The best Yukon years to buy are 2018 and 2020. Avoid the 2015 and 2021: brake light and hard brake pedal problems on the 2015 redesign, and engine failures on the 2021 redesign, give them the most complaints.
Best years: 20182020 Years to avoid: 20152021
Every Yukon year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 181 | - | 3 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 475 | - | 4 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 362 | 440 | 5 | Engine | Average |
| 2021 | 584 | 693 | 14 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2020 | 84 | 132 | 4 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2019 | 128 | 171 | 2 | Engine | Good year |
| 2018 | 131 | 162 | 3 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2017 | 359 | 426 | 3 | Exterior Lighting | Average |
| 2016 | 520 | 575 | 5 | Exterior Lighting | Average |
| 2015 | 995 | 1,343 | 10 | Exterior Lighting | Skip this year |
| 2014 | 77 | 108 | 3 | Other | Good year |
| 2013 | 186 | 312 | 4 | Other | Average |
| 2012 | 140 | 273 | 3 | Other | Average |
About the Yukon
The Yukon and the longer Yukon XL are GMC's full-size SUVs, close twins of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. Our numbers cover both. The 2015 redesign drew many complaints about brake and tail lights failing and a hard brake pedal from a failing vacuum pump. The 2021 redesign drew engine failures, lifter problems and fuel pump module faults; GM later recalled many 6.2-liter V8s from 2021 to 2024.
- 2012-2014: Older generation, 5.3 and 6.2 V8.
- 2015-2020: Redesign. Brake light and vacuum pump complaints on 2015.
- 2021 on: Redesign with independent rear suspension. Engine complaints.
Yukon warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins GMC files with NHTSA. 5,354 Yukon bulletins are on file in total.
Customer Satisfaction Program - certain vehicles may have a condition where the battery is at risk for a drain following an over-the-air update.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain model years and vehicle may have a condition where the battery is at risk for a drain following an over-the-air update.
Customer Satisfaction Program - certain may have a condition where the battery is at risk for a drain following an over-the-air update.
Customer Satisfaction Program.
Customer Satisfaction Program - may have a condition where the battery is at risk for a drain following an over-the-air update.
Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Yukon
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA26005 · 2021–2024 · opened Aug 2026
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001.
Recall query RQ26001 · 2021–2024 · opened Jan 2026, closed Aug 2026
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001.
Engineering analysis EA25007 · 2021–2024 · opened Oct 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM).
Preliminary evaluation PE25001 · 2021–2024 · opened Jan 2025, closed Oct 2025 · led to recall 25V274
On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2012, 2013 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2012–2014 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Preliminary evaluation PE21010 · 2021 · opened Apr 2021, closed Aug 2023
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
Preliminary evaluation PE18012 · 2015, 2016 · opened Nov 2018, closed Apr 2022 · led to recall 19V645000
On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverad...
Yukon vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the GMC Yukon?
2018 and 2020. The best Yukon years to buy are 2018 and 2020. Avoid the 2015 and 2021: brake light and hard brake pedal problems on the 2015 redesign, and engine failures on the 2021 redesign, give them the most complaints.
Which GMC Yukon years should I avoid?
2015, 2021. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the GMC Yukon average.
What are the most common GMC Yukon problems?
The 2015 Yukon draws the most complaints, mostly brake and tail lights that go out and a hard brake pedal. The 2021 draws engine failure complaints, and many 6.2-liter engines are covered by a recall. Check the VIN before buying.
Based on 4,222 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.