2011 GMC Yukon XL

Routine

Owners filed 47 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
72,200 milesMedian miles at failure

25 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,00060,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags21
010
Unknown or Other11
000
Power Train4
000
Structure › Body2
000
Structure2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Rear Window › Electrical Heating Element1
000
Visibility1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Suspension1
000
Seat Belts1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module21V050000
Filed Feb 5, 20212,641,272 vehiclesGeneral Motors, Llc

Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module21V054000
Filed Feb 5, 20211,778,128 vehiclesGeneral Motors, Llc

Defect. 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 AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.

Electrical System › Ignition14V827000
Filed Dec 30, 201484,192 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

Risk. If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Apr 27, 2026OK

My Yukon Denali XL GM engine that was put in on 07/2022 has already failed. It failed as I was driving down highway at 65 mile per hour. It failed on 04/12/2025. I paid almost $7,000 to have my engine replace due to the original engine failing in early 2022. Now the engine that I paid thousands of dollars for has already failed and has no compression in cylinder 4. I have researched this and can see GM is currently in litigation over car owners reporting engine failure due to either liftors or cams. My car should be considered in this class action lawsuit against GM. It's wrong for a company to take so much money from owners and use an engine that GM knew had issues and was faulty to place it into my vehicle only to have it fail and now make my vehicle undriveable and I am told it's another $8,000 to repair it. GM should address this issue with my vehicle and replace this engine that I had put in in 07/2022. GM was aware of this engine problem with my model car Yukon. GM knew this particular engine that they used in my vehicle on 07/22 (A GM engine) had the issue that GM is being sued for and sure enough the engine has now failed in my Yukon. Please hold GM accountable for this and include my car in this lawsuit.

Suspension
Filed Aug 22, 2025271,000 milesMN

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle at the gas station, fuel was leaking out of the fuel tank. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was lifted. The mechanic then informed the contact that the fuel pump was rusted and that the frame were severely rusted. The contact was informed that the frame was fractured and had holes and was being held up by the body. Additionally, the mechanic informed the contact that the alignment had failed due to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The used car dealer where the vehicle was purchased was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 271,000.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 8, 2024CA

Dash is cracking badly on its own. Is cracking also where airbag is held. Pieces can fly as projectiles and cause bodily harm when airbag deploys.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 10, 2023WI

We were driving on the freeway and our sunroof unexpectedly exploded. I didn't see any rock or object. It caught us all off guard.

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 22, 2022FL

When attempting to install car seats on the 3rd row, the seat belts do not remain locked after pulled all the way out. Pulling all the way out should activate the ALR, but it does not. I am unable to seat belt install on my 3rd row which is required when a child is over 40lbs.

Power Train
Filed Feb 3, 2022TX

Keep getting traction control and stability issue warnings along with reduced engine power. Idles up and down and rough Car was parked haven’t moved

Unknown or Other
Filed May 5, 2021100,500 milesVA

DASH IS CRACKING.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 3, 2021120,000 milesNY

THE DASHBOARD HAS SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED IN TWO LOCATIONS AFTER SITTING IN OUR GARAGE. A 6" CRACK HAS NO FORMED OVER THE CURVED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY ON DRIVER SIDE AND A 1" CRACK HAS OCCURRED NEAR THE AIR BAG COVER CORNER ON PASSENGER SIDE. THESE CRACKS ARE SIMILAR IN LOCATION AND SIZE TO OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON GMC YUKONS. STARTED NOTICING THE CRACK IN AUGUST OF 2020. I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL ON PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 9, 2021ME

AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR YEARS AND THEY HAVE YET TO REPLACE THEM EVEN AFTER ACQUIRING AT MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 16, 2020TN

LARGE CRACKS IN DASH CAUSING CONSTANT RATTLING NOISE.THIS OCCURRED IN LESS THAN A YEAR PURCHASE AND HAS WORSENED THE HEATING AND COOLING FUNCTION OF THE SEATS FAILED WITHIN MONTHS OF BUYING THE VEHICLE NEW. RADIO AND NAVIGATION SCREEN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.

Air BagsFire
Filed Nov 6, 2020100,000 milesAZ

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DETECTED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR IN VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED YATES BUICK GMC 13845 W TEST DR, GOODYEAR, AZ 85338 (480) 795-7563 WHO STATED THE REMEDY PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine
Filed Apr 27, 2020MI

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY ON APPROXIMATELY 04/08/2020 I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN A TICKING SOUND. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LOOK AT THE MOTOR TO FIND THAT 4 OF MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE BROKEN OFF. BOTH OF THE FRONT AND REAR BOLTS ON BOTH MANIFOLDS WERE MISSING AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST PORT WAS LEAKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A SHOP TO BE LOOKED AT, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM V8 ENGINES AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE GETS OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEY OR ANOTHER OPERATOR ISN'T PAYING ATTENTION, SOMEONE COULD GET RUN OVER. I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES AS MY SUV IS IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 28, 202050,000 milesTX

MY TAKATA RECALL COMES BACK AS "INCOMPLETE - WORKING ON A SOLUTION". THIS HAS BEEN GOING IN FOR YEARS. IS MY CAR SAFE?

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 16, 202072,200 milesIL

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY VEHICLE IN AUTO 4WD, BECAUSE WE HAD ICY ROADS. MY VEHICLES REAR DRIVE SLIPPED ON SOME ICE AND THEN I GOT A MESSAGE INDICATING MY STABILIZER SYSTEM WAS NEEDING WORK, THEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (INSTRUMENTATION DASH) STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED A 2ND TIME AND IT STARTED, PUT IT IN GEAR AND STARTED BACK OUT ON THE ROAD. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED TO GO CRAZY ALL OF THE SUDDEN, ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH, MY POWER DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ITS RPM'S, AND DOWN/UP SHIFTING MY GEARS, MY DASH BOARD INSTRUMENTS STARTED FLASHING, HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING FAN WAS SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN, THEN TURNING ON AND OFF. I THOUGHT MY VEHICLE WAS POSSESSED BY A DEMON REALLY PUTTING A SCARE IN ME. I WAS SCARED THAT IT WAS GOING TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS NOT IN CONTROL AT ALL, SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART ONCE AGAIN, ON MY 3RD ATTEMPT IT STARTED. I PUT IT IN GEAR AND IT WENT GOOD. I THINK THE INSTRUMENTATION FLASHED MAYBE ONE OR TWO TIMES, BUT OVERALL IT WAS DRIVING, THANK GOD, BECAUSE IS WAS COLD OUT AND I WAS IN A RURAL AREA. FOUR DAYS LATER I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK, WENT OUT TO TAKE IT TO LUNCH AND IT WOULD NOT START, NOTHING WOULD WORK, COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO SHOTTENKIRK CHEVROLET IN QUINCY, IL, WHICH IS WHERE IT IS AWAITING T

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 9, 202035,000 milesMO

2 CRACKS IN DASHBOARD THAT COINCIDE WITH SO MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS GM HAS AND CONTINUES TO RECEIVE. ONE IS AT THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE AIRBAG DASH CAP AND THE 2ND IS OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/GAUGES HUMP OF THE DASH.

Power Train
Filed Dec 30, 2019117,000 milesNC

VEHICLE STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A CITY STREET INTERSECTION, WOULD NOT PROGRESS. HAD TO BE TOWED. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT & WERE TOLD THAT THIS MODEL, YEAR AND ENGINE HAD A FAULTY TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WHICH LED TO INTERNAL PUMP FAILURE, AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF TORQUE CONVERTER.

Power Train
Filed Dec 12, 201965,000 milesVA

TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE @60,000 MILE MARK WITH INITIAL SENSATION OF GETTING BUMPED FROM BEHIND WHEN COMING TO A STOP THAT THE DEALERSHIP ROUTINELY STATED, "OH THAT'S THE WAY THEY ALLURE". DASHBOARD DISINTEGRATING BEFORE MY EYES WITH MULTIPLE PLASTIC SHARDS THAT WILL BECOME DEADLY PROJECTILES IF EVER IN ACCIDENT AND WHO KNOWS HOW BAD IT WILL GET IF AIR BAGS DEPLOY.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 11, 2019NJ

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DEALERS, INCLUDING F.C. KERBECK BUICK GMC AT 866-826-3218 (LOCATED AT 100 RTE 73 N, PALMYRA, NJ 08065) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 5, 2019TX

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED BERG MOTOR COMPANY AT 432-694-7741 (LOCATED AT 3205 W WALL ST, MIDLAND, TX 79701) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 19, 2019FL

THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT AS YET INVOLVING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, FOR EIGHT YEARS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOCATED IN A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF HIGH HUMIDITY AND TEMPS WHICH IS A FACTOR OF INSTABILITY WITH THE TAKATA AIRBAGS. WE HAVE TRIED, UNSUCCESSFULLY, TO GET THE AIRBAGS REPLACED BY OUR LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP.WE ARE FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE HOPE OF GETTING NHTSA TO ORDER GM TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE ACT OF REPLACING AIRBAGS IN AFFECTED VEHICLES BEFORE ANY MORE INJURIES HAPPEN.

20 of 47 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2015
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202632300Do not drive
202527100Routine
202470200Routine
2023212400Above average
2022164400Routine
20212201210Above average
202046210Routine
201967200Do not drive
201853210Do not drive
2017147100Routine
2016200320Do not drive
2015306230Above average
201411300Routine
201322400Routine
201213400Routine
2011 — this page47310Routine
201028300Routine
200923500Routine
200869410Routine
200797400Routine
200617300Routine
200542600Routine
200487420Routine
2003102400Routine
200295210Routine
2001120502Fatalities reported
200069700Routine
19993000Routine

Compare every Yukon XL year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 5, 2021. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.