2001 GMC Yukon Xl Brakes Problems

The ABS system in this vehicle and many other similar GM vehicles of this year have abs pumps that malfunction and/or randomly stop working just to begin working later. My vehicle currently has the abs fuse removed because whenever it’s in the abs pump runs continuously even when the vehicle is off. The vehicle I own is in good shape with only 80,000 miles. similar gm vehicles of this age with more miles have even more issues specially with the abs system it’s worse in vehicles that also come equipped with traction control.

NHTSA ID

11720057

Incident

Dec 14, 2025

This is the 3rd Yukon I have owned all 2001-2003. Every one of them have had serious brake issues, ABS illuminated, Parking Brake does not work, and light is illuminated, brake fluid everywhere, which when hot starts eating away at electrical components, or in my case at cooling system hoses. Which all lead too one issue after another. I really think that this shoudl be address becasue eveyone i speak with has the same issue. It's exhausting anf expensive too fix, but i have no choice becausei need 3 rows too fit all my children and cannot afford a brand new car.

NHTSA ID

11649890

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN SPRING 2018, I APPROACHED TRAFFIC LIGHT, DEPRESSED BRAKE, WHICH WENT TO FLOOR AND HAD TO USE PARKING BREAK TO STOP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE LINES. THEN, 6-8 MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, CAME TO ANOTHER STOP LIGHT, DEPRESSED BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I USED PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE. HAD YUKON XL TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND HAD REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED IN FALL, 2018. SINCE THEN, BRAKE LIGHTS AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, WHEREAS OTHER TIMES WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING, BRAKE & ABS LIGHTS COME ON AND THEN GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. BRAKING HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE INSUFFICIENT.

NHTSA ID

11265318

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 246,000.

NHTSA ID

10816477

Incident

Nov 25, 2015

Mileage

246,000 mi

WHILE COMING TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE LINE ERUPTED AND BRAKE FLUID BEGAN POURING OUT. NO PRESSURE AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. REPAIR COMPLETED, BUT ASE SHOP CONFIRMED THERE IS A SAFETY NOTICE ABOUT RUSTED LINES. AWAITING RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10746602

Incident

Aug 4, 2015

Mileage

174,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A 4 LANE STREET. AS I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, THE LIGHT CHANGED FROM GREEN TO RED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT WORK. I DROVE RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND AVOIDED A COLLISION WITH 2 OTHER VEHICLES. I WAS GOING DOWNHILL AND PICKING UP SPEED AS I APPROACHED THE NEXT INTERSECTION. THE LIGHT CHANGED TO RED AND BY THIS TIME I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. AS 2 CARS WENT ACROSS IN FRONT OF ME FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO DRIVE BETWEEN THEM. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP. MY 15 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE EXTREMELY SHAKEN AND VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL OF THE BRAKES LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT OF THEM. AFTER A $160 TOWING BILL AND A $1,180 REPAIR BILL, WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 GMC YUKON. THE DEALERSHIP HAD 2 SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THEIR SHOP THAT DAY THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THAT THEY MADE A HUGE MISTAKE WITH THESE BRAKE LINES. THIS COULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND/OR ANOTHER INNOCENT PERSON COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN KILLED. MY SON SAYS HE WILL NEVER RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEBODY DIES, AS A RESULT OF THESE CHEAP STEEL BRAKE LINES THAT CORRODE, ESPECIALLY IN STATES THAT USE SALT ON THEIR ROADS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670299

Incident

Nov 26, 2014

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10651428

Incident

Oct 26, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE WITH LOSS OF BRAKES. THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629897

Incident

Aug 31, 2014

Mileage

128,000 mi

WAS DRIVING AND A POLICE CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME FROM A SHOPPING CENTER. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND A REAR BRAKE LINE BURST. I STOPPED ABOUT 1 FOOT FROM THE POLICE CRUISER. HAD ENOUGH FLUID LEFT IN SYSTEM TO GET OFF THE ROAD. HAD LINES INSPECTED WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THEY WERE BAD. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608720

Incident

Mar 12, 2014

Mileage

92,000 mi

BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH DECREASED STOPPING ABILITY. SHOP FOUND CORRODED BRAKE LINES WITH FLUID LEAKING. ALL LINES HEAVILY CORRODED AND ARE CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558211

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

66,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. I BARELY AVOIDED COLLISION WITH A CAR. CAR GOT TOWED TO MECHANICS. LUCKILY NO ONE GOT HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556278

Incident

Dec 16, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

AT HOME, STARTED TRUCK, DROVE SHORT DISTANCE ON DRIVEWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. SAW PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID ON DRIVER'S SIDE MID WAY BELOW TRUCK. COULD HEAR BRAKE FLUID ESCAPING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED (PUMPING), THEN SAW FLUID DRIPPING FROM UNDER TRUCK. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER, WHO FOUND BRAKE LINE LEAKING ABOVE FUEL TANK AND NOTED ALL BRAKE LINES VERY RUSTY (EXCEPT LINE ABOVE REAR AXLE, WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED ON 2012). DEALER FABRICATED AND REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES FROM FRT TO JUNCTION ABOVE SPARE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515624

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

74,397 mi

OUR DASHBOARD ABS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN WE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, A BUZZING MOTOR SOUND STILL KEPT RUNNING. WE UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY SO IT WOULD NOT RUN DOWN. WE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A TON OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME INCIDENTS. WE NOTICED THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THE EXACT PROBLEMS WE WERE HAVING, ALSO HAD BRAKE ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. WE RECONNECTED OUR BATTERY, DISCONNECTED THE ABS MODULE AND THE MOTOR SOUND STOPPED, BUT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE AND BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THE BRAKE SYSTEM IT SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS. ACCORDING TO OTHER PEOPLE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AS WELL (APPROX. $1500.00). HAS GMC ADDRESSED THIS? WE HAVE A SUBURBAN YUKON XL, 2001. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510693

Incident

May 5, 2013

Mileage

46,730 mi

VEHICLE LOST BRAKING ACTION AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, ABOUT ONCE A WEEK OVER A ONE MONTH PERIOD. VEHICLE HAD ADEQUATE BRAKE FLUID. NO DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS INDICATED A BRAKE OR ABS PROBLEM. NO COLLISION OCCURRED, NO INJURIES OCCURRED, DUE TO LACK OF TRAFFIC AND ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE. REPAIR SHOP NOTIFIED CUSTOMER MANY SIMILAR VEHICLES WERE COVERED BY AN ABS BRAKE RECALL. GM WAS CONTACTED AND SAID THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED WITH AN ABS SENSOR FAILURE AT LOW SPEED ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. PARTS WILL BE SAVED. PUBLISHED RECALL DOCUMENTS INDICATE SEVERAL STATES, INCLUDING THE STATE OF MISSOURI WERE INVOLVED WITH THIS RECALL. THIS VEHICLE CAME FROM A MISSOURI, GMC DEALER, WAS SOLD BY A KANSAS, GMC DEALER. THIS VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN EXTENSIVELY IN THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI METROPOLITAN AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374773

Incident

Jan 2, 2011

Mileage

135,000 mi

I ALSO HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE PARKING BRAKE AND ABS. IF MORE PEOPLE COMPLAIN MAYBE THERE WILL BE ACTION TAKEN. I DO HAVE A FUEL MODULE RECALL THAT I HOPE IS GOING TO BE CORRECTED. THERE ARE SOME DEALERS THAT DO NOT WANT TO EVEN CORRECT YOUR SAFETY RECALL. I AM HAVING TO TRAVEL AN HOUR AND A HALF TO A DEALER OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE MY LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344086

Incident

Jul 19, 2010

Mileage

77,000 mi

NEAR MAJOR ACCIDENT ON I95 DUE TO BROKEN BRAKE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328264

Incident

Jan 30, 2010

Mileage

102,000 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A LOW SPEED NEAR STOPPING THE BRAKE KICKS BACK AS IF THE ABS BECOMES ACTIVATED AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. THIS OCCURS ON ALL SURFACES WET OR DRY. THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE SAME VEHICLE (YEAR/MAKE/MODEL) HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL PER THE VIN NUMBER. THE GM RECALL NUMBER IS 05068 AND YOUR REPORT NUMBER IS 05V521000. [XXX]. THE SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO ENTER THIS AS MY VIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318425

Incident

Mar 6, 2010

Mileage

113,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES ON HIS VEHICLE. THE SENSOR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO RECALL SO THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE COMPONENT FOR FREE. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR THE FAILURE. HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $300 TO REPLACE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER THAT HE WOULD HAVE HIS MECHANIC REPAIR IT FOR $75. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,783.

NHTSA ID

10275609

Incident

Jun 29, 2009

Mileage

102,783 mi

CORROSION BETWEEN FRONT HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL SPEED SENSOR IN GMC YUKON XL CAUSING UNWANTED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 7 MPH DURING BRAKING. CAN LEAD TO CRASH. RECALL BULLETIN 05068 COVERS THIS ISSUE AND MY VIN IS IN THE BULLETIN FOR RECALL, BUT GM WILL NOT COVER EXPENSE FOR REPAIR. THEIR ELECTRONIC DATABASE DOESN'T HAVE MY VIN IN THE SYSTEM AND REFUSE SERVICE DESPITE ITS INCLUSION WITHIN THE RECALL. I LIVE IN OHIO AND BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN OHIO. THE RECALL COVERS OHIO VEHICLES AND OTHER HIGH CORROSION STATES IN THE U.S. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257303

Incident

Jan 9, 2009

Mileage

90,847 mi

INTERIOR ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN A HUMMING NOISE HEARD UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE COMPARTMENT. GMC DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF THE ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE UNIT. THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WOULD BE $1130.00 + TAX TO REPLACE. THIS BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 70,000 MILES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN TO THIS VEHICLE. THE OTHER TIME IT WAS UNDER A EXTENDED WARRANTY (09/2004). I HOPE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN EVERY 3 YEARS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY REPLACE THEM ALL THE TIME. I WAS TOLD IT WAS PLACED NEXT TO THE FRAME WHERE WATER COULD GET IN THE UNIT AND CAUSE DAMAGE...ENOUGH TO REPLACE. HOPEFULLY A RECALL CAMPAIGN WILL HAPPEN BEFORE I HAVE TO REPLACE THE NEXT ONE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE.*CN

NHTSA ID

10213455

Incident

Dec 28, 2007

Mileage

70,500 mi

SECOND INCIDENT WITH FAULTY ABS MODULE. THE DEALER CHARGED OVER $2000 TO FIX IN 2005 AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATES THE PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY GM IS PUTTING DEFECTIVE PARTS IN CARS CONTINUOUSLY AND OVERCHARGING CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211853

Incident

Dec 13, 2007

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2001 GMC YUKON. ON FEBRUARY 13, 2007, THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH AND REAR ENDED A GARBAGE TRUCK. THE CONTACT HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO STOP, BUT WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SLID INTO THE TRUCK. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10183241

Incident

Feb 13, 2007

Mileage

126,000 mi

ABS MODULE FAILURE THE ABS MODULE IN MY 2001 YUKON XL HAS FAILED. IT WILL COST ME $1200 TO REPLACE IT. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE MODULE FAILS, AND THE ABS MOTOR STARTS RUNNING CONTINUALLY. THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, AND WHAT I HAVE HEARD SECOND HAND FROM A SERVICE MANAGER AT A GM DEALERSHIP. I NOTICED TODAY THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING FIRES RESULTING FROM ABS MODULES, AND WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR GM. I SENT GM AN EMAIL ABOUT THIS, BUT SINCE I HADN'T TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER FOR REPAIR, RATHER I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP, THEY WERE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHEN I ULTIMATELY TOOK IT IN, THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $1200 TO FIX. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172569

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

2001 YUKON XL PARKING BRAKE INOPERATIVE. DEALER SAYS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. BUT CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND I HARDLY EVER USE THE PARKING BRAKE. NORMAL BRAKES ARE STILL GOOD AT 68000 MILES. INFORMED BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW GM SHOULD FIX. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168879

Incident

Sep 20, 2006

Mileage

68,000 mi

MY 2001 GMC YUKON XL 1500 SLT PARKING BRAKE HAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS 66000 MILES AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE PARKING BRAKE FOOT LEVER GOES TO THE FLOOR AND DOES NOT HOLD AT ALL. THE PARKING BRAKE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO ME BY A CHEVY/GMC DEALER DURING MY LATEST STATE VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL OWNER SAYS HE NEVER USED THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAVE NEVER USED THE PARKING BRAKE BECAUSE IT IS NOT NEEDED IN OUR FLAT TERRAIN. ACCORDING TO REPAIR SHOPS AND THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM WITH MANY OS THESE VEHICLES. YOU MAY ALREADY BE AWARE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT I SHOW NO INFORMATION ON YOUR WEB SITE. I AM INFORMING YOU OF THIS TO PERHAPS PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GRATEFUL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161196

Incident

Jun 30, 2006

Mileage

66,000 mi