GMC Yukon XL Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 503 of the 1,274 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 GMC Yukon XL (39.5%) name the engine, 2.0× the median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2021, 2023 and 2022.
Engine complaints
503
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
39.5%
of 1,274 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
GMC Yukon XL engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 32 | 7.8% | 4 | — | 210 |
| 2009 | 15 | 7.1% | 0 | — | 227 |
| 2020 | 25 | 58.1% | 2 | — | 192 |
| 2021WORST | 132 | 66.7% | 1 | 25V274000 | 345 |
| 2022WORST | 109 | 73.2% | 2 | 25V274000 | 291 |
| 2023WORST | 132 | 71.7% | 3 | 25V274000 | 181 |
| 2024 | 47 | 82.5% | 0 | 25V274000 | 85 |
| 2025 | 11 | 50% | 0 | — | 28 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2010–2019: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for those years under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common GMC Yukon XL engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 503 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
GMC Yukon XL years to avoid for the engine
2021 GMC Yukon XL
132 engine complaints (66.7% of the year's 198). Most often described: engine failure, seizure or replacement. Covered by engine recall 25V274000.
2023 GMC Yukon XL
132 engine complaints (71.7% of the year's 184). Most often described: engine failure, seizure or replacement. Covered by engine recall 25V274000.
2022 GMC Yukon XL
109 engine complaints (73.2% of the year's 149). Most often described: engine failure, seizure or replacement. Covered by engine recall 25V274000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the GMC Yukon XL years to avoid.
GMC Yukon XL engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any GMC Yukon XL model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 25V274000 · 2025-04-24 · 2021–2024 models
The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2021 GMC Yukon XL have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 132 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 GMC Yukon XL, 66.7% of all 198 complaints for that year. The most common description is "engine failure, seizure or replacement" (74 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 25V274000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2023 GMC Yukon XL have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 132 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2023 GMC Yukon XL, 71.7% of all 184 complaints for that year. The most common description is "engine failure, seizure or replacement" (76 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 25V274000. 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2022 GMC Yukon XL have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 109 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2022 GMC Yukon XL, 73.2% of all 149 complaints for that year. The most common description is "engine failure, seizure or replacement" (69 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 25V274000. 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which GMC Yukon XL years have the most engine complaints?
2021 (132), 2023 (132) and 2022 (109), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common GMC Yukon XL engine problems?
In the 503 engine complaints, owners most often describe engine failure, seizure or replacement (52.7%), misfire or check-engine light (20.3%) and stalling or shutting off while driving (19.7%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each GMC Yukon XL model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration