Last updated: 2026-10-10
GMC Yukon Reliability by Year
GMC Yukon reliability is good, but lifter and camshaft engine failures are the problem to check for before you buy a used one.
GMC Yukon Reliability Overview
Used Yukons hold up well, and yearly repair costs run a little under the full-size SUV average. The 2020 is the safer pick, and 2021 is the year to avoid. The problem that matters most is engine lifter and camshaft failure, which shows up as ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss, often with no warning light. Transmission slipping and shudder come second.
Current generation: 2nd gen (2015–2023), facelifted 2020.
Best & Worst GMC Yukon Years
Best GMC Yukon Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe 2020 has been on the road long enough to show its record, and it is far calmer than the 2021, with 59 complaints against 410. Its complaint rate also sits well below the 2022 and 2023. Lifter and transmission complaints still exist, so ask for service history before buying.
GMC Yukon Years to Avoid
Engine failure drives the trouble here. Owners describe a ticking noise that grows with throttle, then sudden power loss or a seized engine at highway speed, often with no warning. Dealers find collapsed lifters, damaged cams, and metal shavings in the oil. Many cases end in a full engine replacement, and some 10-speed transmissions fail too.
GMC Yukon Reliability Score Trend
GMC Yukon reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 68/100.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 55/100 | Mixed |
| 2022 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 61/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 82/100 | Excellent |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 GMC Yukon
0 recalls · 11 complaints
Newest year, with no recalls and few complaints so far, but early engine failures have left dealers replacing whole engines.
2025 GMC Yukon
1 recalls · 52 complaints
Rated good and cheaper to repair than its class, but marked by early engine failures on both the diesel and the 6.2.
2024 GMC Yukon
2 recalls · 45 complaints
Good standing and mid-pack among Yukon years, but marked by sudden 6.2L V8 engine failures in the first 25,000 miles and slow recall parts.
2023 GMC Yukon
8 recalls · 329 complaints
Final year of the second generation, with 8 recalls and sudden engine failures that leave it among the weaker Yukon years.
2022 GMC Yukon
9 recalls · 248 complaints
Rates below average among 2022 SUVs and among the weaker Yukon years, with sudden engine failure, mostly on the 6.2L, as the main concern.
2021 GMC Yukon
25 recalls · 410 complaints
The weakest scored Yukon year, with heavy complaints about 6.2L V8 lifter and bearing failures and stalls from a failing fuel pump control module.
2020 GMC Yukon
5 recalls · 59 complaints
Good standing and close to average for its class, with lifter and camshaft engine failures and transmission slipping as the main complaints.
2019 GMC Yukon
2 recalls · 95 complaints
Good standing among the stronger Yukon years, held back by 6.2L V8 lifter failures and transmission trouble in owner complaints.
2018 GMC Yukon
4 recalls · 108 complaints
Mid-pack among Yukon years, with lifter and camshaft engine failures and brake vacuum pump trouble as the main owner complaints, and more complaints than the 2019.
Common GMC Yukon problems
Problem areas with the most owner complaints, each with the years affected, symptoms, and fixes.
Viewing a GMC Yukon soon? Use a printable inspection checklist for its model year.
Found Your GMC Yukon? Check Its History
Engine (5) problems come up most in GMC Yukon owner complaints, and 56 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
GMC Yukon Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
3.5/5
Annual Repair Cost
$747
Repair Frequency
0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk
16%
$37 below the fullsize SUVs average of $784/yr.
Ranked #6 of 14 among fullsize SUVs.
GMC Yukon Resale Value
The GMC Yukon is estimated to retain about 68.8% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 68.8%
- Depreciation
- 31.2%
- Listings Analyzed
- 218
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore GMC Yukon depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comGMC Yukon Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
Most Reliable GMC Models
Compare all GMC models by reliability
Compare GMC Yukon With Similar SUVs
The GMC Yukon competes with other full-size suvs such as Nissan Armada, Cadillac Escalade, and Toyota Sequoia.
Yukon vs Nissan Armada
9 years tracked · 225 complaints
Yukon vs Cadillac Escalade
8 years tracked · 496 complaints
Yukon vs Toyota Sequoia
5 years tracked · 36 complaints
Yukon vs Chevrolet Tahoe
9 years tracked · 971 complaints
Yukon vs Chevrolet Suburban
9 years tracked · 519 complaints
More GMC Yukon comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best GMC Yukon year to buy used?
- The 2020 is the site's pick among years that have been on the road at least two years. It has far fewer owner complaints than the 2021 through 2023 years. The 2025 and 2026 score well, but they are too new to have collected a full complaint record.
- Is the GMC Yukon reliable long term?
- Its standing is good and close to average among SUVs. The long-term risk is the engine. Owner complaints describe lifter and camshaft failures, with most dated failures between 67,049 and 81,000 miles, and the usual outcome is a full engine replacement.
- What are the most common GMC Yukon problems?
- Engine trouble leads by a wide margin, with 571 owner complaints about ticking, misfires, and sudden power loss. Transmission problems come next at 218 complaints. Electrical complaints include a trailer brake warning message that keeps returning and rear brake lights that cut out.
- How much does it cost to repair a GMC Yukon?
- Independent repair-cost data puts the estimated annual repair cost at $747. That is a little below the $784 average for full-size SUVs. A major engine failure would far exceed that figure, since owners report replacing whole engines.
- Do GMC Yukons have transmission problems?
- Yes, some do. Owners report slipping, hesitation, clunking shifts, torque converter shudder at 40 to 50 mph, and limp mode. Fluid changes and reprogramming often fail to help. Several owners replaced the whole transmission, with reports at 101,000 and 104,000 miles.
How we score the 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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