Most common 2012 GMC Yukon XL problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Yukon XL complaints by model year
Best Yukon XL years: 2014, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2015, 2024. Compare all years →
2012 GMC Yukon XL recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021.
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft pitman
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet express and suburban vehicles, and GMC savana and yukon xl heavy duty vehicles. The steering gear pitman shaft May not have been adequately hardened and could fracture.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering gear and, if necessary, replace the steering gear pitman shaft. This service will be performed free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 GMC Yukon XL:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2012 GMC Yukon XL owners say
Air bags
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, [phone]) 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 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.
Body & structure
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, [phone]) 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 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.
Electrical system
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.
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.
2012 GMC Yukon XL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 13 / 18 / 14 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 10 / 16 / 12 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 10 / 16 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Yukon XL rates better than average: 63% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Yukon XL at the same age. It is one of the best Yukon XL years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 GMC Yukon XL?
The air bags — 5 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (3) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2012 GMC Yukon XL have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2012 GMC Yukon XL, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Yukon XL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2015 and 2024. See the full GMC Yukon XL years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 GMC Yukon XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 95,000 miles; 9% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.