Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 GMC Yukon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 [redacted] , 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.
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.
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.
While working on an airbag warning light I encountered 2 distinct problems with my airbag and vehicle system. 1. The main underhood fuse panel on my vehicle has portion of oxidation on the fuses themselves. This oxidation is causing fuses to appear intact but are causing the circuit to open. This was the root cause of my airbag system to not be operating properly. 2. While diagnosing the airbag system, I was cautious about unpluggin the battery during any troubleshooting that I was performing. But, at the end of the diagnosis period and all modules/system were reconnected to electrical mating connectors I reconnected the battery and started the vehicle to cool the interior. The central airbag module which is located in center console was already electrically connected but not mounted. …
The dashboard is cracked on driver side with plastic pieces falling down into dash, dashboard is also cracked on passenger side on the corner of the airbag. This is a known issue and I want it fixed. I feel that the airbags ability to deploy on passenger side is compromised if an accident occurs. I bought this vehicle with thoughts of being safe for me, my wife and two small children. GM has said they are not going to fix it, this is my last plea for help. Replacing is expensive but feel like it's defect in vehicle design(evident by how many complaints I found). If there is a accident in this vehicle and airbag fails I will hold GM accountable for any harm caused to my family.
Two weeks ago, a crack in the dashboard near the passenger air bag suddenly appeared. In doing some research, I have found that many other people have had a similar experience. This problem seems to have affected the following models: GMC Yukon, Cadillac escalade, GMC sierra, Chevrolet silverado, Chevrolet tahoe, Chevrolet suburban, and Chevrolet avalanche. My concern is with the fact that this crack is very close to the passenger airbag and is a safety concern. I am also concerned that the airbags May not work properly when needed because of this defect.
There are two cracks on dash located on both sides just above passenger airbag . I am worried about plastic projectiles if involved in an accident. I am aware of several thousand other complaints of the exact same nature. I had spoke to faulkner GMC trevose about this issue.they did inform me they were aware of the problem and that they had several other complaints but refused to help due to the expiration of my bumper to bumper warranty. There was no trauma to vehicle. Dashboard is just cracking. The vehicle is exceptionally taken care of and garage kept.
Takata recall -I found no record of recall but passenger airbag warning light is on as well as cracks on the dashboard around where the airbags would deploy. Heated seats malfunction and turn on and are unable to be turned off. Fuel tank mileage to empty unreliable. Gauge can be at quarter tank and say 50 miles to empty and stall due to being out of gas. Gas gauge issue changes while driving...on road trips the gas gauge will suddenly change and say there is more gas in it than there actually is.
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.
My dash is cracking and some of those cracks are right near the passenger air bag. I'm concerned during a crash if the air bag is deployed, the dash could splitter causing fragments to fly at occupants faces and/ or puncture the air bag rendering it useless.
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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.
Airbag complaints in other Yukon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 GMC Yukon?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 GMC Yukon, 27% of the model year's 91 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 GMC Yukon airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-051 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-054 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 GMC Yukon airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 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.