GMC Yukon XL
Owners filed 2,446 complaints across 28 model years of the GMC Yukon XL. The 2015 drew the most (308).
Which GMC Yukon XL years should you avoid?
Going by 2,446 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the GMC Yukon XL years to avoid are 2015, 2021, 2023 and 2016.
- 2015308 complaints, 3.4× a typical Yukon XL year, most often about the headlights.
- 2021230 complaints, 2.5× a typical Yukon XL year, most often about the engine.
- 2023226 complaints, 2.5× a typical Yukon XL year, most often about the engine.
- 2016202 complaints, 2.2× a typical Yukon XL year, most often about the headlights.
Too new to judge: 2025 and 2026. Complaints take a few years to arrive, so a new model year looks better than it is.
How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →
Every GMC Yukon XL model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Too new | 40 | 3 | — | — | Engine | Do not drive | |
| 2025Too new | 28 | 1 | — | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2024 | 75 | 2 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2023Avoid | 226 | 4 | — | 2 | Engine | Above average | |
| 2022 | 174 | 4 | — | 4 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2021Avoid | 230 | 12 | 1 | 2 | Engine | Above average | |
| 2020 | 47 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2019 | 68 | 2 | — | 4 | Engine | Do not drive | |
| 2018 | 56 | 2 | 1 | 5 | Engine | Do not drive | |
| 2017 | 147 | 1 | — | 7 | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2016Avoid | 202 | 3 | 2 | 7 | Exterior Lighting | Do not drive | |
| 2015Avoid | 308 | 2 | 3 | 6 | Exterior Lighting | Above average | |
| 2014 | 11 | 3 | — | 2 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2013 | 22 | 4 | — | 1 | Structure › Body | Routine | |
| 2012 | 13 | 4 | — | — | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2011 | 47 | 3 | 1 | — | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2010 | 28 | 3 | — | 1 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2009 | 23 | 5 | — | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2008 | 69 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2007 | 97 | 4 | — | 4 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2006 | 17 | 3 | — | 1 | Electronic Stability Control (esc) | Routine | |
| 2005 | 42 | 6 | — | 3 | Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel | Routine | |
| 2004 | 87 | 4 | 2 | 5 | Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel | Routine | |
| 2003 | 102 | 4 | — | 3 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2002 | 95 | 2 | 1 | 5 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 2001 | 120 | 5 | — | 6 | Parking Brake | Fatalities reported | |
| 2000 | 69 | 7 | — | 6 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | — | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine |
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.