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GMC · NHTSA safety record

2015 GMC Yukon XL

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 307 safety complaints about the 2015 GMC Yukon XL with the US government. Of those, 6 describe a crash, 3 mention a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the air bags.

The most complained-about system is the exterior lighting, named in 140 complaints, 46% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 70,000 miles, the median across the 200 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers September 2015 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

307 complaints on file

307

Complaints

6

Describe a crash

3

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints halved year on year: 10 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 28 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 140 · 46%
SERVICE BRAKES 62 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 58 · 19%
POWER TRAIN 35 · 11%
ENGINE 26 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26 · 8%
STEERING 11 · 4%
STRUCTURE 11 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 2%
SUSPENSION 5 · 2%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 · 1%
TIRES 3 · 1%
0 58 115

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 307.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 87.

92 69 46 23
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2015 GMC Yukon XL. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V437000 · July 10, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

General Motors LLC · up to 40,683 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V651000 · September 8, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,640,162 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Brake Vacuum Pump Failure

PE18012

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened November 20, 2018 · closed April 10, 2022 · led to recall 19V645000

the brakes, the hydraulic brakes

On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified NHTSA that it was conducting safety recall 19V-645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V-645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V-645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

4 injured · crash · 3,000 miles

...WIFE STOPPED ON HILL TO SPEAK TO SON.. I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE WENT TO NEUTRAL, WHEN SHE TRY TO GO FORWARD, IT WENT DOWN THE HILL HIT A POLE AND ROLLED OVER.

NHTSA complaint 10761831. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · fire · 125,000 miles

MY SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED, BURNING A HOLE IN MY SEAT BACKREST, AND BURNING A HOLE IN MY JACKET! 30 SECONDS AFTER LEAVING MY HOME, DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, I SUDDENLY FELT A SHARP POKING IN MY BACK. WHEN I REACHED BACK I WAS SHOCKED TO FEEL THE SEAT BURNING AND A HOLE IN THE SEAT! I REACTED IMMEDIATELY, TURNING OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND PULLING OVER. MY CAR HAD SMOKE AND SMELLED OF BURNING PLASTIC. I LOOK AT THE BACK OF MY DRIVERS SEAT AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SEAT WHERE IT BURNED STRAIGHT THROUGH. AND WHEN I TOOK OFF MY JACKET I FOUND A HOLE THERE AS WELL WHERE THE SEAT BURNED THROUGH IT AS WELL. I HAD A SMALL BURN, BUT IT WAS ONLY MINOR. IT WAS A DISTURBING SITUATION THAT COULD

NHTSA complaint 11307540, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 73,000 miles

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN ON NOVEMBER 2017 DUE TO REAR TAILGATE/HATCH NOT OPENING PROPERLY AND MAKING NOISE SOMETIMES. STRUTS AND OTHER COMPONENTS REPLACED. VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND REAR TAILGATE MODULE CAUGHT ON FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND BURNED UP. GM CUSTOMER CARE CASE 8-43560624XX WAS STARTED. PART SHOWS SIGNS OF FIRE, HEAVY COMPONENT DAMAGE BURN MARKS EVERYWHERE AND GROUND PLANES WITHIN THE PCB SHOW SIGNS OF EXTREME OVERHEATING, INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE BURNT PLASTIC AND THE REAR TAILGATE COULD NOT BE OPEN. GM IS NOT CALLING IT A FIRE BUT IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THE PART THAT THERE WAS A FLAME AND A LOT OF HEAT. TRIED TO ESCALATE THIS PASSED GM CUSTOMER CARE SO GM ENGINEERS

NHTSA complaint 11110584, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 37,500 miles

OUR 2015 YUKON XL DENALI CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT ON SAT, WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN INSIDE. IT WAS A HOT DAY, OVER 95 DEGREES, AND WE WERE TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC WHEN WE REALIZED THE SMELL AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM OUR VEHICLE. SMOKE WHIFFED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND NOXIOUS FUMES FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, SCARING ME AND MY FAMILY. WE FINISHED THE TURN AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, SHUTOFF THE TRUCK, AND ALL ESCAPED FEARING IT WOULD BURST INTO FLAMES. WHATEVER WAS BURNING APPEARED TO STOP ONCE THE IGNITION WAS OFF. I OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR, POPPED AND RAISED THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. I COULD SEE THAT A BELT, BEHIND THE SERPENTINE

NHTSA complaint 11340928, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
While driving the speed limit of 75 MPH, the vehicle's metal hood latch (for example: the metal piece on the underside of the hood that goes into the latch) broke causing the vehicle's hood to fly back and completely covered the windshield. This could have resulted in the tragic death of my wife and I. The windshield broke, the hinges locked in place, the hood was damaged including the hood's edges. During the pre-trip inspection, the hood was secure with no slack. There was no warning light regarding the hood. The vehicle was placed into storage until I research the proper procedures of reporting the safety hazard, so no one has inspected the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11765170. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

238,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH to work, the vehicle shifted into neutral and into low and failed to drive at about 20 MPH. The check engine light was flashing. The front collision was unavailable. The contact left the vehicle at a gas station. Upon research, the contact located NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V374000 (Power Train), which was similar to the failure. The local dealer was contacted, who confirmed there were no open recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted via chat, who referred her to the local dealer and manufacturer service center. The contact informed her to confirm the coverage with the

NHTSA complaint 11742098, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

177,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered. The contact stated that upon pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pushed into a parking space with assistance. Additionally, the contact stated that while her husband was test-driving the vehicle in the driveway by driving forward and reversing several times, the transmission locked up while depressing the brake pedal the thirteenth time. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission control module had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN

NHTSA complaint 11731474, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Transmission shuttering between 50-65 MPH.

NHTSA complaint 11727866. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Yes, that case number would be 91762225 (With GM). You are most welcome. Thank you for contacting Chevrolet Customer Assistance and have a nice day! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything else. VIN1GKS2HKC8FR165487 Special Coverage Adjustment N182180270 Tail Lamps Inoperative Having issues described by NTSA and vehicle has 62,000 miles but falls after the expiration date. I contacted GM and they were very nice but they were unwilling to help in any way. Any help would be appreciated.

NHTSA complaint 11727058. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

143,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH and exiting the highway, the brake pedal was depressed but the brake pedal was stiff and stuck, requiring that the transmission be shifted to neutral(N), and to stand on the brake pedal with both feet. The contact continuously pumped the brake pedal, but the vehicle slowly responded and almost crashed into other vehicles. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's wife and daughter were also inside the vehicle during the failure and were frightened and concerned for their safety during the failure. The dealer was contacted and was provided a description of the failure over the phone. The dealer

NHTSA complaint 11726283, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Yukon XL

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 34 3 —
2025 27 1 —
2024 70 2 —
2023 218 4 —
2022 168 4 —
2021 227 12 —
2020 47 2 —
2019 68 2 —
2018 53 2 —
2017 147 1 —
2016 201 3 —
2014 11 3 —
2013 22 4 —
2012 13 4 —
2011 47 3 —
2010 28 3 —

Other 2015 GMC models

Sierra 1500 719 Yukon 529 Canyon 303 Terrain 297 Acadia 243 Sierra 2500 89 Yukon Denali 73 Yukon Denali XL 65

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every GMC on this site — 149 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst