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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Truck |
| Base Price | $20,480–$26,985 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 is a truck that earns a Carivo score of 6.6/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 7.4/10, while Technology at 6.1/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional truck — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 6.1/10 for reliability, this truck trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 7.4/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
With 7.0/10 for performance, this is a car tuned for daily driving rather than excitement — perfectly capable on the commute, unremarkable on a back road. Technology scores 6.1/10 — the infotainment and driver-assist features feel dated against current-generation rivals. This is worth weighing if you prioritize connected features or modern safety tech.
Priced from $20,480–$26,985, 10 MPG, seating 5, the GMC Sierra 1500 sits in the budget-friendly tier of the truck market. The value score of 6.5/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 14 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 sits in the middle of the field. Until its value and reliability and technology scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 ranks #506 of 515 trucks in the Carivo database — better than 2% of the segment. Its 6.6/10 overall score is 0.8 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $20,480 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $35,138 by about 42%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Truck ranking → · Best Trucks under $25k →
Across the Sierra 1500 model years we've scored, the 2012 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7.6/10 | $41,612 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.5/10 | $40,400 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.5/10 | $39,188 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.5/10 | $37,976 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.4/10 | $36,764 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.3/10 | $35,552 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.4/10 | $34,340 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.2/10 | $33,128 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.2/10 | $31,916 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.1/10 | $30,704 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.2/10 | $29,492 | Read review → |
| 2014 | 6.8/10 | $22,400 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Equipment 26/04/2018 · 18V267000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain… |
|---|---|
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 05/02/2021 · 21V054000 | 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… |
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 05/02/2021 · 21V051000 | 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… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500's reliability 6.1/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
3 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 6.6/10 overall, ranking #506 of 515 trucks in our database (better than 2% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 starts at $20,480 and ranges up to $26,985 across trims (MSRP when new). At 10 MPG, expect roughly $5,250/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Other trucks at a similar price point, ranked by Carivo score.
Explore the full lineup of GMC models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.
