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2012 GMC Yukon problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 GMC Yukon. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 15% of relevant complaints.
Better than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 40 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 11%).
Does the 2012 GMC Yukon have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 98 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Yukon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (15%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 13% and the 2013 scores 15%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other GMC Yukon years
Of the 14 GMC Yukon years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (15%). The worst is the 2021 (85%), the best the 2011 (13%). By volume, the 2012 drew 138 complaints (15 drivetrain), against 399 for the 2011 and 186 for the 2013.
GMC Yukon years to avoid and best years →
2010 Yukon problems · 2011 Yukon problems · 2012 · 2013 Yukon problems · 2014 Yukon problems · 2015 Yukon problems · 2016 Yukon problems · 2017 Yukon problems · 2018 Yukon problems · 2019 Yukon problems · 2020 Yukon problems · 2021 Yukon problems · 2022 Yukon problems · 2023 Yukon problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 GMC Yukon
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 GMC Yukon engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2012 GMC Yukon, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 GMC Yukon? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 GMC Yukon have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 98 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Yukon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (15%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 GMC Yukon?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 GMC Yukon is air bags: 40 of 138 complaints (29%) name it, followed by structure (35) and electrical system (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 15% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 GMC Yukon reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 15% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Yukon years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 GMC Yukon?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2012 GMC Yukon, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which GMC Yukon years are better?
Among the GMC Yukon years we track, the 2011 (13%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (15%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-yukon
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 6 body styles NHTSA files separately.