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U.S. public vehicle records

2020 Gmc YUKON XL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

45 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

86,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 45 complaints (53.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting1226.7%
Steering behavior48.9%
Engine operation36.7%
Braking behavior36.7%
Electrical and battery issues24.4%
Fuel system concerns12.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
24
Power Train
11
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Service Brakes
3
Steering
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Electrical System
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine24
Power Train11
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Service Brakes3
Steering3
Unknown Or Other3
Electrical System2
Engine And Engine Cooling2

Engine: 24; Power Train: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 35 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2020
1
2021
2
2022
2
2023
5
2024
3
2025
17
2026
15
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20201
20212
20222
20235
20243
202517
202615

2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 17; 2026: 15

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11513372 · 2023-03-23 (March 23, 2023)

Transmission required replacing at 82,500 miles. Vehicle completely lost power during my morning commute. Thankfully, I had exited the Interstate and was on a city street with minimal traffic. Also thankful that I took and extended warranty at the time of purchase less than a year ago at 61,200 miles.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11513372 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11518863 · 2023-04-25 (April 25, 2023)

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the temperature gauge started rising quickly. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with …

Owner-reported narrative. 127,549 miles reported. Look up ODI 11518863 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11507687 · 2023-02-16 (February 16, 2023)

The front struts are going out on these vehicles. I know of another one that had the same issue and only had 38,000 miles on there Denali. This issue makes the front of the vehicle very stiff. Which when we were on the interstate and every time we hit a bump or a bridge crossing it would almost take the steering wheel right out of your hands. I live In Minnesota, and with the weather we have here, it was a very scary drive home with my family. I took it to my certified repair shop and they told me that I’m the 3rd one that they have seen wi…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507687 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11580704 · 2024-04-02 (April 2, 2024)

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the steering wheel was increasingly wobbly and was pulling 3-4 inches to the right or to the left, and the vehicle was difficult to steer while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic contacted an unknown dealer, and the dealer informed the mechanic that the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified o…

Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11580704 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11586190 · 2024-04-30 (April 30, 2024)

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the bearing in the driveshaft was worn. Additionally, the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11586190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11651411 · 2025-03-28 (March 28, 2025)

I possess a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. During multiple highway drives, I experienced a persistent loss of power. When accelerating from a stop, the vehicle struggled to shift gears smoothly, resulting in a rough, jerking motion. I opted to take the car to the dealership; however, before I could reach it, the vehicle lost all power and failed to change gears entirely. I am fortunate this complete loss of power and ability to change gears did not occur while I was on a busy highway. I purchased the car when it had 63,000 miles, and at 120,000 miles, the …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11651411 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11377586 · 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)

VEHICLE BRAKES WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, INCREASED BRAKING EFFORT AND MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 'SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM'. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME A BEAKE ISSUE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED WITH A GM SUBURBAN/YUKON VEHICLE. FIRST 3 WERE ON OUR 2017 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PREMIER. ALSO, ENGINE JUST SHUTOFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, NO OTHER SYMPTOMS SO FAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11377586 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11638235 · 2025-01-24 (January 24, 2025)

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle with the key fob, messages that the key fob was not connected, to put the key fob in the compartment, to push the brake, and that the battery light was low, were displayed. The contact stated that he was able to start the vehicle by pressing the Push to Start button. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormally loud banging sound, and the…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11638235 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11709096 · 2026-01-06 (January 6, 2026)

I was traveling along i80 and suddenly the vehicle shutdown. I put the transmission in Neutral and coasted to a stop. Once stopped, I check It would not start or even turnover at that point. I still had all electrical services and such. The vehicle. I was stranded on i80. Then had to be towed to the nearest GM Dealer in Evanston Wyoming. Heritage Chevrolet GMC. It was left there for diagnosis where their technician, several days later diagnosed it with a bad engine. There was no warning or check engine light that appeared. I even hav…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11709096 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11689292 · 2025-09-23 (September 23, 2025)

[XXX] [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Email: [XXX] [Date] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Subject: Safety Complaint Regarding 2020 GMC Yukon XL Denali – Repeated Engine Failures (VIN: [XXX] ) To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to formally file a safety complaint regarding my 2020 GMC Yukon XL Denali (VIN: [XXX] ) which I purchased in 2021. This vehicle has experienced repeated and dangerous mechanical failures that raise significant safety concer…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11689292 at NHTSA ↗