GMC Yukon Reliability Problems

Yukon owners have made 596 complaints over 29 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 12th in overall reliability out of 15 GMC models, with real interior and engine concerns.

3 Common GMC Yukon Problems

A list of some of the most common issues Yukon owners have to deal with.

  1. A/C Condenser Leaking

    GM used leaky air conditioners that buckle under pressure in many 2014-2017 trucks and SUVs. Whether it's busted hoses or leaky condensors, thousands of GM owners are showing up to work with sweat stains down their back. It's such a widespr…

    Continue reading article "A/C Condenser Leaking"

  2. Vortec Excessive Oil Consumption

    Leaking coolant from a cracked intake manifold gasket is an extremely common problem on most GM vehicles made from the late 90s to the mid-2000s. Most experts agree that the problem stems from GM's 'DexCool' coolant which erodes away at the…

    Continue reading article "Vortec Excessive Oil Consumption"

What Yukon Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

Yukon Generations

The Yukon has 5 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 4th generation (2015–2020).

Yukon Key Numbers

  1. 596 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 3,458 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 50 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Yukon Class-Action Lawsuits

The Yukon has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

  • Airko, Inc., et al., v. General Motors LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      A General Motors Vortec class action lawsuit alleges oil consumption problems plague the vehicles because of defective piston rings. The GM Vortec class action lawsuit includes these vehicles equipped with Generation IV 5.3-Liter V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engines.

  • Martell, et al., v. General Motors LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      The class action lawsuit alleges General Motors manufactured and sold vehicles that consume abnormally high quantities of oil because of numerous problems with the engines. The plaintiff claims the primary problem is the piston rings that don't hold enough tension to keep engine oil in the crankcase, resulting in low oil levels and inadequate lubrication of engine components.

  • Smith et al. v. General Motors, LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      A GM cracked dash lawsuit alleges owners can spend thousands of dollars to replace cracked dashboards and instrument panels the automaker should have recalled.

    Class Vehicles
    • 2009-2014 Yukon
    • 2009-2014 Sierra
    Location
    Michigan

  • Jones Won, et. al, v. General Motors Company et. al.

    1. Case Filed

      GM air conditioning problems are caused by condensers and discharge lines, at least according to a proposed class-action lawsuit that includes the following long list of Cadillac, Chevy and GMC trucks and SUVs.

    Problem
    A/C Condenser Leaking
    Class Vehicles
    • 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L (various)
    • 2015-2016 Yukon 5.3L
    • 2015-2017 Yukon XL(5.3L/6.2L)
    Location
    New York

Recent Yukon News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. A federal investigation wants to know if rusty connectors are preventing 2020-2021 GM airbags from deploying.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received six reports of severe crashes where the airbags didn't deploy in GM vehicles, despite those vehicles receiving "significant frontal damage." All six crashes resulted in injuries.…

    keep reading article "Government Investigates Airbag Failures in Full Size 2020-2021 GM Vehicles"

  3. Toss another lawsuit onto the ever-growing pile of GM Vortec oil consumption cases.

    The Missouri based class-action is the latest in a series of suits saying the 5.3L Vortec engine churns through oil because of defects in the low-tension piston rings. The problem is compounded by GM's questionably designed oil life monitoring system which doesn't warn owners when oil levels get dangerously low.

    In fact the system doesn't monitor oil levels at all, just the quality of the oil itself. So while the engine may be dry and on the verge of collapse, rest assured that last quart of oil is still in tip-top shape. 👍🏼…

    keep reading article "Missouri Vortec Oil Consumption Lawsuit Latest in a Series Against GM"

  6. A lawsuit says a failed vacuum pump in GM’s brake boosters can make the brake pedal extremely hard to push

    , leading to longer stopping distances and accidents.

    While investigating a rear-end collision involving the lead plaintiff ”GM told her she should read the manual to understand how the brakes worked.” Nothing says “we value our customers” like accusing them of not knowing how brakes work. GM promised to fix the plaintiff’s bumper in exchange for confidentiality. Obviously this didn’t go over well.

    keep reading article "Lawsuit Says GM Owners Should be Worried About Vacuum Pump Problems Creating Stiff Break Pedals"

  8. Plaintiffs in the case regarding excessive oil consumption in GM's 5.3L Vortec 5300 engines have switched gears.

    The original case was tossed out by a judge last year, but the plaintiffs were given a chance to ammend their complaints. So they've switched their focus into a potentially defective oil pressure warning system that doesn't properly monitor oil levels and can lead to early engine failure.…

    keep reading article "Vortec Engine Excessive Oil Lawsuit Takes Aim At Monitoring System"

See All Yukon News

What Owners Say About Their Yukon

A/C stopped working. Regular people can’t fix it due to equipment needed. Dealership charged me $150 just to tell me what’s wrong and then said it would be an additional $1,656 to have the condenser replaced in order to fix the problem. No A/C in Texas in the summer with 4 kids is not an option.

2017 Yukon Owner in TX

Other GMC Models