2021 GMC YUKON — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
361
Owner Complaints
13
Recalls
68
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2021 GMC YUKON
The 2021 GMC YUKON has received a total of 361 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 19 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:VALVES/VALVE BODY. 68 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (125 complaints), Power Train (37 complaints), and Fuelpropulsion System (35 complaints).
Recalls for the 2021 GMC YUKON
NHTSA has recorded 19 recalls for the 2021 GMC YUKON, potentially affecting up to 3,749,871 vehicles.
Recall 25V274000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
| 597,571 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Consequence: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will...
View full details →Recall 25V274000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
| 597,571 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Consequence: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will...
View full details →Recall 24V797000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:VALVES/VALVE BODY
| 463,295 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Consequence: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters...
View full details →Recall 24V797000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
| 463,295 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Consequence: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters...
View full details →Recall 22V827000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
| 338,735 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer...
View full details →Recall 22V617000 — SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
| 484,155 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.
Consequence: A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk...
View full details →Recall 22V036000 — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
| 1,789 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Consequence: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at...
View full details →Recall 21V739000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
| 14,939 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782....
View full details →Recall 21V579000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:ELECTRIC:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
| 2 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. Dealer service technicians may have calibrated the brake system incorrectly, affecting Electronic Stability Control (ESC) , traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and braking while towing a trailer.
Consequence: Overall braking performance may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the brake system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1202; GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212340970.
View full details →Recall 21V455000 — STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE
| 26,847 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.
Consequence: Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at...
View full details →Recall 21V421000 — AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT
| 285,622 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Consequence: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service...
View full details →Recall 21V421000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
| 285,622 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Consequence: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service...
View full details →Recall 21V190000 — SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
| 94,641 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.
Consequence: A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at...
View full details →Recall 21V190000 — SEAT BELTS
| 94,641 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.
Consequence: A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at...
View full details →Recall 21V064000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
| 18 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. The fuel tank assemblies may be missing adhesive between two layers of the fuel tank shell which may result in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is...
View full details →Recall 20V811000 — SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
| 470 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat...
Consequence: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's...
View full details →Recall 20V811000 — SEAT BELTS
| 470 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat...
Consequence: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's...
View full details →Recall 20V735000 — SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
| 94 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed.
Consequence: If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC...
View full details →Recall 20V735000 — SEATS
| 94 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed.
Consequence: If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2021 GMC YUKON
361 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 GMC YUKON. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Oil consumption is an issue. My vehicle is using a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. Manufacturer says oil changes are 5,000 mile intervals, however at 2500 miles the dipstick is dry and the low oil light comes on. There are no leaks in the driveway, nor is it smoking. The manufacturer claims this is normal. If I were to wait the 5,000 miles for an oil change I would only have three quarts of oil left in an engine that is supposed to have 8 quarts and therefore my engine would lock up. I fear that this engine will fail and I travel with our daughter all over the state of MO and OK for horse shows and do not wanted to be stranded on the interstate with my child in the car. After much research it is obvious this is a common problem with the 6.2L engines. There is an abundance of videos, forums, chats, etc stating how widespread this issue is and that GM continues to put off developing a fix or replacing the engines. We just completed an oil consumption test with the dealership and they are going to submit it to the warranty company. However, our fear is they will deny it saying it's a GM issue and kick it back to us.
Air bag suspension does not work in sub freezing temperatures. Vehicle bounces up and down excessively and is extremely unstable and unsafe to drive at any speed. Vehicle speed was limited to 56 mph. Dealer stated that this is a known flaw but not recall has been issued. This is a design flaw that GMC should be responsible to correct.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while shifted into drive(D), the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle lost motive power, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the check engine, stability control, and several other warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was making abnormal whining sounds, and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The contact had been experiencing the loss of motive power with the vehicle for approximately 2 years; however, the failure was intermittent. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer on several occasions; however, the failure persisted. The contact notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the engine to be tested. The contact was advised by the dealer that the engine had passed the test, and a higher viscosity oil was added, and the oil filter and oil filler tube were replaced, along with updating the manual. The vehicle was repaired; however, it was still experiencing a loss of power with several warning lights illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
I own a 2021 GMC Yukon Denali XL with approximately 81,000 miles. On 4 separate occasions, after coming to a complete stop in traffic and then attempting to accelerate, the vehicle violently jerks and shifts itself into park. I am not pressing the brake when this occurs. I must manually shift the vehicle back into drive in order to continue moving. This happens so fast, that I am only able to see a red outlined box that intermittantly flashes on the dashboard but I cannot see what it says before it disappears. The incident feels as though the vehicle has been struck from behind due to the abrupt force. This has occurred more than once and creates a dangerous situation in traffic, particularly when vehicle are behind me. The vehicle has been taken to a GMC dealership, which has serviced the vehicle since 2021. The dealership reports they were unable to duplicate the condition after driving approximately 60 miles and therefore cannot perform a repair. This issue remains unresolved. Given that the vehicle is shifting into park while in motion or during acceleration, I believe presents a significant safety hazard.
2 days after the delearship changed my oil to a heavier weight, my engine began knocking. I’m told the rod is bent but not covered by warranty
Safety Rating for the 2021 GMC YUKON
The 2021 GMC YUKON received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2021 GMC YUKON
General Motors, LLC has issued 68 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2021 GMC YUKON. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PIT5993F — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with high resistance in the glass breakage loop that could cause a dead battery or unwanted theft alarm. Dealers are to inspect the glass breakage loop.
25-NA-110 — SUSPENSION
This bulletin advises the techs that the front and or rear shocks need to be replaced as a set and not 1 at a time to avoid the road and ride performance not to be compromised.
PIT6144G — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This Preliminary information communicates A diagnostic tip from root causing DTC: C1197 SYM 92 caused by a pinched air inlet hose to the suspension compressor air leveling system or internal software concern
PIT6134E — SERVICE BRAKES
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with premature brake pad life and engineering is working on release new pad lining material.
PIT6147A — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This Preliminary information communicates information on how to select bootloader part number if there are issues SPS programming the IPC.
PIT6110D — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is working on a fix.
21-NA-149 — ENGINE
This service bulletin provides repair information for Engine Wire Harness Chafing to correct customer concerns of IPC Gauges Sweep, IPC Warning Message, SES/Check Engine/MIL, No Start/ No Crank, Runs Rough, Stalls, Reduced Engine Power, Various DTCs.
24-NA-167 — POWER TRAIN
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Shake and/or Shudder During Steady Speed and/or Light Throttle Acceleration Between 25 and 50 MPH (40 and 80 KM/H).
N23-241182 — FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
(There may be future updates under this same release number.) Your vehicle keeps getting better. This software update includes the following if your vehicle is equipped: Refinements: Updates made to improve the Super Cruise driver assistance technology and the Adaptive Cruise Control functionality. Updates to improve the connectivity within Apple...
21-NA-184 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides a procedure to update the calibrations after Window Regulator electronics or window motor replacement.
Showing 10 of 68 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2021 GMC YUKON
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the GMC YUKON
- 2016 GMC YUKON — 357 complaints
- 2017 GMC YUKON — 244 complaints
- 2018 GMC YUKON — 88 complaints
- 2019 GMC YUKON — 59 complaints
- 2020 GMC YUKON — 27 complaints
- 2021 GMC YUKON (current)
- 2022 GMC YUKON — 188 complaints
- 2023 GMC YUKON — 230 complaints
- 2024 GMC YUKON — 115 complaints
- 2025 GMC YUKON — 55 complaints
- 2026 GMC YUKON — 4 complaints
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- GMC ENVOY — 3,269 total complaints
- GMC YUKON XL — 2,820 total complaints
- GMC SUBURBAN — 2,323 total complaints