2012 GMC Sierra Denali Recalls & Complaints

Incident: September 27, 2019 · Filed: January 3, 2020

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK UP A 6% PERCENT GRADE WHEN THE CHANGE FUEL FILTER SOON WARNING POPPED UP, ABOUT A MINUTE LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, I KEPT DRIVING TO TRY AND GET OVER THE HILL SO I COULD MAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAKE IT ABOUT 2 MILES AFTER THE WARNING SHOWED UP BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. (THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON MY SIDE THE ROAD SO I TRIED TO TURN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY WHERE THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY PULL OUT AND AS I DID THE TRUCK DIED SIDEWAYS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, TAKING UP SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ENOUGH INCLINE THAT I WAS ABLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND PULL OVER UP AGAINST THE GUARDRAIL) OF COURSE I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NOT RUNNING. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! I WAS ABLE TO GET MY TRUCK TOWED TO THE LOCAL GM REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND HAD SENT ALUMINUM SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY SAID THE REPAIRS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $10,000 SO I CONTACTED GM AND DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED, AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GO FLY A KITE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH GM TRUCKS WITH THE DURAMAX MOTOR FROM 2011-2016 AFTER THEY CHANGED THERE FUEL PUMP FROM THE CP3 HIGH VOLUME LOW PRESSURE PUMP TO THE CP4 HIGH PRESSURE LOW VOLUME PUMP. WHICH MEANS THE PUMP RUNS WITH LESS LUBRICATION WHICH RESULTS IN PUMP FAILURE, AND NOT JUST FAILURE BUT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH CAUSES MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL GM OWNER FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, AND I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM IS NOT WILLING TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

Incident: June 14, 2016 · Filed: December 5, 2019

THE DASH BOARD IS CRACK I REPLACED 2 TIMES AND THE REPLACEMENTS ALSO CRACKS THE PARTS IS $1200 PLUS $1200 LABOR.

Incident: September 3, 2018 · Filed: July 25, 2019

OUR GMC HAS EXPERIENCED 3 EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURES. WE PAID TO HAVE THE 1ST BROKEN HANDLE REPAIRED AS IT WAS NOT OPERABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS EVACUATION EXPERIENCE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. WE CHOSE A NON-DEALER REPAIR FACILITY DUE TO THE COST OF USING A DEALER. THIS REPAIR HAS HELD UP WELL. SINCE THAT INITIAL REPAIR 2 MORE EXTERIOR HANDLES HAVE BECOME INOPERABLE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE 4TH AND FINAL HANDLE FAILS. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IT'S ONLY VERY LIGHTLY USED AND HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT. A 75% DOOR HANDLE FAILURE RATE IS UNACCEPTABLE BY ANYONE'S STANDARD. DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THESE REMAINING 2 DEFECTIVE HANDLES. GMC, BBB AND NORTH COUNTY GMC IN ESCONDIDO, CA HAVE BEEN OF NO ASSISTANCE. WE ARE ALWAYS PREPARED TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR VEHICLES. IN NO WAY IS THE REPAIR OF 3 DOOR HANDLES A "NORMAL" MAINTENANCE ITEM. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT THE AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION IS REQUIRED. THERE IS NO WAY FOR 2 OF THE DOORS CAN BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE GMC SEES THIS AS "DEFECTIVE" BUT IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIRS. ALL 3 OF THE HANDLE BROKE WHILE TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY EACH TIME. ALL HANDLES ARE USABLE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE 2 UNREPAIRED HANDLES DO NOT WORK FROM THE EXTERIOR. WE WANT TO FIX THEM AND WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE IN DOING SO.

Incident: January 15, 2017 · Filed: October 10, 2017

THE DASHBOARD IN OUR VEHICLE IS CRACKING AND GETTING WORSE IN TWO LOCATIONS ON THE DASH. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ALSO ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. BEGINNING TO GO INTO THE AIRBAG AREA

Incident: September 9, 2015 · Filed: September 9, 2015

THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT IN MY TRUCK, I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THE WEATHER HASN'T BEEN TOO HOT OR COLD. DAYS IN LOWER 90S AND LOWS IN UPPER 70S. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND I AM AFRAID AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WILL LAUNCH PLASTIC PIECES THROUGH THE CABIN.

Incident: December 1, 2014 · Filed: December 5, 2014

I HAVE GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A 265 60R20 TIRES ON MY SIERRA DENALI HD 2500. I WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM NC VIA I-95 AND PULLED OVER SO MY WIFE COULD NURSE OUR 3 WEEK OLD. ME AND THE BOYS WENT IN K-MART FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING AND GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD, I NOTICED MY CAR WAS PULLING BAD RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING VERY BADLY. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT THE ADDITIONAL 30 MILES BACK HOME. WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK THE NEXT MORNING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WAS TOO BAD TO CONTINUE ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIRES WOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY EXISTING "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY AS THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HUGE BULGE IN THE TIRE WHICH WAS CAUSING ALL OF THE COMMOTION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE ALSO HAD BULGES, THESE IN THE SIDEWALL WHERE THE TIRE MEETS THE RIM. THE DOT BATCH NUMBER IS #PJ6KA5IV 32/11 AND BOTH TIRES WERE FROM THE SAME BATCH. I WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH TWO DEFECTIVE TIRES!!!!!!! WITH MY 8 YEAR SON, 4 YEAR OLD SON, 3 WEEK OLD DAUGHTER AND MY WIFE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! OUR LIVES WERE AT RISK! IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND SAID THAT GM HAD "CHANGED THEIR POLICIES AND THEY WOULD ONLY BE GIVING ME A 30% DISCOUNT." I UNDERSTAND POLICY BUT THESE TIRES ONLY MEASURED LITTLE WEAR AND SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 55% MORE TREAD LIFE BASED ON THE EXACT TIRE MEASUREMENTS. INSTEAD, GM IS USING A SLIDING SCALE FOR MILEAGE THAT DOES NOT TAKE ACTUAL MEASUREMENTS INTO THEIR ASSESSMENT. SO NOW, I AM OUT $350 FOR 2 NEW TIRES THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED A WHOLE LOT LONGER AND NO HELP FROM GOODYEAR OR GMC. *TR

Incident: November 9, 2014 · Filed: November 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A RATTLING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ UPDATED 5/29/2015 *JS

Incident: June 14, 2013 · Filed: March 6, 2014

AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE LOST STEERING AND BRAKES BRIEFLY IN PARKING LOT. PUMPED BRAKE AND BOTH RETURNED AFTER A HISSING SOUND. RECURRED A FEW TIMES IN NEXT 6 MONTHS OR SO. THEN, IN THE FALL OF 2013, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES ON I-49/US71B HEADING SOUTH FROM JOPLIN, MISSOURI. YOU COULD PUMP THE BRAKES AND BRIEFLY REGAIN, BUT FOR THE MOST PART ALL STEERING AND BRAKES WERE OUT. TOOK TRUCK TO GMC DEALER WHERE PURCHASED NEW IN BENTONVILLE. DEALER CONFIRMED NO STEERING AND BRAKES AND DAMAGED BUMPER WHILE VEHICLE IN ITS POSSESSION BY BUMPING INTO PARKING LOT BARRIER. DEALER DIAGNOSED POWER STEERING PUMP PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ARE TIED TO SAME PUMP/SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED PUMP BUT SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A TWO OR THREE PART SYSTEM COULD ONLY REPLACE THE PUMP. TRUCK CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOLLOWING SIMILAR EPISODE WHERE LOST BOTH STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO REPLACE THE OTHER COMPONENTS BECAUSE COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMED NO NOTICE OF ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE FORM GM OR ANY OTHER SOURCE. WE PLEADED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AND ASKED THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE OTHER COMPONENTS IT IDENTIFIED AS POSSIBLY RELATED. DEALER TOOK NO FURTHER ACTION CLAIMING WITHOUT GM TELLING THEM TO LOOK FURTHER AND PAY FOR IT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ELSE. TRUCK CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS INTERMITTENTLY. IT IS NONSENSICAL FOR A TRUCK TO HAVE TWO SIGNIFICANT SAFETY SYSTEMS TIED TOGETHER WITH NO SECONDARY SUPPORT OR FAIL SAFE SYSTEM TO GUARANTEE THAT OPERATOR STILL HAVE BRAKES AND STEERING AT ALL TIMES. TRUCK ALSO HAS RATTLES CONSISTENT WITH THE SERVICE LETTERS / ISSUES NOTED ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR

Incident: October 1, 2013 · Filed: October 28, 2013

2012 GMC DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHENEVER HE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN, HE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE ABILITY TO TURN. THE WHEEL LOCKED DOWN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN AT THE SAME TIME. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN UNTIL HE PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR OR RELEASED THE BRAKE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER BOOSTER TAKING ALL THE POWER TO THE BRAKES AND LEAVING VERY LITTLE TO THE STEERING. ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK-UP SCREEN. THE PICTURE WAS EXTREMELY DARK, AND IT WAS HARD TO MAKE OUT THE IMAGES ON THE SCREEN. THE DEALER TRIED TO LIGHTEN THE SCREEN, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

Incident: November 13, 2012 · Filed: November 19, 2012

LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL (THREE EPISODES) : 13 NOV 2012, WHILE EXITING NB I-95 ONTO EB ROUTE 214 IN LANDOVER, MD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. MY SPEED AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE RAPIDLY AS THE RAMP BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN FROM IT'S SWEEPING RIGHT CURVE. THE LOCKED STEERING WAS FORCING ME ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY TRUCK ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE THE LOCKED STEERING FORCED ME OFF THE HARD TOP. DURING THIS EVENT, THE TRUCKS ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AND THE IGNITION KEY STAYED TURNED ON. ONCE I WAS SAFELY STOPPED ON THE RAMP'S SHOULDER, I MADE ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND WHILE EXERTING A LOT OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH, I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE THE STEERING WHEEL FREE. YES, I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THAT POINT, A DISTANCE OF 16 MILES. EVERYTHING WITH THE STEERING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL, AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND HAS NOW OCCURRED TO DATE, A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD INCIDENT, THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO CAPITOL CADILLAC - GMC IN SUBURBAN MARYLAND WASHINGTON DC, FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN CAPITOLS POSSESSION, IT WAS DRIVEN 83 MILES BUT THE STEERING PROBLEM DID NOT PRESENT ITSELF. TWO DAYS AFTER RETRIEVING MY TRUCK FROM CAPITOL, THE STEERING BEGAN EXHIBITING A STRONG FEELING OF RESISTANCE AS IF IT WAS GOING TO FULLY LOCK, AGAIN. IT DID NOT HOWEVER. THE TRUCK IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO CAPITOL CADILLAC - GMC ON 20 NOV 2012. *TR