Is the Ford Expedition more reliable than the GMC Yukon?

No. The Yukon has a clear edge, even though both rate good. Owners filed 11.1 complaints per 10,000 sold for the Yukon against 27.5 for the Expedition. The Yukon also has fewer recalls and lower yearly repair costs. The Expedition does make fewer unscheduled shop visits.

Which has more recalls, the Expedition or the Yukon?

The Expedition has more. Federal recall records show 84 recalls across nine model years for the Expedition and 56 for the Yukon. Check any specific vehicle's VIN for open recalls before buying, since a high count does not say which ones apply to a given truck.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Expedition or the Yukon?

The Yukon is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $747 a year for the Yukon and $861 for the Expedition. That is about $570 over five years. A Yukon engine replacement would wipe out that savings, so ask about engine history.

What is the most common Yukon problem?

Engine failure from lifters and camshafts is the most common. Owners describe ticking or knocking, misfires, and the engine shutting off at highway speed or idle, often with no warning light. The usual outcome is a full engine replacement, and most dated failures fall between 67,049 and 81,000 miles.

What goes wrong most often on the Ford Expedition?

The power train draws the most complaints, with 679 on file. Reports include transmission failure that leaves the vehicle unable to move, a cracked transmission housing, and a rear axle separating from the hub. Rodent damage to wiring is the most repeated electrical failure.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Expedition vs GMC Yukon: Reliability Compared

Ford Expedition

Good

More Reliable

GMC Yukon

Good

Between the Ford Expedition and the GMC Yukon, the Yukon is more reliable by a clear margin. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold. The Yukon also has fewer recalls and lower yearly repair costs, though its lifter and camshaft engine failures are costly when they hit.

How Do the Ford Expedition and GMC Yukon Generations Compare?

Fifth-generation Expeditions began with the 2025 model year, replacing a fourth generation that ran from 2018 through 2024. Most used Expeditions you will see are fourth generation, and the 2025 and 2026 models have had little time to collect complaints. The Yukon data covers a second generation that ran from 2015 through 2023, with a facelift for 2020. Used Yukons from 2018 and 2019 are pre-facelift, while 2021 and 2023, the weakest years, came after it. A shopper in this range is mostly choosing between one generation of each.

Verdict

The GMC Yukon is more reliable than the Ford Expedition, scoring 68/100 vs 61/100.

A clear edge goes to the Yukon, even though both models rate good. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold, federal recall records show fewer recalls across the same nine model years, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly upkeep lower. The Yukon's weak spot is serious: lifter and camshaft failures that often end in a full engine replacement. The Expedition's trouble is spread across more systems and includes drivetrain defects that show up early.

Key Differences

1GMC Yukon costs $114 less per year to repair
2GMC Yukon has 28 fewer total recalls
3GMC Yukon has 16.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Ford Expedition

—

4GMC Yukon

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Ford Expedition vs GMC Yukon: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Expedition vs GMC Yukon at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford Expedition	GMC Yukon
Reliability Score	61/100	68/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	84	56
Complaints per 10k Sold	27.5	11.1
Annual Repair Cost	$861/yr	$747/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	15%	16%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2 (1 tied)	6 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Expedition and GMC Yukon?

Engine trouble defines the Yukon. Lifter and camshaft failure brings ticking, misfires, and shutoffs at highway speed, usually with no warning light, and often a new engine. Transmission slipping and torque converter shudder come next. The Expedition leans toward the power train: a rear axle separating from the hub, a cracked transmission housing, and a vehicle rolling backward in Park. That area carries 5 crash-linked complaints, against 1 on the Yukon. The Expedition also has rodent-chewed wiring and warped third-row belt buckles. Only the Yukon lists steering, where lost power assist is tied to 3 crash-linked complaints.

Ford Expedition vs GMC Yukon common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford Expedition	GMC Yukon
POWER TRAIN	11.2Above Avg	1.8Low
ENGINE	2.7Low	4.7Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.9Low	1.1Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2.3Low	0.5Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1Very Low	0.9Very Low
SEAT BELTS	1.3Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	0.3Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.7Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.7Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY	0.5Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.4Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SEATS	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Expedition or GMC Yukon?

Repair costs favor the Yukon at $747 a year against $861 for the Expedition. That gap is $114 a year, or $570 over five years. The Expedition goes to the shop less often, at 0.2 unscheduled visits a year against 0.3. The chance that a repair is major is close: 15% for the Expedition and 16% for the Yukon. The Yukon is cheaper on average, but its big repairs can be engine replacements.

How Does Ford Expedition vs GMC Yukon Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Expedition vs GMC Yukon year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford Expedition	GMC Yukon	Edge
2026	71/1001R / 6C	82/1000R / 11C	GMC Yukon
2025	71/1005R / 27C	76/1001R / 52C	GMC Yukon
2024	68/1007R / 68C	68/1002R / 45C	Tie
2023	67/1008R / 62C	61/1008R / 329C	Ford Expedition
2022	61/10012R / 106C	62/1009R / 248C	GMC Yukon
2021	57/10012R / 214C	55/10025R / 410C	Ford Expedition
2020	52/10016R / 370C	71/1005R / 59C	GMC Yukon
2019	53/10011R / 455C	71/1002R / 95C	GMC Yukon
2018	52/10012R / 358C	68/1004R / 108C	GMC Yukon

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Expedition scored 68/100 and the 2020 GMC Yukon scored 71/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Ford Expedition vs the GMC Yukon?

Choose the Yukon if you want the lower complaint rate, fewer recalls, and lower yearly repair cost. Ask for engine service history before you buy. Dated engine failures in the reports run from 67,049 to 110,000 miles, so a truck in that range deserves a close look. Try to avoid 2021 and 2023, the weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 models rate best, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so treat that as unproven. Choose the Expedition if fewer shop visits matter more to you and you will inspect the drivetrain carefully. Test drive for transmission hesitation, stalling, and any rolling in Park. Skip 2018 and 2020 if you can. If kids ride in the third row, check every seat belt buckle and strap. If the SUV has sat outdoors, look over the wiring for rodent damage, since dealers have refused warranty coverage for it.

Ford Expedition vs GMC Yukon: Common Questions

Is the Ford Expedition more reliable than the GMC Yukon?: No. The Yukon has a clear edge, even though both rate good. Owners filed 11.1 complaints per 10,000 sold for the Yukon against 27.5 for the Expedition. The Yukon also has fewer recalls and lower yearly repair costs. The Expedition does make fewer unscheduled shop visits.
Which has more recalls, the Expedition or the Yukon?: The Expedition has more. Federal recall records show 84 recalls across nine model years for the Expedition and 56 for the Yukon. Check any specific vehicle's VIN for open recalls before buying, since a high count does not say which ones apply to a given truck.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Expedition or the Yukon?: The Yukon is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $747 a year for the Yukon and $861 for the Expedition. That is about $570 over five years. A Yukon engine replacement would wipe out that savings, so ask about engine history.
What is the most common Yukon problem?: Engine failure from lifters and camshafts is the most common. Owners describe ticking or knocking, misfires, and the engine shutting off at highway speed or idle, often with no warning light. The usual outcome is a full engine replacement, and most dated failures fall between 67,049 and 81,000 miles.
What goes wrong most often on the Ford Expedition?: The power train draws the most complaints, with 679 on file. Reports include transmission failure that leaves the vehicle unable to move, a cracked transmission housing, and a rear axle separating from the hub. Rodent damage to wiring is the most repeated electrical failure.

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Decided between Ford Expedition and GMC Yukon? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Ford Expedition and GMC Yukon

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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