2003 GMC Yukon Xl 1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Yukon Xl 1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical2428.9%
- Brakes1720.5%
- Driver assistance1012.0%
- Engine89.6%
- Steering78.4%
- Powertrain (other)67.2%
- Body & structure44.8%
- Visibility33.6%
- Fuel system11.2%
- Airbags11.2%
- Other / unspecified11.2%
- Suspension11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE ON HWY AT 70 MPH
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
WHILE DRIVING POSTED SPEED ON EXPRESSWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. LEAVING NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS ONLINE. ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? IT IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY REQUIRING GM TO RECALL OVER 1 MILLION VEHICLES FOR. YOUR CURRENT RECALL ONLY GOES BACK TO THE 2009 MODELS. WHY ARE YOU NOT REQUIRING ALL GM VEHICLES RECALLED SINCE 1996? THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME KEY LOCK SYSTEM AND SAME ABS SYSTEMS BOTH OF WHICH SEEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO OR CAUSE THE PROBLEM. IF A VEHICLE IS BUILT WITH A SAFETY HAZARD DOES THE FACT THAT IT IS OLDER MEAN THAT IT IS NO LONGER A MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT? SINCE THE GOVERNMENT OWNS GM HOW ARE YOU AFFECTED IN INITIATING A RECALL? THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ALLOW OTHER COMPANIES TO POLICE THEMSELVES, YET IS THAT NOT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH GM? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE ON HWY AT 70 MPH
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 YUKON BACK HATCH GLASS EXPLODED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE GLASS WAS EVERY WHERE AND CUT MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR
THE REAR HINGE ON THE LFT GLASS CAME AWAY FROM THE GLASS, LEAVING THE REAR WINDOW UNSAFE. FORTUNATELY I NOTICED AND HAD IT REPAIRED (REPLACED) BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 YUKON BACK HATCH GLASS EXPLODED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE GLASS WAS EVERY WHERE AND CUT MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR
2003 YUKON XL- REAR WINDOW FELL OFF AN SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING THOUGH CITY TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEFECT. RIGHT PASSENGER AIR BAG SIDE MODULE (FRONT SEAT) WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED AT MY TOTAL COST OF $476.10 ON 4-20-07. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHT ALERTED ME AROUND 4-2-08 THAT THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED (THE REPLACEMENT PART IS DEFECTIVE), AFTER ONLY 5,500 MILES OF VEHICLE USAGE. A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT FOR SOMEWHAT LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE MILES--A DEFECT AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR AND LESS THAN 2,300 MILES OF EQUIVALENT SERVICE. THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT EXPERIENCED SERVICE TECHNICIAN. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THE FIRST PROBLEM, LET ALONE THE 2ND. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKING OFF FROM A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM A LOW SPEED THE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE COMES ON AND VEHICLE LOOSES POWER. HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 THAT HAVE BEEN WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I FEAR WE WILL BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS POWER TRAIN FAILURE. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM OR ERROR CODES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON XL WHICH BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME AT ~51,280 MILES. THESE ARE SEALED BEARINGS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE BY REPLACING BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES, $692.49, WHEN I HEARD THE BEARING GRINDING NOISE. THE MECHANIC AT THE GM DEALER TOLD ME HE REPLACES THE BEARING ASSEMBLIES ON TWO TO THREE VEHICLES A WEEK. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .