2021 GMC Yukon Problems And Complaints

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Rating7.8

Ranked #3 in 

Fullsize SUV
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$50,700 - $71,600
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  • N

    Nancy

    23/06/2022

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... already been to the service 5 times and on Monday it’s going back . They even kept it there almost 30 days one time . Had electrical problems which included the electrical harness and the module and one part was not available. After over 20 days they got the part only to find another electrical part was not working. This also caused rear seat entertainmentRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • CB

    Cindy Bailey

    01/03/2022

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    I purchased my Denali Yukon XL Sept 2020 (ordered vehicle March 2020). Surprisingly, no more CD players. Not everyone is into high tech or uses WiFi. This is a major problem to a lot of consumers who woulRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • D

    Disappointed

    18/02/2022

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... left for work. . Once I got in my car that spot was bothering me so when I got home I touched it & I thought it was oil . So I looked over my vehicle I notice this black oil all over the grill, hood, wheels side window and more smaller spots on the windshield, so I showed it to my husband he said know that asphalt. I was totally upset. I called the dealership service department which was closed at 7:00 pm I left a message. I tookRead More

    Source: edmunds

2021 GMC Yukon SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and Which Year to Avoid

13

Recalls

2

Investigations

206

Complaints
Overall Safety Rating
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on June 10, 2024

The 2021 GMC Yukon, coming out in its brand new avatar for the year, has brought in a bunch of hassles along with its sassy new looks and tech. In just a year or so since launch, the 2021 Yukon has been lodged with 9 officially recognized recalls as per the NHTSA. While the number of official complaints totals at a mere 19, forums have been piling up with a concerning number of complaints, which is far more than what the official numbers suggest. So, is the 2021 GMC Yukon worth the $55,695 or so worth of base price it is asking? Well, this article discusses what all to know and expect when owning or even when planning to buy one of these full size SUVs.

2021 GMC Yukon User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical Complaints

  • Engine- Faulty pushrod lifters in certain batches of engines have caused the engine to fail prematurely with mileages as low as 7,000-miles. Users have experienced random engine stalls and knocking as a precursor to this issue. No recall has been issued on this problem but the automaker has provided owners with “component coverage” extended warranties which cover the repair cost of SUVs that have been sent in with lifter or valve train complaints.
  • Service brakes- “Brake system failure” warning has been one issue that has been bothering many owners. The brakes are said to intermittently lose feel and pressure, decreasing braking performance. The ABS, ESC, AEB, and trailer brake warning lights are also said to illuminate when this happens. The issues were later found to be due to faulty brake calibration from the dealership service end and the affected vehicle were fixed under an official recall (NHTSA ID-21V579000)

Electric system complaints

  • Infotainment issues- not an officially recognized issue, but many owners have been complaining about the glitches in the infotainment system. Random reboots, wireless connectivity drop, and faulty USB ports are some major issues stated. Firmware reset/update was said to be a temporary fix as users still face these issues intermittently.
  • Steering- A few owners have complained about the loss of power steering/ steering assist functionality while on the move on the 2021 Yukon. This was later found to be a software glitch and was fixed under a factory recall (NHTSA ID- 21V455000)

Safety Complaints

  • Airbags- Airbags failing to deploy in the event of a crash and the airbag warning light illuminating randomly have been two common complaints registered against the 2021 Yukon. The issue was found to be with a faulty gateway communication module and the issue was resolved through an official recall( NHTSA ID-21V421000)
  • Forward collision avoidance system- A handful of owners have been complaining about the forward collision system on the 2021 Yukon being faulty or too intrusive. Failing to autonomously brake in the event of a crash or braking unnecessarily has been the two major issues as stated. A firmware reset was the only plausible fix as the dealers were unable to replicate the issue.

2021 GMC Yukon Recalls

S. No

Date

NHTSA ID

Issues Noticed

Additional Remarks

Remedy

1

27th January 2022

22V036000

The rear-wheel drive shaft assembly may fail

The driver shaft internal components may be improperly heat-treated, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure and increasing the risk of a crash.

The dealer will replace the left or right driveshaft free of charge and the notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022.

2

23rd September 2021

21V739000

The power control module may cause fuel pump failure

A faulty power control module can cause the fuel pump to work intermittently, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash

Dealers will replace the fuel control module free of charge and the notification letters rolled out on October 14, 2021.

3

29th July 2021

21V579000

The brake system was calibrated incorrectly

Dealer service technicians might have calibrated the braking system incorrectly, compromising braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash

The dealers will recalibrate the brakes free of charge and the notification letters were sent out by August 27, 2021

4

17th June 2021

21V455000

Loss of power steering assist

A software issue may cause loss of steering assist on startup or while driving, increasing steering effort and thereby the risk of a crash.

Power steering module software will be updated over the air by the dealers free of charge. Owners were notified about this by July 13, 2021

5

3rd June 2021

21V421000

The airbag light may not indicate malfunction

Errors in the gateway communication module cause it to incorrectly process data, causing the airbag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate, failing to warn the driver, and increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Dealers will update the software in the gateway communication module free of charge and the owners were notified of this by July 1, 2021.

6

18th March 2021 

21V190000

The seatbelt may become damaged

The third-row seat belt may be entrapped or misrouted inside the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in seat belt damage and thereby increase the risk of injury during a crash.

The dealers will inspect the seatbelts and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021.

7

11th February 2021

21V064000

The fuel tank may leak

The missing adhesive between two fuel tank shells may cause fuel to leak, increasing the risk of fire.

The dealers will replace the affected fuel tanks free of charge and the recall began on March 6, 2021.

8

23rd December 2020

20V811000

Incorrect bolt used to attach seat belts

If incorrect bolts are used to fix seat belts, they cannot properly restrain the occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The dealers will replace suspected bolts free of charge and the recall began on January 29, 2021.

9

25th November 2020

20V735000

Bolts for front seats incorrectly installed

Loose or missing bolts on front seats can cause it to move forward in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Dealers will inspect attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts if needed, free of charge. The recall began on 21st December 2020.

Should you buy a used GMC Yukon?

The GMC Yukon has easily been in the top 3 full-size SUV ladder since its inception and that is something that stays true to this day. Boasting rugged looks, an exciting list of equipment, and outright capability, this full-size SUV is up to anything. 9 recalls for a model year might seem pretty outrageous, but with the automakers packing in all the technology in the book in their vehicles, it is a pretty common affair these days. Also, GM has been quick to address all these issues and has a good track record of great post-sales support, which adds to the entire ownership experience. With all the love this SUV has been getting all these years, we can’t find a reason that should keep you away from buying a used one.

  • Complaints
  • Recalls
  • Investigations
  • Manufacturer Communications

October 2, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11690931

Components: 074000 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11690931

Incident Date:
October 2, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
1GKS2BKD7MR

Consumer Location:
NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ

Summary
Vehicle would not start. Vehicle was towed to GMC dealership for inspection. Vehicle diagnosed with "Fu...

September 30, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11690480

Components: 060000 ENGINE (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11690480

Incident Date:
September 30, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
1GKS2DKL1MR

Consumer Location:
PHENIX CITY, AL

Summary
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was started and running, the...

September 30, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11690519

Components: 060000 ENGINE (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11690519

Incident Date:
September 30, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
1GKS2DKL1MR

Consumer Location:
GREENVILLE, SC

Summary
My 2021 GMC Yukon Denali is affected by NHTSA Recall #25V-274. The recall notice states that defects in t...

September 29, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11690313

Components: 070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

NHTSA ID Number:
11690313

Incident Date:
September 29, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
1GKS2BKD7MR

Consumer Location:
STARKVILLE, MS

Summary
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle f...

September 27, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11690082

Components: 060000 ENGINE (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11690082

Incident Date:
September 27, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
1GKS2AKD9MR

Consumer Location:
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Summary
While driving on the and merging onto the highway, the check engine light and other alerts came on our 20...

73/100Best

Quality & Reliability

Assesses the extent of issues, glitches, and design imperfections encountered by...

84/100Best

Driving Experience

Owners' assessments regarding the vehicle's design, performance, comfort, functi...

82/100Best

Resale

CARHP's projection of depreciation, which estimates the probable decrease in the...

87/100Best

Dealership Experience

Owners' interactions with dealerships associated with this brand, encompassing b...

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