NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to a chemical breakdown of its propellant after prolonged exposure to high heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
This page covers 4 recalls and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2012 GMC Sierra 2500.
The 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 received a three-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. In frontal crash testing, it earned three stars. Side crash protection was rated at four stars. Rollover resistance received three stars. The side pole crash test resulted in one star, the lowest rating across all categories tested. NHTSA applies this rating across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so these results represent the performance of this generation Sierra 2500.
3/5 Overall
The 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 has 4 recalls, the most serious being a defective passenger-side front airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, with the potential to cause serious injury or death.
This airbag defect is linked to high-humidity environments and applies to vehicles originally sold or registered in states including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, as well as U.S. territories. The inflator can fail explosively rather than deploying the bag in a controlled way, turning the airbag itself into a hazard for anyone seated in the front of the truck. Prior repair attempts for this issue did not fully resolve it across all affected vehicles, which is why multiple campaigns exist covering overlapping model years.
There is also a concern with the fire extinguisher that comes installed in certain Sierra HD trucks. The extinguisher, which uses either a plastic handle or a push-button indicator mechanism, can fail to discharge properly when needed, leaving the driver without a functional tool to suppress a fire before it spreads.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to a chemical breakdown of its propellant after prolonged exposure to high heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
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NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 8 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may fail to deploy or deploy incorrectly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fire extinguisher may clog and fail to discharge, or require excessive force to use. In some models, the nozzle may detach forcefully, potentially causing injury and making the extinguisher inoperable.
What the fix does
GM will provide a free replacement fire extinguisher from Kidde. Contact your vehicle manufacturer's customer service to arrange the replacement.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.