Is the 2021 GMC Yukon XL a bad year?
237 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 166, 17× a quiet Yukon XL year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 17× the complaints of a quiet Yukon XL year, but the 2021 is still young: half of its engine complaints so far came in by 73k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Yukon XL owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 73,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 166 (70%) | 50k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 49 (21%) | too few with a mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 38 (16%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 15 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 73,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 237 complaints: 2 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 3 report an injury · 21 say the car was towed.
94 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 GMC Yukon XL: 12
The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up. Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed. A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure. Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving. Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.
The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate. The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts. A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle. If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position. If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed. If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from GMC: 499
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 GMC Yukon XL. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If the K160 Brake System Control Module sets DTC P0606 along with P0562 and/or P25A2, additional diagnostic aids should be followed before replacing parts
Some vehicles may have a condition that could cause the cylinder 2 glow plug to fail
Some vehicles may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead…
Some vehicles may have a condition where the transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Air Bag Malfunction
Neighbouring years
2020 Yukon XL: 47 complaints, keep it · 2022 Yukon XL: 176 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every GMC Yukon XL year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Yukon XL years side by side
Other GMC models: GMC Acadia · GMC Canyon · GMC Denali · GMC Envoy · GMC Envoy XL · GMC Envoy Xuv · GMC Jimmy · GMC Safari · GMC Savana · GMC Sierra · GMC Sierra 1500 · GMC Sierra 2500 · GMC Sierra 3500 · GMC Sierra Denali · GMC Sonoma · GMC Terrain · GMC Yukon · GMC Yukon Denali · GMC Yukon Denali XL · GMC Yukon XL 1500. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 GMC Yukon XL a bad year?
237 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 166, 17× a quiet Yukon XL year. At 73,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 17× the complaints of a quiet Yukon XL year, but the 2021 is still young: half of its engine complaints so far came in by 73k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 GMC Yukon XL?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (166), transmission and drivetrain (49), fuel system (38), electrical system (15), collision avoidance (7). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 50k–100k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Yukon XL have?
12 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 25V-274), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 24V-797), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 22V-827), Seat belts (NHTSA 22V-617) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.