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN CONTINUOUS OFF AND ON SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE.
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