RoadVitals

2008 GMC Yukon Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
29
Latest Jul 9, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 187 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 GMC Yukon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 9, 2023
Fire reported

It started shutting off at a light for autostop.but when it would turn green it would intermittently just drop out of autostop without restarting. Then may start back up or maybe not, many time after restarting at the light it would died in the middle of the inspection. A parasitic draw kept killing the accessory 12 V battery replaced the 12 V battery but the problem continued. When the truck was running it would run flawlessly,before stalling. The code said to replace the auxiliary fluid pump. I had it a new auxiliary fluid pump installed. After this the vehicle wouldnt crank. They then worked through a service bulliten fixing a list of areas were the harness was chaffed and shorted. The truck has been out of commission the past 10 months and intermittently started twice during this time, it ran rough for 5 mins and died out at the first stop sign and wont crank again. Some times it will crank but not start.

NHTSA ID
11531148
Incident
Jul 23, 2022
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2019

MY 2008 YUKON HAS HAD AN ELECTRICAL MYSTERY FOR AWHILE NOW. WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOORS THE "CHIME" WILL BE VERY FAINT AND THEN THE NEXT TIME IT'S VERY LOUD. THE CLOCK RESETS LIKE THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES WILL I'M DRIVING. I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AFTER DRIVING IT AND IT WILL BE COMPLETELY DEAD. IT WONT DO ANYTHING. YOU CAN'T LOCK THE DOORS, TURN ON THE RADIO, START THE CAR OR ANYTHING. ALMOST LIKE IT DOESNT HAVE A BATTERY AT ALL. WAIT 10 MINUTES OR SO AND SLAM A FEW DOORS AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. WE'VE REPLACED BATTERIES, ALTERNATORS, FUSES AND TAKEN IT TO MECHANICS WITH NO LUCK. AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY IT WILL WORK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. THERE HAS TO BE A SHORT SOMEWHERE AND AFTER GOOGLING IT THERE ARE 1000 OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2017 AND I'M POSITIVE THE OWNER BEFORE ME HAD THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11265636
Incident
Jul 29, 2017
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 28, 2019

TRUCK STALLS ON TAKE OFFS ,AT TIMES IT JUMPS ON TAKE OFFS TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO LOCK THE BRAKES UP .AT TIMES YOU CAN SMELL THE HYBRID BATTERY GETTING HOT ,THERE TIMES IT WONT START UP ,IM AFRAID MY WIFE WILL LEAVE A LIGHT AND IT WILL DIE AND HER GETTING HIT BECAUSE OF IT IVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THESE TRUCKD

NHTSA ID
11210316
Incident
May 22, 2019
Mileage
143,859 mi
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical
Filed May 20, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND FRACTURED IN THE MIDDLE. ALSO, THE AIR BAG AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ID
11208586
Incident
Dec 1, 2018
Mileage
171,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 26, 2018

WHILE WE ARE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP AND WILL HAVE A "STABILITY LOSE CONTROL" MESSAGE ON A DASH BOARD. THE CAR WILL STOP MOMENTARILY AND THEN IT WILL RUN AGAIN AFTER WE START THE CAR. THE CAR HAS NO POWER AT ALL ONCE IT STOPPED. IT HAPPENS A LOT SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT USING IT DUE TO SAFETY ISSUE. A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WE USE THIS TO TRAVEL WITH FAMILY. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE MECHANIC BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO FIND WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT THEY DID NOT GET AN ERROR MESSAGE AT ALL. ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT EVEN ON.

NHTSA ID
11154081
Incident
May 3, 2018
Mileage
118,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 22, 2018
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF. FIRE APPEARED TO START IN THE ENGINE AREA. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR APPROX 1.5 TO 2 HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE WAS REPORTED.

NHTSA ID
11064159
Incident
Jan 22, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CHASSIS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V614000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ]MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10969303
Incident
Feb 27, 2017
Mileage
160,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 8, 2017

THE CAR FLASHES REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITRACK OFF AND THE CAR CAN BARELY GO 30 MPH. THE ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH WHEN IT IS DOING THIS ALSO. MY CODE SCANNER DISPLAYS CODE 641 WHICH IS OPEN 5VOLT REFERENCE ON BANK 1. IT DOES THIS MORE WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS WARMER OR THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING STILL WHILE RUNNING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC CAUSING NEAR MISSES AND OTHER TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. JUST YESTERDAY IT DID IT 20 TIMES IN A FOUR MILE STRETCH. THIS CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
10950317
Incident
Feb 7, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 11, 2016

CRACKED DASH BOARD IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPOTS/AREAS.. A PIECE HAS ALREADY CAME OUT AND FLEW TOWARDS MY DAUGHTERS FACE AND BRUISED HER.

NHTSA ID
10825634
Incident
Oct 17, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON. WHEN REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE BACK-UP SENSOR DID NOT ALERT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS 4 TO 5 INCHES AWAY FROM AN OBJECT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

NHTSA ID
10767392
Incident
May 5, 2008
Mileage
1,200 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 22, 2015

DOORS LOCKED WITH REMOTE. 2ND ROW PASSENGER DOOR BEHIND DRIVERS DOOR FAILED TO ACTUATE WITH REMOTE OR WITH DOOR LOCKS. WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE MANUAL LOCK ON THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE TO FREE THE DOOR. ONCE FREED, THE DOOR FAILED TO RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION AND REMAINED STUCK UNTIL THE KEY FOB WAS PUSHED. REPEATED THE LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB, DOOR STILL WILL NOT ACTUATE TO THE OPEN POSITION. CHILD CAN UNLOCK AS THIS BYPASSES THE CHILD LOCKS ON THAT DOOR. CHILD COULD ALSO GET TRAPPED IN THE CAR-COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED WITHOUT MANUAL AGITATION OF THE INTERNAL LOCKS. INTERNET IS FULL OF HIS SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712321
Incident
Apr 22, 2015
Mileage
89,042 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 1, 2015

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED (70) THE STABILITRAC LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE RPM'S WENT OVER 4K, THEN THE YUKON SLOWED IN TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE BEFORE BEING RUN OVER. THE ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE AT THAT TIME. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN RESUMED DRIVING USING '3' TO ENGAGE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF 'D' THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON, BUT I MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION 2 HOURS AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10703073
Incident
Feb 27, 2015
Mileage
108,730 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Sep 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WHEN USING THE REMOTE ACCESS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/17/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10631953
Incident
Sep 12, 2011
Mileage
27,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 30, 2014

FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS / LATCH WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS YOU DO IT MANUALLY. CAR HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SPECIALLY WHEN AN EMERGENCY TAKES PLACE AND YOU NEED TO EXIT CAR FAST. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10595036
Incident
May 1, 2014
Electrical
Filed Mar 9, 2014

2008 GMC YUKON DENALI EXPERIENCED COMPLETE SYSTEM SHUTDOWN TO INCLUDE INSTANT LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL, PROPULSION, BRAKING, AND STEERING SYSTEMS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ONE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 35 MILES AN HOUR AND TWICE AT 60. WENT INTO SHOP 3 TIMES BEFORE FIXED. MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING ON ALL 3 OCCASIONS, REFUSES TO EVER DRIVE IT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568057
Incident
Aug 16, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jan 13, 2014

DOOR LOCK FAILURE, DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10559701
Incident
Nov 6, 2013
Mileage
40,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 17, 2013

THE PASSENGER DOOR AND RIGHT SIDE REAR DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED. THE DOORS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCK. I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, AS THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THEM AS FAST AS POSSIBLE IN AN EMERGENCY IS VERY SCARY. THESE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE THERE FOR A REASON GM KNOWS IT. I WAS TOLD THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $300 PER DOOR AND MANY OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE WITH QUALITY PARTS THAT WILL NOT FAIL! *TR

NHTSA ID
10498416
Incident
Feb 15, 2013
Electrical
Filed Dec 23, 2012

THE PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO FAIL. THEY WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK OTHER THAN BY DOING IT MANUALLY. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, BOTH OF THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAVE FAILED. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND THIS SITE AFTER DISCOVERING SEVERAL BLOGS WHERE MANY GM OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10489577
Incident
Apr 19, 2011
Mileage
32,524 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 23, 2012

REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL ONLY OPEN MANUALLY. THE KEY FOB AND ELECTRONIC MECHANISMS TO UNLOCK THIS DOOR NO LONGER WORK. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR NOW OPERATES IN THE SAME MANNER (IT DOESN'T). I SEE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10472028
Incident
Jun 25, 2010
Mileage
32,500 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 29, 2011

DRIVERS DOOR LOCK FAILURE. ACCORDING TO THE AUTO FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD FAILURE, FOR ALL DOORS, NOT JUST THE DRIVERS. ITS AN ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE LOCK ACTUATOR. GM REFUSES TO FIX THEM OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS ISSUED NO RECALL. I READ A WOMAN'S POST WHERE HER TODDLER CHILD ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE BACK SEAT WHILE MOVING BECAUSE THE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK, SEAT BELT WAS THE ONLY REASON CHILD SURVIVED. GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR NOT RECALLING THIS HAZARD. *KB

NHTSA ID
10441643
Incident
Dec 23, 2011
Mileage
30,741 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 26, 2011

DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED ON 3 OUT OF 4 OF THE DOORS. SOMETIMES IN THE LOCKED POSITION, SOMETIMES IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION. SOME POSTINGS ON THIS TOPIC ARE REFERENCING ISSUES WITH WIRING HARNESS. IF THE LOCKS WERE TO NOT UNLOCK IN AN CAR ACCIDENT, OR GOD FORBID ROLLING OVER DOWN A HILL THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON THE INTERNET. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THESE FAILURES. I REALLY BELIEVE THIS SHOULD FALL INTO THE RECALL CATAGORY OF VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10441229
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10368498
Incident
Oct 15, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 11, 2010

FIRST OWNER OF A 2009 GMC YUKON HAS HAD 3 DOOR LOCK FAILURES, WHICH NOT ONLY QUALIFIES UNDER THE LEMON LAW, BUT ALSO POSES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST DOOR LOCK FAILED. GMC DOES NOT CONSIDER DOOR LOCKS AS A WARRANTY ITEM OR SAFETY ITEM SO I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE NEXT WEEK, ANOTHER DOOR LOCK FAILED. THE DEALER DID NOT CHARGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT. NOW, A THIRD DOOR LOCK FAILED ONLY 10 DAYS AFTER THE LAST REPAIR. WHY IS THIS A SAFETY CONCERN? MY CHILD WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED. DUE TO E FAILURE, THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED UNKNOWINGLY. MY CHILD AND ANY CHILD OR PERSON RISKS FALLING OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE. SECONDLY, SHOULD A CAR ACCIDENT OCCUR, UNLOCKED DOORS COULD RESULT IN A DOOR OPENING AND EJECTING THE PASSENGER LEADING TO DEATH. THERE IS A FLOOD OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THIS ISSUE. GMC HAS NOT OWNED UP TO IT, BUT DUE TO THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES, THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FAULTY ACTUATORS AND THE KNOWN PATTERN FAILURE IN WIRING HARNESS CAUSING THE FAILURES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10360025
Incident
Aug 30, 2010
Mileage
39,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2010

PURCHASED A USED 2008 GMC YUKON JAN. 23, 2010 AND APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS LATER THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS USER ERROR. A FEW MONTHS LATER COMING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE WENT TO ENTER MY VEHICLE AND NO START, WENT UNDER THE HOOD AND MOVED THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT STARTED. LATER THAT NIGHT I TRIED TO TIGHTEN THE BATTERY CABLE, BUT IT WASN'T LOOSE. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE DASH FLICKERED AND "STABILITY TRACTION" LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. GOT TO DESTINATION EXITED VEHICLE AND UPON RETURN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL I ONCE AGAIN MOVED BATTERY CABLE AROUND. THE LAST INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON AUGUST 30, 2010 WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 15 MPH THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. WRESTLED CAR TO SIDE, PUT IN PARK AND RESTARTED. THIS WAS THE SCARIEST INCIDENT BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE REAR ENDED ME. I TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP GMC DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. 23,000 MILES ON VEHICLE NOW. PURCHASED WITH 17,500. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353045
Incident
Aug 30, 2010
Mileage
23,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 17, 2009
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE REPORT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24319.

NHTSA ID
10296218
Incident
Dec 12, 2009
Mileage
24,319 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .