RoadVitals

2003 GMC Yukon Xl 1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
63
Latest Dec 12, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 19, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
8 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 63 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 GMC Yukon Xl 1500, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 94 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Dec 12, 2017

VEHICLE RANDOMLY GOES INTO REDUCE ENGINE POWER MODE AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND GOING UP A HILL WHERE IT NEARLY CAUSED A THREE CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS. BASIC RESEARCH SHOWS THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLES WERE A FEW YEARS OLD AND IT AFFECTS MANY YEARS OF GM VEHICLES. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH BAD GROUNDING CONNECTORS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR AND AND WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA ID
11054219
Incident
Dec 9, 2017
Mileage
230,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2017
Crash reported

BRAKE LINES CORRODED RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES AND REAR ENDING SCHOOL BUS. REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES AT MY COST AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. NOW, THE KNOWN ABS BRAKE SENSOR ISSUE IS ACTIVATING THE ABS AT LOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
10940042
Incident
Jan 5, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL 1500. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED BEFORE THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHING, WHICH DRASTICALLY REDUCED THE SPEED TO LESS THAN 20 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO PROGRESS RANDOMLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING, 02 SENSOR, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME, THE BATTERY, AND THE ALTERNATOR. THE REPAIRS FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION AND THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE FOR THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

NHTSA ID
10874699
Incident
Mar 10, 2016
Mileage
188,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 2, 2016

ANTILOCK BRAKES BEGAN TO APPLY THEMSELVES IN RIGHT HAND TURNS GOING UP AND DOWN HILL AT SPEEDS UP TO 45 MPH. ALMOST CAUSES ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD TO TAKE TO HURRICANE CHEVROLET SEVERAL TIMES TO GET FIXED COST ALMOST $4000

NHTSA ID
10823872
Incident
Jan 3, 2015
Mileage
198,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 5, 2016

REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE ON HWY AT 70 MPH

NHTSA ID
10818211
Incident
Dec 15, 2015
Mileage
250,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 28, 2015

WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK MY VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REDUCED POWER WARNING CAME ON AT WHICH TIME I HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING, AND COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING POWER. I THEN HAD TO COAST TO A STOP AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE 6 TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE REDUCED POWER WARNING TO GO OFF AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN 2 DAYS WITH THE LOSS OF POWER. I HAVE HAD THE REDUCED POWER WARNING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS YEARS PAST BUT NEVER HAVE I LOST TOTAL / ABSOLUTE POWER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, THIS IS A TOTAL DEATH TRAP FOR ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AFFECTING OTHER GMC OWNERS AND HAVE SEEN NO RESOLUTIONS OR ANY RECALLS FROM GMC. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE THROTTLE HOUSING AND HARNESS COMPONENTS, ACCELERATION PEDAL SENSOR AND YET THE ISSUE CONTINUES, SOMEONE IS GOING TO ( DIE ) BECAUSE OF GMC'S LACK OF CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OWNERS OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I WILL NEVER EVER OWN ANOTHER GMC ASSOCIATED PRODUCT.

NHTSA ID
10778119
Incident
Sep 28, 2015
Mileage
168,260 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 23, 2015
Crash reported4 injuries reported

THERE IS AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT DISPLAYS ON THE DASH FOR MYSELF AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO OWN GMC/CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THESE MOTORS. THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WITH THE TRUCK WHERE IT SAYS "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". I'VE FOUND 2 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THAT SOMEWHAT ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT MANY PEOPLE TAKE THEIR TRUCKS TO MECHANICS AND DEALERSHIPS TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED AND SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND TROUBLESHOOTING TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED, TO NO AVAIL. THE 2 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THAT I FOUND WERE #PIP3089B (DATED 10/31/2006) AND #PIP3042A (DATED 8/30/2004). I'VE SEEN ON MANY MANY FORUM POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND POSSIBLE FIXES, WHICH WHEN I READ DEEPER INTO THEM, SEEM TO NOT BE TRUE FIXES.

NHTSA ID
10775355
Incident
Sep 17, 2015
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 15, 2015

I KEEP HAVING THE DISPLAY SAY "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". I'LL BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, DOING 65 IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR NO LONGER ACCELERATES AND IT DISPLAYS "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER DISPLAY. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ONLINE IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR ON THOUSANDS OF OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE, CHEVY SUBURBAN'S, SILVERADO'S, TAHOE'S, ETC. I REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THE HARNESS (BECAUSE I HEARD THE HARNESS MIGHT ALSO BE AN ISSUE) AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK. IT HAS DONE IT OVER A DOZEN TIMES ON ONE TRIP BACK FROM WORK (80 MILES FOR ME). I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (IF POSSIBLE) AND TURN OFF THE TRUCK, THEN WAIT A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN TURN THE TRUCK BACK ON. THIS USUALLY FIXES THE ISSUE, BUT IT DID NOT HELP ME WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME IN THE TUNNEL AND I WAS GOING 5 MPH (TOP SPEED DURING THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MODE, ONCE YOUR DRIFTING STOPS (BECAUSE YOU DRIFT, IT DOESN'T ENGAGE THE BRAKES). I WAS EXTREMELY WORRIED THAT I WOULDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF THE TUNNEL WITHOUT GET REAR ENDED, AND ONCE I MADE IT OUT, I WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE TUNNEL AWAITING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING, WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10763770
Incident
Sep 14, 2015

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

23-NA-001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

PIT3271P

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Yukon Xl 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000
2012500
2011122036.8
2010810
2009110029.5
2008180238.1
2007600341.7
2006500
2005241041.4
2004361032.0
2003Viewing631042.7
2002231037.3
2001291039.1
2000151046.1

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.