Gmc YUKON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4,726 owner complaints analyzed
75 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,260 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 851 of 4,726 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1,097 | 23.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 358 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 321 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 234 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 218 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 137 | 2.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 851 |
| Air Bags | 614 |
| Unknown Or Other | 530 |
| Electrical System | 469 |
| Exterior Lighting | 425 |
| Service Brakes | 401 |
| Power Train | 377 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 189 |
Engine: 851; Air Bags: 614; Unknown Or Other: 530; Electrical System: 469; Exterior Lighting: 425; Service Brakes: 401; Power Train: 377; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 189
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 306 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 415 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 494 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 439 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 396 |
| 150,000 and above | 210 |
Under 25,000: 306; 25,000 to 49,999: 415; 50,000 to 74,999: 494; 75,000 to 99,999: 439; 100,000 to 149,999: 396; 150,000 and above: 210
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (494). 2,466 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 14 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 2000 | 155 |
| 2001 | 116 |
| 2002 | 88 |
| 2003 | 119 |
| 2004 | 124 |
| 2005 | 143 |
| 2006 | 96 |
| 2007 | 81 |
| 2008 | 76 |
| 2009 | 53 |
| 2010 | 64 |
| 2011 | 73 |
| 2012 | 63 |
| 2013 | 94 |
| 2014 | 146 |
| 2015 | 156 |
| 2016 | 210 |
| 2017 | 281 |
| 2018 | 269 |
| 2019 | 421 |
| 2020 | 271 |
| 2021 | 165 |
| 2022 | 157 |
| 2023 | 131 |
| 2024 | 135 |
| 2025 | 594 |
| 2026 | 420 |
1995: 14; 1996: 11; 2000: 155; 2001: 116; 2002: 88; 2003: 119; 2004: 124; 2005: 143; 2006: 96; 2007: 81; 2008: 76; 2009: 53; 2010: 64; 2011: 73; 2012: 63; 2013: 94; 2014: 146; 2015: 156; 2016: 210; 2017: 281; 2018: 269; 2019: 421; 2020: 271; 2021: 165; 2022: 157; 2023: 131; 2024: 135; 2025: 594; 2026: 420
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1,097 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 358 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 321 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 487383 · 1995-10-26 (October 26, 1995)
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959001 · 1995-01-23 (January 23, 1995)
BRAKE FAILED TO STOP/PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, TRUCK WOULDN'T STOP CONSUMER REAR ENDED A CAR IN FRONT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010776 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 140,000 MILES, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT CLUTCHES OR BANDS, BUT A "HARDENED" PART IN THE TAIL SHAFT, SINCE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, THE REPLACEMENT WOULD NOT UP SHIFT, AND I AM NOT SURE I CAN TRUST THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD, I THINK GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, IF WE HAVE PARTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST FOREVER BREAKING, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY HAVE A RELIABILITY PROBLEM!! I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021508 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY 1997 GMC YUKON TOWED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE STARTED MISSING, THEN JUST DIED. NO STEERING, NOTHING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RECHECKED. GOT THE YUKON BACK AFTER A MONTH, DROVE IT HOME (ABOUT 90 MILES)...IT WAS FINE. THEN THE SECOND DAY AFTER GETTING IT BACK, IT AGAIN STARTED JERKING, MISSING, AND THEN DIED. I WAS ON …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 896376 · 2001-09-17 (September 17, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING A CORNER, STEERING LOSES ALL RESISTANCE, CONSUMER STATES THAT ITS REALLY SCARY BECAUSE IF CONSUMER TRIES TO STAY ON THE ROAD TO AVOID A DEEP CLIFF SLIGHTEST TURN OF STEERING WHEEL MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO GO OVER CLIFF. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING IS CONTINUALLY FAILING, NOW THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 896376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032728 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
EXPERIENCING A RATHER HIGH PITCHED RUBBING NOISE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. PARTICULARLY BAD WHEN BACKING UP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024346 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)
NHTSA# 98-V-150-0001: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049626 · 2003-12-12 (December 12, 2003)
ADJUSTED POWER MIRRORS AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE DOOR, THE DASH, AND PART OF THE SEAT. IF MY WIFE HADN'T GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED, IF NOT KILLED*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 92,465 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577979 · 2014-04-07 (April 7, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WENT "IDLE" AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10577979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735602 · 2000-11-01 (November 1, 2000)
ENGINE EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF STARTING HARD WHEN HOT OR STALLING WITH NO WARNING. THE SES LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CODES 17, 18, 35 & 36 WERE STORED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THIS AND TRUCK WAS AT DEALER FOR 3 APPOINTMENTS BUT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. THESE CODES ALMOST ALWAYS INDICATE A FAILING FUEL INJECTION PUMP AND CALLS TO CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE ASKING WHY NOTHING WAS BEING DONE TO CHANGE THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE. A CASE NUMBER WAS ASSIGNED. ALL VISITS TO THE DEALER WERE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. A TRIP F…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021679 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142626 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THREE YEARS AGO SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE SECOND TIME THE PUMP WAS REPLACED THE WIRES WERE BURNED. THE WIRES WERE REPLACED. GM TOLD HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE FUEL PUMP, BUT NOT THE LABOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142626 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2010: 3; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 3; 2015: 10; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 4; 2021: 13; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1992 | 9 | 1 | Not available |
| 1993 | 6 | 0 | -1 |
| 1994 | 30 | 2 | +2 |
| 1995 | 46 | 6 | +4 |
| 1996 | 34 | 3 | -3 |
| 1997 | 81 | 0 | -3 |
| 1998 | 68 | 2 | +2 |
| 1999 | 178 | 1 | -1 |
| 2000 | 166 | 6 | +5 |
| 2001 | 197 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | 158 | 3 | -3 |
| 2003 | 204 | 4 | +1 |
| 2004 | 158 | 2 | -2 |
| 2005 | 85 | 3 | +1 |
| 2006 | 27 | 2 | -1 |
| 2007 | 428 | 4 | +2 |
| 2008 | 187 | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 | 94 | 5 | +1 |
| 2010 | 105 | 3 | -2 |
| 2011 | 158 | 5 | +2 |
| 2012 | 63 | 3 | -2 |
| 2013 | 117 | 4 | +1 |
| 2014 | 56 | 3 | -1 |
| 2015 | 528 | 10 | +7 |
| 2016 | 266 | 5 | -5 |
| 2017 | 196 | 3 | -2 |
| 2018 | 69 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 54 | 2 | -1 |
| 2020 | 36 | 4 | +2 |
| 2021 | 322 | 13 | +9 |
| 2022 | 178 | 5 | -8 |
| 2023 | 232 | 4 | -1 |
| 2024 | 102 | 3 | -1 |
| 2025 | 52 | 2 | -1 |
| 2026 | 35 | 3 | +1 |