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GMC · NHTSA safety record

2019 GMC Yukon XL

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

Owners have filed 68 safety complaints about the 2019 GMC Yukon XL with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the power train and the seat belts.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 34 complaints, 50% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 102,195 miles, the median across the 22 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers September 2019 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

68 complaints on file

68

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

0

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 rose by half year on year: 25 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 16 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
ENGINE 34 · 50%
POWER TRAIN 15 · 22%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 · 9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6 · 9%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 · 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 6%
STEERING 4 · 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 · 6%
AIR BAGS 3 · 4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 1%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 · 1%
0 15 31

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 68.

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 2025 at 25.

28 21 14 7
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 2019 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 2019 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

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

26V289000 · May 7, 2026

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
The risk
Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 66 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

18V673000 · September 26, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact 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 18315.

General Motors LLC · up to 15,800 vehicles across all model years covered

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.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed · 170,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, a second vehicle traveling approximately 65 MPH crashed into the front drivers side of the vehicle. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe front-end damage, but no airbags in the vehicle deployed. The contact sustained injuries that included fractured ribs and a fractured left hip, and a sternum contusion. The contact was air-lifted to the hospital. Two occupants in the second vehicle were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. A police report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away. The contact indicated that the vehicle was destroyed during the crash. The cause

NHTSA complaint 11716206, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON OHIO TURNPIKE WITH MY FAMILY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK TIRES STARTED TO FEEL WEIRD. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BY PUMPING MY BREAKS, BUT THE WHEEL GAVE A SHARP PULL TO THE LEFT FOR NO REASON. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 60-70 MPH WHEN I FELT A STRONG PULL TO THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND MY SEAT STARTED TO VIBRATE. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE STEERING AND INFORMED EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME THAT WE WERE GOING TO CRASH. I AM POSITIVE THAT THIS DEFECT IN THE STEERING/BREAKING SYSTEM RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IF THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH, MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND I WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE MVA. 7 PASSENGERS WEARING SEATBELTS. VEHICLE TOTALED. DAMAGED

NHTSA complaint 11283041, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed

Hit a Elk at 65mph and airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA complaint 11488233. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash

it's been a known fact and on social media there has been many complaints, why is there nothing being done. this vehichle has a water or moisture problem which goes to the electric connectors and makes the vehichle go in to derate mode and only code it throws is peddle position sensor. which I have changes, and still no fix, as other connectors that are going to the electronic board removed, and it has corrosion. this is clearly a safety risk and it literally puts in a mode where a truck is not drivable.

NHTSA complaint 11580013. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 117,200 miles

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving, there was a loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was cautiously driven to the residence and parked. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine active fuel management lifter in cylinder #1 had failed, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 117,200.

NHTSA complaint 11767767. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Vehicle started showing a po308 code. Called sewell gmc In midland where I purchased the vehical they were 2 months out on diagnostic services. So I took it to another shop. They ran a camera into the problem cylinder and for scaring on the walls. They said it was due to the afm system and the engine was unrepairable. So now I am out 17,000 dollars and stranded over 700 miles from my home due to a manufactured defect.

NHTSA complaint 11759501. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Unknown Truck engine will cut off in the middle of high speed traffic. More than three times.

NHTSA complaint 11757179. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My vehicle keeps showing a front camera warning and we went to the dealership multiple times and they were unable to diagnose the problem. This seems to be a widespread common problem among many owners and it’s a safety concern affecting parking and forward collision.

NHTSA complaint 11752916. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 47,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop at a stop sign, the vehicle started shaking violently, with an unknown flashing warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with a lifter failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was covered under warranty; however, upon a further follow-up, the dealer informed the contact that the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.

NHTSA complaint 11750693. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

158,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving and while the vehicle was parked on several occasions, there was a tapping sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lifters were inoperable, and the lifters and or the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA complaint 11749961. 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 —
2018 53 2 —
2017 147 1 —
2016 201 3 —
2015 307 2 —
2014 11 3 —
2013 22 4 —
2012 13 4 —
2011 47 3 —
2010 28 3 —

Other 2019 GMC models

Sierra 1500 647 Acadia 386 Terrain 185 Yukon 55 Sierra 2500 32 Sierra 3500 13

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