At some point near 65000 miles, a very large crack appeared over the instrument panel, as well as a small crack extending into the passenger side airbag area. I worry about my children's safety if we were in an accident and plastic pieces go flying.
2012 GMC Yukon airbags problems
moderate 37 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 37 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 GMC Yukon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 37 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Airbags accounts for 28% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 GMC yukon denali. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The dealer (laroche Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, 900 us-290, brenham, tx 77833, (979) 836-6666) was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure…
Dash is cracked by airbag and could cause deployment delay.
Service air bag will not go away
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.
Large crack in dash at corner of passenger air bag cover appeared in sept 2013. Another large crack appeared over steering wheel column in august 2014. I have researched and found that this is an inherent defect in several gm models since at least 2007 and that gm may offer to pay half of the replacement fee. I am concerned that, if the passenger air bag were to deploy, the plastic would shatter…
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 GMC Yukon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2012 GMC Yukon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 37 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 43,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/GMC/Yukon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.