WHEELS:HUB
2003 GMC Yukon Xl
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 102 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 GMC Yukon Xl, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and steering categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 466 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 20 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 21 |
| Jun 2005 | 2 | 23 |
| Aug 2005 | 2 | 25 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 26 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 27 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 29 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 30 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 31 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 32 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 33 |
| Nov 2006 | 5 | 38 |
| Dec 2006 | 4 | 42 |
| Feb 2007 | 2 | 44 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 45 |
| Apr 2007 | 2 | 47 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 48 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 49 |
| Oct 2007 | 2 | 51 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 52 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 53 |
| Apr 2008 | 2 | 55 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 56 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 57 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 58 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 59 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 60 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 61 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 62 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 63 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 64 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 65 |
| Nov 2010 | 1 | 66 |
| May 2011 | 4 | 70 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 71 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 72 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 73 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 74 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 75 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 76 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 77 |
| Aug 2013 | 2 | 79 |
| Sep 2013 | 1 | 80 |
| Nov 2013 | 1 | 81 |
| Feb 2014 | 1 | 82 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 83 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 84 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 85 |
| Aug 2014 | 2 | 87 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 88 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 89 |
| Nov 2014 | 3 | 92 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 93 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 94 |
| Oct 2016 | 3 | 97 |
| Oct 2019 | 1 | 98 |
| Dec 2019 | 1 | 99 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 100 |
| Aug 2020 | 1 | 101 |
| Feb 2026 | 1 | 102 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical3833.9%
- Brakes2219.6%
- Steering98.0%
- Tires & wheels76.3%
- Fuel system65.4%
- Engine54.5%
- Suspension43.6%
- Body & structure32.7%
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
4 campaigns 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.govSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 GMC Yukon XL. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale on January 26th, 2026. At the time of purchase and at the time of the vehicle registration, the vehicle mileage was 186,000. While applying for insurance on February 20, 2026, the contact was informed that the vehicle was due for a 300,000-mile maintenance plan. The contact confirmed through the Carfax Report that the actual mileage was 300,000. The dealer was contacted and informed of the odometer fraud discovery; however, the dealer refused further contact to resolve the issue. The odometer fraud was also reported to the State Consumer Protection Division.
- NHTSA ID
- 11719834
- Incident
- Feb 20, 2026
- Mileage
- 300,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY CHAIN WAS ATTACHED TO THE KEYS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START HOWEVER, WHEN THE KEY CHAIN WAS REMOVED, THE VEHICLE START AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11343704
- Incident
- Jul 13, 2016
- Mileage
- 220,000 mi
HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON HIGHBEAMS DO HOWEVER
- NHTSA ID
- 11310825
- Incident
- Feb 21, 2020
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SERVICE NOTICE ON MY DIC WITH THE AUTO RIDE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. P0660 CODE DETECTION. NO INDICATION OF WHAT THE CONDITION OF THE SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE AND IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A SAFE MODE UNTIL REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS ARE MADE.CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS LOCKED THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION TO WHICH THE COMPRESSOR WILL NOT ACTIVATE. SHOCKS ARE IN A MAINTAINED PRESSURE TO WHICH THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A FIRM PRESSURE MAKING A SOLID RIDE AS IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE IF IN TOW MODE.NOT SURE IF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HANDLING ARE EFFECTIVE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11286369
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2019
- Mileage
- 250,000 mi
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LEAK FROM RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVER SEAT AREA AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.
- NHTSA ID
- 11267078
- Incident
- Oct 6, 2019
- Mileage
- 130,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A GRINDING SOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 195,633.
- NHTSA ID
- 10919829
- Incident
- Oct 27, 2016
- Mileage
- 195,633 mi
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. GAUGES RANDOMLY STICK OR FALSELY READ TO INCLUDE SPEEDOMETER. SOMETIMES IT WILL STICK AT A RANDOM SPEED. OTHER TIMES IT WILL PEG AT ITS MAX. UNKNOWN IF ODOMETER IS INVOLVED. SOMETIMES THEY RESET AFTER REPEATED START/OFF CYCLES. WAS COVERED UNDER A GM RECALL BULLETIN NO: 07187B, PAGE 8. CURRENT ODOMETER IS 145,369. SHOULD GM NOT REPAIR THIS AFTER THE WARRANTED PERIOD? THIS IS JUST AS DANGEROUS NOW THAN IT WAS AT 70,000 MILES. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE VERY RARELY READS CORRECTLY. I TRAILER TOW OFTEN AND CORRECT OIL PRESSURE IS IMPERATIVE AS IS A CORRECT SPEEDOMETER READING. ON THE TOP OF THE PAGE I DOWNLOADED FROM NHTSA IS THE NUMBER CSC-10026542-8984. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO WITH A FAULTY AMP GAUGE BUT WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IT HAS NOW AFFECTED ALL GAUGES BUT THE FUEL GAUGE, WATER TEMP AND TRANSMISSION TEMP. POSSIBLY RELATED IS THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE HEAT IS ON ALL THE TIME (ON HI) AND CAN ONLY BE SHUT OFF BY UNPLUGGING THE SEAT WHICH DEACTIVATES THE AIR BAG SENSOR, POWER SEAT CONTROL AND THE LIKE. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED GM AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO MY COURSE OF ACTION.
- NHTSA ID
- 10914960
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2016
- Mileage
- 145,369 mi
THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO NEARLY STRIKE A NUMBER OF CHILDREN AT A CROSSWALK. AFTER EXAMINATION BY A MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED AND BURST UNDER PRESSURE. I HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTICE OF THIS POTENTIAL FAILURE FROM GMC EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. SHOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THIS POTENTIALLY LETHAL PROBLEM? AT A MINIMUM I FEEL THAT GMC AND/OR THE NHTSA HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES THAT THEY ARE DRIVING A POTENTIALLY DEADLY VEHICLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10911365
- Incident
- Sep 28, 2016
- Mileage
- 498,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
ENGINE
This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
ENGINE
This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
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.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2025 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 48.2 |
| 2024 | 62 | 2 | 3 | 59.7 |
| 2023 | 191 | 4 | 3 | 65.0 |
| 2022 | 151 | 4 | 3 | 66.3 |
| 2021 | 201 | 12 | 4 | 69.7 |
| 2020 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 61.0 |
| 2019 | 65 | 2 | 0 | 60.0 |
| 2018 | 52 | 2 | 0 | 57.9 |
| 2017 | 144 | 1 | 0 | 45.9 |
| 2016 | 199 | 3 | 1 | 56.8 |
| 2015 | 306 | 2 | 1 | 50.3 |
| 2014 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 58.8 |
| 2013 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 51.0 |
| 2012 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 44.7 |
| 2011 | 47 | 3 | 1 | 53.3 |
| 2010 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 49.2 |
| 2009 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 50.3 |
| 2008 | 69 | 4 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 2007 | 96 | 4 | 2 | 62.5 |
| 2006 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 44.5 |
| 2005 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 48.0 |
| 2004 | 87 | 4 | 0 | 49.3 |
| 2003Viewing | 102 | 4 | 2 | 54.0 |
| 2002 | 95 | 2 | 3 | 53.5 |
| 2001 | 120 | 5 | 6 | 62.4 |
| 2000 | 69 | 7 | 6 | 62.0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.