GMC YUKON DENALI · model year

2012 GMC YUKON DENALI

32 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012GMCYUKON DENALI carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 YUKON DENALI is unknown or other with 11 filings, followed by structure:body (8) and air bags (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2012 YUKON DENALI. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

32
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
2012 GMC YUKON DENALI — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 3.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

32 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
STRUCTURE:BODY8
AIR BAGS8
ENGINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20190706AIR BAGS

DASH IS CRACKED AND COMPROMISED IN 2 PLACES:. MIDDLE CLIP IS BROKEN BEHIND CENTER SPEAKER, AND DASH IS CRACKED AT THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. CONCERNED ABOUT FLYING SHARDS OF BROKEN DASH PLASTIC IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 106,200

20181210AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (LAROCHE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC, 900 US-290, BRENHAM, TX 77833, (979) 836-6666) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20180825STRUCTURE:BODY

CRACKED DASHBOARD ON TOP OF THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LOCATION.

Mileage: 101,000

20180416UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD HAS MAJOR CRACKING STARTING AT THE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE

20180131ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME. THE TRUCK GOES INTO COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. I CAN'T EVEN CALL ON THE BLUE ON STAR BUTTON. I TOOK IT TO WALKER GMC IN ALEXANDRIA, LA ON JANUARY 15, 2018 BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT IS NO LONGER COMING ON, THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO GO INTO COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN EVERY FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO TEST THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR BUT THEY REPORTED THE BATTERY WAS AT 100 PERCENT AND THE ALTERNATOR PASSED ALL THE CHECKS. I'M AT A LOST BUT I DO NOT WANT TO RISK TRAVELING WITH MY DAUGHTERS AND THE TRUCK JUST COMPLETELY STOPPING ON US ON THE HIGHWAY. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST I DO NEXT?

Mileage: 126,283

20180109STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR, THE HANDLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (JIM MURPHY, 3000 WALDEN AVE, DEPEW, NY 17043, (716)-684-8900) AND THE HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AT SOME POINT SINCE 2013. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

20171123AIR BAGS

SERVICE AIR BAG WILL NOT GO AWAY

20170920STRUCTURE:BODY

I HAVE A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE I'M DRIVING AND THE TRUCK TURNS OFF/OR EXPERIENCES A "SHORT" FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL CABLES AND HAVE EXCHANGED BATTERIES TWICE (AS THEY "DRAINED"). A FEW MONTHS BACK MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AS WELL, FIRST IT WAS A SMALL CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. LATER ANOTHER CRACK BY THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH HAD NOW FORMED A LARGE "V".

Mileage: 60,000

20170920ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE I'M DRIVING AND THE TRUCK TURNS OFF/OR EXPERIENCES A "SHORT" FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL CABLES AND HAVE EXCHANGED BATTERIES TWICE (AS THEY "DRAINED"). A FEW MONTHS BACK MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AS WELL, FIRST IT WAS A SMALL CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. LATER ANOTHER CRACK BY THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH HAD NOW FORMED A LARGE "V".

Mileage: 60,000

20170920UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE I'M DRIVING AND THE TRUCK TURNS OFF/OR EXPERIENCES A "SHORT" FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL CABLES AND HAVE EXCHANGED BATTERIES TWICE (AS THEY "DRAINED"). A FEW MONTHS BACK MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AS WELL, FIRST IT WAS A SMALL CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. LATER ANOTHER CRACK BY THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH HAD NOW FORMED A LARGE "V".

Mileage: 60,000

20170918UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I AM THE ORGINAL OWNER OF MY GMC YUKON DENALI 2012 AND IT HAS BEEN GARAGED MOST OF ITS LIFE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO MY DASH STARTED TO VIBRATE THEN I NOTICE A LARGE CRACK IN THE DASH JUST ABOVE THE SPEEDOMETER. THE FACT I HAVE TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. THE CARS VALUE IS DIMINISHED DRAMATICALLY DUE TO THIS VISIBLE DEFECT. I HAVE HEARD GM IS NO HELP ON THIS BUT IN MY OPINION GM'S DEFECT HAS CAUSED A DIMINISHED VALUE IN MY VEHICLE AND THEREFORE THEY ARE LIABLE FOR ANY REPAIR THAT IS NEEDED TO MY CAR TO BRING IT BACK TO THE CONDITION IT WAS BEFORE THE DEFECT WAS VISIBLE. THERE IS CASE LAW ALL OVER THE PLACE TO SUPPORT THIS.

Mileage: 100,000

20170917AIR BAGS

CRACK IN DASHBOARD AT THE AIRBAG

Mileage: 53,000

20170727UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS CRACKING AND SPREADING. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE CRACK IS GETTING LARGER BY THE DAY.

Mileage: 51,000

20170627STRUCTURE:BODY

DASH BOARD CRACKED ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. NOTICED IT WHEN GETTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE OFF.

Mileage: 98,000

20170612ENGINE

@ 97,000 MILES, GETTING CYLINDER #4 MISS FIRE CODES, REPLACED ALL PLUGS AND AFFECTED COILS PACKS. NOW MOTOR IS MAKING A TICKING SOUND FORM LIFTERS. DEALER SAID IT NEEDS NEW ENGINE DUE TO THE AFM SYSTEM PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 97,000

20170608AIR BAGS

CRACKS IN DASH NEXT TO AIRBAG; QUESTIONABLE AFFECT ON AIRBAG.

Mileage: 50,350

20170530UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I PURCHASED MY 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI AWD NEW. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A CRACK AT THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE CRACK HAS SLOWLY BEEN GETTING WORSE AND IS NOW BECOMING ELEVATED AND I NOW HAVE FEARS FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DUE TO THIS. I RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 2007 - 2013 GMC YUKONS, CHEVROLET TAHOES, CHEVROLET SUBURBANS, AND CADILLAC ESCALADES. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS VIA EMAIL TODAY (5/30/17) AND AM AWAITING RESPONSE AND HOPEFUL RESOLUTION FROM THEM. I WILL ADVISE WHEN I HAVE GM'S RESPONSE/RESOLUTION.

Mileage: 50,000

20170324UNKNOWN OR OTHER

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 YUKON DENALI DIDN'T NOTICE THE CRACKS IN THE DASH WHEN I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. IT HAS A CRACK ON THE DASH NEAR THE AIRBAG, AND ALSO A CRACK ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I WOULD THINK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WITH A AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THE DASH WOULD ALREADY BE COMPROMISED CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WITH SHARDS OF SHARP PLASTIC. ESPECIALLY BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND NOTICED HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE IN MODEL YEARS 07-14 IN CHEVY AND GM PRODUCTS. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND THE LOCAL DEALER DIRECTLY WITH BOTH PARTIES BASICALLY SAYING ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND I AM SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BY NOW..

Mileage: 52,000

20170119AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

20170114AIR BAGS

DASH BOARD CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT ON THE AIRBAG'S LEFT HAND CORNER. CRACK IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES BY. DEALER WONT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY UNLESS GMC WILL APPROVE TO DO SO. VEHICLE IS AT ALL TIMES ON GARAGE OR UNDER SHADE SO SUN HAS NO EFFECT TO THE DIFFECT. BOUGHT THE 2012 YUKON DENALI 1 YEAR AGO AS CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE WITH A 1 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.

Compare 2012GMCYUKON DENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI have?
The 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI has 32 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI?
The 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2012 GMC YUKON DENALI has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.